Updates from Tom Erickson

Fall/Winter Training and 2009 Race Schedule

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:50:05 GMT

I am focusing on my own racing for 2009 and plan to race both 41+ Expert and Cruiser classes in the ABA this season. To be able to hang with the competition I need to train much harder than I have. I have developed a training plan that includes the Concept 2 indoor rower and other exercises to gain in both aerobic and anerobic performance. It's going well so far and I can tell a difference already. One key area is VO2peak development. This is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can convert to energy. To do this I am using my Concept 2 ergometer set to a 20 second interval with a 10 second rest. I repeat this 8 times or for 4 minutes trying to maximize the distance per 20 second interval. It's not fun but it really has improved my performance already. I am also still doing sprints as well as core and leg strength training to complete the plan.

Now that the ABA Schedule is out I thought I would post my plans for 2009. These are the events that I have high confidence in attending

My 2009 Schedule:
1) March 1             RCQ Steel Wheels                   Portage, IN
2) June 19            Midwest Nationals                  Rockford, IL
3) July 18-19        Empire State Nationals     Horseheads, NY
4) TBD                    TBD East National                        TBD
5) October 30          Disney Cup                            Orlando, FL
6) November 28-29 ABA Grand Nationals               Tulsa, OK
7) December 12-13  Steel Wheels YGC FPC         Portage, IN

I hope to add more events over the Season. I will also be attending races at Steel Wheels BMX and plan to support the new Toledo BMX facility as much as possible.

Toledo Speedway BMX is now Open!! Track is great a...

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:17:25 GMT

Toledo Speedway BMX is now Open!! Track is great and ready to go!

NBL Hoosier Nationals

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:54:33 GMT

Well my First National for the 2009 NBL season is over and what a weekend! I have been to Evansville twice and I have to say every time the facility is better. This year it was over the top. I really appreciated the new covered staging area. The sun was bright for a fall event like this and the shade was welcome. The new concessions building is top notch for any racing venue and I know the volunteers really enjoyed the clean and cool setting so close to the racing action.

The Track was faster than ever before with new paved burms. The first turn was well done and had a lot of riders showing their cornering skills. The paving lead all the way to the lip of the big double. The NBL ran this race like clockwork. I would have to say this was one of my favorite events of the last 5 years.

My performance was great for me. I had good starts on my 20" that gave Ron Anderson pressure down the first straight. It's been a while since I had the holeshot. I need to work on my large jump skills so I can keep Ron behind me next time. He passed me in the air. I managed to hold 2nd place both days. The cruiser class was stacked with the new young guns of the 40-44 Crusier class. Over half the riders were just 40 which is an indication that this class will be the largest cruiser class at the 2009 NBL Grands. I did well passing on this track which gave me good scores on Saturday with a 4th in the main. A tough moto and gate 8 in the main were no excuses for my 7th place finish on Sunday. A lot of contact and Hector Mendez forcing me off the track made it hard to get up to the top of the pack. It was a great experience for sure.

All-in-All I am ecstatic will my performance and expect that my training plans using the Concept 2 rower will only help me. I'm now waiting for the NBL schedule to published so I can plan my next event!

2009 NBL Season Begins

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:52:12 GMT

My performance at the NBL Grands was decent making it to the quarterfinals in 40-44 Cruiser and Semis on 20". I feel that I was not on my game completely though and I was not really in the hunt for any title or high plate. I wa not qualified on Cruiser and had a minimum 6 races in for the 41+x class. I ended up 12th overall in 41x which was a surprise to me and has inspired me to go after better finishes in 2009.

So the season begins for me this weekend at Evansville's Burdette park for the Hoosier Nationals. I plan to race both bikes this season since I enjoyed 20" so much and will turn up to 45-49 at the Grands. Being 44 now will make both classes challenging but my new training plan from Greg Hammond at Concept2 should help me a lot.

I have been rowing since college and being from Minnesota means that I didn't get much outdoor time. The indoor rowers from Concept 2 were a mainstay for our training in the rowing club. After college I purchased a Concept2 ergometer (Model B) for my continued training and fitness. I have always enjoyed the no-impact training but never expected it would be good for BMX training. The schedule I have is puke level tough and should increase my VO2Peak. I have noticed a performance improvement already but I have just started. I am also more motivated to win.

I am shooting for making the Main this weekend on both days. I don't expect that we will get more than eight 41x riders but the 40-44 cruiser should be at least two gates. With Denny Terry and the expected tough riders from Indiana I know it will be a challenge. The new track updates with asphalt turns and probably more speed it will be crazy. I will post results once next week.

Preparing for the NBL Grands

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:59:42 GMT

The NBL Grands is coming up next weekend and I have been preparing for the trip. This year will be a lower cost effort that previous years with fuel prices. Joe Blatchford and I will travel from Detroit together.

I hope to be racing both 40-44 Cruiser and 41+ Expert classes. I am not qualified on teh cruiser for a National plate but love racing cruiser and why not race if I am there. I am qualified in 41+ Expert sitting 16th in the points. I don't have a 20" bike to race today but should borrow one in time to enter. I just laced up a wheel for Denny Terry for his 20" which he will ride but not race the event. I hope to use his bike.

I'm looking forward to this season with so many team riders doing well. Knowing the effort these guys have put into the season it will be great to share their final performance with them.

NBL Great Lakes National at Waterford Oaks Park

Sun, 25 May 2008 12:27:11 GMT

Well I just got home after the race and am glad that I live so close to Waterford. I had a lot of fun racing some old friends today. Rich Coles was up from Indiana. Team Mate Denny Terry was racing hard and looked real good winning the class Saturday. He missed the win by a half wheel Sunday. I had great gates in both mains fading in behind Denny to work for a best finish I could. On Day# one I came out the first turn in fourth behind Rich Coles. Through rythm section I caught up to him enough to go for a pass on the last straight. He closed the door pushing me into the Pro section. I had to check up and lost speed and was passed at the line. Sunday, I had the best lap of the weekend in the main. After a 3rd and 1st in the motos I was pumped. With Gate #8 and Denny in #7 I new I would have a clear track to the outside. I stayed with Denny and Jeff Longere with Rich Coles close to my left. I tried to get in front of Rich to take over third. Rich beat me to it a pushed me high in turn#1. I did my best to position myself for a pass but didn't have enough to catch Rich. 4th place was great considering the riders that registered.