Boom Island CX
Always one of the best races of the year, Boom Island is a personal fave as it was my first ‘cross race three years ago, the one that got me hooked on this insanely fun sport. This year was a bit different, though–the normally mild sunny weather was replaced by dreary overcast skies, and a chill 48 degrees with threats of rain.
I had seen a preview of parts of the course at the weekly clinic Wednesday night and knew it would be technical. The first turn was an off-camber that was getting slippery, followed by a few sweepers into a “rocky road” to single track to the cut-bank run-up, to twisty rooty trail to the “pyramid of pain”– a series of seven or eight 180 turns that got progressively tighter and closer. After that, the course was back to wide open spaces through a few hard turns to a bumpy downhill to a barrier on a slight riser, to another woop-de-doo, to the final beer tent barrier, and a sharp s-curve to the finish stretch, which was slightly into the wind.
Lined up front row, had an okay start that was helped by a pileup on the outside on that first turn while I dove inside. I was trying to pass going into the rocky road, something I knew I shouldn’t even try because it’s just too treacherous. Sure enough, my front wheel hit a hole, I went flying to a very hard landing on my right quad, elbow, and ankle. Got back up to discover my rear brake had jammed into the spokes; pulled it out and started racing again. By this point, I had been passed by well more than half the field of 70 or so and all the women. Anger and adrenaline got me through the initial screaming pain of the leg and I started fighting my way back up. The crowd was counting positions and by half-way I was back up to 18th. Pulled back at least four more people (maybe more?) by the bell lap, which I spent on my own concentrating on not messing up again. Rolled across the line and instantly started feeling how bad the leg is bruised up. Let’s just say stairs aren’t fun right now and I don’t know now well I’ll be walking, let alone moving tomorrow.
Should have been able to stay top-ten on this course and closer to an upgrade. What truly annoyed me, though, was seeing one rider I know I beat every week (typically by a wide margin) lining up in the A race–what gives with him getting an upgrade with results lower than mine? Isn’t this supposed to be a points system that requires you to earn your upgrade? Guess I need to start making friends in high places….
andy
6 Responses to “Boom Island CX”
If he’s a Cat 3, or 35+ he can go in the A race. Hell, my Dad could do the A race – 35+, then the B race – 45+, and the C race – Cat 4, all on the same day. With smaller fields (compared to CO) it’s not very strict as you can tell.
Way to fight back to the front!
Looks like you missed a hell of a pile-up:
http://skinnyski.com/racing/results/2007/photos/boomislandcx/IMG_7730.JPG
By the way, a few of us are doing some stair run-ups at Minnehaha on Tuesday…
It isn’t just friends in high-places.
It is having enough points to be a cat3 in cross.
Assuming that you are not talking about C.J., your teammate, that also raced in the ‘A’ race with us, you must be talking about the two Grumpy’s riders as we were the only other ones to race in the A’s. As both of us hit the deck hard from an unfortunate crash we decided to take advantage of the cat3 listing on our license.
What gives? Take a look at the picture and be happy that it wasn’t you who’s face was in the ground 300m into the race.
Oh.
About 3 years ago when the USAC went to a category system for cross that was similar to the road system (1/2/3/4) rather than the old classification you were placed in accordance to what your official in the area had you racing at.
Since, my last season of cross was in Chicago they put me at 3 when I reclassified due to confusion over what a ‘B’ race was down there (originally a B race was for cat3s only, and a C race for 4s only…it was similiar to what the original interpatation was going to be here, before the MCF decided on the current format).
I was glad to be able to do the A race after getting crashed out 600 yards into the B race. Thanks for the help with that Tim. Andy, don’t take it so personally dude. It was the right thing to do. We all showed up to race and unfortunate circumstances took some of us out. It was the right thing to do letting us in the A race. Tim’s a regular in the B race every weekend and a very strong supporter of cyclocross. Spread the love brother!!
cj
sorry gents. a very poorly worded last paragraph on my part. my frustration was not with Tim or any one particular person, but rather the system. (the point about confusion when cross cats were applied, included.) i was also completely forgetting that someone could race well in the C races and earn enough points to upgrade to a 3 without ever competing against the 4s in a B race. i never raced C, so i can’t use that strategy (i would hope they would prevent me from doing so now since that should be considered sandbagging).
which leads me to this thought: seems to me that the fact that points are apportioned the same in the C race as in the B is not quite as equitable as it could be. to wit, is it more difficult to place well enough to earn points in a cat 3/4 B race than it is in a cat 4 C race? if so, should those placings in the B be worth more or should points be spread deeper? i don’t know other than it doesn’t make sense to cheapen the C race results.
this is a “larger than MN cross scene” question, though, that probably goes up to the great bureacracy in cyclingland. all hail the bureaucrats!
tim, i’m happy you and everyone else in that “epic” pileup made it out okay and that the officials and promoters let you race again in the A. i felt so bad about taking advantage of your misfortune that i tried to even the score on my own. luckily, i managed to find the only stretch of non-rocky ground to land on and didn’t take down a whole crowd or break a collarbone (which could have been an easy consequence). i’m certainly hoping you’re moving a lot better than i am today.
double ouch.