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Wa State Championships – 6th Place Cat 4 Masters 55+
Last race of the season for me as the snow is flying, the chair lifts are turning and it is time to hang up my skin suit and don my ski patrol jacket and pack. Yesterday rode the State Champs along with 17 others in my class. The course was dead flat but with enough chicanes through the trees and in the straightaways to keep everyone on their toes. There was one barrier section through tufted grass which made you think do I run or ride it. And the long curvy sand section with only one single track tested an ability to ride a straight line! Finished 6th; places 2 through 6 were seperated by 13 seconds or ~ 3 seconds a lap! The winner from Walla Walla smoked us by over a minute+… Good day of racing under clear, cold but sunny skies. Great way to end the season… For me it is time to rest, clean the bikes and begin to put in long steady distance prepping for next year. For those of you going to Natz, to Masters Worlds or finishing your local races, good luck!!!
Paul G
derailleur hanger magnet
I don’t know what it is but I seem to be the magnet out there for guys to put their wheels into my derailleur. Today was WinterCross at the motocross course. I was interested to see if the hard training was going to pay off since I haven’t raced for 2 weeks. I got a great start and sat 3rd wheel and when we hit the fist hairpin turn someone from behind decided not to slow down and plowed into the field and of course my derailleur and bent it. 30 seconds into the race and my bike is messed up. The gears were skipping away and the other riders were riding back. I had to to a hole lap to get to the pits. I put it in a gear that wouldn’t skip and finally made it to the pits and grabbed my B bike. The goal now was to see how many people I could pass. Lap after lap I felt good and dropped guys here and there and finally made it to see the leaders. 2 laps to go and I was sitting 4th after moving up from the back. I stuck on rd place with 2 laps to go and was waiting for one lap to go when we get close to the finish and they say you’re done and 3rd stomps it and it’s over before I knew what was up. That stupid 80% rule in effect again. We didn’t even get passed by the leader of the 1/2 race. At least I know the fitness is coming around. I felt great today. I’m hoping my bad luck with dudes crashing me out is over, because it sure it getting old and the big races are coming up with USGP Bend next weekend and Masters Worlds in January.
Wah
Bama CX State championship–Darn the luck
On November 20th, I made the short trip to Anniston Alabama for the Bama State Champs under the lights. I love this race. I love this course. I love racing under the lights. I have had some of my best finishes in this race over the years and I was really looking for a strong showing. The course weaves around some softball fields, with some technical aspects, a big sandpit, and very little climbing. Did I mention very little climbing? This year the course had a little more climbing thanks to some use of the hill on the entrance road. But it was not a lot and it was still a good course for me. The family went with me so I skipped the Masters race and was looking for a good finish in the C race. I like it when they go with me, but they hate the cold early mornings. But the closeness of the race and the late afternoon, early evening start made a family outing possible.
I got to the start line in good time, but it was very narrow. You could only fit about 5 guys in a row. So, I squeezed onto the second row. I got a GREAT start. I thought I had the hole shot, but 1 guy rushed past me. I was second as we left the pavement. I was feeling good and even had to back off to stay on his wheel. At that point, I was in a good position and content with riding his wheel as long as I could. After the first lap, there was a group of about 10 in the lead. I was right with them. A couple of guys went off the front, but the rest of the group stayed together. So, I was feeling good. I was railing through the sandpit and trying to pick up handoffs. Somehow I missed the beer and ended up with bacon. Yes, bacon. That’s the first time I have ever had a bacon handup. Just saying. I also managed to pick up a few dollars in handups. I was really feeling a top 10. But then it happened again. The cleat on my other shoe came loose. So, everytime I pedaled, my foot would move. And there where 2 spots where you had to dismount. Each time, I had to stop and force my foot out and then do the same thing to get clipped in again. As a result a few guys passed me on the last 2 laps. I still ended up in 18th. Not to bad, but I really wanted that top ten. Then on Sunday, I did a practice race as part of the Rome Winter series. This is the series that my LBS does in January. I ended up doing and hour and 45 mins worth of racing. My legs were cooked.
I’m really getting tired of these equipment problems. I’m not sure why I can’t get everything working at the same time. So, I’m taking everything apart and putting it back together before we race again this weekend. I put in new cables, and new cleats. So, I’m keping my fingers crossed that everything will work this weekend for the Georgia State Championships.
Talk to ya’ll later. DS
GACX #9, The old stomping grounds
On November 13th, the Georgia Series returned to Jim Miller Park in Marietta. This is one of the original Georgia CX courses and the site of the infamous Red Clay Run-up. I really like this course except for that run-up. It is back in the woods, about 50 feet long, almost straight up, and hard to get any traction. I started the Master’s race and was actually feeling pretty good. After half the race, I was still in the middle. But then my bike stopped shifting. I ended up pulling out so I could try to get it fixed for the C race which starts immediately after the Masters. I got it going, but it still wasn’t quite right. Luckily, Trey from my LBS was there and he managed to beat it into submission so I could do the C race. I got to the line as quick as I could, but still ended up starting with about 40 guys in front of me and only 30 behind me. I got tangled up with a couple of guys early and lost a few spots, but then I steadily pulled a few guys back each lap. I was finally feeling good. I had trouble with the hill, but I made up for it through the field and the pavement. With a lap and a half to go, I was looking for a top 20. I came to the run-up and…I couldn’t unclip to get out. So, while I was fighting my pedal about 10 guys passed me. Not sure how it happened, but I completely lost one bolt, and my cleat was just spinning. So, I had to finish the last lap without being able to clip in. The cleat was still hanging and it made it tough to keep my foot on the pedal, but I finished and somehow even managed to beat a guy in the final sprint. But it dropped me down to middle of the pack again.
Talk to ya’ll later. DS
GACX #8, the folly of youth
I again had my daughter’s softball on Saturday, so I was running late geting to the race on November 6th. As a result, I didn’t get there in time to do the Masters race. So, I just signed up for the C race. This race was put on by a HUP United racer and the course was quite a challenge as it went around a high school campus. I got a good warm-up and a second row start. We started off through the parking lot, and I was in the top 5. Then we rounded the building and went through the front parking lot. That is when the young guns stepped up again. Two of them decided that they wanted the same piece of asphalt that was UNDER that big orange safety cone. I guess they don’t have to get up and go to work on monday morning. So, they both went flying and I had to grab a handful of brake. As a result, a bunch of guys went right past me. I hated to give up that good start position. But I got it going again and actually had a pretty good race. The top 3 riders lapped at least half the field, but not me. I managed to hang in for a top 25 finish, which puts me in the top third. I liked the course, but I just don’t have the legs to stay at the front. I would have liked to have not been caught up behind the wreck to see where I could have stayed after that good start. But as usual, I’m feeling a little better on the bike as the season progresses.
Talk to ya’ll later DS
GACX #7 or spookiness
I know. I’m behind again. Its kinda like my races, I guess. I start off strong, with good intentions, but then slowly fall behind. Finally fininshed up with my daughter’s softball late on October 29th, so I decided to get up early on the 30th to give it go. The Georgia race was at the Conyers horse park, site of the equistrian events from the 1996 Olympics. I usually like the course with the exception of the one main hill climb in the woods. Has anyone noticed my distaste for climbing? That’s what a lack of training and 20 extra pounds will do for you.
I got there early though and felt pretty good, so I kitted up for the Masters’ race. There is an ongoing discussion here in Georgia about sandbagging and as part of that there is an offshoot into the fact that there are basically 2 teirs in most of the Master’s races. You have the first group of guys that are also capable of doing the “A” race, and then you have the back of the pack that is old and out of shape. I have advocated for spliting up the Masters race. But I digress. Needless to say I fall into the second group. I have had quite a few mechanicals this year. Not really sure why, but it seems like something always breaks in the first race of the day. But today, nothing broke. I started off good, but as usual, gradually fell towards the back. But I finished and beat a few guys.
Then I turned right around without any break and did the C race. But by the time I got to the start line, there where about 70 guys in front of me. So, I spent most of the day in no man’s land between other racers. I finished up in the middle of the pack again. But I still love being out there.
Talk to ya’ll later. DS
Minnesota State CX
We didn’t sleep much the night before the state championship cyclocross race. I could blame it on my kids, but the nerves were striking my stomach harder than the knees and toes of my six year old. Cyclocross may be considered niche to some. Still others like myself find it a spiritual experience. We push ourselves to near cardiac failure while at the same time writing poetry with every off camber turn into the wet surface below.
In the week leading up to the race I got an email from Joel S. (San Francisco Crossniacs Syndicate) writing that he had a plan. Joel’s idea was to rent a 17 foot truck keeping us shielded from the snow. The truck worked to perfection for warm-ups and we became a central social point during the races as well. I loved having buddies from birchwood stop by and use the truck as a drinking hole for the day. The propane heater made us all comfy in the 27 degree, 12 mile per hour windy, snowy day.
The whistle blew and nine months of preparation were off and spinning. I did pre-ride the course but I forgot to pre-ride the start! So even having effortlessly won the hole shot I had no idea where I was going and was forced to sit back and follow in fourth place during the first half lap. Mitch Nordal and Charles Simacek of Freewheel were off the front as usual and tough to keep pace with.
Each lap coming through the stairs was intense. The spectators were loud and furious as always. My heart rate was shooting through the roof every time I jogged those stairs. Love the drum core too. That was a nice touch.
My goal for the day was top ten in a field of 68 CAT 3 riders. Heading into the last half of the last lap I was sitting 15th and knocking ever so slightly on the doors of that goal when suddenly I went down hard on the asphault iced over section before the mini LGR barriers. Five guys flew by and now I was 19th with about twenty seconds left.
Ped had a great vision in the creation of this course. One key feature that I always look forward to at Bassett Creek is the flow of the off camber turns. A lot of our local courses have twisty stuff, but often they are not at speed and don’t come with differing amounts of elevation. It seemed to me that Ped dialed these corners to perfection and forced the racers to navigate the turns at speed. Fun times and we will see you there 12 months from now.
Luck (glue) ran out just at the end.
As it has been all year, I need to work on my starts. Lined up one row back at the start line for the MN State Championship. By the first turn I was in about 6th place. By the 3rd lap I was in 3rd place.
With 3 laps to go (or maybe 4) my front tire rolled off as we traversed along the hill climb. I managed to mash it back onto the rim but as I didn’t want to crash on the fast descents, took it very easy until I got to my pit bike. By this time I was in a solid 7th place. Those Challenge tires had been on for almost two seasons and about 14 races, couldn’t ask for much more. Maybe by September the rest of the glue will have given up and I can get them re-glued on for some pre-season practice!
That’s it for my Cross season – it’s been blast and I am lucky to ride with such a great bunch of racers.
Next: I spent time over the last few nights fussing with my 29er MTB’s for my next season and while the temps are above 28 degrees I can always ride to work and back trying to fend off those extra pounds.
Good luck to all. Cheers.
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