Cyclocross Racing - Hyattsville Oct 11, 2009

Just watched this video:

http://hyattsvillecx.blogspot.com/

Other than the trip through the sandpit, this looks like the least technical course yet. Should be a leg burner.

They had me at free beer.

I'll be there for the Cat4 race, then buggin' out immediately afterwards unfortunately. Its a double cross Sunday for me: cyclocross followed by autocross at FedEx Field. I guess that means I shouldn't drink; bummer.

what the hell is autocross?

My other hobby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross). It is, in fact, where my screen name comes from, not from cycling. I actually win at autocross ;)

I'm really bummed I can't make this. I have to fly out to a business function early in the day :cry:

Mike - which mike are you? I haven't autocrossed in a few years, but used to run at FedEx regularly (first in a Spec RX-7 entered in CSP, then in an ES Miata).

Say Hi! to Lt Dan and tell him he needs to start cycling more.

Alistair

Just watched this video:

http://hyattsvillecx.blogspot.com/

Other than the trip through the sandpit, this looks like the least technical course yet. Should be a leg burner.

Yeah, looks flat. Should be SS-friendly, if I can find the right gear. I guess I better get there early and experiment.

Definitely a SS-friendly course. There is not a hill on the course. You can get away with a pretty big gear as there is maybe ten feet of elevation change. There is a run-up we were trying to incorporate into the course, but the descent was way too sketchy, so that has been scrapped. There will be a death spiral that is not shown in my video. There will also be a turn in the sand but it should still be ridable. No real opportunities for recovery on the course. It is one for the grinders.

Field size is at 150 right now. Should be a good time. Questions??? Let me know. Now go sign up.

What's a death spiral (said the noob)?

Similar to this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRcfmbfzLg)

Similar to this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRcfmbfzLg)

You bastard! I got dizzy just watching that!

Similar to this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRcfmbfzLg)

thanks - I was imagining riding under a swinging pendulum with an axe on the end or something

lovely day; course more twisty than expected - another day of improving my handling skills by just going out and taking chances.

I rode through the sand pit once (which had a turn in it) but lost time - running was the way to go at least in the Cat 4

almost made big goal for season - not getting lapped - leader passed me literally at the line.

good beers post race with Bitterken, Crackmonkey and Racermike

good time for sure. what a flat course, not that I'm complaining since my power-to-weight suck, but I won't likely do as well next time.

34th out of 62 on the final results at the site, not sure if that included DNFs.

Flat course, but they really did a good job with it, given the lack of natural features. More fun than the video above would indicate.

The death spiral was fun. I couldn't make up my mind about riding the sand pit - I think I did half on foot and half riding. Managed to fall once (not in the sandpit), but only lost one position.

40 minutes of pain, followed by two free beers, is pretty much bliss.

Flat course, but they really did a good job with it, given the lack of natural features. More fun than the video above would indicate.

The death spiral was fun. I couldn't make up my mind about riding the sand pit - I think I did half on foot and half riding. Managed to fall once (not in the sandpit), but only lost one position.

40 minutes of pain, followed by two free beers, is pretty much bliss.


I agree- the course was a lot better than it looked by helmet cam. I think they did a really nice job.

in my race (A masters) guys at the front rode the sand- probably that could have been made a but trickier- it seemed easier to start on the far left and just bisect it without hardly any turning.
however, the lead guys in the 3/4 race did run it each I saw time go by.

I think it was a really fun course, super fast, nice venue, and a beautiful day.

marc
dcmtb

Yeah, I loved it today. I totally dig fast courses and that death spiral was super fun.

Arrow/Rt. 1 did a terrific job, and benefiting the Special O just made it all the better.

And it's always great to see BF'ers out racing!

kind of funny that there are 3 races with spirals of doom in them in an 8 day span!

it was a very flat course but i think there is plenty of room for a course like that every year. it makes for a different and fun race.

Thanks everybody for coming out. We worked pretty hard to make an interesting course with what we had. Still wanted to keep it fast and not throw in unnecessary switchbacks, etc. Glad everybody liked it. You can relive the pain via helmet cam here (http://www.cxhairs.com/2009/10/12/hyattsville-cx-video-masters-men-34/).

results went out to the MABRA list as an Excel spreadsheet. Shows me 35th out of 69 starters plus 5 non-starters for 74 total registered. I'm not sure if I consider that finishing in the top half or not.

Thanks everybody for coming out. We worked pretty hard to make an interesting course with what we had. Still wanted to keep it fast and not throw in unnecessary switchbacks, etc. Glad everybody liked it. You can relive the pain via helmet cam here (http://www.cxhairs.com/2009/10/12/hyattsville-cx-video-masters-men-34/).

I think it was a real nice mix of fast power sections and the technical turns

nice work!

marc
dcmtb

results went out to the MABRA list as an Excel spreadsheet. Shows me 35th out of 69 starters plus 5 non-starters for 74 total registered. I'm not sure if I consider that finishing in the top half or not.

Can you forward them to me? alistairhastings at yahoo dot com

Do you know if they will be posted to bikereg or crossresults (not appearing in either location yet)?

Link to race results:

http://groups.google.com/group/mabra-uscf/browse_thread/thread/38f2d59ca18732c9#

seems they are still working some issues with the results before they make them final. SpongeDad provided the link.