10% Luck
Missed out on the early crashes that ensured behind in the pack by following Patrick’s lead out. Dan dropped a chain at the start, but roared back to Olli, Jared, Patrick and I. Then Olli double flatted! With Olli down for the count the 4 of us traded punches like Tyson and Holifield. I passed Dan a few times, and he passed me back, Patrick was always in the mix, and Jared struggled with the technical aspects of the course. Now that is cross racing! No quarter was given, and non was ask for!
20% Skill
After fretting about the forecasted inclement weather I decided to downgrade the mammoth magic gear I had raced at Whittier (38/13) to a more manageable 36/13. This was part (mind you only part) of my undoing. Because I needed the chain tensioner I was not getting enough wraparound on that mini 13t cog. It would slip whenever I would put that hammer down. Fire the mechanic!
The course, however, was an awesome ball-busting technical ride. Tomke and I put about 125-150 back braking buckets of H20 in the pit on Saturday (probably not the best workout before a race) while discussion renting a pump! With the help of that instrument of torture our little puddle turned into Lake Huron in 10-seconds flat. Various techniques of traversing the lake were demonstrated for the viewing audience. The much loved endo, the face plant, the tippy toe, and so on.
Missed out on the early crashes that ensured behind in the pack by following Patrick’s lead out. Dan dropped a chain at the start, but roared back to Olli, Jared, Patrick and I. Then Olli double flatted! With Olli down for the count the 4 of us traded punches like Tyson and Holifield. I passed Dan a few times, and he passed me back, Patrick was always in the mix, and Jared struggled with the technical aspects of the course. Now that is cross racing! No quarter was given, and non was ask for!
20% Skill
After fretting about the forecasted inclement weather I decided to downgrade the mammoth magic gear I had raced at Whittier (38/13) to a more manageable 36/13. This was part (mind you only part) of my undoing. Because I needed the chain tensioner I was not getting enough wraparound on that mini 13t cog. It would slip whenever I would put that hammer down. Fire the mechanic!
The course, however, was an awesome ball-busting technical ride. Tomke and I put about 125-150 back braking buckets of H20 in the pit on Saturday (probably not the best workout before a race) while discussion renting a pump! With the help of that instrument of torture our little puddle turned into Lake Huron in 10-seconds flat. Various techniques of traversing the lake were demonstrated for the viewing audience. The much loved endo, the face plant, the tippy toe, and so on.
Instrument of torture
The Lake
The Tipsy Toe
The Plant 
Cleaned it!
The Run
My bike is to pretty for the mud technique
The drag
The WTF...
Super Man!
Like a pro15% Concentrated Power of Will!
The Bs had to do the backstroke through the lake, but by the time the As came crashing head long into the mud it was a BOG! Manitoba Mud Rocks! It took considerable effort to heft your bike with 20 lbs of mud up over the limestone stairs, across the grass and back down a 75º incline with a 90º turn at the bottom.
I folded my brakes under the rim, and ripped the cable right off the bike (I did not know you could do this… bizarre) on the 3rd – or 4th lap. Ahhh well... at least I performed a most excellent head plant-front roll-jerk-chicken thing right in front of Patrick… who was kind enough not to squash the melon as he passed my carcass. It took me a while to figure out what*%$#@ had happened. When I finally did, Patrick and Dan were gone gone gone. With only a front brake, and 10 lbs of mud on each wheel my concentration was devoted for the rest of the race to damage control.
5% Pleasure
The mud was awesome!
The competition was furious!
The course was technical but suuuper fun!
The crowd was inspirational!
The volunteers made the race… literally!
The Velo Bread was inspired!
Finishing was sweet!
50% Pain!
Before
After
Poached Coach Dave
Results Here
Gallery Here, and... Here, Here, Here , Here
Some other thoughts Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here,
Videos! Race Start, Mude Here, Here, Here, Remix Here
hey, your blogs up, great writeup!
ReplyDeleteThanks! You had a great race. Sorry you will be taking off to greener pastures, but I am sure we can knock elbows at Cross Nationals next year.
ReplyDelete