Cross is hard..one mistake, one wheel in the derailleur and you go from winning to mid pack.

Saturday was a small field at the Canby Cross-Word Cyclocross Challenge but it was a great course…fast with some techy stuff. I got a decent start and for some reason after lap 1, I thought 2 guys were off the front. I got into a group with 3 guys and we exchanged pulls. I tried to attack a few times but nothing would stick. With about 4 laps to go one of the guys took a corner too hot and went off course. Me and the other guy took advantage of the situation and worked together to open up a gap. The gap was never very big, so we had to work the rest of the race together. With 2 laps to go I started attacking, but could not get a way…. here is where things get interesting. Oregon has the 80% rule..check out Tilford’s view on it. I share the same view.

(b) The Chief Referee may, after consulting with the organizer, impose the 80% rule. Under this rule, riders whose time gap to the race leader is at least 80% of the race leader’s time for the first lap will be pulled by the officials unless it is the final lap. The number of 80% is merely an approximation based on a typical course; the intent is that all riders should be pulled before they are lapped.

Anyway..be and the other rider hit the pavement with what we thought was going to be 1 lap to go, but as we rounded the final corner to the finish line they were waving the checkered flag and I sprinted and won the race. It was good to get the win, but it would have been more fun to have another lap to battle it out. The leader of the 1/2s was no where in sight, so we should have been allowed to do another lap..but not in OR racing.

The 80% rule sucks for the Master 1 racers because we race with the Pro/1/2 guys who start a minute ahead of us, so we are always in danger of the 80% rule.

OK.. Day 2 of racing in the infamous Cross Crusade. I’ve heard the rumors and the hype at how much of an event they are with 1,500+ rider and fans everywhere. The rumors are true. The race venue was insane with over 1,700 racers and tons of fans. There were food vendors and team tents everywhere. It was like a USGP. The parking lot at 9:00am was full.

I was looking forward to really testing myself today against a 70+ field. The gun goes off and I get a decent start and 100 yards later I hear someone’s front wheel go into my rear derailleur and my shifting goes to shit…my chances at any sort of result are over. I limp my way to the pits and grab my B bike..which I find out is not dialed in at all and I have to stop twice to adjust the shifting. At this point I just cruise along and enjoy the event and the great course. The rain starts to fall and the course becomes super slick and riders going down everywhere. I too take a hard fall but get up and soldier on. At the end of the day I am 34th..but will fight another day. Skylar got to race the kids race and they even had barriers for them.

If you get the chance, get to a Cross Crusade. It’s the closest to racing in Belgium as I’ve seen and I’ve raced all over the country. Families, kids, dogs are all out enjoying the race and eating frites with mayo and ringing cowbells. If I can introduce a handful of couch potato football watchers to a cyclocross race, I think the world would be a better place. It’s way more fun to watch then a stupid football game.