Why the beard?

What started out as conformity to an honored Iceman tradition seems to be transforming into a symbolic icon for monkhood. What is monkhood you may ask? Monkhood is the nirvana embodiment of the “Who Cares I’m Flying” mentality, or the highest level of W.C.I.F. status achievable.

Based on a snap decision judgment by Angela presented just two weeks prior to Iceman, I had decided to quit shaving with the intentions of cleaning myself up promptly post race. However, as my face grew more scraggily, itchy, and somewhat of an annoyance to people I found that it started to serve as a motivational reminder of what is to come next season, The World 24 hour Elite Solo Championships.

In Rocky II, Mickey states that it takes 45,000 minutes of devote training just for 45 minutes of fighting. This quote resonated in my mind after hearing it. As my facial fur grew and I looked in the mirror I started to recollect what is quite possibly the greatest training montages ever, Rocky in IV training deep in the snow-scaped mountains of Russia in preparation for his match with Ivan Drago. It quickly became apparent that Rocky was clearly exhibiting to me what it takes to go into complete and total monkhood in preparation for such a life-defining event.

As you watch this rich and compelling sequence, simply substitute Rocky for myself, Adriane for Angela, Pauli with Kroske, the black trainer with Big Dybo and Alan Smith, and Ivan Drago with the four Australians that sweeped 1st-4th in the 2007 World event.


So alas…this is why my face continues to grow on, even after Iceman. In recent discussion with family and friends, I decided that I am going to attempt to refrain from shaving/trimming (with the exception of the neck and moustache) until March 3rd of 2009; the day of commemoration of 30 years of the Finkelstein.

I realize that this most likely will lead to me looking like a scraggily wooly bushman mess, but who cares, I’ll be flying!

W.C.I.F. Award: Iceman Edition

Somehow amidst my rambling of the happenings of my own race I failed to acknowledge the W.C.I.F.A. justifications of the Wolverine racer whom we refer to as Flab. I’m talking about Scotty Fabijanski my friends. Don’t let his boyish appearance fool you, this guy was able to snag a well-deserved podium spot this past weekend claiming 3rd place in the Sport Men 40-44 category in the impressive sub 2 hour fashion of 1:54:11. So there you have it, Scotty Fab my friends…quite possibly my favorite WSC member to see having success in his craft.

So let’s all raise our mild-mannered, quiet/non-offensive demeanors, and downright genuine hearts to Scotty Fab…you are 2008’s Iceman W.C.I.F.A. recipient.

“I managed to get the hole shot, roll off the front, and get out of sight while 100 spirited sport racers gave chase. Once out of sight I put the Wolverine hammer down riding solo until mile 25 where I was caught by a couple of riders to finish 3rd. My Trek Fuel EX never let me down."

Iceman Cometh: Thoughts…deductions…future aspirations.

A few weeks back I told the Hermitman that I can’t wait until we can just roll around for an entire Saturday, in sub-freezing temps, making multiple coffee stops every 2-3 hours, and simply traveling at a modest 14mph social pace. Taking 45 minutes just to weather proof yourself before you can roll out the door to brave the elements, stocking up on chemical toe warmers, the hum of the studded tires on the pavement, building up a winter single speed beater from old parts, tasting salt for the tire spray off the rider in front of you, rolling home at 10:00pm on a work night with your toes and fingers so numb that they feel like their being squeezed in vice grips when they finally begin to thaw out, and rolling triple digit rides back to back each weekend…some may say this sounds miserable and dreadful…but for me, it is poetic.

The Iceman Cometh marked the denouement of my season. It was my last effort for the year to try and put myself together and take a stab at a respectable time and finish. I felt particularly good going into the race this year. My top end speed, acceleration, and leg speed had all seem to come together in the week’s prior and I was feeling good and optimistic.

There have been several instances in my racing tenure in which I have put myself in situations and scenarios that are downright terrifying and from a general safety standpoint, quite high stakes. The hole shot at the Iceman proved to be one of these situations that had my anxiety running high and my mind racing with the dreaded thought of crashing and injuring myself. As a result, my positioning off the gun was about the least optimal as possible. I spent most of the race trying to “connect the dots” and pick up spots. Ultimately I ended up rolling a time of 1:36, which would of put me well into the top ten in previous years. However, due to what was quite possibly the fasted course the Iceman has ever saw, coupled with the deepest, most talented field this race has ever hosted, I was merely mid pack in the pro field. Overall, although I wish I could of made contact with a faster train early on and felt I was not quite on the rivets the entire race but rather in a comfort zone, I am happy with my performance and can truthfully proclaim that I had fun…after all that is what its all about, isn’t it?

Alas, this brings me to my annual self-assessment and gut check. What will be my goals for next year? What goals did I achieve this season? How can I achieve the goals that I did not achieve this season next season? What were my strengths and weaknesses this season? Usually, I spend the majority of December, January, and February formulating answers to these questions and use March to plot out my season. However, this year I already have a clear goal and burning passion for next season.

If I learned anything from this season that I hadn’t managed to in the past, it is that success in racing is product of mental stamina and confidence, unwavering dedication, and finally performance. If any of these variables are compromised than success is drastically reduced. This season I had a pipe dream that came true and it enabled me to take something more away from this sport than I ever had before. Although my goal for next year is lofty and some may perceive it as unattainable, it is the fuel to which I will elevate myself and persevere on.

From now until January 1st, while I will continue to ride avidly, I am going to focus on simply having fun on the bike, not worrying too much about extremely structured training, loosening up the diet a bit, staying away from the mentally tormenting bathroom scale, and recharging my battery. However, come January I plan to be committed to a level of Monkhood too which I have never been before.