March was kind of a crazy month. Got a rough wave of bad hits going into every single race of the month. Had to do the Tour of Murrieta in a sick state, then got injured trying to race San Dimas, and crashed right before starting Redlands. All these setbacks happened right before each race, and it wasn't good for my moral. But I still had to try my best, and the outcome was somewhat positive, and a big eye opener towards the rest of the season.

I was racing with a very bad bike position, and caused myself a lower back injury. It wasn't letting me race and push myself anymore. Got a bit worried, and thought I needed some professional advice. My friend Neil Shirley referred me to Dean Sprague from pedpowerperformlab.com to get a good bike fit within the Retul parameters. The session lasted about 5 hours!, and got some really good reference points towards finding the ideal racing position for myself.

I also had to give my friend Greg Bourque some good visits @ http://www.zenqi.net/ for some good acupuncture, massage and cupping sessions to fix my back. It definitely helped big time. I am feeling much better now, and was able to race Redlans all the way to the end. Now, I am looking forward to get back on the game, after missing some form while dealing with all this stuff. 

Anyway, the season keeps moving fast, and everyone keeps getting fitter. I am feeling stronger as the season goes, and I am training harder towards my next big races. I have Dana Point GP, and Time Trial coming up this week, and Tour of Mexico for April 18-25. Should be a good one. Wish me luck

Tour of Murrieta TT

Off the front with Rory Sutherland at Murrieta

Glendora TT

San Dimas Breakaway

Not a good way to get home...

Redlands Prologue

Retul Fit

PedPowerPerformLab by Dean Sprague

I couldn't have asked for a better way to finish February. It has only given me great news, results, and energy. It's been solid from all angles. My friend Bill Demong just won a GOLD MEDAL! at the Vancouver Olympics in Nordic combined skiing, and a SILVER MEDAL in the team relay. And his best friend Johnny Spillane was able to get three SILVER MEDALS!!!

Seeing the Nordic Combined race live from Vegas with my teammates was a unique experience. When Billy attacked on that last lap, I got some unreal Goosebumps of excitement knowing that I was seeing someone who has worked so hard, and with great determination about to make history in his sport. What an amazing race!

His good racing gave me good energy to have a good race in Vegas with my team during the Callville Bay Classic Stage Race. My team rode great, and it showed everyone that even though we are amateur riders, we can also ride like professionals, and work like professionals. We finished in the top 3 in 3 out of 4 stages, and 4th and 10th overall. I want to say this makes us feel very positive towards what's coming this year.

Our teammate Freddy who got 4th overall in the stage race just left to Switzerland for a three month racing/training camp with the UCI. We expect him to get a very good development up there, and hopefully make his way to the major Pro Leagues soon. Should be a good experience for him.

Callville Classic Overall Results (Top 10)

1. Michael Mathis, Empire Cycling Team-CRCA in 6:32:08
2. Floyd Landis, OUCH at 0:15
3. Sergio Hernandez, NOW-MS Society, at 0:18
4. Alfredo Cruz, Herbalife-La Grange at 0:29
5. Danny Heeley, NOW-MS Society, at 0:45
6. Austin Arguello, Escalera Racing, at 0:54
7. Ben Day, Fly V-Australia, at 0:57
8. Jonathan Baskin, at 1:00
9. Phil Zajicek, Fly V-Australia, at 1:24
10. Luis-Alejandro Zamudio, Herbalife-La Grange at 1:28

BILLY WITH HIS GOLD MEDAL

WARMING UP FOR THE TT 

GOING AROUND THE CRIT COURSE (LAST STAGE)

TEAM CHASING HARD

MIKE SHOWING HOW YOU RIDE FOR YOUR TEAM

AT THE START OF THE LAST STAGE...

It has been a while since I've written anything. Blogs sometimes are hard to come up with. Updates are usually good, so this one will be just a quick update of what I've been up to, and what I look forward in the next weeks/months....

Before starting the season, I did some threshold/wattage testing with the help of Neil Shirley. We are keeping track of wattage and heart rate as the season goes. We will take it as a good reference and tool to use in training. It's good to know numbers for me, although I don't really put much attention to them at times, because they are really just numbers. Some people say numbers don't lie. I say they do... But, for me they are always one of the best references...  

Training, and racing have been running smoothly since I started the season. Having done a solid base, and preparation makes me feel very confident and comfortable when I show up to the races. My first race this season was Boulevard road race were I finished 5th with the help of my team. Then I did three criteriums. Criteriums aren't my favorite races, but since it's all we have in Socal at the moment, I take the chance to do them, and help my teammates do well.

I am happy that my teammates are riding really good, and that I can feel happy to work for them anytime I get the chance. We have a good balance of road racers, and crit racers which makes the decision of how should we race much easier at the races. So, I am very happy about that. Herbalife came through with some awesome sponsorship for us, and I want to represent them as best as possible. 

For the next weeks I will most likely be doing Calville Classic Stage Race, Tour of Murrieta, San Dimas Stage Race, Redlands Classic, Cyclovets Ominium, and Tour of Mexico... That's what my schedule looks like it's going to be with maybe some other small criteriums in between.

I have been putting some time and work to what I will be doing with this Website. One of the reasons I haven't been updating it much, is because I want to come up with a better way to give you guys a better insight of what being a cyclist really is. Or at least show you guys the things we see, that you don't ! 

Hopefully this 2010 season stays very positive. I want to inspire people around me, and share this passion I have for cycling everywhere I go. 2010 looks very promising in all aspects. I have my goals set very well. I am putting the work I need to do, and concentrating on taking baby steps everyday towards achieving them. 

One of the few things I have added into my training that I have been finding very helpful for my cycling is BIKRAM YOGA. It's really something I would recommend to anyone out there that wants to feel better ! Hope you give it a shot. Thanks for reading.

Testing... 

Riding through La Jolla

My passion for Coffee and  Scones

Red Trolley Criterium

At the top of Mount Soledad

Off the front @ Boulevard Road Race

January is here now. I feel very good to have made it to this month with good motivation, and a lot of consistent, and quality work under my belt to hit next season's races. January is always fun. Its right when you can learn what you have built over the winter, and start getting the feel of what the season will bring for you.

2009 is now in the past. I cannot be more grateful than to know that I have made it to 2010 with great motivation to continue pursuing my passion, and dreams in cycling to achieve great things in the future doing what I love doing. Ride my bike... I have been lucky to meet great people that have helped me keep moving forward wherever I am... When everyone tells you that you can't, or you shouldn't. There is always some that will push you, and inspire you to exceed yourself and become greater than you have been before.

Living in San Diego has been awesome. Especially during this time in the year. I am not dealing with snow on my rides like some might be in Europe, or other places in this country. So that has allowed me to get out there, and put the training in day after day, week after week, month after month... And now I am here and I am ready for the next step.

This year January brings lots of specific work between 160-175 bpm. Lots of work on time trial bike, mountains, some group rides, and training camp in Solvang! Can't wait for that actually. That's one of my favorite things about this month. Is getting together with everyone. Touching base, and talk about what will be the team's program for the season, and what will be our focus as a team.

All and All January is a great time to look around where you are. Take a good look at what you have, and the preparation that has been done. Set up maybe more goals, and enjoy what you have with who you are with, because once the races start, it's time to get back to the routine of racing/resting/training life.

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays as much as I did. Looking forward to see you in the races

Until next one....