Charlotte Cross Race 11/14/10

This cross race was a blast. Long trip out but K and all 3 dogs went along, which was fun getting all going, but it is all good! Left in plemnty of time, got there in plenty of time. nice warm day. Able to wear short sleeve jersey and shorts! Really nice course in a park right about a mile away from downtown charlotte. Fast course with some technical aspects but not too shabby. Feeling good today off last weeks good showing. day in the upper 60's weather wise and ncie and sunny ouy! Dry course as well. Start line at bottom of paved road . got there again to line up about last 2 rows. Started well, but got stuck behind someone who had trouble clipping in, had space so darted around him and into the grass section. this was a sweeping section with gentle cures which led to the first off camber downhill and then a 150 deg. turn to the left and a short run up. In decent position yet and still feeling it! This once the top obtained , remount and then sweeping left corner into a straight and than a right corner which came back on itself. This was all right near the spectator section and tents. this brought us out on bumpy grassy section and then back on itself and a sweeping right hand bend which took us over to a tennis court. Around the tennis court and back over to the spectator section. andinto the sand pits and a few turns. sandpits werent bad but followed someone the first three tiems who had trouble going through them without dabbing, hence slowing me up slightly. A few turns/switchbacks and then this took us into the woods for a hard packed slight downhill section and then a sweepinguphill to a longer gradual uphill back out onto the parking lot. follow the parking lot to a corner and turn right and sweep around through the woods and onto a trailed and than back on grass. this takes you into switchback area where the barriers were. This followed  around and than led to back to the section where the run up was, they cut out the staging start area then. Feeling great, probably in top 15-20 and moving up with everylap. first lap got the course down, 2nd lap moving fast up the line. On the 3rd lap doing fantastic, going around tennis courts and cla-clank-clang loud noise?! look down and see chainrings loose!!!!! I broke all five crank bolts, sheared them off!!! my chainring were completely loose. Just checked them few weeks ago and they were snug. Never would have guessed this!!! So my race was over. This DNF put me back into the 21 place overall! That sucks!!!

NCCX State Championship Race in Salisbury 11/7/10

This race K went with me. It was a cooler day and windy. I rode my IRD Crossfires in case of traction in woods. It was a fast laid out course, and very flowing considering. It seemed to be a decent length or close to the long side, but it was stretched out which made it seem long. Got there in plenty of time, and took spare wheels to pit area just in case. Started out again in last 2 -3 rows, but on the outside track. This had a straight and quick start to it. Started off in back but moved up quickly just off the start. In good gear and pushing the pedals hard, a few zigzags and than hit the barriers right away , which is nice and than followed course. It was a sharp right turn around a tree and than a nice slight upgrade flat section to a 180 switchback tight turn, which many had trouble making and keeping speed. this became off camber after turn and then  another sharp downhill left turn into a sweeping gradual turn which led to a set of 4 stairs in the ground! Fly up the stairs and remounted into a little against a fence and than quick right to a short flowing downhill which led to a sweeping right and than left turn into the woods. It was a root filled open trail section which came out quick enough, up some loose gravel to a paved walkway and than back onto the grass in a few corners around a tennis court area, and then left turn into a grass ridden section. a 180 switchback onto another wide paved trail. this was a great sprint area follow that to a sharp right turn into the grass again and then straight to a flowing left turn and than into a flowing right turn. which went along trail and then back onto grass for a few turns and than into the woods. the wooded section had a cool short uphill, not too bad and flowing nicely into a slight traversing down trail than.  This than came out of the woods, few sweeping and tight turns and back to start line to do all over again. 

Felt decent enough and rode well. Pushed hard and ended up 20th out of 54, which is much better than week prior. That put me at 17th in the overall standings for the entire race series. Getting there!

Hawksfest Crossfest at Boone - Halloween Oct 31,2010

Well first the drive. It was a good 3.5 hour drive to this much anticipated Halloween race. I was looking forward to this one with a slight costume and all! Took my older pup with me to accomodate the long trip. She chilled at times and paced in car the whole way out. Took a few pit stops, but left probably a little late to do this, but figured have plenty of time. Finally climb the last mountin heading into Boone, and confidently follow my GPSas it hasnt been wrong or too off before! Wrong. It lead me up some steep and winding back road off the main drag that said no outlet, First mistake! so followed it up road for a good 10 mins, you cant drive fast on roads this steep or windy! Get to top and the road is was off by two vowels. I needed Skyland and it took me to Skyline! @#%!?*&, is all i could say. Headed back down again and got to main road. Took a left cause my mind remembered a slight area where google said it was. Followed road, getting close to time, saw a few signs and someother poor soul behind me in same dilemma. kept going and finally sign for Hawksnest. Appropriately in a town called Seven Devils, especially for halloween- rock on! Well went up the windiest and most switchbacks paved road I have ever been up to top of hill where the ski resort was. Got there with 25 mins till start time, drove down bumpy road and parked quickly. Abby (my weimaraner)and me ran up and over to registration, signed paperwork and ran back while the end of the cat 1-2 race was dying down. Spectators were hootin' and hollerin'. got back to car, changed got bike off rack, andput dog back in car and put my skicap with pigtails on with helmet of top and rode fast to start line- WARM-up! got there just as the guy behind driving in made it as well.

Well time to start after standing there for 2 mins. Started in last row. not good! started on straight but very bumpy fairlane which led to small sandpit and the first circle/spiral. spiral was sweet, but i felt tense so tried to loosen up, but had trouble doing so. This then headed back beside where we came from and back up to short steep uphill and left turn on gravel road to a slight paved section and another steep right handed uphill. this short hill climbed to a sharp right turn on a uphill and then to a sweeping downhill on some rough uneven ground. this led down and then along a slight ridge and along a slight path to some switchbacks and then another big spiral . This second one was nice as well, but not easy to keep momentum when coming out. this looped to a short downhill through the woods and back to a fast downhill back close to the start line. This led a bumpy lane out around the first spiral and than back out and heading toward the main tene and registration. Folks were screaming, beer was flowing, music was pumping and i felt rigid and unable to relax. This then led to anothershort uphill and then a off camberhill which had loose dirt. that is where i first head lets here it for Pippi! I guess Pippi was my new name with my long strawberry blonde locks flowing from my helmet. This off camber hill led to a little section of downhill and then which led to 3 large whoop-dedoo- bumps like you see bmx's jump. right after the 3 large bumps wwas a sharp right run turn to follow the course. This led to flowing right turn into a short quick uphill and back to the start.

Spirals were fun, hills were killer, and barriers were great. great spectator course and all were having a blast. Saw a few beer hand-ups as well. Dropped my chain once and still managed to get 28th out of 51, not great but considering the circumstances, ill take it. below are a few more pics of the race and someafterwards of my pup, dressed up as well. Hard course, late arrival, and no warm-up took me out of this race overall. Hey its cross what can you say!

Lion Roar Race at Lions Park, Raleigh NCCX #2

Karen got to go with me to this race. another double race weekend for me! It all good though. Got there in plenty of time, parking rough, nice close to home race is very nice as well. Legs felt good, did a little recoonaissance of the course, didnt ride much just looked it over and then warmed up a little bit. Now this is the style we see in midatlantic. Music pumping, people having fun, racers and families enjoying all sites and sounds, a grand scheme of a monster cross is sometimes which makes it so enjoyable! Started this race on the road which is nice. started in the mid pack area. Whistle blow, fast startup slight incline to sweeping left on road to a sweeping right over ramped curb into the grass. followed a dirt(mostly loose) trail to go around a tree at a  left 90 deg angle. still have good position but will move up later. follow slight incline to grass again and then hop curb to go to street again, which is a fast 150-200 feet section then dives back into the grass with a sharp left and then 40 feet to a 180 deg switchback. this switchback you could either go wide and be in mud or go shallow and hug the tape and dodge some tree limbs and stay on solid ground. a sweeping left to a short fast downhill which had a a nice 180 deg  switchback and short climb (@12 feet) to another 180 switchback which led downhill to a left sweeping turn onto a ramped curb section. This led to the parking lot and then into a loose gravel fireroad, which the course went into the grass and then gravel and than grass again to make it interesting.

Back up on the fireroad, we do a sweeping slight incline to a grassy and drainage divet up a short hill through some loose sand to a left that led back to a gravel /dirt road section. This had a quick sharp right turn then and then through some slight drainage pit divits into the woods , to around some trees and then back out again. a few more turns and a gentle sweep led into the barrier scetion. go straight for another 20 feet and then left turn into a grassy section which winds about and then traverse a small wooden bridge to a sharp right  and then few feet to s sweeping left turn. a nice little downhill section that sweeps to the right ever so slightly. Then you come upon soem loosemulch and another drainage section to a mulch uphill which turns into a loose sand section on the steepest part. This section was fun. made it everytime but when someone knocked me over. no worries got up and kept going! a few s curves and some sharp turns up on the flat section and then come back down right near the last loose sand hill to a loose sand downhill section that sweeps to the left by the time you reach the bottom. . It sweeps to the left and then goes @ 150 feet back to mulch/grass and then the street , back to the finish stretch! This course suited me great, made every hill(except when I got knocked over) and rocked the barriers. Dry dusty day though but loved this course. did 3-4 laps, lost track. Made up quite a few places overall and came onto last stretch of road with a rider in front of me @ 10 feet, shifted to 46 chain ring and gunned it. He got me at the line just barely even after tossing my bike across the line, but it was almost a photo finish.

Still got 19th(or 20th depends which place you look at, but NCCX says 20th) place out of 70 riders, so my best result by far for sometime. I had signed up for Masters as well but went back to Cat 4 so, i got a DNP(38th out of 38th in that race). Oh well. Rode hard and felt great and definitely my style course. Had a blast here are a few pics to go along.

Southern Pines Cyclocross Race NCCX #1

Well this race not too far from house. Got there in plenty of time. My 2nd attempt at the masters 35+ races. Legs felt loose, they were behind on getting registration going, so slowed up stretching and warm up time. Race at 1000 hrs in am on Sat. Oct. 23rd, 2010. Very fast and not technical course. Lots of lfats few short uphills and only trouble area was mid length climb up fireroad which turned completely into loose sand up top. Got to starting line and ready to go,  whistle blow and off we go.  Starts stright and then loops a little to sketchy run around a tree(quick short down/uphill section). Hop back on the bike and flat to sidewalk area and then sweeps around in large gentle s curve to a sharp right and 50 feet than barriers off a quick v shaped section in course. Hop back on the bike and go down packed dirt/rock fireroad to a sweeping left 90 angle into some loose but very ridable sand sections(which actually was slight downhill area). Man this course is fast and no holds bar style, too much Gran Prix style for me! 

We than traverse a water section on an elevated grass section and then quick sweep 90 deg turn to right into loose dirt/sand/packed dirt fireroad. follow that to another sweeping right up onto a grassy section . Went about 150 feet to a slight uphill of loose dirt and packed dirt fireroad. then a gentle sweep to the left and start the only real climb in this course. It is packed dirt, easy going and then right near the top it turned into very loose sand and very easy place to loose momentum! Crest the hill with a slight sweep to the left and then to the right and back to a flat to a real short uphill back to the large field of the start finish line area. did a big loop that brought you out on the pavement and then a gentle turn back onto the grass to sidewalk and then sweeping right back into the grass. a few more turns and roundabouts and back at the start line for another lap. Well the 35+ group is mostly cat 3 only with the speed they were flying around the course. Up in the midatlantic there are 2 cats of 35+ with 3/4 and then 1-3 level. down here it is just
   cat 1,2,3,4 together! I got lapped bout 1/2 way through the total number of laps. this was not my style course, way too fast! the winners ended up doing 9 laps total and i did 8 since got lapped midway. Got 27th out of 33, which i figured as much. shoulda just stayed with cat 4 but my head/mind had better aspirations than my legs had. Still had fun and found a cool course.  

Trek Raleigh Cyclocross Kick off: Oct 17,2010

Well, 2nd race of the weekend. Another timid day in a way? Woke up to 41 deg weather. Had to do Cat 4 today b/c of only 4 different categories in this race. Bike ready to go. Gathered last meal, gear and K and off to the races. this one was the Trek Raleigh cyclocross kick off to the season. We got there with plenty of time to spare. I changed wheels once I saw the course. took the IRD knobbies off and put on my Kenda Kommando(fr)/Vredstein Prematio(r) on. grass wet but not that bad.

Course started on wide gravel/stone road and goes straight to sharp left turn and down ontp more smaller gravel roads winding through the woods. Then sharp left into the woods to a doubletrack section with lots of small rough ground to go over, but fun indeed.   Then the course came out after few turns and back onto the loose gravel road. followed that alittle longer which then led us to a slight incline of loose gravel/sand/grass combo. No easy trail at this section. It turns flat next and then back onto grassy fields. We zigzag through the field with 120-150 deg turns and then come out and loose roundabout onto to straight away on to the only 2 barriers on the course. then back to start/finish line. A sweet and fast course. 

Well started out fast as I predicted, and I started out close to the front. I love these type of roads with loose gravel no brakes, just gun it as much as you can. first lap steady pace, got slowed down through the tree/trail section of woods but did pass 2 folks there. Out on gravel road , felt good. slight uphill on loose trail didnt fair well so slowed down /lost some gas there. flat and grassy section, hard to keep up good pace but keep pushing. came upon barriers and wanted to jump them but not this time wanted to keep my placing high. I continued this next 3 laps. lost soem time on grassy flats but made time and places up in woods and on loose gravel roads. felt great overall and pushed hard. got passed last lap by one rider in grassy section and just missed catching up to him  before barriers so came in right behing him in 10th place out of 30 overall in the cat 4 race. Thats more like it.

also a little note of styling some new knee highs this race. got some usual funny comments and looks, buts its all good!!!

 

Wake Forest Cx Race: Oct 16, 2010

This was a first race in many aspects. My first race in NC, first race in over 35 age group, and first race with riders I have no idea of their strengths and weaknesses. Got there a little too early. Ended up doing to warm up laps. It was mid 50's-60s at time of race. warm in the sun, but cool in the shade. Course looked easy on paper but proved a little technical and difficult with long slow climbs. It was a field that had been cut to low rolling grass to yield some decent rolling terrain. start line and to the first turn not bad, then slight down and up slight again to straight which led then to 90 deg. left turn and than straight for 20 meters. Then a sharp right 90 deg. turn and than a long fast slight downhill which did a 180 deg switchback and then ride 30 meters to the barriers. dismount and then remount and start on slight incline. this incline went on till slight drop and than right turn into the woods(which was not on pre race map but a sweet welcome). A nice singletrack section of some roots, slick dirt, and many small divots. some nice switchbacks led to short sections and then roll out onto the grass again and 90 deg left turn and down hill toward another 90 deg. turn to left and then flowing right turn into a real fast section to a 180 switchback and then into another unmarked section. this section was on loose dirt/mud to slight downhill to a short 1-2 meter crevasse , which could jump but uphill in mud/dirt right away. A small transverse section to a bidirectional area. there was a short downhill to the left(which was sketchy) or one less direct route to the right which had a 150 deg. switchback at the bottom and then led to a short wood bridge traversing mud/water and then another step climb/run up. This led to a crest of the small climb with a 20 meter straight and a 180 switchback again and then to the right leading to a crueling gradual incline back to the start line.

Well struggled in some sections but flew on the downhills and also loved the singletrack sections. My kind of race. The slight inclines/uphills took the wind out of my sails though. Well finished decent enough with 5 out 8th in age group and 11 out of 22 in combined 35-55 age group. Drive was nice but 2.5 hours long drive for race. still fun day and K was with me as well. Wish the dogs were along but no such luck. Here are some pics of the race. May not have done well, but stylin with the knee highs and rocking the team kit to a tee!!!