Cyclocross race reports (Page 2)
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2012-10-01 9:49 AM in reply to: #4434162 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Tough break, same thing happened to me in our first series race, rolled the front and jammed it in the brakes. Scary ridding laps knowing it may roll again at any time! Hopkins Park for Race 2 in our series Masters 30+ Open Without series points, I was staged 5th row by Crossresults points. Not idle as the first half of the course was very tight & technical. I would lose ground in the technical sections and drill it into the single track wooded false flat each lap. The flyover was steep and keep smacking my front wheels on the stairs but the chain catcher was doing its job. Worked my way up through some of the field and with two to go was in range of a group of 4. Took two laps to latch onto the group and with one to go was ready to set them up. I knew I could beat them, IF I lead into the uphill barrier and through the off camber downhill. They were faster through this section, but they would have to follow my wheel and I could gap them on the paved section heading to the flyover and finish. Got around them after the double barriers and came into the single uphill barrier out of control and clipped with my front front and down I went....landed on my bar ends knocking the wind out of myself. Bike was okay, I could crawled back on and rode into the finish. 20th / 63 starters Cat 3 Pretty consistent, my power drops about 8% in the second race. With a bruised chest (ribs) it was tough to breath, so I would wait for someone to pass me, try and hang onto wheels, get dropped, and wait for the next guy Repeat Repeat for 7 laps. 47th / 78 Thinking about dropping that second race when it gets colder, nearly two hours of cx is hard on the old body. Good News: Picked up 10 series points and will be moved up at least one row in the start grid in the 30+. I'm hoping I can pick up the next faster group and hang with them vs. chasing for 45 mins. |
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2012-10-01 11:42 AM in reply to: #4381658 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Well, we need to cheer this group up... Or work on our tire gluing process? That state of "Zen" you get when gluing has more to do with the mastic than the patience required to do it correctly!! First WIN of the Season!!!
2nd race.... I always seem to internally ask myself "why" at about the 2 laps to go sign!
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2012-10-01 11:44 AM in reply to: #4381658 |
Pro 4578 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports I did my first cyclocross race yesterday. I actually watched a race live for the first time on Saturday and then did the race on Sunday. I don't have a cyclocross bike unfortunately, so I stuck some cross tires on my touring bike. The touring bike isn't ideal. It has downtube shifters (not a big deal) and is really heavy (seemed like a pretty bike deal when I tried to carry it up some stairs and over barriers). Regardless I had a lot of fun. I raced Open women, so I raced against some women who were pro (Mical Dyck) and very good semi-pro. Only 15 women or so in the race. I lined myself up at the back. Ended up battling with 4 other women the entire race. I'd catch them or pass them on every straight away, we'd be about the same in all of the corners/twisty sections and they'd all pass me on the barriers. Having never dismounted or mounted my bike in a race before, I didn't know how to do that at all. Got lots of heckling there. Then had to catch back up to the ladies I was battling with. A wide corner came and I tried to maintain a lot of speed as there were 2 women behind me and 2 really close just ahead of me and I wanted to pass them. Completely slid out in the corner. Took a few seconds to get my foot unclipped and out from underneath me. My chain had came off. It seemed like a wasted minutes trying to put my chain back on. That's a skill when your HR is high, I tell you. Everyone passed me. Spent the last 1/3 of the race riding at the back and trying to catch back up. Caught 1 other women, so I came 2nd last. Very fun though. Edited by jeng 2012-10-01 11:49 AM |
2012-10-01 11:55 AM in reply to: #4435074 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports jeng - 2012-10-01 12:44 PM I did my first cyclocross race yesterday. I actually watched a race live for the first time on Saturday and then did the race on Sunday. I don't have a cyclocross bike unfortunately, so I stuck some cross tires on my touring bike. The touring bike isn't ideal. It has downtube shifters (not a big deal) and is really heavy (seemed like a pretty bike deal when I tried to carry it up some stairs and over barriers). Regardless I had a lot of fun. I raced Open women, so I raced against some women who were pro (Mical Dyck) and very good semi-pro. Only 15 women or so in the race. I lined myself up at the back. Ended up battling with 4 other women the entire race. I'd catch them or pass them on every straight away, we'd be about the same in all of the corners/twisty sections and they'd all pass me on the barriers. Having never dismounted or mounted my bike in a race before, I didn't know how to do that at all. Got lots of heckling there. Then had to catch back up to the ladies I was battling with. A wide corner came and I tried to maintain a lot of speed as there were 2 women behind me and 2 really close just ahead of me and I wanted to pass them. Completely slid out in the corner. Took a few seconds to get my foot unclipped and out from underneath me. My chain had came off. It seemed like a wasted minutes trying to put my chain back on. That's a skill when your HR is high, I tell you. Everyone passed me. Spent the last 1/3 of the race riding at the back and trying to catch back up. Caught 1 other women, so I came 2nd last. Very fun though. Glad to see you got out there. You know you can do the 4 race even if you're a 1 on the road right? |
2012-10-01 11:56 AM in reply to: #4435071 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports badgerintx - 2012-10-01 12:42 PM Well, we need to cheer this group up... Or work on our tire gluing process? That state of "Zen" you get when gluing has more to do with the mastic than the patience required to do it correctly!! First WIN of the Season!!!
2nd race.... I always seem to internally ask myself "why" at about the 2 laps to go sign!
Great job Dave, you have been crushing it this year. |
2012-10-01 1:35 PM in reply to: #4435102 |
Pro 4578 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports dalessit - 2012-10-01 9:55 AM jeng - 2012-10-01 12:44 PM I did my first cyclocross race yesterday. I actually watched a race live for the first time on Saturday and then did the race on Sunday. I don't have a cyclocross bike unfortunately, so I stuck some cross tires on my touring bike. The touring bike isn't ideal. It has downtube shifters (not a big deal) and is really heavy (seemed like a pretty bike deal when I tried to carry it up some stairs and over barriers). Regardless I had a lot of fun. I raced Open women, so I raced against some women who were pro (Mical Dyck) and very good semi-pro. Only 15 women or so in the race. I lined myself up at the back. Ended up battling with 4 other women the entire race. I'd catch them or pass them on every straight away, we'd be about the same in all of the corners/twisty sections and they'd all pass me on the barriers. Having never dismounted or mounted my bike in a race before, I didn't know how to do that at all. Got lots of heckling there. Then had to catch back up to the ladies I was battling with. A wide corner came and I tried to maintain a lot of speed as there were 2 women behind me and 2 really close just ahead of me and I wanted to pass them. Completely slid out in the corner. Took a few seconds to get my foot unclipped and out from underneath me. My chain had came off. It seemed like a wasted minutes trying to put my chain back on. That's a skill when your HR is high, I tell you. Everyone passed me. Spent the last 1/3 of the race riding at the back and trying to catch back up. Caught 1 other women, so I came 2nd last. Very fun though. Glad to see you got out there. You know you can do the 4 race even if you're a 1 on the road right? Unfortunately, we only have 3 categories for women. Open women, citizen women (unlicensed) and masters women. If I come to the US to race (so many cool races in Portland area), I'll race 4 for sure. |
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2012-10-01 1:36 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
Pro 4578 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports So can anyone link some good YouTube videos to learn some CX skills. I'm need them, particularly for dismounting and mounting. |
2012-10-01 1:49 PM in reply to: #4435316 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports jeng - 2012-10-01 1:36 PM So can anyone link some good YouTube videos to learn some CX skills. I'm need them, particularly for dismounting and mounting. The user Kwestwood on youtube has a 4 or 5 part series on skills. |
2012-10-01 3:41 PM in reply to: #4435350 |
Pro 4578 Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports running2far - 2012-10-01 11:49 AM jeng - 2012-10-01 1:36 PM So can anyone link some good YouTube videos to learn some CX skills. I'm need them, particularly for dismounting and mounting. The user Kwestwood on youtube has a 4 or 5 part series on skills. Thank you! |
2012-10-02 8:38 AM in reply to: #4435313 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports jeng - 2012-10-01 2:35 PM dalessit - 2012-10-01 9:55 AM jeng - 2012-10-01 12:44 PM I did my first cyclocross race yesterday. I actually watched a race live for the first time on Saturday and then did the race on Sunday. I don't have a cyclocross bike unfortunately, so I stuck some cross tires on my touring bike. The touring bike isn't ideal. It has downtube shifters (not a big deal) and is really heavy (seemed like a pretty bike deal when I tried to carry it up some stairs and over barriers). Regardless I had a lot of fun. I raced Open women, so I raced against some women who were pro (Mical Dyck) and very good semi-pro. Only 15 women or so in the race. I lined myself up at the back. Ended up battling with 4 other women the entire race. I'd catch them or pass them on every straight away, we'd be about the same in all of the corners/twisty sections and they'd all pass me on the barriers. Having never dismounted or mounted my bike in a race before, I didn't know how to do that at all. Got lots of heckling there. Then had to catch back up to the ladies I was battling with. A wide corner came and I tried to maintain a lot of speed as there were 2 women behind me and 2 really close just ahead of me and I wanted to pass them. Completely slid out in the corner. Took a few seconds to get my foot unclipped and out from underneath me. My chain had came off. It seemed like a wasted minutes trying to put my chain back on. That's a skill when your HR is high, I tell you. Everyone passed me. Spent the last 1/3 of the race riding at the back and trying to catch back up. Caught 1 other women, so I came 2nd last. Very fun though. Glad to see you got out there. You know you can do the 4 race even if you're a 1 on the road right? Unfortunately, we only have 3 categories for women. Open women, citizen women (unlicensed) and masters women. If I come to the US to race (so many cool races in Portland area), I'll race 4 for sure. That would make it tough. |
2012-10-02 8:41 AM in reply to: #4435350 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports running2far - 2012-10-01 2:49 PM jeng - 2012-10-01 1:36 PM So can anyone link some good YouTube videos to learn some CX skills. I'm need them, particularly for dismounting and mounting. The user Kwestwood on youtube has a 4 or 5 part series on skills. Just saw the Westwood ones, those are pretty good. |
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2012-10-08 12:22 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Pretty quiet in here....... Did nobody toe the line this weekend? Here is my weekend summary from my logs..... Saturday AM - CROSS THE DOMES Sun- RIVER HILLS CX |
2012-10-08 12:28 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Just raced the Masters 30+ Open this week. Last weeks crash left with bruised ribs when I landed on my bar ends. Not a very fun experience. The course featured a single uphill barrier, double barrier, rooted single track hill climb, sweeping fast decent, and three short bunny hop barriers. Currently ranked 30th in the series, the first 10-15 are Cat 1 and 2s. A few people ranked ahead of me decided not to race. I was staged 18th, 3rd row. During pre ride, I didn't think I'd be able to bunny hop with the ribs still hurting. Gun goes off, really bad start even for me...spend the first half of the lap trying to get back on terms with my group. Make it up by the bunny hops and I decided to run them...got gapped in a major way (About 10 yards between each barrier). This ticked me off, closed the gap on another climb and was sitting in nicely. Bunny hops on the second lap approach and I decided to go for it and just test it out. MAJOR stabbing pain on the first barrier and I unclipped and run the next two. Felt like someone stabbed me in the chest. I would run them and just take my lumps to finish out the race. I finished up 26th, still earning a couple of points, barely. Decide to DNS the Cat 3, too much pain pulling on the bars/remout/sprint etc. Need to focus on healing. Move up in the standings to 27th. Next weekend is a double race weekend and I think most guys will double up. My goal is Top 5 of the Cat 3's in the 30+ standings. I don't think I can even touch the 1&2's...they race a different level. I can't drive my bike with them or hold the power. |
2012-10-08 12:38 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Hyattsville CX, race #3 in MABRA Super 8 series M 3/4 35+ cold rainy day, it was 80 on Saturday and high of 50 on Sunday. I think I slept a bit on the reg so I was 52nd out of a field of 100+ Put the original Michelin Mud clinchers on today for this race and glad I did, they hold the wet grass like a dream and allowed me to power through the muddy sections. Best race of the season so far for me, most of the course was pretty flat except for a wooded section that had a run/ride gravel covered hill with railroad ties every 10 feet or so then a telephone pole to ride over and down through a steep rutty/rooted section, lots of guys lost it through that section, last lap I endo'd into a hay bale, actually only lost one spot to that. Was able to hold off a small group on the last lap and finished 32nd out of 100+ that started. It's tough in a field that big to start in the middle, you give up so much time on the first lap.
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2012-10-08 2:23 PM in reply to: #4445214 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports badgerintx - 2012-10-08 12:22 PM Pretty quiet in here....... Â Did nobody toe the line this weekend? Â Here is my weekend summary from my logs..... Saturday AM - CROSS THE DOMESÂ Sun- RIVER HILLS CXÂ Yes Cat up you sandbagger |
2012-10-08 2:39 PM in reply to: #4445417 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports running2far - 2012-10-08 2:23 PM Yes Cat up you sandbagger Been waiting for this from somebody. I thought Tony would be the winner! |
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2012-10-09 8:02 AM in reply to: #4445442 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports badgerintx - 2012-10-08 3:39 PM running2far - 2012-10-08 2:23 PM Yes Cat up you sandbagger Been waiting for this from somebody. I thought Tony would be the winner! We have this discussion every year with the series we run here. If you give awards for year end performance what motivation is there to cat up during the season? Our series winners get free entries to all series races the following year and a cool jersey to wear. Also when they're leading they get front row. It's tough, lol wish I had the experience of crushing fields and had to debate on cat'ing up or not. My suggestion is to race 3/4 now since you have such a big lead, and only race 4 unless you have someone catching up. |
2012-10-09 10:12 AM in reply to: #4446228 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports dalessit - 2012-10-09 8:02 AM badgerintx - 2012-10-08 3:39 PM running2far - 2012-10-08 2:23 PM Yes Cat up you sandbagger Been waiting for this from somebody. I thought Tony would be the winner! We have this discussion every year with the series we run here. If you give awards for year end performance what motivation is there to cat up during the season? Our series winners get free entries to all series races the following year and a cool jersey to wear. Also when they're leading they get front row. It's tough, lol wish I had the experience of crushing fields and had to debate on cat'ing up or not. My suggestion is to race 3/4 now since you have such a big lead, and only race 4 unless you have someone catching up. Thanks for the input, discussing this here and with others has helped with the decision. Our series also has call ups for each race based on overall points, a jersey for the winner for the following year (scored as the best 10 of 14 races), a nice trophy, some cash, and bragging rights for a year. Plus a different set of prizes for the State Championship race. Unfortunately, we don't have a 3/4 race (we race as Masters 1/2/3) or a Masters 45+ 1/2/3/4 race like some of the big races (USGP, Jingle CX, etc.) so if I Cat up, I am done. After sleeping on it, I am not going to Cat up before the end of the year unless the officials force it. Here is my self reasoning, so let the heckling begin:
So, officially I guess I am truly now a "Sandbagger" and I hope to crush more Soul's this weekend! |
2012-10-09 11:19 AM in reply to: #4446427 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports That's odd they don't have a 3/4 race, those are our two biggest fields each week, usually maxing out at 125, we have masters 3/4 35+, 45+ and a straight 3/4 race. And it's not like you're a 2 or 3 on the road, those are the typical sandbaggers, 2/3 on the road and a 4 in CX.
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2012-10-09 3:12 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports I've never seen a 3/4 either. We have Masters Open (Cat 1-4), Cat 4a and 4b (both sell out) straight Cat 3 race, and a Cat 123 race. |
2012-10-09 7:56 PM in reply to: #4446956 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Here's the races we do here in MABRA land, this is from the race my team is running.
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2012-10-14 5:23 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
Extreme Veteran 1332 | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Just did the local "School of Hard Knox" cyclocross race!! |
2012-10-15 8:13 AM in reply to: #4381658 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports Interesting weekend for me. First ever real "Mud" race on Sunday. Saturday got canceled because the city was rightfully concerned about us tearing up the park. Sunday we were in Madison and they must of had at least 3 inches of rain during the weekend and we ended up racing in it. The course was prairie mud trails that were 2-3" deep by the time we got on them, except for the asphalt start/finish stretch. It was so greasy that on most of the tight corners it was faster to hop off and run them than ride them and there wasn't a hill on the course you even try to ride. I ended up 6th and the 2 guys I am competing against closely took 1st and 2nd. My inexperience really hurt me today. I tried to ride the same race that you would on a dry course and blew myself up towards the end of the 2nd lap. After hitting that wall I just had no power. Also, it was impossible not to spin out if you tried standing, no matter how far back you tried to keep your weight. It was like riding in concrete and if you didn't save something you fell apart. It was however, a great experience builder for future races. All the guys that ended in the front came from the back towards the end of the race. I actually took the hose to my shoes & kit along with my bike. I think the back of my bibs had a good solid inch of mud on them. It was a lot of fun, but shocking as to how difficult it was. (rsz_cx_drivetrain.jpg) Attachments ---------------- rsz_cx_drivetrain.jpg (55KB - 17 downloads) |
2012-10-15 12:24 PM in reply to: #4453762 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports badgerintx - 2012-10-15 9:13 AM Interesting weekend for me. First ever real "Mud" race on Sunday. Saturday got canceled because the city was rightfully concerned about us tearing up the park. Sunday we were in Madison and they must of had at least 3 inches of rain during the weekend and we ended up racing in it. The course was prairie mud trails that were 2-3" deep by the time we got on them, except for the asphalt start/finish stretch. It was so greasy that on most of the tight corners it was faster to hop off and run them than ride them and there wasn't a hill on the course you even try to ride. I ended up 6th and the 2 guys I am competing against closely took 1st and 2nd. My inexperience really hurt me today. I tried to ride the same race that you would on a dry course and blew myself up towards the end of the 2nd lap. After hitting that wall I just had no power. Also, it was impossible not to spin out if you tried standing, no matter how far back you tried to keep your weight. It was like riding in concrete and if you didn't save something you fell apart. It was however, a great experience builder for future races. All the guys that ended in the front came from the back towards the end of the race. I actually took the hose to my shoes & kit along with my bike. I think the back of my bibs had a good solid inch of mud on them. It was a lot of fun, but shocking as to how difficult it was. Very nice, mud can definitely be an equalizer. |
2012-10-15 12:27 PM in reply to: #4381658 |
Master 1372 Tosa, WI | Subject: RE: Cyclocross race reports http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJDR3AzLh3Q&feature=share GoPro from one of my teammates race. Really shows the course conditions. This is the same location as Nationals this year, so pay extra attention to the rail-road tie built run-ups at @ 4:15 into the lap. If you are coming to Nats, you will see these steps again. Edited by badgerintx 2012-10-15 12:36 PM |
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