cyclocross fun...
11-13-05, 01:43 PM
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cyclocross fun...
Oh my god!! For you Portland regulars, I highly, highly suggest giving cross crusade a try. I did my first race today in pouring rain (but warm) in Barton, and never thought it could be so much fun -- beginner category, and finished in top third or so. For perspective, I put on about 2000 miles this year after knee surgery and lately have slacked off so anyone can be competitive!
I've done a mountain bike race here and there but what makes cross superior in my opinion is the variety and speed. There were sections of the course that were 3-4 inches of mud, followed by a dismount and a bike carry up a 10 foot hill. Just when the quads are about to give out from the mud, the hill requires a different use of muscles to give just enough of a respite. In some of the flat sections through the woods you can generate tremendous speed that would be tough on a mountain bike. The barriers which require a dismount are just plain cool.
Officially hooked! Damn, how do I break the news of a required 4th bike to the misses? ha There's a bike shop in Portland that allows you to demo for the weekend -- that's what I did. If you're interested in next week's final race, PM me for the bike shop. www.crosscrusade.com
I've done a mountain bike race here and there but what makes cross superior in my opinion is the variety and speed. There were sections of the course that were 3-4 inches of mud, followed by a dismount and a bike carry up a 10 foot hill. Just when the quads are about to give out from the mud, the hill requires a different use of muscles to give just enough of a respite. In some of the flat sections through the woods you can generate tremendous speed that would be tough on a mountain bike. The barriers which require a dismount are just plain cool.
Officially hooked! Damn, how do I break the news of a required 4th bike to the misses? ha There's a bike shop in Portland that allows you to demo for the weekend -- that's what I did. If you're interested in next week's final race, PM me for the bike shop. www.crosscrusade.com
11-13-05, 02:30 PM
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Yeah, I just got back from Barton too. Head to toe covered in mud... oh, yeah! The courses just keep getting more and more muddy and technical. Our category went after yours, and you guys sure dug some deep ruts in the muddy sections for us. I loved the couple steep downhill sections, glad I was able to stay on the bike, could have been bad to go over the bars. I love the atmosphere at the Crusade races, from what I've heard it's one of the coolest series in the country. Ride on!
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11-13-05, 04:52 PM
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I took only one nice digger where we crossed that off camber ravine right before the uphill finish. I was too tired and my front wheel planted in the ravine so I went right over the handlbars. Tthe ground was soft from the rain so it was tres-good.
The course was actually all ruts even before we were on it - I think the guys taking practice laps made those ruts before anyone else. Can't wait for Estacada.
The course was actually all ruts even before we were on it - I think the guys taking practice laps made those ruts before anyone else. Can't wait for Estacada.
