In spare time, Baker a cyclo-cross masochist
By: Neill Woelk, Daily Camera, Boulder, CO :: Jonathan Baker is 31 years old, works full time for a computer software company in Boulder and is an elite cyclo-cross competitor in his spare time.And what, you ask, exactly is cyclo-cross?
According to Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body of cycling:
"Cyclo-cross is a discipline run on 2.5K to 3.5K circuits, including clearings, roads, country lanes and paths through forests. The riders have to do several laps of the circuit over a period of no more than an hour. To make their way along steep paths, muddy tracks and artificial obstacles, sometimes the riders even have to carry their bikes.
"This discipline, which is splendid in itself, is at the same time an unbeatable school of cycling, where you have to combine riding technique, courage and the peak of physical fitness. Technical backup is allowed, which is one of the main differences with mountain bike disciplines."
That's the official description.
But there are other, more succinct definitions.
American racer Chris DiStefano: "Cyclo-cross is snot-blowing, lung-searing, leg-breaking pain."
Now let's get back to Baker, who spends eight hours a day behind a desk for BEA Systems, a Boulder firm — not the type of job that lends itself to "the peak of physical fitness."
That means Baker has to fit his training in wherever and whenever he can. This time of year, when the days are short, it means riding to work from his Boulder Canyon home, about 35 minutes one way, another hour or so of riding at lunch, and then the ride home.
"Sometimes that's not enough," he admits. "Then I sit on my (stationary) trainer at night."
A California native, Baker moved to Boulder three years ago from San Francisco "for a lifestyle change." Part of that change included more cycling and more racing. A latecomer to the sport of cycling — "I was a skateboarder and smoker before I started riding a bike" — he's making up for lost time in a hurry.
Since the move to Boulder, he's graduated from recreational cyclo-cross races (if such a thing exists) to the hard-core, elite circuit. That usually means flying out Friday night to a national race, competing on Saturdays and Sundays, and returning home late Sunday night — just in time to catch a little sleep, get up and ride to work early Monday morning.
Sounds fun, right?
"I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it," Baker said. "It's not something to do if you don't love it."
Cyclo-cross is closely related to mountain biking, but the bikes are more similar to road bikes, with lightweight frames and narrow tires. The frames have to be lightweight because of the one aspect of the sport that separates it from other cycling disciplines: During the race, competitors must hop off their bikes at full speed, hoist them onto their shoulders and carry them uphill over obstacles that prevent them from actually riding their bikes up the hill.
"You have to learn how to jump off your bike going 20 mph and keep running without missing a beat," Baker said. "That has to become second nature. If you have to think about it, you're in trouble."
Then there's the little matter of weather. The cyclo-cross season starts in the fall and runs into the winter. The U.S. Championships — this year to be held in Providence, R.I. — are usually held in early December (Dec. 10-11 this year).
That means the chances of snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice get better every week.
"You have to be a little masochistic to be a bike racer, period," Baker said. "You have to be a little more masochistic to be a cyclo-cross racer.
"You just have to be mentally tough — and if you feel you are mentally tougher than your competitor, you have an edge."
Races aren't canceled because of weather. Rather, the mud, snow and ice contribute to what are fondly known as "sufferfests" among the sport's aficionados.
"It's not as if we enjoy the bad weather," Baker said. "You learn to persevere. You just tell yourself you're tougher than the other guy.
"But I'd never say it's fun when it gets so cold you can't even grip the bars."
Baker remembers one particular race a couple of years ago in Gloucester, Mass.
"We raced in a blizzard," Baker said. "It was miserable. When it was over, people's hands were in so much pain they were crying when they finally started to warm up."
Baker's results suggest that he has the right blend of masochism, mental toughness and athletic ability. A winner of the Colorado overall cyclo-cross title a year ago, he committed this year to racing at the national elite level. Currently, he is ranked ninth in the nation and is among the top 50 in the world.
Baker rides for a Boulder-Longmont squad, "Primus Mootry Cyclo-Cross Team Delivered by Denver-Boulder Bicycle Couriers." The team is sponsored by Joe Depaemelaere, the owner of Primus Mootry, a custom framer builder, and also gets support from Denver-Boulder Couriers owner Chris Grealish.
And what kind of financial reward is in it for Baker? Will he soon turn to racing full time and quit his day job?
"If you finish in the top 10 at nationals, you might make enough money to break even when you figure in all of your expenses," Baker said. "Nobody retires off their money from cyclo-cross."
So, let's review: snot-blowing, lung-searing, leg-breaking pain. Hours of training around your real job. Virtually no financial reward, and the always-enjoyable threat of frostbite.
"I couldn't imagine not doing it," Baker said. "It's what keeps me balanced. If I didn't have cycling, I couldn't work eight hours per day."
According to Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body of cycling:
"Cyclo-cross is a discipline run on 2.5K to 3.5K circuits, including clearings, roads, country lanes and paths through forests. The riders have to do several laps of the circuit over a period of no more than an hour. To make their way along steep paths, muddy tracks and artificial obstacles, sometimes the riders even have to carry their bikes.
"This discipline, which is splendid in itself, is at the same time an unbeatable school of cycling, where you have to combine riding technique, courage and the peak of physical fitness. Technical backup is allowed, which is one of the main differences with mountain bike disciplines."
That's the official description.
But there are other, more succinct definitions.
American racer Chris DiStefano: "Cyclo-cross is snot-blowing, lung-searing, leg-breaking pain."
Now let's get back to Baker, who spends eight hours a day behind a desk for BEA Systems, a Boulder firm — not the type of job that lends itself to "the peak of physical fitness."
That means Baker has to fit his training in wherever and whenever he can. This time of year, when the days are short, it means riding to work from his Boulder Canyon home, about 35 minutes one way, another hour or so of riding at lunch, and then the ride home.
"Sometimes that's not enough," he admits. "Then I sit on my (stationary) trainer at night."
A California native, Baker moved to Boulder three years ago from San Francisco "for a lifestyle change." Part of that change included more cycling and more racing. A latecomer to the sport of cycling — "I was a skateboarder and smoker before I started riding a bike" — he's making up for lost time in a hurry.
Since the move to Boulder, he's graduated from recreational cyclo-cross races (if such a thing exists) to the hard-core, elite circuit. That usually means flying out Friday night to a national race, competing on Saturdays and Sundays, and returning home late Sunday night — just in time to catch a little sleep, get up and ride to work early Monday morning.
Sounds fun, right?
"I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it," Baker said. "It's not something to do if you don't love it."
Cyclo-cross is closely related to mountain biking, but the bikes are more similar to road bikes, with lightweight frames and narrow tires. The frames have to be lightweight because of the one aspect of the sport that separates it from other cycling disciplines: During the race, competitors must hop off their bikes at full speed, hoist them onto their shoulders and carry them uphill over obstacles that prevent them from actually riding their bikes up the hill.
"You have to learn how to jump off your bike going 20 mph and keep running without missing a beat," Baker said. "That has to become second nature. If you have to think about it, you're in trouble."
Then there's the little matter of weather. The cyclo-cross season starts in the fall and runs into the winter. The U.S. Championships — this year to be held in Providence, R.I. — are usually held in early December (Dec. 10-11 this year).
That means the chances of snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice get better every week.
"You have to be a little masochistic to be a bike racer, period," Baker said. "You have to be a little more masochistic to be a cyclo-cross racer.
"You just have to be mentally tough — and if you feel you are mentally tougher than your competitor, you have an edge."
Races aren't canceled because of weather. Rather, the mud, snow and ice contribute to what are fondly known as "sufferfests" among the sport's aficionados.
"It's not as if we enjoy the bad weather," Baker said. "You learn to persevere. You just tell yourself you're tougher than the other guy.
"But I'd never say it's fun when it gets so cold you can't even grip the bars."
Baker remembers one particular race a couple of years ago in Gloucester, Mass.
"We raced in a blizzard," Baker said. "It was miserable. When it was over, people's hands were in so much pain they were crying when they finally started to warm up."
Baker's results suggest that he has the right blend of masochism, mental toughness and athletic ability. A winner of the Colorado overall cyclo-cross title a year ago, he committed this year to racing at the national elite level. Currently, he is ranked ninth in the nation and is among the top 50 in the world.
Baker rides for a Boulder-Longmont squad, "Primus Mootry Cyclo-Cross Team Delivered by Denver-Boulder Bicycle Couriers." The team is sponsored by Joe Depaemelaere, the owner of Primus Mootry, a custom framer builder, and also gets support from Denver-Boulder Couriers owner Chris Grealish.
And what kind of financial reward is in it for Baker? Will he soon turn to racing full time and quit his day job?
"If you finish in the top 10 at nationals, you might make enough money to break even when you figure in all of your expenses," Baker said. "Nobody retires off their money from cyclo-cross."
So, let's review: snot-blowing, lung-searing, leg-breaking pain. Hours of training around your real job. Virtually no financial reward, and the always-enjoyable threat of frostbite.
"I couldn't imagine not doing it," Baker said. "It's what keeps me balanced. If I didn't have cycling, I couldn't work eight hours per day."
posted by Ryan Amirault at Tuesday, November 29, 2005
