sarals 

I second that.

sarals 

LAJ, thanks!

I did notice a different "atmosphere" at that cross race than any road event I've attended. It was definitely more "wahoo!" There were enough roadies in attendance to dilute the mountain biker POV, but it was loose. Different sort, those off-road people.

I also encountered people warming up or whatever on the course during my race. It wasn't an issue for me, but I thought it odd? Everyone I talked to or overheard was for the most part respectful. I've heard far worse at crits, not from the ladies (although they can get heated - I sure did at one race). I'm totally on board with Shovel's approach. Believe you me, if I was in a official capacity and someone chose to get overly mouthy with me they'd get a big surprise. I don't tolerate that crap.

sarals 

Cleave, thanks! I've had a paradigm shift

valygrl

Thanks! I saw you were in a crash - a gal local to me was in a crash I think in your race, and separated her shoulder. Bummer. I hope you heal up fast.

rideaz

Thanks. Yeah, I was really close to getting around the crash but a sliding bike took me out :-( I have 2 broken ribs that hurt like heck but at least it was my last race of the season.

sarals 

CCCX # 3 Cyclocross Race, Age Group Podium (First)

Cross is really HARD! I haven't figured out how to pace myself yet, heck, I'm having a time just keeping the bike under me. But the wide smile quotient is huge.

The race was held on a fast course with some technical sections, some short sandy sections, and a hairy downhill that ended in a sand pit. I had equipped the cross bike with a pair of Continental CrossRide 42mm tires, and I was anxious to see how they'd behave. I arrived at the course a couple of hours before my race to watch some team mates race in one of the men's events. After they were done, I got a good lowdown on the course from them, as well as a thorough inspection of my bike and setting the tire pressure for the course (35 PSI was the number). I prerode the course, which is allowed anytime, even when a race is underway ("just stay out of the way, or stop"). I fell in one sandy section, it was particularly technical. It was a sharp left turn around a manzanita bush in DEEP sand, and I lost the front end. I decided I'd dismount for that corner during the race.

I rolled off in a combined field of perhaps a dozen riders for the five lap 50 minute race. I managed to stay close to two of the gals through the first two laps. I was faster on the downhill sections that they were, in fact I was as fast as about anyone through there. I was whiffing the sandy portions and the uphills. The technical sections were just plain fun. I was whipping the bike around on that hard pack single track and really enjoying myself. By the third lap, though, my inability to pace and my constant heartrate above 155 started to wear me down. So, I rolled it back to manageable in an effort to recover. It worked, and the fourth lap, although not all that fast, was technically much cleaner. I had finally figured out what the bike would do and why, and that it was best to keep the front end light and let it work it's way through the slippery and sandy sections. The fifth lap wasn't my fastest, but I rode it even better than I had any of the previous laps. My lines through the corners were good, and even though I screwed up the one dismount/remount (it was over a log placed on a 90 degree left turn in deep, soft sand), everything went pretty well. I used up all I had left for the finish straight, down in the drops and hammering for all I was worth at the line - just as Ex likes me to do!

After it was over, I had about the most explosive case of track-hack I've had in while, rivaling any I've experienced after a time trial! Cross racing is way fun, but OMG, it is hard. No question. Even so, I am really enjoying myself!

shovelhd

That is just so awesome.

sarals 

My friend, thank you!!

nacler22

Wow sara, just saw your report. It sounds like you are getting this cross stuff "dialed". Way to go!!!

Today I got up, had breakfast, rode for an hour to the course, and raced my bike for 45 minutes. It was fun again.........yay.

I got a good start for a change, then promptly lost the front end, and watched 12 or so bodies go by. Got some, or most back by the end and finished 2/4 in the 55+(If we don't get some more folks, this season is gonna be kinda lame).

I waited to get my podium trinket, then rode 45 minutes to my daughters house. Chilled with her, helped her mom with some yard/animal chores, had dinner, then rode 40 minutes home. 50+miles today, and it was good.

Tomorrow; wash, rinse, repeat.

sarals 

Nacler, too cool! Where was the race today?

nacler22

Sandy Point State Park, just outside of Boise. 95% soft grass course, which is a huge power suck. Plus the course designers love off camber turns.... lots and lots of o.c turns. The good news is that I've got a super high C.G. and I'm skinny(not much power), so this course was perfect for me.

Anyway, today was harder then I'd hoped for. The legs were a little tired, and just didn't want to suffer today. 3/5

Today's second place finisher and I, will be battling for the Idaho Superprestige 1st place loser this year.

sarals 

Ahh!!! I thought you might be up in Sac, doing that series. Sounds like fun, grass or not!!

Good ride, hey, to me cross is about fun, suffering if you feel like it - right?

I hope to see you at a race this winter!

IBOHUNT

Deep Blue ITT - Delaware City DE. CAT5

This was the final race in a series of 5 ITT's called the Mid-Atlantic Time Trial Series (MATTS). It's pancake flat at only 256' gain over 10 miles.

Gloomy ride over there in the rain but with an hour before the start time the rain quit and the sun came out. Not enough to dry the roads so I put the tires at 90 psi figuring I'd lose more time laying on the ground than a low tire pressure.

Rode to the start with the person that was second place in the series and the guy that I was in the accident with back in '13. Nice 10 mile ride as a warm up.

Got let go at the start and the first thing to navigate was a puddle. Next was a pedestrian that wanted to be in the road and told me to slow down. Really?

Still navigating through town I got held up twice by cars; one parked next to a police officer that was stopping traffic so I had to navigate 'tween the police car and the mommy-van and the second time by an officer that let a car pull out. Both times I had to sit up yell and wave my arms trying to get recognized that I needed thru.

Got out of town onto Rt9 and settled into a power I thought I could hold for the rest of the race and started passing some folks. At mile 6 or so I had the eventual winner pass/pull up beside me but not wanting to get by in a hurry. Knowing that I was leading the series there was no way I wanted to get DQ'd so I backed off until he had about a 100 yard lead and then I pretty much just hung there with him.

The final turn to the finish I was still lagging behind the winner by about 100 yd's and he put his power down so I followed suit with the last half mile being 80W over my FTP. Normalized power and average power were 1W apart.

Overall I beat my time last year by 12 seconds for a 6th place finish. That should be good enough for the overall series championship with 53 points. 2nd thru 4th was pretty tight with only 3 points difference amongst them.

Short review of the race year

Started riding the trainer indoors in Mid December until Mid Feb when I had to have surgery on the shoulder.
Back on the bike around mid April prepping for the first race at the end of May.

o Entered 6 USA Cycling events; all CAT5 ITTs
o Finished with two 1st place and a 3rd place finishes
o Went sub 1 hr for a 40K

Thanks @sarals for the virtual kick in the backside a month or so ago

Now it's time to do a lot of hunting and I get to be off the bike for a month (Mid Nov - Mid Dec) while traveling the country chasin' critters and looking for a place to move to if I ever get to retire.

chasm54

Well done, @IBOHUNT

House-hunting for retirement, too? Just did that. Bought a plot about 200 miles south of here in good cycling country, where I have a few friends. House won't be ready until June next year, but there's no hurry. Felt I needed a change of scene.

Hermes

Congrats on the race and race series. IMO, that is a great year of racing.

Allegheny Jet

Congrats on a goal accomplished IBOWHUNT. You have learned to suffer. Now go fill up the freezer!

IBOHUNT

Thanks. For the record I doubt I'll be able to retire until I'm way past dead.

Thank you sir. Folks here have had a lot to do with it. I've read a tonne of stuff here and tried to pay attention to the lessons. Started 'stalking' @chasm54 when I was a full fledged member of the Clydesdales and Athenas part of the forums. He, like those that regularly post here, are full of wisdom, I also see stuff in some folks Strava posts that I try to emulate @revchuck is one.

This is probably the hardest I've ever worked at a "hobby". 4 archery State championships and could go to a national shoot and top twenty without much effort. This bike racing crap is tough and will be tougher now that I've been told to include zeros in my IF calculations. DOH!

I do like to TT though I'm not sure I want to work at it like I did this year but maybe come Jan I'll change my mind and then talk to the person who has said that I'm uncoachable. I told her that if she did coach me she wouold probably fire me after a month.

Still have to do 5 mass starts to CAT up if I want to go that direction so I can race with (read get my butt handed to me) Master 55+ guys.

As for filling the freezer....

I'll be all over that and hopefully Deep Creek lake will have a decent amount of ice for me to pull perch and wobble-eyes through. Be good just to sit over a hole and reflect while holding a mason jar.

sarals 

Hey, IBO - KUDO!

Well done, my friend. We've spoken of your intentions towards the sport, but for one, I'm glad you're sticking it out. You are podium material, believe it or not. It's a matter of how you approach it mentally, IMHO. I'm proud of you, man!

shovelhd

Great season IBO. Now go have another one.

LAJ

Nicely done, IBOHUNT!

IBOHUNT

Well Sara - I stuck it out till the end of this one. It's been a long year with my first race in May and the last one this past weekend. To try and stay motivated at a level it takes to get near the pointy end is a tonne of work and as I said above, the hardest I've worked at a hobby in my life. Was it rewarding? Sure, to be recognized by folks I have never met and be called -a racer and a threat- at what they've been doing for years was good to hear. The discussion I had with the folks I was racing against after Saturdays event has me leaning towards doing enough mass starts (5 more) to cat up to race in Masters.

Thanks and I am leaning that way although I might scale back

Thanks.

Allegheny Jet

Got this eye last Sat after the cold front dropped the temps 20 degrees in one day. I am anticipating retirement next March and will spend more time fishing.

IBOHUNT

That's sweet. Erie?

Allegheny Jet

Nope, Allegheny River near Emlenton PA.

IBOHUNT

A mere 4 hrs from me or an hour from the home place (Dayton PA). Lets drown some minnows (and shine)