By Tristan Schouten

The weather here in Wisconsin has not been very fall-like the last two weeks, it's been more spring-like with lots of overcast and rain. That is not fall in Wisconsin normally, but it's about par for the year I'd say.

I started the cross season out last weekend by traveling to StarCrossed in Seattle, WA where my team Cyclocrossracing.com is based out of. I had never raced in Seattle before and with big cross races going along with my team being from there it was a great way to get there and see what Seattle is all about. Unfortunately, some overbooked flights and lost luggage on Frontier screwed up the weekend and I suffered the raw end of the deal on little sleep, borrowed bikes and not very good races. It was a still a fun weekend and the guys out there really take care of me so it was good to spend some time with them even if I had to use a borrowed helmet for the races.

On to the big races and the US Gran Prix (USGP) season opener in Madison, WI. The last few years I seem to have found awesome form for these races so I was sort of expecting it to happen this year since I am basically on the same plan. That didn't happen at all and this year with the rain and muddy courses there was no hiding at all. You either had it or didn't. I knew 500 ft into the race on day one that I didn't have it, and despite giving it everything, I couldn't go harder than 70% it felt like. I lost ground the whole race, couldn't ride with anyone and felt off balance in every corner. It was ugly and very frustrating as I was hoping to ride a bit better on the home course. Sunday came and so did the wind, rain, thunder, lighting, and hail.

By the time we raced at 4 p.m., the course was well beyond destroyed with a two to three-inch layer of mud and slippery, slimy corners. I had a good tire selection with the FMB Grippo XL at about 25 psi, and the legs were much better, I could sit down and feel the tire hooking up, but I still didn't have the horsepower to move forward. It was funny because Brian Matter passed me half way through the first lap and no one passed me the remainder of the race and I didn't pass anyone else. I couldn't see anyone in front of me and only Weighal and Wicks were behind me losing ground - I finished 15th. It was a difficult day to be off, but I'm glad I was better on Sunday and the conditions could not have been worse.

So, the season is now in full swing and this coming weekend I am flying out to Hartford, CT with Jamie to stay at my friends and host house of the 2006 and 2007 east coast cross campaign season the Pulvers. I'll do the GP Gloucester out there, then come home and get ready for round #2 of the USGP in Ft. Collins October 8-9. It's going to be a stressful two weeks coming up with lots of packing, unpacking, bike work and regular work but it will be fun to do a little travel after a season of just Wisconsin racing.

Big thanks to my sponsors CycleOps, Cyclocrossracing.com, Blue bikes, Lazer helmets and Rolf Prima wheels. I have excellent support and I wouldn't be able to race at this level without them.

Tristan Shouten is from Plymouth, WI and has been racing for fifteen years, including nine years as a pro. He is a four-time Wisconsin Off Road Series Champion, nine-time mountain bike and cross champion. Tristan has used CycleOps PowerTap to assist his training since 2001.