Rest ?

raced today with miserable results. taking next week off.

Shit Sandwich

The title sums up my race at smithville. Course was pretty good. Minus the beach. For me that beach sucked. Mentally I wasn't in it and my legs weren't much in it either. I was front row call up due to my early pre-registration but lately I haven't much deserved it in the cat 3 races. Decent start, a bit congested but it sorted out and I settled in maybe 5th or 6th. Went backwards from there. I actually wanted to try and pace myself a bit better this race and not chase people who were faster than me and blow up. I think that caused me to just go slower than what I'm capable of. Slid back to about 15th place (38 racers total). I was getting passed by people I know on a good day I can beat. Finally with 2 to go I got some motivation and wanted to start chasing. Came down from the pavilion to make a right hander on the paved trail and slid out. Went down hard on my right hip. I was fine but put my derailler hanger in the shape of an "L". Called it right there. DNF. I'll be a bit sore for a couple days.
Actually my legs felt better on friday than they did today. I'm going to hit this week hard and try to set up to get some redemption. I feel a top 10 in the 3's should be my goal. Maybe top 9 if Mark Cole would race open - he's pretty fast.

We'll see. I'm in Rolla working the Smile Mobile for the week and need to get good training in. Weather looks crappy though.

Hopefully no more Shit Sandwiches.

Capital Cup and Boulevard Cup

Big cross weekend. 2 races both in the series 60. Saturday's race was in Topeka. Good course, pretty much flat, not too technical but 1 good climb and 2 tough run ups on the "mound of mercy." Didn't quite have the numbers racing that day. The drive and the fact that there was a Sunday race probably deterred a few. Lined up in the 4's for my final weekend of 4 racing. I've done two 4 races previously - with one good result and one not so good. - So I was curious to see how things would go after I've gotten some experience racing cross. Lined up 2nd row and after the long pavement straightaway was in 3rd place when we got on course. Pretty much sat in for the opening 1/2 lap, then someone ran into my rear wheel and went down behind me. I think that caused a bit of a slow down and the 3 of us were away. Eventually moved into 2nd position. A few people would bridge up and a few fell off. Halfway through it was myself and new Colavita racer and teammate Andy Wiens. He's a strong racer and kept the pace up and I was content to let him do the pacemaking. I felt I could have gone around him to attack but didn't want myself to blow up. The steep run ups were the hardest part of the course. They really drained your energy - but there were enough places to recover elsewhere on course.

I dropped my chain middle of the race when I was in the lead. Had to stop to get it back on and Wiens passed me and I chassed back for 1/3 of a lap. Came down to last lap and there were 3 of us together. Towards the later part of the course Andy went wide on a turn and I figured that was a good time to take over with climb just ahead. Previously the plan was to attack on the climb and get to the run up first. Whoever gets to the runup first pretty much wins it with the finish not too far later. On the second run up I had a bit of a gap and that was all she wrote...came across 1st by about 5 seconds.
Jane finished 4th again in her cat 4 race. Good job to her. She'll podium yet this season. She just needs to get consistent with her training.


Boulevard Cup was Sunday. What a great event. So many racers, so much food, and of course Boulevard beer on tap. Probably won't see a better set up than the Boulevard people put on today. Absolutely great - thanks to all the people who put that on. They also waited to to do awards until all races were over so the crowds stayed big until the end.

Lots of 4's lining up for this one. Definitely a faster crowd today than yesterday. I was curious to see how things would sort out for this one. Course was pretty good. A few technical sections, but nothing too bad. They made the most of what they had available.
They enforced call ups and I was at the rear. They actually didn't even call me up. I did however line up on the outside so I could pass the first two rows in the grass and get on pavement near the front. Had a good start and killed it in the grass for about 20 feet until I was clear and settled in 3rd wheel. Hit the grass and came upon an ethos racer, travis. He was killing it and the pace was pretty quick. Doing fine sitting 2nd wheel again, travis wiped out and I was in front. Had another come around me a bit later and let him do the pacemaking. I was suffering and just needed a target to keep my pace up. I find that when I'm by myself I always slow down and think I'm working my hardest. But if I have a wheel to focus on I always work harder and somehow mangage to survive.
anyway, Travis eventually caught back up and I got on his wheel. He was pretty much riding me into the ground. The guy is just plain fast. Maybe if I hadn't raced the day before it would have been different. Regardless he started riding away. Right after that I somehow dropped my chain. Got off to fix it and got passed by 2 racers. Got going quick again and was sitting 4th place with 1 to go. I felt that I could pass this guy but just wanted to save it to the end. Well, he crashed with a 1/3 to go and I just rode away. 2nd place finished in sight but I felt that hadn't my chain fallen off I maybe could have finished 2nd. Tough to say. Good schwag payout for 3rd and I'm not complaining.
Jane took 4th again. Her trademark position.

I'm officially putting in my request this week to move up. Even though I race a more consistent race in the 4's and I feel more in control, not riding out of my ability etc, I don't want to be a sandbagger. To the 3's I go. Hopefully the likes of Travis Donn, Tom Bondurant, and other top finishers in the 4's will join me. It will make the 3's more fun to not get blown out of water too bad.

Nowhere to go but down. - Chris cross

Pretty pumped to race this weekend. A bit cold but was manageable. In retrospect I wish I wouldn't have worn my leg warmers during the race. Probably could have been warm enough without them and they felt a bit distracting later in the race.
Took off nice at the start and settled in about 3rd position of about 30 racers. Was a bit surprised to find myself on the front like that. Just thought I'd try and stick with that group - see what happened. The new tires were pretty awesome. The course was great and perfect for flying through all the corners with no brakes. Just not sure if my fitness deserved them. On the 2nd lap I was sitting in 5th place with Dan O. in front of me. We were all together with the leaders. Came around the first corner and my front slid out. Not sure if I hit one of those large nuts in the grass but it was nuts nonetheless. Hoped back up and lost a few spots. It was there where I began to fade. I was just blowin' up. Over the next 2 laps I was fading back. On the last lap I slid out again in the exact same spot. This time it was a bit less graceful. Dropped my chain there and lost a bit more. Finished 16 out of 32. Damn shame. Was a great course - wish I could race it again. I think there is 1 more race at that venue but not sure of the course layout.
Dan O. killed this weekend again. Took 3rd place. Solid. David was somewhere behind me. Not sure where the other guys who raced ended up. Just wait till results are posted. Lots of support today. Thanks to everyone.
And in her 3rd cross race Jane took 4th place. She said she had 3rd but a couple crashes allowed someone to pass.
Next weekend is 2 more races. Because I'm not a cat 3 I'll be racing the 4's only - there is no 3/4 race for series 60 cx. Need to get some confidence and try to take it to some people.


Finally got a picture of the race rig. Thanks to Britton at Volker for putting it together. Weighs in at just over 18 lbs. Jamis Supernova, ultregra rear shifter, single chainring, white industries hubs, kinlin rims, challenge grifo tubs, trp brakes.

Boss Cross 1 & 2

Had the first 2 races of the boss cross series this weekend. Race was in parkville, mo - great town and pretty nice course. Course was mostly flat and not too technical which made it very fast. Course included 2 sand pits, one of which could be ridden.
First race went off without too much problem. Only had about 17 line up - fairly small field. Settled in about mid pack and didn't do too much from there. I felt like I rode a fairly consistent race - although I could have maybe pushed myself a bit faster. The leaders of the race were out of sight and it's hard to gauge your pace when your riding by yourself or with only 2 or 3 guys. Finished 8th.

Lined up again sunday in race 2. Course was mostly the same except backwards. A slightly larger field - teammate Dan O. lined it up also. Don't quite feel comfortable pushing the pace at the front of the group with riders who are for the most part faster than me. Settled in about mid pack again - was sitting around 7th place. On the 2nd lap I went down in the sand pit and smashed the inside of my knee on the bike. For those of you who have had this experience you know you can't put any pressure on the pedals for a bit. Got back on bike and soft pedaled for maybe a minute trying to see if I would go on or pull out. Finally the pain let up and I was off again - but I had about 6 people pass me. Spent the remaining 4 laps chasing but never caught anyone. Ended up 14th out of 17 finishers (2 DNF's).

Teammate Dan O. killed in the the 3/4 race and took 2nd place. That guy is fast on a cross bike.
Although not nearly as fast as some of the open riders - specifically Joseph Schmalz - that kid is fast and smooth.

Hopefully Challenge Grifos beginning next race - Courtesy of Britton at Volker Bikes.

Pictures of Britton from the weekend (the only race I could take photos for was men's open)