World Champs

I have been on a bit of a relaxing break, but it's time I stop procrastinating on posting this up. The end of the season wrap up and Worlds recap.

The race was good, it could always have been better but I am happy with how the season came to a close. I got off to a great start, started 3rd row and was sitting around 30th or so going into the first long section of sand. I started settling into a rhythm rolling through on lap one and was feeling alright...but for some reason was going backwards. After lap two I was sitting around 42nd and sat there for about half a lap and then I started feeling good. Something clicked and I started riding more confidently, started to attack the sand sections, riding how I had hoped to be riding. I was starting to consistently pass guys going through each lap. With 3 laps to go I had a little bobble when I went over the bars and got a mouth full of sand, oh well, it was a quick recovery and back up and running. I ended up getting pulled with one lap to go and finished in at 36th. I had hopes of a better result but thats cool. My best result in Europe has been 34th so it would have been nice to crack that but shoulda, coulda, woulda.

This year I realized what I need to do to be competitive over in Euroland. It takes a special mindset that I don't think I have had before. Now I do. It is going to take more work to be better both here in the states and over there. Now I know. So this year was a huge stepping stone for me and looking back there is nothing I should be bummed about. I had a great season and everything is going to get better from here.

I want to send out a huge thanks to everyone that has helped to make it happen for me. All of my sponsors, the team staff, the host housing families, my teammates, my family, everyone who cheers and everyone who is a part of it!! You guys are what keep it possible!! Here's to an awesome 2012/2013 season!! Thank You

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Elite Mens Race (Full Video) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUpwT91JRTg

It All Comes To This

The Entire Season's work comes down to this race. The World Championships! Everything that I have put in. The highs, the lows, all of it. Tomorrow it's go time! The gun fires at 3:00 pm Belgian Time, Thats 6:00 am PST.

Today we went out and rode the course and it is still as sandy as ever but it has become easier to ride with all of the rain that we have had. I was able to get a few hot laps in and it felt good. The few sections that were difficult to ride in November have become easily passable. I am really looking forward to, things have been looking up since I've been here in Koksijde and I am hoping things end up well. I have a 3rd row start position and the first 2 rows are based on World Cup standings so I am as far up as I could be. All I have to do is remember to breathe and rely on what I have done. Let's Giv'r!

I appreciate all of the support you guys have given and continue to give!!

HUGE THANKS

KID KAISER

Laying Low (4 Days Left)

There hasn't been too much going on here for the last few days. Yesterday I took a nice rest day and hung out at the house. My teammate Tobin and I busted out some sweet flips on the trampoline at the house. We were also able to go and do some exploring of old WWI trenches and bunkers right near the house that are still intact. VERY COOL!!!

Today we made the drive over to Koksijde and are now settled into the Team USA Hotel where we will stay for the rest of the trip. Tomorrow everyone is looking forward to getting out to see the track. Luckily I have a good memory of it after my trip over here in November!! It will still help to get out there before the big day on Saturday!!

It's quiet, so that means plenty of exploring on the World Wide Web. If you haven't already seen it, check out this SUPER RAD Specialized Shiv Tri that has been converted into a drop bar Road Bike!! facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150554663672579.409175.107067687578&type=3

And As always don't forget to follow on twitter.com/thekidkaiser . Follower #400 gets a signed Jersey.

Pink CRUX

I was able to snap a few pics from Zydenek Stybar's new rigs before the World Cup in Hoogerheide. I was pretty stoked on these things and hopefully you guys are as well. These bad boys have a special name "Bunny Hopper." They are painted just for him and the pink is to represent the 25th Anniversary of the first cross bike that Specialized came out with. Fully decked out with Zipp 404 Firecrest Wheels, Service Course Bar, Stem and Seatpost. Full SRAM Red Group, Avid Shorty Ultimate Brakes and Specialized Cranks!! Oh and he has 4 of them.

Down To Business

Yesterday was the last round of the World Cup series in Hoogerheide, Holland. This year was the third year that I have returned to this Province for some bike racing. And this year was by far the hardest conditions I had raced. I think the right term for this mud is "tractor pull". The day started off with a little rain shower and slowly but surely became nicer. I got off to a good start from the fourth row and was filed into 40th or so off of the start stretch and into the mud. The mud seemed to get progressively thicker as you huffed and puffed through the first section. From there you punched it through the pits and hit a sweet descent into the tractor pull section. As soon as the descent ended the mud turned back on and the goal was to get as far as possible and then start running without losing any momentum. Lots of running...lots of running! It's amazing how there are no barriers or stairs or obstacles over here. There was a ridiculous steep run-up on course though. The courses are difficult enough that they don't need to add those in. I ended up finishing in 46th. Not Great, but not terrible... I just didn't have a great day.

I am already looking forward to having a better race next weekend at Worlds. I learned so much from the first trip over here for the World Cup in November. We have 4 more days of training and then the big day!!

Follow on TWITTER at twitter.com/thekidkaiser

CK

Europe Round Two

I am back in the Motherland of CX for the two biggest races of the year!! BELGIUM BABY...The first weekend is the World Cup Finale in Hoogerheide, Holland and next weekend in Koksijde, Belgium, the World Championships.

There was a bumpy start to the travel day when United Airlines decided they wanted to charge me $600 for my bike case...slow your roll there homey. "Well it's a bike so thats 200 and since it is over 70 lbs that an additional 400...but if you can get it below 70 it will only be 400 dollars." Your kidding me, WTF, so I stuff my shoes and some extra food into my backpack and get that bag down to 69.5 lbs. $400

Once I got past the ticket counter, the trip went smooth. No security line, a semi-full plane and most importantly the Dulles Airport Chipotle run.

Chicken Bowl, Brown Rice, No Beans, Fajitas, Corn, Light Sour Cream, Cheese and Guacamole!!

Next time your in there, get the Kid Kaiser Special, "it's delicious."

I hoped aboard the International Bus, grabbed the in-flight dinner, and was hoping to grab some shut eye. That didn't happen, so rather than tossing and turning the whole trip, I figured I would watch some good TV shows and read some awesome Magazines, thanks to the iPad.

This year we are staying near Antwerp, very close to the Dutch Border. It is within riding distance to the World Cup course and plenty of sand around the area to train for the Worlds course. Today was the day to get all of our ducks in a row. We got all the bikes dialed, was able to go ride out in the woods near by and get the groceries gathered so we have some good food.

For up to the date action with pics and youtube videos. Make sure to follow @thekidkaiser on Twitter

www.twitter.com/thekidkaiser

and keep it locked in hear for all the details!!

CK

Race Day

Saturday, 6:00am,

Making Breakfast, Making post race sandwiches, Preparing bottles, Packing clothes

Cold, Rainy, Belgium...

We are off to the races.

A little pre-ride of the course shows that not much has really changed. There is still plenty of sand and if anything it has become harder to ride than when we rode out there yesterday. The course layout flyer was quick to point out the fact that there was only 500m of pavement and 1200m of sand with some grass sections along the way. That's a large chunk of running... and those who know, know how much I hate running. I think it's time to change that thought!!

The race started out well, moved into the top 30 through the first sections and then at the base of one of the fly-overs there was a large pile-up that I was caught behind. I was feeling comfortable on the shorter sand climbs that I was able to ride while others weren't. The only problem is that I would find myself running into the back of them as they jumped off and then I would get stalled out...

I ended up catching a few and getting dropped by a few, others were dropping like flies, while I just tried to settle in. I ended up 52nd. It was a serious learning experience. I know what I have to do to be ready come January, both in training and how to read the race and how to tackle the race. Where to go hard and where to conserve. Oh, and I have a new outlook on all of the minute sandpits in the US races(not a dis but just a realization).

We're BAAACK

It's 2011 and we're back, across the great Atlantic Ocean, in the little country they call Belgium. back to do a little bit of riding around in circles and we are here for only 72 hours. Wait, what???

Yeah thats right we are hear for a short 3 day trip and it is already the end of Day 1. The best part, is that I made this trip with all of luggage and everything accounted for. Winning!!! On Saturay we are racing the World Cup in Koksijde. The source is full of sand, and more sand and some more sand. It won't be like anything I have ever raced before.

This trip I'm the lone Cal Giant'r, but I have a few of my USA teammates. I'm over here with Drew Dillman (Junior), Luke Keough (U23) and Katie Antonneau (Elite Women). It's an easy crew and so far it has been fun. Tomorrow we are going to be out at the course to get a feel for it and learn to the ride sand just a little bit more! Stay tuned because there is plenty to come!!

Kid Kaiser

Over The River and Through The Woods

This afternoon we had an awesome ride through a rather large forest just outside of Kalmthout near the Belgian/Netherlands Border. We meet up with a local coach Paul van Loon as well as Katie Compton and a few others and we rode some of the sweetest trails I have ever encountered in the Belgian Region. They can't compare to those in the States, but there were rippin' on a cross bike and had some really good flow to them. We ended up killing about 2.5 hours out there which made the day fly by.

We drove to the USA National house in Izegem later in the afternoon where we meet up with the rest of the team before we drive to Germany tomorrow morning. The days on this trip are flying by and I cannot wait to race Worlds on Saturday. This is when it really counts.

Thanks for following.

CK

Countdown to Worlds

Yesterday was the typical Belgian, rainy day that you would think of. It was cold and windy and practically raining sideways. So all three of us decided to ride the rollers. It made it a bit more enjoyable to have company in the garage but at the same time they were still rollers and you were still staring at the same wall for an hour. At least it was an easy day for me which meant only an hour ride just spinning.

The countdown to worlds has official begun. Three Days until race day. Training today is going to be in the forest near Kalmthout with a local who has put together a little training course as well and Mark and Katie Compton. Then we will be driving to Izegem to stay overnight at the national house, because tomorrow morning we are up early and on our way to Germany. Today our team director, Anthony flies into Frankfurt and on Friday my dad is arriving in Frankfurt. They will both be heading down and meeting us in Saint Wendel before the racing begins. We are getting to the good part and this is going to be fun!