Recently Published Essay

In Midwest Events Mag:


Lets get something straight right off: I don’t race my bike to feel the wind in my hair or to feel free as a bird. I’m balding and the feeling of flying means that I’ll soon taste concrete.

I ride for a far simpler reason. I like the feeling of throwing up.

Well not really, but after my best race in late October at Powderhorn Park, I felt like tossing my cookies or breakfast or whatever was left in my stomach. I didn’t win, but it didn’t matter. I’d mastered the re-mount of cyclocross racing at high speed. And had just pinned my body to the far reaches of my limits for as long as I possibly could. My body didn’t particularly care for this limit-pinning and was about to let me know.

I picked up cyclocross this past fall. It extends my racing season well into November. If national trends prove correct in Minnesota, cyclocross will become one of the most popular cycle-sports around here. With its unique blend of road and off-road sections, it provides a chance for bikers to test all their skills and strength. The faster and smoother you can compete, the better you’ll do. And the more likely you’ll want to throw up.

Each February, I get all jittery for the spring crits and road races. Opus, Oxbow, and Ken Woods: they’re all classics in my book. But now, with my new cyclocross skills, my excitement also kicks into high gear when the air turns crisper.

It’s a long ways till then, and like so many other racers, I have to ride the trainer in my cold and moldy basement for long, boring hours. Which makes me feel like throwing up for other reasons. I love tests but hate studying for them. So I try and remember the more interesting reasons I love to race.

I love team kits. I like to shave my legs but only because it means that racing season is here. I love riding to Stillwater and back before my kids are up. I love racing teammates up the high-bridge. I love being able to eat whatever I want and not gain any weight. I love the intensity of racing in tight groups at fast speeds and hoping nobody falls right in front of me. I love fancy new bike gear. I love bike magazines and bike websites. I love the racing community. I love promoting my team’s activities.

When I was a kid, I raced BMX bikes. My main goal was to beat this kid Nate around the dirt track. He was usually in front of me, so I worked at catching and beating him. And it hurt. Now that I’m older, I have a list of people I need to catch and beat. Usually that means searing lungs and burning legs.

Sometimes I beat them, sometimes I don’t. But when I’m done, I feel better about myself if I’m bent over, sucking air and feeling just a little bit dizzy and green.

Peter “FPA” Anderson