Old School

This is old school cyclocross. Pretty cool!

The good and the bad of 2010

In the words of Charles Dickens 2010 “was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” As the end of the year approaches I have been reminiscing on this year in cycling, the good and the bad.

Good: I had a good year racing in the crits. I won three races and moved up to the A group (we will see how it goes next year in that group).

Bad: I wasn’t able to ride Lotoja! It was a sad realization that I would not be able to do it this year. There were a few reasons as to why not, but just wasn’t able to this year. The week leading up to the race I was a wreck. I was more nervous not riding, then riding. Glad it went well for everyone who finished this year.

Good: I was able to race a cyclocross race. I was battling for first when I went down.

Bad: I crashed and busted my rims and didn’t get to race again. After the crash and wait for the new rim I burned out. My desire to kill myself was lost.

Good: Been taking a break from training real hard.

Bad: My desire to start training again has not returned. Enjoying my leisurely pace.

Good: Got my first cell phone this year. Hard to believe, but yes I did.

Bad: Sent my first text message. Now they keep coming.

Good: Doug had a great season, winning the Utah Cyclocross championship for his age.

Bad: All his crashes! Heal up soon.

Good: Didn’t have to ride over 2 and a half hours all summer. I got to on a few occasions, but not very often. This helped my training for the crits.

Bad: Signing up to ride the Seattle to Portland 200 mile race. Need to get my distance legs back a little.

It has been a good year overall. Can't wait to see what next year brings. Life just seems to balance out - Yin and Yang.

Last crash of the year!

Saturday was the last Cross race of the season, even though it should have been over at nationals. I really didn't want to race but I went anyway. When I raced this was all snow and slush. I was chasing back hard after I dropped my chain. I cooked this corner to fast and my front wheel slide out and a smashed my left shoulder into the ground. I thought I could continue but quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. I drove back to Ogden and went to the emergency room and had an x-ray done. I was diagnosed with a class 3 shoulder separation, and a crack in my hip from a previous weeks crash, thats why my hip hurt so much at Nationals and on the drive. Its time to put the cx bikes up and heal my old body.

Cx this year has been alot of fun and stress as well. There are so many factors that can effect your race, many out of your control. I'm looking forward to a break. We are going to start some winter rides in Jan. so get ready. Ride safe Doug

Seattle to Portland

My friend is trying to get me to ride the Seattle to Portland bike race. It is 200 miles on July 9-10. You can race it in 1 day or 2. It sounds pretty fun. Here is the link:

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/index.cfm

It looks fun!

2010 Nationals

For some reason Blogger won't up load anymore pictures. I'll try with more after I post. This is what the course looked like at 8:30 in the morning. Icey, wet and muddy. This was ice I was on here and then you turn left on to a grass mud bog. It was very hard to ride fast. This is one of the steep run/ride ups. No one could ride it this part of the week but as the course changed most rode it in the elite race.

The lovely stair run up, 26 stairs 2 at a time makes for a tough climb after a few times up.

Here I am finishing in 8th. I rode as hard as I could and even though I was disappointed, I thought I was going to win, I did the best I could.

I prepared for a year and felt good about the effort. My bike was perfect, conditions were tough, but not unrideable. The thing about age group racing is that there is always younger guys coming up. I beat everyone that beat me last year, except the winner but there were new fast guys that turned 60. All in all it was a great experience. It is alot of work and getting everyones equipment there, finding housing, food, travel and the race. This was my shot as none of us are going to Madison Wis next year. Now I hope to have some fun on the bikes and enjoy some other physical challenges, (Ogden Marathon/Boston Marathon). Enjoyed hanging out with alot a great people and learned a ton. Hope to see you on the road. Ride safe. Doug

Finally Nationals are here!

Daren, Mark and I are heading off to Bend tomorrow for Nationals. It should be exciting and hopefully we will all feel good about our efforts. It looks like it will be a muddy track so we will see how it rolls. Ride Safe Doug

Sat. school, yet again

Sitting in another Sat. school, wishing I was out riding. To keep me entertained I found this video. This is a pretty cool.

State Championship 2010

The State Cyclocross championships were held Sat at beautiful Mt. Ogden Golf Course. It was very scenic fun course to race on. This was the first time a cross race had been held at Mt Ogden Golf course in Ogden, but it was layed out well with minimum course damage, except for my body pot marks on number 7 where I crashed twice, slow learner.


Thanks to our great supporting fans. Grand kids are good for something. Bonnie and Kim made the trip up to the race and it was great to have them there. Bonnie looks like she has seen the light, and Kim saying oh well. Kim's getting back in great shape and the Clydesdale division was calling his name.

Tanner races in the A division with all the big boys (actually they are all very small). This is the steep off camber section that I crashed on twice. Daren and Tanner both went down in warm-ups. It was wetter earlier and always an adventure for me.

These are the big boys, with Bart Gillespie leading the charge.

Tanner and Rico going up the climb again. It seemed very hard to me, but guys are flying up it.

Daren going over the barriers. He is very smooth and fast over any obsticale. I do like his bike! (it is my A bike as Daren was having some shifting issues with his at the start).

Daren on the podium in a super fast 45 plus group.

Out of order, but this is Daren's start. He got off great and put out a massive effort, some days it is just harder than others.

This is the start of my race. I wish I was as relaxed as we look.

I got off to a good start and Bob, Lou and I were off to the races. I was determined not to make any stupid mistakes, so I was leading in great shape and crashed on the down hill and had to chase back hard to get on. Next lap the same thing I go down again in the lead and watch them ride away. I drilled it back on and decided on the climb it was time to see if I could get a gap, I went as hard as I could a got a gap in time for the crash zone, but I didn't go down this time and just went as hard as I could. At the top of the climb the next lap as I looked back down I could see I had a pretty good lead. I was tempted to walk the barriers on the last lap, but was feeling great

The podium with Lou and Bob. I did get to raze my arms at the finish line but forgot to put the picture in.

My number one supporter. Thanks Betty. She puts up with this crazy passion we all have. Three weeks til nationals and then a break.

Ride Safe, Doug.

Crash

I didn't race last week do to my numerous crashes and it was Russ b-day party. I didn't go to his party as Darth Maul (check Mindy's facebook page to see that costume), because he did. However, I did go work as the dark Jedi. I won the best costume prize and got a pumkine pie for my efforts.

I no longer call it cross, but go to the lead and crash season. Cross I mean crash has been fun, yet painful. After two races I have crashed 5 times. I have a messed up thumb, scrapes and scratches on both knees, hips, shoulders, back, and elbows. The only problem is I have to admit that the last 4 were high risk bunny-hops in an effort to get back to the lead after dropping my chain. I was going to post pics, but my mom didn't want me to (she had no desire to see my hip/ back side). Although, I have spent time on the ground this season I atleast finished a race. I finished with a flat front tire, but for me that is only normal. I'm planning to race on the 13th, but I have not be on a bike for a week so I'll make that call on the 11th around 9:30 pm.

#1

I just have to boast! Ducks are number 1 in the BCS. Go Ducks.

We All Suck at Blogging!

We have not been very good about updating the blog. We all need to get it in gear. Cyclocross season is half over and no posts. I then realized we didn't have one post on Lotoja, bad. So alittle update.

This weekend was halloween cross. Our friend Mark ready to rock and roll.
This was one of the most unique racers.

Daren has been tearing up the master's 45 this year. He flew through this difficult sand path. Notice you can't even see anyone chasing. He went on to another hard, but big victory. Sunday?

Daren is one of the best technical riders in any category. Last turn for Daren before the finish.

This is the start of my masters 55 race. My good buddy Bob Walker next to me, and the facial hair is not a costume.

This is me in chase mode.

Bob and I were flying and as we came out of the sand pit there is a steep hill to the bridge. I was so concentrated that I didn't shift down and as I tried to them power up the hill my chain broke! After a few attempts to put it back on, not noticing that it was broken I had to go to the pit and get my back up bike and start chasing. By this time about 6 guys had passed me.

I passed a few and got back to 4th on the day, my worst finish. I was a bit down after the race. This is what makes cyclocross so hard is feeling great and really going good then a mechanical this week gets me, crashes other weeks. It is a hard. Last year I didn't have as many issues so I hope it will make me stronger for Nationals.

Tanner I'm sorry I have no pictures this week as we had to get home before his race. He was going great but had a crash and bent his rear derailleur but finished strong.

This is really Lotoja 2010, we really did ride it. I think, it seems so long ago now.

Our ever faithful support crew. We even talked Bonnie into letting Kim ride the last 30 miles with us, it was great to have Kim back in the group.

It was one of the best rides we have had. Great weather, nice south wind and we had a great rotation going. We were always pulling a big group but as long as they didn't get in the way it was fine.

Post race in the weeds, easier than trying to get a shot with all the people.

Items of note: 1. Adam and Mindy won the fun ride tandem race.
2. Russ is writing a new training manual for lotoja, it will be very short though.
3. Kim riding the last section with us was a great lift and very special.
4. We picked up a great rider about half way through. Steve works with Kim

and Rick at Specialized. He really help us in the end.


Another one in the books, my 7th and Adam, Kim and Russ's 8th. It was strange not having Brady with us but times and life change. Thanks for all the help from our crews and families.

Ride Safe Doug

Sat. School

I am sitting here in Saturday School, wishing I was at the cyclocross race! I guess that is what happens when you get to lay the hammer down on some kids. I had a funny conversation with some 6th grade girls yesterday while they were in the lunch line. Here is how it went:

Girl 1: You know what is gross Mr. Cottle?

Me: No, what?

Girl 1: When guys wear really short shorts!

Girl 2: It is disgusting! You know the ones that go up to here (puts her hand up to really high on her leg).

Me: That is pretty gross. Guys wearing skinny jeans looks pretty bad too.

Girl 1: I like it when they wear them.

Girl 2: You know what is even grosser?

Me: What?

Girl 2: Guys in spandex!

Girl 1: That is the worst. They are so tight and it shows stuff.

Me: That is gross. I can’t think of anything worse then to see a guy wearing spandex.

Girl 1: Guys that wear spandex are weird.

Me: I couldn’t agree more.

I think they saw me yesterday coming out of school to start my ride home on the bike? Oh well. And to think it use to be cool to wear them under your shorts. Here are some classic short/tight shorts for you to enjoy.


Tom Selleck is my absolute favorite though! Loved the Magnum look.

Agassi was classic for the spandex under the short - shorts

Good old John Mac!

cx 2

We raced the second cx race sat in Ogden at the Weber county fair grounds. It's like a home court and we even got Adam to come out and race. Adam was sitting in and enjoying the ride. Little did he know he was passing the former US National champion in the 60 plus master, sweet Lou. This boy is much to happy, we need to turn the dial up! Little did we know that a good wash out was about to happen. See post below. Adam was ready to make his attack when he went down.

I went out hard this week from the beginning and got alittle gap and just tried to ride as hard as I could. Look close and you can see Daren in the background warming up.

Weber County is a great place for a Cross race and the triple log is one of the favorites.

The podium ceremony. My good friend Bob Walker (aka chopper) and I, had another day of trying to hurt each other. It's a great competition, we are in different age categories at nationals, I'm in the master 60 and Bob's in the master 55.

We had a great family race day. I was lucky enough to win, Daren killed the masters 45 group for the second Cottle victory. Daren's race is right after mine so the announcers are always mixing us up. It was cool to both win so close to home. We both wished our Dad could have been there to see it. Adam would have had the next family win if not for his crash. Tanner now felt no pressure as the announcers at the start of the race say "can Tanner make it three wins for the Cottle's today". T races in the A group, which is the best and fastest racers. Tanner had a great race and finished 10 in a loaded field of 30. It is so great to be hanging out with great family and friends. Ride safe. Doug

I am on YouTube!!!

Here is the link to my crash....watch it in slow motion. Enjoy!!! (pause it when my face hits the ground)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Snj82TyVlo

What if......

First Cross Race of the season and I knew that something wasn't right when on the second warm up lap I rolled my tire and had to borrow one of Tanners backups (thanks Tanner). First Lap I sat on the leaders of last week, but they were going to slow so I shot to the lead and made me a Dollar!! YEAH!!! The bad news is two laps later and still in the lead I reached out to grab another bill and it slipped through my hands....then the guy about 20 yards behind me yelled "I just got a $100 bill" (that was a $100 mistake). Oh but it gets Better!!!

Then with 3 laps to go and still leading the guy on the backstretch finally catches my wheel and tells me we have a huge lead and is willing to help work to the end. So I think what the heck I will sit on him for a while and attack on the last lap. My heartrate is still in the 120's and I was feeling great (easier than a Crit). Then with 2 laps to go I rolled Tanners Spare (sorry Tanner) and went down HARD. I was in no location to get help or a new rim. So I get up and walk it in to watch Doug win!! Nice Job Doug.

Then the carnage..........

The knee was minor......

but my thumb started to really throb while Daren was racing (nice win Daren), so I thought I better go and get it checked out......sorry I didn't stay to watch ya Tanner.

$35 dollars later and a few Xrays (I needed that $100) the Dr informed me that there maybe a bone chip but he couldn't find the fragment. Then he thought there might be a hairline, but it could have been an old injury. He wanted to cast it but I said NO!!! But all tendons/ligaments in the inner thumb are a little stretched out at the moment (you gotta love the pain). So I am in a brace for 6-8 weeks, BUT I AM STILL GOING TO RIDE TO WORK NEXT WEEK!!! And hopefully race in 2 more weeks. Doug rode Lotoja with a broken leg...I can ride Cross race with a swollen thumb.

On the Good Side the bike is OK and the guy in from of me had a helmet camera and said he would post my wreck sometime this weekend on YouTube. Can't wait to see it.

Go Ducks!

Ducks are playing Stanford tomorrow! Should be a good game. Check out the new I Love My Ducks video.

Last few weeks

Well, the last three weeks have been crazy. After winning the tandem fun ride division of Lotoja I took two weeks off the bike to veg and build a shed. Veg I did and I'm now up 8 lbs. I ate anything and everything I wanted and now it is time to slim down again. The shed on the other hand went up fast and looks great thanks to Doug, Russ, Mindy, and Duwaine for all their hard work.

On the coaching front the team is undefeated and playing well, and I must admit I'm having fun. Baseball it is not (some odd rules I'm still trying to adjust to and understand), but from a coaching aspect it is still a blast. It is also nice to be the assistant coach (I love not having to deal with the parents. I just get to coach). I'm still adjusting to coaching girls, but for the most part it going good. The team only has a few emotional breakdown during the week. I always want to yell, "there's no crying in baseball", but the head coach always reminds me baseball it is not.