Race Season is back!

[Rich]

Righty gang,

The Cross Season is back again, and this year (urm, little naughty last year as I didn't end up racing at all :() I'm planning to have a crack at the local series.

Is anyone else having a go this year? Maybe we could post up piccies, and race results on this board? I ofcourse will be wearing Bikeforum colours...

On your right!!!!

Rich :D

[velocipedio]

Ayuppp... two races to chose from this weekend... one in Ottawa and one in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Ottawa race is a club event and likely to be a tad more low-key [which is good for first race of the season], but I don't drive and the only guy I can get a lift with wants to do Sherbrooke... where he will certainly kick my fat, lazy ass.

[Rotifer]

We have a series (http://www.baddlands.org/2002_CycloCross.htm) based in Spokane, the first race is this weekend. There will be at least myself Sscyco from bike forums racing the series so we will have to post some pictures.

[sscyco]

Yea, I'll give a step by step how Rotifer kicks my one-geared (already leaning on my self inflicted excuse) butt.

[Rich]

Have a blast guys! :beer:

Do you find Cross races in the States are similar to MTB races? In the UK, it's very much a relaxed affair...well, from my experience anyway :D

Rich

[sscyco]

The logistics are more relaxed - the racing it self is harder. The course is tight - at any point it would be difficult to exceed 20 mph. Post event is pretty cool - bs'ing and sucking down brews.

[Rotifer]

I don't know, it sounds like a single speed will do pretty well on this course.

[Alan Perkins]

Similar to my brotheren on the east side of the state, our series started this weekend too. Typical season opener was hot (70's) and dusty.

Our races over here have been accused of being a little more "mountain bikey" than courses in other areas. One really needs to have good bike handling skills, cause some areas are really sketchy.

My bike performed really well for the first race of the season. Course was flat and fast. No mechanicals, no flats, no problems.

Me, racing with the old fat guys, as usual, I survived. I'm certain I wasn't first, and hope I wasn't last.

[Rotifer]

Congratulations, sounds like success. Our first race is actually next Sunday, last Sunday was a clinic.

[Rich]

Good work,

I usually find that if I can survive the first 10 minutes I'm onto completing the race, barring mechanicals ofcourse.

I'm still learning about settling down to a rhythm in the first 5 minutes of a race, but get too carried away alot of the time.

Maybe this season it'll sink in :rolleyes:

Cheers

Rich

[velocipedio]

Way to go, Alan!

My race goal for this year is to not look too stupid when I get the crotch of my shorts caught on my saddle when I mount. If I can manage that, I'll feel I had a good season. :D

[Alan Perkins]

I'm still learning about settling down to a rhythm in the first 5 minutes of a race, but get too carried away alot of the time.


You will. It comes with time. My first race I was so overwhelmed with the race, I was in a total fog.

Many say you should blast like a SOB at the start then do your very best to hold your position. In doing that, I go WAY past my redline, and end up shutting down and trying to recover, and getting passed by everybody.

So, now, after 5 years of racing (and not placing any better) I get my pace and stick to it, paying very little attention to anyone else.

[Rotifer]

Well, I crashed several times in the first Spokane race last sunday - my fault, great learning experience. Sscyco did very well, placed 4th out of a fairly large field. Nice course, a couple of the pavement, trail transitions had a nice layer of fine gravel and dirt that I didn't negotiate wisely. Sscyco took a nice dinger as well when another fellow decided to pass on a jump - looked ugly. Fun race, it's always great to be around fellow bike lovers. I heard the racing was great in Seattle as well, with the old war horse Dale Knapp winning one of them.

[Rich]

Well done Rotifer and Sscyco :D

I'm itching to get back on the race course...my last one was over two years ago :(

Soon though...soon... ;)

Rich

[Alan Perkins]

Originally posted by Rotifer
I heard the racing was great in Seattle as well, with the old war horse Dale Knapp winning one of them.

Yes, Mr. Sundt and Mr. Knapp will typically battle it out over here. Both are extraordinary talents.

The weather cooperated for us as it cleared up and was a pretty nice day after raining all night.

Our local course god, Pat Benson did a nice job of laying out a good track for us. Two 30-50 foot run ups, a big sand pit, and double barrier made it good and challenging.

I didn't race very well, and felt like hell for hours afterwards. Not sure why.....We're off this weekend, so I get to go goof off on Sunday!


:beer:

[Alan Perkins]

Soon though...soon... ;)

When????? We gotta know how it went when you do!

:beer:

[Rotifer]

Off next Sunday Huh? You may have to come race with us in Spokane! :)

Knapp and Sundt duke it out:

[Alan Perkins]

I would love to come to Spokane for some action, but you boyz will get to kick my but soon enough, assuming you race in the old fat guys catagory, Master B.

[Rotifer]

Boy, that will be a cool race. I hope the weather is nasty. he he he he

[Rich]

I love the mud....it's when I race at my best...hehe, hence living in the Misty Isle.

Nice photo of the boyz by the way...the Jake the Snake bike looks good this year!

Rich

[Rotifer]

Well, I think this picture is small enough. We just started, I'm in the Bontrager jersey and Sscyco is blasting off the front .. getting that single up to speed. :D

[Rotifer]

O.k., I managed to tinker with another picture enough to make it work. The fellow behind me won.

[Rich]

Photo's are great mate! I like the Bonty top!

I've decided that my first race of the season will be on the 20th Oct...can't wait!

Rich

[sscyco]

Rot - good luck this week, I won't be there this Sun., but I'll be there with my new lower gear next week.