It’s that time of the week again! You know, the time where you pretend like you’re not getting out of shape from drinking on weeknights and eating windows 7 Whoppers. So squeeze into that skinsuit and start uselessly debating tire pressure the night before – there’s races on the horizon! The forecast calls for more misery, which in the laid-back world of CX, means "fun". I’m starting to be convinced that half of the people who show up to cx races these days (myself included) are there just so that they can get photos of themselves mud wrestling their bikes. Ah well, to each their own.
The race to be at on saturday is Red ‘Cross up in Richford, NY. It’s a bit far up but the guys at Cornell have promised me they’re going too put on a good race. The course is on a Motocross course, so put some pegs on that $6,000 Indyfab CX bike, it’s time to go off of some sweet jumps. I’ll give a prize to the best wipeout!
Sunday is none other than Westwood ‘CX , put on by the time trialin’, TT vegan lovin’ Westwood Velo Club. This is a great race for first timers as Giant will have a fleet of demo bikes available for people to, uh, demo. Westwood was my first race, and I remember it as if it were yesterday: crashing at the start, getting run over by about 8 people, and being asked if my then-23 but bald self was racing the master’s race afterwards. It’s the stuff memories are made of, people!
Ultimate fighting ads? Is that really necessary?
Haha. That’s right, you’re bald.
You look like a masters racer, race like a masters racer, can’t we just upgrade you to old guy status prematurely?
We are not alone. . .
http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/sports/23marathon.html?sort=oldest
Hows the course terrain? Flat, hilly? Will Roger win every event he enteres 35plus and Cat1-3?
Mostly really long grass that clogs your brakes. Also, it’s about as smooth as a washboard. One really unpleasant run-up. About a 50 meter sprint to the first turn…
they already paid roger’s winning’s out
Should I just make my check out to Roger?
dude, WV is his club, but I’m hoping the Aspholm is racing some other big race, like Kentucky or Maine, else they’ll be a ton of laps dudes in the 35+ and/or Elite races
I am not sure why Roger even races the master for CX. I am convinced he would consistently be in the top 10 of the big Elite races. Guys like Lindine, Timmerman, Myerson are not much faster than him if at all. He should give the Elites a go!
If Aspholm raced the elite races, would probably finish top 10, collect some UCI points, and then not be allowed to race the Master World CX Championships. So he races masters.
Not sure what the US restrictions are, but if he raced elite he probably could not wear his US Champion Jersey, might not even be allowed in the 40+ Master natz champs race.
Dude is 42. He is a master racer. And, yeah, if he races WVC Sunday, they will be a ton of lapped master racers.
Just to be clear, I am not a masters racer and my post was meant as nothing but a compliment. I just think he is so freaking good that I was wondering why he does not do the occasional Elite race. I honestly think he is one of the best CX racers in the country (Johnny Bold included). Your explanation makes sense. If I had a national champ jersey and wanted to win masters nationals and worlds I would not want to jeapordize that. Also, for all the new cx racers, I think 2-3 years ago Velonews did a CX special. A preview of the upcoming season and the big US races. They were discussing the Mercer Cup, Beacon and HPCX. They singled out Roger as a guy to watch in the Elites due to his rediculous engine….
(disclaimer – I did not do a spell check or grammar check)
i think he races the masters to assure him a start posistion in nationals and maybe worlds
with out a doubt he would be in the top 5 in many UCI elite races. top ten is a given. they guy can roll on the road too
And I think he is racing in Maine this weekend in the VERGE series. Him and Bold will be battling it out….
is an understatement.
I think he is riding TO Maine. That’s how much he can roll.
Apple pays Roger 99 cents every time he listens to a song.
Roger can kill two stones with one bird.
When Johnny Bold goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Roger Aspholm.
I wonder what its like being so fast that you know there is a 90% that you will win every race you enter road and CX. His win % is scary. Most of us are happy with top 10s and most never win a race their entire career.
Roger accused Jesus of sandbagging
I heard Pontius Pilate rides for Setanta.
Question … how is one 40+ year old so much faster than all the other 40 year olds?
He is blessed with good genes and 140lbs with the power of an 180lber.
but THAT much better?
oh brother
Are you suggesting that Albert Einstein used something ’cause there’s just no way one person could be that clever?
maybe take a look in the mirror and admit that, yes, you really do suck, and roger’s just plain strong or above average.
Roger is also a coach by trade and has wayyy more time to train than any of you slackers do. anyone implying that there’s another reason for roger being as good as he is are smoking rocks
Will Rock & Republic Genes help me ride faster?
not only is he 140 but his skin is like cellophane.
aero ears
Are there are 40+ riders that could compete with Roger if they put in the time? Taylor and Alden perhaps?
roger puts the slapdown on taylor regularly
Roger was a world class x-country skier in finland if I am remembering correctly. I think this site did a good interview with him last year or the year before. He like many worldclass athletes are blessed with good genes. He could have been a pro in europe if he started racing a 15 and wanted it. Guy is a super nice person, hard worker and very generous with his training and racing knowledge.
People on this site need to realize that 99% of us are average joes trying to maximize our potential. The other 1% (Evie Stevens, Roger etc) are just untouchable because you cant teach good genetics. BTW – there are people like Roger in every sport. Once you accept this it makes loosing to him easier.
I could train as much as Roger and never even be close. Rationale people understand that genes will always set some apart irregardless of training.
yes but you won’t be able to have kids
http://singletrack.competitor.com/2009/10/news/u-s-downhiller-swanguen-popped-for-pot_3998
at least the downhillers are having fun, smoking a little doobie, chillin’ out!
sure beats watching kate moss wannabe rasmussen tackling up in order to do whatever he thinks is the best way to go faster.
I wish I could be out this weekend taking pictures of all you fine folk. But unfortunately I had a rough night at work last night (some girl decided to have an Anaphylactic reaction and went into respiratory arrest on my shift causing me to be awake most of the night)and I have to take the kids Trick – or – Treating on Sunday. Oh well, I need a break this weekend anyway after photographing last weekends races and post-processing THOUSANDS of photos, LOL. I’m still not done with that đ
I really wish I could go to the Westwood VeloCross. They’re a bunch of great guys.
and cycling’s got problems?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/sports/baseball/25dominican.html?hp
peeps, Roger is very good and might be the best master racer in the US, but he doesn’t win everytime, specially in cross, there’s definitely a bunch of fast old folks ready to take it.
And does not win everytime, but he is the defending national champ and VERGE and MAC series champ. There are only a handful of guys in the US that can challenge him in the 35plus group (Matt Kraus, Johnny Bold on the NE). Hes got more wins this year than any other 35plus masters racer.
Child Protective Services comes to my house if I leave the kids home alone to go race Westwood? I think Roger ought to spring for a Bounce House for the kids…..