Double, Double, Toil and Trouble....Race reports #2, 3, & 4

Race #2 was prior to vacation and so all that remains is a vague memory of suffering in Prunedale. Oh, and the fact that my team mate beat me on one of  my own bicycles! That is so low C(l)ass. To my thinking, if you smash your bike the day before in training and your teammate loans you HIS STEVENS for the race, you should at least have the common decency to sit up before the line, right? Well, two days after returning from vacation, I did races #3 and #4, 90 minutes apart. What made me think that this was a good idea is still under investigation. Earlier findings indicate a screw loose. The course was typical Candlestick; fast, dry, bumpy and technical. Anyway, I managed to pulled off the double, racing the SS race in at 9:40 and the 45+ race at 12:30.  Don't let that photo fool you (thanks Jon). I'm only smiling because Cass had just farted.... and the race hadn't started yet. I felt pretty ok during the SS race. I let 7th place slip through my fingers, but was pretty satisfied with 8th. There was a decent gap, maybe 30 seconds, to Chris in 6th place. Nice jobs Chris. Next time don't fall down so much;-) I ran a 60in gear and was completely spun out on the long straight. I should have run a 63, but I'm not sure I could have survived it. I really had pretty modest goals for the 45+ race. Stay on the lead lap. It was harder than I thought. Coats, Mundelius and Myrah decided to race a minute ahead in the 35+ race. Heck, it's hard enough to stay lead lap when they race age appropriate! The first 3 laps felt ok. I started at the back with Hans so that I could get my butt on camera as much as possible and was actually passing more folks than not. This was to be short lived. Lap 4 hurt. Lap 5 really hurt. The remaining 43 laps were a complete blurr. Whining aside, I acheived my goal finishing 21st, losing most of my places in the last two laps. I think top 15 on fresh legs. The folks running the BASP series really upped their game a notch this year with a fly-over, totally PRO race numbers and a remote fly-cam. The ML3RDL tent was in full swing with the team posting a couple of 1sts, a 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th....well, alot! Sadly, the cross gods required their sacrifce and both Max and Janie offered up flesh. Heal up and see y'ins next week.

Steve Jobs. RIP

“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in confederacy against him.”
― Jonathan Swift

In the Bag. 2011 race #1

SS CX rule # 12. If the gear feels good in warm-up, it's too big.
SS CX rule #33. Get that F-ing 18t cog back that you loaned to your teammate BEFORE you go to the race.

Raced SS at Lion of Fairfax on Saturday. It always feels good to get that first one outta the way. I wasn't 100% due to that mid Sept. cold so when faced with either a 64 or a 54 inch gear, I chose the latter (A 60 would have been perfect in retrospect ). I was woefully undergeared on the front half of the course, but was drilling it on the slow rooted climb....and no cramping. I ignored the "Go Hampster Go" cat calls through the start finish and told myself I had made the right choice. I finished mid-pack without having to go too deep. That's not to say I didnt' suffer. I made some big efforts to reel in a friend of mine over the first few laps, but I paid the price and was hurting as I came through the start/finish. When I looked up to see "5 to go" on the lap cards, I was sure they had made a mistake. When they showed "4 to go" one lap, later, I realized it was no mistake and almost headed to the car. Not sure how I hung on for 4 more laps, but I'm happy with the result considering I"m about 3 weeks behind schedule fitness wise.

Side note: checked out Tim C's latest incarnation of his hydraulic setup. It's pretty damn sweet. Fantastic modulation with a single finger. CX discs are definitely in my future. Hurry up Shimano/Sram/Sacha!