Park Ave Bike Halloween Cyclocross Race

First Cyclocross race was today. Wow.

Ok-post over.

Haha...just kidding. Some pics:

First Cyclocross race was today. It was the Park Ave Bike Halloween Cyclocross Race. PAB races are always a good time. Jeffina came out too, Jeff has had one heck of an awesome season but today he wasn't feeling it so he didn't race. Jeff, Chelsea and I watched Katina's race before mine began. I'm not sure where she finished but she dropped the hammer. I'm sure she podiumed. It was an impressive effort.

A couple of Single Track Academy riders were racing too. I was pretty stoked to see them but I was not impressed with the way a few of their much older and more experienced competitors were barging past with little or no notice. Come on! Give the kids a heads up! They're gonna be hamming us all into the ground in a few years anyways. Mad props to the SA crew!

I was somewhat surprised with my experience. First of all I had more fun then I expected (I prefer longer races), and second, despite my 19th place finish I was very happy with how well I did crossing the barriers. I've practiced my mounts/dismounts the past few weeks, and except for one instance where I couldn't get unclipped and rammed the barrier like a total newb I was happy with my execution of what I expected would be the hardest part of the race. There's nothing like fairy hopping over barriers while your heart rate's approaching redline. In my opinion it's way harder then just bunny hopping them.

I was not ready at all for the start. In xc race starts it's always a pure adrenaline fueled rage fest to get the hole shot. The Cross race though had a very mild start. I was in too big of a gear for the initial pace and I had to try hard not to rub anyone since I shot out of the gate but was in the middle of the pack.

So...first lap my rear wheel fell off my bike after I set it down too hard/off camber remounting (yeah, I said fell off). Second lap-same spot, wheel fell off again. What the huck!!?? Gotta figure that out. When it happened the first time I had no idea and hopped on the bike only to mash the cassette into everything possible. Most of my shifting was done for me at the bike's discretion for the rest of the race and the rear wheel was not spinning very well. I was extremely careful not to put too much off camber stress on the rear end for the rest of the race and it didn't give me any more trouble. I rarely have mechanicals (knock on wood) so I guess I shouldn't whine about it. Another racer told me that the skewer is junk and I need to change it so that will be my next move. He showed me how the skewer's lever has no built in stop so when you crank it down it can be tightened too far, which will then cause it to loosen over time without much notice. Much like when you go past the threads on a jar of pickles and it pops open again. Come on! I'm glad the mtb industry is looking after me with their idiot proof skewers or i'd be in trouble.

This sport's way too fast to make up any time spent standing trailside figuring out your wheel's not attached to your rig, or any other sort of mechanical for that matter. Everyone there was flying. It was an extreme pace that I haven't seen many times before. A couple of guys and I saw a lot of each other way out in no man's land towards the end of the race. We rode close but excelled at different portions of the course so we passed each other multiple times.

Last lap I knew I was fighting to not finish last and had a wicked nice line down a tight, wet pavement into gravel switcher section. At the very last second one of the guys I was jockeying with popped into the inside line of the turn's exit and I had to lock up my brakes without much notice. It was not his fault by any means, if you'd have seen it you'd agree. We both took opposite lines, and were both in the wrong place at the wrong time when they converged. I'm unsure if he even saw me. Anyways, when I had to pull the e-brake it was right where the pavement transitioned into gravel, with deep potholes scattered about. I started to drift and pulled out of it, almost regained control only to careen out of control around the transition into the next gravel turn, almost regained control again and eventually ate it. It was one of those long and drawn out 'i'm still holding onto the bike, still clipped in, still drifting sideways on the gravel' wrecks. I hopped up, remounted and now my wheels wouldn't spin! Man these rigs are dainty! I started to run it out when some one happened to be standing there and said "here finish on my rig" so I hopped on and quickly realized it had egg beaters (I ride times). To make it even more fun I couldn't reach the brakes or the pedals while sitting down. Lol. Still way better then running the remaining stretch though. I just stood up to the finish which thankfully was very near by. I owe him big time!

All in all i'd say it was a fun day. I'll certainly be back. I'm not great at the short races, so Cross will help me improve for sure, and it's just such a blast. It seems to require much more overall athleticism then most xc races. The hardest part for me is steady hr and power output with such different gearing then i'm used to but i'm sure I will adjust. I feel a little bad for my rig. It's not use to the abuse it endured today, and I hope when I put it back together tomorrow it works. I think/hope it just needs some TLC and a skewer.