Meet Action Jackon. Yep, that's what they called me at the races in 1996. For a sprint-focused rider, I was almost always attacking the field in the longer races like Scratch, Point-a-Lap, Tempo, Snowball... I was always itching to go. Almost always, if I wasn't already off the front, I'd attack the field with about 1.5 laps to go. It was almost my "signature move" and yet people always seemed surprised by it. I won a lot of races that way. Sure wish I could say that now.'96 was the pinnacle of my racing. I won a lot of races, between Sprint meets, Keirins and Omniums, I've never been faster. Hell, I even won a 2-day criterium omnium. I initiated a break on the first day and then two other riders joined me. I took all of the points on the race and so I let the other two go for the "win" while I sat up and took third, but by virtue of all my points, I lead the omnium. The next day, I lapped the field, solo, and kept right on going and won solo. It was pretty darned cool and one of the highlights of 25 years of racing.
'96 was the fastest and fittest I've ever been. I'd love to be that fit again one day- or close to it. I rode a 1:08 Kilo and an 11.1 200m (in San Diego)... that was the best I've ever done. The legs; 30" thighs. Those are the legs that friends of mine called "freakish". The muscle of the quad grew slightly over the kneecap, which was weird looking... and likely helped with the season-ending injury that year.
I'm a different guy and a different rider now. Life is totally different now too. Wife and family (even have fish, a turtle and a dog). Training is something I do on a rare occasion and work takes the bulk of my time. Travel makes training seem impossible. Weekends belong to family, not endless hours on the road, on the track or in the gym. Oddly, life is better now than it was then. Sure, I'd love to win races again. Hell, even DO races again (I only raced three times all year in '06).
Life is a challenge and a never changing one at that. For as much as I wish I was still as fit as the me in the picture above, I wouldn't trade it for the me I am now.
Sundays make me think sometimes... strange, isn't it.
Tim
12 comments:
You sure that's not a doctored pic of Hubner?
You are right though about being in another place and being happy with where you are now. I like that feeling too.
Of course that guy is one of the foundation pillars of who you are now, he'll always be there.
this is the greatest photo of all time. literally.
you found my missing primal fear jersey. i would like it back.
Oh man...i need that jersey. is that a graffix bong logo on there. You wouldn't be endorsing anything like that now would you?
Is that a mullet I see peeking out the back of the helmet?
Great shot Tim. Very impressive quads.
Don't feel bad about only doing 3 races last year. I haven't even renewed my racing license since having kids. The longer I stay away from it, the more nervous I become about getting back into it and doing crits. Maybe I'll just have to stick with road racing in my masters career as I am getting older and wimpier about hitting the pavement all the time.
Nice Clown Suit! Is your middle name Kenny?
Good Lord, man. Those legs *are* freakish.
It's okay. I get that comment all the time, too.
What the hell are you wearing? And, . . . are you still sponsoring a team?
Freakish legs? Join the club! In fact, I wish mine were a little more freakish at the moment, they're almost normal and that means not enough riding.
I have no idea how to get in more riding. Three kids, wife, but no turtle.
I knew about Masidoggie, but not about Masifishie and Masiturtle. Woa...kind of a full house there, isn't it?
You may have been "Action Jackson" on the track but in those days you were "Lack-of-Traction Jackson" off road. And ohhh how I remember that Stutzman designed skinsuit .... The salad days I tell ya.
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