Cyclocross Racing - Capital Cross (Reston, VA)

1. Who's going? Mike, you know you want to.

2. Any course descriptions? Is this another Kelley Acres? or more like Rockburn or DCCX?

3. Will you think less of me if I get misty, just a bit, when it's over. I am totally hooked on this, and I'm way at the back of the pack (although at least not as far back as I was at Ed Sander).

ill be there

the course is closer to tacchino than those other races. It can be very tough with a long run up, a scary rutted steep off camber turn, steep kicker climb, and a longer grinding climb.

I'm gonna see how my PT goes this week before I decide on this race. Yes, I suck, I know.

I'm in. That's just around the corner from my house, so I even get to sleep in (sort of).

I haven't ridden the course, but have ridden all of the terrain that the course encompasses. Tacchino or DCCX are probably the closest for comparison.

Course map here:
http://www.potomacvelo.com/events/ccc/CCCimages/2008NEWCCCmap%20copy.jpg

From the start, the first looping bit is on a slight hill side, so some of it will be off camber. The approach to pit 1 is uphill, and as you pass pit 1, you climb up onto the dam. Cross the dam is flat, but can be very windy. After the dam, you climb into the woods, I think this is mostly double-track, with a few short steep bits (should all be rideable). Back into the open, below the dam, skirting the woods. Mostly flat past pit 2. Past the restrooms is mostly flat, loop around a gravel parking lot (not sure if any of the course is in the gravel). Unless I've forgotten, I don't think there is any sand pit.

they block off the section going into the woods to make it the long run up after you cross the dam. the section pass pit 1 leading up to the dam is a grinding climb. After the straight section in the woods on the lower left of the map you make the left turn thats very steep, rutted, and off camber. Its the hardest part of the course and probably the hardest off camber turn in the district. The hairpin turn off it is also off camber and goes from dirt to road and can be slippery and a good place to roll tires. It continues down hill into the right turn that is very fast. Its all flat and fast past there until you pass the section parallel to the start line. After you make a right turn on a road you make a left up a super steep but short climb. The climb is similar to the climb past the start line at DCCX except its a little longer and maybe a tad steeped. After that you have some sweepy fast turns and a quick downhill section leading you to the final grass sections.

I'll be there.

Stitching up my rear tubular from yesterday's puncture at MABRA championships :( Hopefully I'll be racing on tubs. Don't feel like gluing a fresh tubular for one race.

I'm pre-reg'd for it, but I don't know if I want to race. I haven't been feeling it for the past couple of races, and flatting my front tubular yesterday was the icing on the cake. If Stan's can't fix it, then I may just call it a season... I'll be there regardless to cheer/heckle.

Don't be so bitter, Ken. Screaming, off camber, rutted, turning descents love you, man.

Slap on some clinchers and come crash out with the rest of us.

(And how the heck did you flat in all that mud and squishy grass?)

there was enough gravel to puncture a wheel.

ken, have you located the puncture yet? Is it by chance the same wheel that you accidentally unscrewed the valve?

It was the same wheel that I unscrewed the valve tip from, but it looks pretty secure now. I couldn't find any obvious cuts or punctures, so I'm hoping it's something small. I just picked up some Tufo Extreme sealant on the recommendation of a wrench at the LBS near my office - he said it's better at repairs then Stan's... I'm crossing my fingers.

I flatted on the back straight gravel/hard packed road. A sharp rock sliced a long slit in the tube, sealant made a huge mess of things. The tub is tore down and sewed back up; waiting on the glue to dry. I'm worried about my base tape glue job. I'm going to try to roll the tire off this week.

Weather report is rain thru Thursday, then clear and darn cold. Could be ice/frost on the course, especially for the C race.

http://www.weathercentral.com/weather/us/cities/va_reston.html

there was ice on the course last year and the off camber was almost a sheet of ice for the c race

I'm wearing BMX pads.

At least it won't be cold enough to freeze over.

And what a difference a couple of hours make. Not that my legs have stopped cursing me, I thinking I want to race again... Damn this sport...I wish I could quit you. :p

You did get pimped a little. When I first saw the course, I thought "Well, Ken will like this, it's flat, it's like Hyattsville."

I'm doing it.. first race (not just cross, first overall).. really nervous. I'm in the u19 race. I'm confused though - one day passes. The place to get them closes one hour before the race (race is at 9 am) but it says it opens at 8.. um what? Also, anything I should be expecting? I don't have spare wheels or anything.

Also, is there a lot of running and jumping? I'm an unbelievably slow runner.

For the license, just get to the Registration desk by 7:50am and you'll be fine. You're in the first race of the day, so they'll be set up to get you you're number and one-day license.

Take the time to ride the course at least once, better twice, to get a feel for it. Watch how more experienced riders handle the course. There are places on every course that I would chicken out on, but then I see someone ride it smoothly. At that point, I just try to copy them. Also, I always find the courses more difficult during warm up than in the actual race (when competitive juices take over).

You're in the Cat4/U19 race with me - some guys are remarkably fast, others remarkably slow (e.g., me). There will be some getting off the bike and running. You'll bump into people, you'll fall over. If you end up getting lapped, just ride to the side to let the speed boys by. Just roll with it and have fun. When you're done, you'll wish there was another race next week.

As a first race, I think cross is a much better place to start than road races or crits. Everybody is pretty relaxed and encouraging.

I usually try to arrive at the event around 7:45, the reg tent is usually open. Get my number pinned and be on course pre-riding around 8. Do a few laps. If I need additional warm-up, I usually move over to pavement/trainer - no point getting the bike all muddy/sandy before the race.

Most courses have one set of barriers to run over (some have two or more, but one is the norm). They're about shin/knee height - so you don't really jump them, more like a high step (unless you're really short, then maybe you do jump them).

Some courses also have a run-up (super steep hill). Reston has one. Depending on length and terrain, you might want to shoulder the bike (remove water bottle cages to make it easier).

For the license, just get to the Registration desk by 7:50am and you'll be fine. You're in the first race of the day, so they'll be set up to get you you're number and one-day license.

Take the time to ride the course at least once, better twice, to get a feel for it. Watch how more experienced riders handle the course. There are places on every course that I would chicken out on, but then I see someone ride it smoothly. At that point, I just try to copy them. Also, I always find the courses more difficult during warm up than in the actual race (when competitive juices take over).

You're in the Cat4/U19 race with me - some guys are remarkably fast, others remarkably slow (e.g., me). There will be some getting off the bike and running. You'll bump into people, you'll fall over. If you end up getting lapped, just ride to the side to let the speed boys by. Just roll with it and have fun. When you're done, you'll wish there was another race next week.

As a first race, I think cross is a much better place to start than road races or crits. Everybody is pretty relaxed and encouraging.

Sounds like fun! Maybe I'll see you there (well I guess I will since you're in the same race.) What parts would you chicken out on? Not specific to reston, but in general?


Most courses have one set of barriers to run over (some have two or more, but one is the norm). They're about shin/knee height - so you don't really jump them, more like a high step (unless you're really short, then maybe you do jump them).

Some courses also have a run-up (super steep hill). Reston has one. Depending on length and terrain, you might want to shoulder the bike (remove water bottle cages to make it easier).

I already took off the cage. Only one braze on. Secondly, is it perfectly fine to just roll the bike and run? I'm a lot faster like that for some reason.

The big chicken moments for me are at the top of a sharp descent with mud or a turn at the bottom. Watching dozens of riders go down these hills convinced my head to just roll with it (I shift my weight back a bit). Also, don't stare at where you think you're going to crash - stare at the point up the course where you want to go.

any philly folk going? what kind of a haul is this? doesn't look too far, but how's the traffic? looks like a wicked course

It's probably about 170 miles from Philadelphia or one of the western suburbs if you jump on the Blue line

If you're driving in the morning, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to make it in 3hrs. As you get further into the day, the beltway (495) around DC can get bogged down. At least there's no beach traffic!

It's gonna be a lot of fun I think. My bike, though, is now fitted with the "27 1 3/8" tires. I measured them with a dial. They are 29mm wide. They claim on the side to be 37.

And so my first cross season ends with SNOW! In an odd sort of way, that's perfect - I'll get to experience the full range of whacked out conditions.

Any extra special advice regarding riding in snow?

I bet it's going to be mud by the time the racing starts. The ground is still relatively warm and the pre-riding is going to push the snow into the ground and mix it up with the moist ground.

I'm more concerned about the temps. It's going to be about 10 degrees colder then the other races, and my lungs done like breathing in really cold air.

I bet it's going to be mud by the time the racing starts. The ground is still relatively warm and the pre-riding is going to push the snow into the ground and mix it up with the moist ground.

I'm more concerned about the temps. It's going to be about 10 degrees colder then the other races, and my lungs done like breathing in really cold air.

yeah, probably similar to what happened today in marysville...2 races in and the wet snow began to stick as well as melt....actually was getting affected in my cat4 race...i had my first fall due to a gummy/wet off camber...actually, watching the later races was almost harder than riding...cold, wet....but beer and small fires helped! have fun:thumb:

It's pretty nasty right now, but maybe sunny tomorrow - my wife thinks I'm nuts. Can't beat that.

Rode the course today.

The downhill left hand turn is going to take a ton of people out.

So what's the best way of handling it? Brake on the way down and pray?

I didn't have time to get over there to try it out.

why do you say that? is it any different than years past? last year is had ice on it and it wasnt too bad.

Oh boy I'm freakin out. I'm really excited and really nervous. I was looking over my bike in the stand at work to check it out and found the tube poking out in two holes in the front tire. Now i have two boots. Hopefully will work.

Sweetness this morning.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/Sxvm2uiY-9I/AAAAAAAAC6w/YxY5prLlV4s/s800/IMG_0021.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/Sxvm3-rK8fI/AAAAAAAAC64/rir444OV3rM/s800/IMG_0022.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/Sxvm5fQLLSI/AAAAAAAAC7A/m1evNSjOyuM/s800/IMG_0023.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/Sxvm7zI2IOI/AAAAAAAAC7U/QEgzS1pUzR4/s800/IMG_0025.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/SxvnIh1xj4I/AAAAAAAAC9M/GQxUuVGxRGY/s800/IMG_0035.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_g62jjO9ITuM/SxvnYmnrnGI/AAAAAAAAC-0/fBCcUSIbuG8/s800/IMG_0047.jpg

Here are some pictures from the ODB (Old Dirty or Master B) race.

The leader, taking an early lead.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/Leader.jpg

Mr CXhairs negotiating the big, rutted descent.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/CXhairs.jpg

Someone who overcooked the big , rutted descent (but then jumped right back on it).

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/Oops.jpg

A Christmas Elf.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/Elf.jpg

From the B race, I had a great shot of Lithuania slogging up the muddy hill to the dam (and getting to the front of the group he was in), but my camera froze at that point.

wow...nice shots....and i'm envious! our race wasn't like that in marysville! still, i was too tired and sore to make the trip down to reston. one day, i'll race in snow:o

Today was success of a sort. I did my warm up lap for the C race and decided that the ice was too much and I was going to kill myself. I put my jeans back on and prepared to leave. Then I felt the number I had already pinned onto my jersey and saw Lith powering up the hill to the dam with no apparent difficulty (said power may have had something to do with it).

The course was ridable (kinda), and I took my number. I wasn't going to wuss out even if I had to run the damn the thing. So I stripped down, and rushed to the starting line, barely making it on time. I had a strong first lap, including navigating the rutted descent well and riding the big run up at the back of the course. After than, it was a bit of a slog, but I still managed to pass a few people before getting lapped by the speed boys. Only had one painful crash and that was because the guy in front of me stopped, not because of the conditions.

Of all the conditions, I thought the stone / gravel at the top of the run up after the damn was the sketchiest part of the course.

This has been a great year - my handing skills are ten times what they were in September, I managed to not get lapped on 1 race, and I figured out what I need to focus on to get faster (hills). Plus I got to enjoy the company of a lot of BF folks like Bitterken, who are crossdressers, I mean cross racers. (You heckle me on the course, I heckle you on the internet.)

I can't wait until next year.

my strategy for the stone gravel at the top of the course was to ride far to the right, in the snow. Way smoother than slogging through the rocks.

I DNF'd. I suppose for a first cross race ever, that's not too bad.. considering the conditions. I slid out once on this and had to run down the hill. I finished a lap and a half.. oh well. I'm really wanting to race again, though, as honestly I'm really ashamed I didn't finish. OH, not to mention, both my derailleurs froze and I couldn't shift, as well as my cleats were covered in ice, so I did 3/4 of the race unclipped.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/Oops.jpg

the downhill rutted section wasnt bad at all because of all the snow slowing it down this year

it was pretty cold. my wife actually pinned my number through my skin and i didnt feel it until i went to line up and i felt my skinsuit snagging on something. i didnt wear gloves in the first race and i could barely shift after one lap. other than that i though the temp was fine. i didnt wear anything on my legs and never noticed being cold.

The part that annoyed me the most was how I was 1/4 who was in the U19 race. That's a 75% chance of placing.

Also, do you guys mind of I post the photos that are on here on facebook? I didn't get to get any photos - thanks.

One last thing - I know I was photographed - where do you find the photos that the actual photographers (I think he was) took?

A few more
Gwadzilla(if I’m not mistaken)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/IMG_1823.jpg

Only shot of B race before camera froze up. I think this is Sam O’Keefe (inside of turn) chasing the Russian guy for the lead
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m236/SpongeDad/IMG_1834.jpg

You can really see how much more sloppy this hill was after 2 full races and a little sun and warmth in the air (it was 28 when I arrived and 42 when I left not too long after taking this shot).

Oh man that's a lot worse than when I had it. I had all snow and ice.

For pictures, there are a few places to check...

crossresults.com accumulates results and pictures nationally. Cool site that lets you compare yourself against others, matches you your "nemesis" for the season, etc.

And gamjams.net usually has some as well.

cxhairs.com usually has helmet cam vids from the Masters race, and interviews with various race winners.

Crack - were you not there today?

Wittwer was second (I think) in the Master B race on a 29er (at least someone said it was) with flat bars, balloon tires and big ole front shock.

Today was success of a sort. I did my warm up lap for the C race and decided that the ice was too much and I was going to kill myself. I put my jeans back on and prepared to leave. Then I felt the number I had already pinned onto my jersey and saw Lith powering up the hill to the dam with no apparent difficulty (said power may have had something to do with it).



Man, that course changed so much between 8am and even 8:30 and the rest of the day. My first lap through there were maybe 10 bike tracks on the course and it was impossible to ride no way was i making it up that hill then. By the time I took a second lap around 8:30 I made it up that hill fine. I think it got much worse throughout the day. I managed to make it up each in both the B and A race. I almost died each time I reached the top in the A race.

Im glad you had an awesome year racing. Now what do we have to do to get you racing cx in the red white and blue next year?

Holy crap was that race fun (in a painful, CX-kinda way). I was out there at 7:30 in the morning thinking "how the hell are people gonna race this???" - it was just thick, crunchy icy snow and the paved sections were skating rinks. The officials were freaking out, and anybody who showed up after 8:00 AM missed a lot of early-morning panic. But they worked the course nicely, and by race time for the Cat. 4s, the course warmed up enough and the tracks got chewed up enough and patted-down to be race-ready. The officials did a great job in making the course ridable as well, those guys really did a great job today.

All in all, and awesome day of CX racing and CX atmosphere. Got myself a 20th in the Cat. 4 race, and had a muddy, slushy, icy, snowy good time. Not my best season, but a great way to cap the season off none-the less.

I got there at about quarter to eight, after my car slid down the ramp to the parking lot. That was fun.

Crack - were you not there today?

No, VDOT decided not to plow or salt my street and I drive a Miata. After a day of people coming and going, it was a sheet of packed ice. I spent half an hour stuck in the street before I parked it and went back to bed. Pretty crappy way to end the year, that's for sure.

Results: http://crossresults.com/?n=results&sn=r&raceID=1047