Alternative forms of Cross Training:

Although last Friday was my last day of work, my summer vacation did not truly start until today. I had two days of conferences this week as well as two days of substitute teaching. While agitated that my road to freedom had been delayed, I made the conscious choice to make the best of it.



Surprisingly, the conference provided some nutritional food for thought from a cycling perspective. I received a book by John C. Maxwell entitled The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. The intent was for us to read it from the perspective of an educator and how we can enhance our communication skills with other staff, students, and parents. However, because my mind was quite distant from anything work-related, I found myself reading it from an athletes perspective. The book proved to be chalked full of rich content that can be directly applied to my training regimen, my 24hr race focus, and my overall contributions to a team dynamic. While many of these “self-help” books are full of cliché mantras and million dollar buzzwords, this one seemed to be very worth the read!

The remaining 2 days of my 4 day count down to freedom were spent substitute teaching for one of our districts year round programs. The classroom was with our autism program, and the students ranged from 3-5 years of age. Although I did not ride my bike either of these days due to some recent illness I wanted to rest off, I do feel I got in some serious endurance training both mentally and physically! Allow me to testify that seven hours of 3-5 year old children with autism is easily more difficult from a mental and physical standpoint than any training ride I’ve ever done. I left each day with a headache, severe lower back pain from bending over because they were so short, and nutritionally drained. I’m guessing that if I could handle two days of early childhood induced mayhem, I can handle riding my bike for 24 hours!

Who cares? I’M flying!...some positive reinforcement

Last week seemed to be quit pivotal for me from both from a fitness aspect but more importantly from a mental perspective.

With mainly enduro training on my mind, I threw all caution to the wind and rode a lot of bulk mileage which left me questioning how much I had left for racing. I went into the Thursday night Waterford race with heavy legs and a tired mind. However, about half way into the race I wound up in a break with Don Cameron, Tim Saari, Dybo, and Mike Wissink. We turned ourselves inside out until we were assured the break was not coming back. With two to go, I took a flyer and ended up getting caught on the last turn rolling in at 4th place. Dybo managed to snap around the remaining two and pulled off the big W, which puts the WSC at back-to-back wins.

Two years ago, I showed up at Allen Park tired and in a post-inebriated state from end of the school year celebratory events the previous night. Needless to say, that race did not go well from me that day. I broke my rear race wheel, was shivering in 96-degree weather due to extreme dehydration, and got pulled early from the race because the leaders lapped my group.


Although this year I did partake in some school year dismissal induced partying, I showed up with a much more unwavering focus. Allen park is notoriously known for a low percentage finish rate due to its short course length and seasonally high temps. As the race started, something clicked; I was able to find good form and even more importantly great race focus. I found myself instigating a break, which eventually lead several riders getting pulled early from the race when we lapped them. After about 50min. of a six-man break effort, a group of 12 or so caught us containing Dybo and Luke. However, somehow I was still able to dig deep and find more intensity. I simply kept attacking the field and getting away with small groups.

Although my finishing result of 12th is not my best for the season, I have taken great pride in this race. I feel I controlled the majority of the race, and was even able to win a prime in the break. After it was all said and done, several people approached me and informed me of what a great show I put on. Dybo and DK both let me know it was the best they have ever saw me race. All of the feedback meant a lot to me.

Last season left me with an unfulfilled feeling and caused me to reevaluate what I needed to change in order to accomplish my goals. So far this season has provided more fulfillment and positive reinforcement than all of last season. I am having more fun, getting better results, the team is better than ever, my fitness is the best it’s ever been, and most importantly my mental focus is unparalleled.

Something has changed within me that is indescribable. The best and only way to verbalize it is that I can clearly see “the big picture” now. I am getting close to mentally figuring out what all this pedaling around business means to who I am and who I’ve become. My Vision Quest seems to be more evident now.

I was proud to see that recently the MiScene nominated me for the WCIF award, which was my own conception. It is with great honor, that I will accept this award. It’s ironic because the “Who Cares I’m Flying” mantra was streaming through my head as I relentlessly kept attacking the race on Saturday.

Additionally, my helmet is off to the unstoppable combo of Chrisy Keely and Ben Renkema. Both of these former teamates of mine snagged wins and demonstrated clearly that they are some of the best finishers Michigan has to offer.

The Dybo Memoirs #2: More Food

Long before Ray ever had two beautiful children and a loving supportive wife, he was just a guy with a bike and a dream.

Take a walk with me as we travel way back to when it all started.


Did I ever tell you about the time I met Melissa’s parents for the first time? I had just finished racing what was called “The Big Mack Attack”, which was a 160-mile team time trial to the Mackinac Bridge. The race started and I tell you what, we were freaking flying man. When we hit the first hill, a choir of beeps started sounding frantically. It was the sounds of everyone’s heart rate monitors blowing up! I told everyone to freaking chuck those HRMs to the side of the road, because we were going to freaking fly no matter how elevated our heart rates were!

After the race I was beat and drove straight to Melissa’s parents to meet them for the first time and have dinner. I was freaking starving man. They were serving corned beef and cabbage and I just recently started eating meat after coming off a long-term vegetarian stint. Dinner was served and I tell you what, at the time it tasted better than anything I had ever eaten before…niiiice. I was so hungry from the race that I just kept shoveling as much as I could into my mouth without much conversation. Everyone at the table was finished eating and dessert was served, but I just kept eating seconds, thirds, and fourths. When everyone finished dessert, they cleaned up the table and kitchen except for my area. I just sat there and ate and ate more and more corned beef and cabbage. After awhile, everyone sat down in the living room to relax, but I just stayed at the table eating and eating.

I’m not sure what Melissa’s parents first impression of me was, but I tell you what…that corned beef and cabbage was the best freaking meal I ever ate!

State Championships: From the Midwest to the West Coast, A Chance at Sweet Redemption

Let’s start the report off with Mr. Smith who is currently on hiatus in San Diego. Yesterday he raced the California State Crit Championships and rolled in at a respectable 7th place. In a post race interview with Smith, he responded, “I got pinched in the sprint, the race was tough but Cali has got nothing on the MiScene”. Congrats to Allen, helmets off.

Onto the illustrious distance enhanced Michigan State Road Championships report. I went into the day hungry for a result and stoked that the promoters had increased the distance to 102 miles this year, which was in my favor.

Unlike the race trend of an early successful break that has been established so far this season, and despite my early-on active aggression, no breaks were sticking until around mile 70.
I had three goals for the day:
1. Maintain the team’s 2nd place overall standing and/or increase it.
2. Defend Danny Klein’s lead in the individual point series.
3. Crack a good result myself.

When the first winning break went we had Danny up the road as well as Corey Dubrish. It was great situation, and I was pleased with the probability of its success. However, Danny was unable to maintain his position in the break and fell back to the field. In the meantime, several other teams managed to bridge to the break but we were unable to send anyone else up. Feeling that I had a lot left in the tank, I attacked at the beginning of the 5th lap. Looking back, I was pleased to see I put significant distance on the field and my teammate Cruise was bridging to me to join the bridge effort to the front break. After about 15 minutes of turning ourselves inside out, we managed to make contact with the front break. However, we quickly learned that 4 riders had broken away from the front group and we were not represented up the road. With about twenty miles left in the race, I knew I had my work cut out for me if a podium spot was going to be a reality, so I started to drive the break with the hopes that some other riders would join forces to catch the 4 leading riders.

Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way you hope them to. As we turned the corner to roll past the start/finish line and begin our last lap, the clouds instantly turned black and we became engulfed in a torrential downpour causing us to virtually quit racing a roll onward in what is best described as “survival mode”. As we neared the line, sirens rang and we realized the race was being called early due to severe inclement weather. Our group sprinted for the line half-heartedly as if to roll after a city limit sign in the last 50 feet of a friendly group ride. Fearing a crash, I simply rolled through the line without contest.

Overall, I was disappointed we were unable to finish the full race distance and duke it...out but that’s racing. We still managed to fulfill two of the three goals.

Top WSC Finishers:
7th Corey Dubrish
10th Cruise Bogedin
13th Tim Finkel

I.C.B.M. How will you celebrate?

Seven years ago, some friends of mine who reside in Minneapolis started this little phenomenon. Since then, I.C.B.M. has been sweeping the nation and turning people onto to the glorious existence of aluminum contained oat soda. The question is, how will our scene celebrate it this season? I’m thinking a midweek SS MTB group ride/race with a predetermined mandatory consumption list or a kickball tournament at Kenwood Park. If you have any ideas, please let your voice be heard!

Coasting into summer vacation!

I usually don’t use this blog as a forum to showcase any other aspects of my life outside of cycling. However, in tune with Kelley P’s latest post, most recently I so was proud of what my students and I created as an end of the year Physics project that I was compelled to share.

As the school year ends, many teachers are struggling to stay focused and motivated to do anything of academic benefit short of a final exam. Our year-end wrap up has manifested into designing and constructing a fully functional roller coaster. This task elicited students to apply the laws and principles of forces and motion they learned throughout the year. I must say, I was quite pleased with the final product. Most importantly, this project gave me motivation to drag myself out of bed at 5:30 every morning with vacation right around the corner.

Kickball Eve

It's hard to believe we are already on the eve of the 2008 kickball season. I’m going to have to take a strong dosage of Nyquil tonight or there is no way I will get any sleep! This year the Sex Panthers have retired the one hit wonder title and adopted the fervent Road House-Swayze inspired name of Double Deuce. However, I will not be covering the game reports this season. For all things Double Deuce and kickball related, consult here.