Grafton Pumpkin Cross - 2022

 One more time the decision was made to head up north.  After last week's podium my head was full of bravado.  George talked me into it (or the other way around if you ask him) and we made the early morning drive to Grafton, WI, just north of Milwaukee.

There was a pre-ride video done by the hosts before all the tape was up and it looked pretty tame - a grass crit perhaps.  When we got up there it was anything but.  It was a good course with plenty of off camber turns and one big hill.  There were a couple barriers at the top of the hill and a short run up on the back half of the course.

Our race was 50+ Cat 4/5 > the old and slow group.  It was a big group with 57 racers.  There was also the 35+ group who started 30 seconds before us with 25 racers.  Luckily, it was a long course so the course didn't get too clogged.

Being a long course it also meant that our 30 minute race was going to be 3 laps (which turned out to be fine for me).  The starting grid is based on points and I was the 4th callup and on the front row.  One row here or there doesn't matter all that much as long as you are a strong racer but the difference between 1st and 4th row is a big deal.  You immediately have a sizable gap to the front of the race when you are 4th or farther back and there are a lot of racers to get by.

The start straight was a paved road that went slightly uphill and then we turned left onto the grass and came back down.  The down part helped to recover after the sprint from the line.  The highlight for me for the entire race was the start where I once again got the hole shot.  And I kept the lead for the first minute without going into the red.

As I said that was the highlight because after that I just slid backwards.  My cornering was pitiful and I kept letting gaps go.  Then when we hit the hill the plug was pulled and all my power drained.  The hill had an "A" and "B" line.  The "A" line was steeper but shorter and the "B" line was shallower but longer.  I chose the "B" line and lost 2 places because of it.  On the second lap I took the "A" line.  The first 2 laps it was a 25 second effort.  Being fresher on the on the first lap I expected it to be quicker so in retrospect The "A" line was better.  Well.... if you have the legs.  The 3rd lap I took the "A" line and blew up to the point that I had to unclip and walk up the second half.  That lap the hill was a 43 second effort.

Just before the hill on the 3rd lap George flew past me and was making good progress.  The only silver lining I can take is that after the hill on the 3rd lap no one else passed me.

I finished 18th.  A far cry from the 3rd of last week.  It was humbling.  The fact that I started front row is the only reason for me not falling into the back half of the results.  Other than it being the 3rd weekend in a row of driving to WI and doing double races the only thing I can think of is that I got very poor sleep the night before.   Training is important, but recovery is more important.  Especially at my (our) age.

Thanks for following along.

Here is the video from the race:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeWGA3-Rhv8&t=1452s

Glenwood CX - CCC #2

 After the Saturday podium it was time to be brought back down to earth with a smack down in the second CCC race of the season.  The CCC 45+ race has all categories (1-5) and my lowly Cat 4 status pushed me back to the 4th row (races are also 40 minutes instead of 30).  I did have company as Tony F. and Joe Doyle right there with me in row 4 and Bryan C. was just behind.  

We had a really good Tower turnout for the Glenwood race.  In the 55+ there was Fran, George, Bob, Brad and Mark.  Bob's son John raced in the Cat 4's later on in the afternoon.

The Glenwood course is what I expected of the Field of Riches course > flat and grass.  This is the second year of the course.  They made a couple tweaks to it so it was longer.  It is more of a power course favoring steady sustained power.  Technique is important in any cyclocross course but this one less so.

I didn't know exactly what to expect from the legs after racing on Saturday but last year we did Jingle Cross the 2 days before and I still did pretty good so there was hope.  The temp was about 45 for my race (I race right after the 55+ group) so while it wasn't warm it was warmer than Saturday and we had tons of sun so it was all good.  I made the strategic decision to keep the arm and leg warmers on but change the gloves and hat to something lighter.  I ended up ditching the arm warmers midway through the race. [I actually forgot them on course and while driving home had to turn around and go back :(  It actually worked out, I spotted a Portillo's and treated myself to a morning chocolate cake shake.  Glycogen replenishment right?!]

Clipping in at the start wasn't near as good as Saturday but wasn't horrible.  I might have been able to make up a few spaces but it was pretty clogged and not too much lost.  I was near the inside of the first corner when all of a sudden some jack-a-loon in a UPB kit with a curly mustache flies up and smashes into the guy in front of me.

Oh, I learned GoPro 101 and will post the entire race plus a recap video (hopefully).

The last CCC race I was mentally broken when I saw 4 laps to go at the end of the third lap.  I made sure to prep myself this time to make sure my expectations were not too low.  It was a longer course than last year and I was pretty sure we would do 5 laps so I mentally prepared for that.  Turns out that was what we did so that mental box was checked.

The first lap was all about just following a long line of wheels.  There were 54 racers and I was somewhere right in the middle.  The second lap started to string things out and is where Tony and I started to dance.  He passed me in a straight and then I passed him back over a barrier.  Tony and I had done a lap together in pre-ride and we chatted about preferences.  He prefers to rest in the straights and I prefer to use my power to extend gaps (power is relative to my technical ability).  At the end of the second lap he was right behind me with one rider in front.  I said Giddy Up and he grabbed my wheel as we punched it.  We passed the rider and gapped him and then once in the grass Tony passed me for good. He was even nice enough to say thanks lol.  He dangled in front of me but slowly pulled out a gap of 30 seconds by the end.  Spoiler > Tony was the first Cat 5 to cross the line and the second 4/5.  Tony is a monster. 

I should take time here to mention that I DIDN'T FALL!!!  I know you are all waiting for the GIF so sorry to disappoint.

I got a new pressure gauge after discovering that my gauge and George's (which are the exact same) were off by about 2-3 PSI.  A big deal when you are running in the 25-28 range.  So maybe I was dialed in just right.  I ran 28 in front and 29 in back.  It was dry and I'm heavy so I needed more pressure than most.

The last three laps there were 4 of us battling for positions.  And here is a good spot to talk about mental strength.  You can only control what goes on in your head and can't assume what is happening in someone else's.  Just like on the road if you are hurting the others are probably hurting.  Two racers were in front of me at one point.  The lead guy started to put a gap into the second guy.  I should have made an extra effort to get around him to close the gap but I didn't.  The gap went out to 5-10 seconds or so and so mentally I let him go.  Eventually I passed the second guy.  

An important thing in cyclocross is that if you are in the lead of a group and you make a mistake then the other guy is slowed too.  But if it is the opposite then there is a gap.  So taking what little aero drag there is in cross is usually worth it.  Surprisingly, that is not a precursor to a story about me making a mistake.  Just good tactics.  You can also go as slow as you want in the technical bits because they can't get past you and you can rest a bit.

Getting back to the mentality of it all.  I think this is where the ABD guy started to lose it.  Me passing him and then a SpiderMonkey guy passing both of us just broke him and he started to fade.

I was not thrilled that the SpiderMonkey guy passed me.  He was dangling for a bit behind me and then at the beginning of the last lap he got by me.  What is ironic is I finally was able to pass him back later in the lap on a straight stretch that was parallel to the stretch where he passed me. And within about 30 seconds he was 3-4 seconds behind.  I think he was at his limit and that was it.

Do you remember the guy who got a gap on the 3 of us and I kinda mentally let him go?  Well near the end of the race I could see him 4 seconds in front of me.  A measly 4 seconds.  (You actually count these things while racing to mentally help you).  I'm not sure if he slowed down or the chase with the SpiderMonkey guy brought us closer but he was there.  But I had reached the depths of my mental strength.  I think if I had been willing to go all in and really go into the red I might have been able to catch him.  But that pain cave was a bit too much for me.

I settled for 23rd place.  Actually, that is a fantastic result for me. Not only is that my best result in a CCC 45+ race it is the first time I've finished in the TOP HALF of a CCC 45+ race.  This is headline news!!!  Now, I hear you saying that I shouldn't really be bragging about a 23rd place.  That is positively pedestrian.  But it is progress.  Significant at that (especially considering my crap result at Schiller Woods 2 weeks ago).  So I am happy!  It improved my points which also helps improve your start position in the grid.

I do want to reiterate something.  The comradery of the Tower team (and heck the cyclocross community in general) is amazing.  Having other guys there to race or to cheer you on is immeasurable.  You can hear them cheering you on and you can cheer them on.  They also take pretty good pictures (Thanks Brad).

The same can be said for the entire Tower club.  Let's keep it that way.

Full race video: https://youtu.be/9S-7iVVlvso

Field of Riches CX

Once again it was time to head north of the border and race in Wisconsin.  Just outside of Milwaukee, George and I carpooled on Saturday morning to the Field of Riches CX race.  The better half was out of town so what better to do than race.

We signed up for the 50+ Cat 4/5.  It was a 30 minute race in a park amongst some beautifully changing leaves.

Based on the name of the race I didn't expect too much more than riding around in a grassy field.  I was very wrong.  The course included three hills, 2 sketchy downhills and two sections of forest.

Ours was the first race of the morning and even though the temp was about 39 there wasn't the frost on the grass we saw at Trek day 2.  The course was in good shape even though there was some rain Saturday.  The woods had some dampness but was very ridable. 

We had 42 racers and I had a front row start with George in the second row.  When the whistle blows you need to be ready.  At Trek I was not ready for either race.  They don't actually count down the start but give you the "Anytime in the next 30 seconds".  So, I made sure this time to watch the official with the whistle and focus as best as possible.

It worked out perfectly as I not only jumped right at the whistle but I clipped into my other pedal instantly and was off.  In cyclocross there's this thing called "The Holeshot".  Basically, the first one to the first turn wins the holeshot.  And today that was me!  You don't get anything for it.  No medal or gels.  But wow was it fun.  I don't think it counts as an out of body experience but in my head as I made the first turn I was thinking to myself - "I won the holeshot!"  Such a novice.

Right after the holeshot a couple guys passed me but I was ok with that.  I was not going to blowup early and felt right in rhythm.  We did start in a grassy field but a few turns in we took a left down a fairly steep hill with a little shimmy at the end.  It wasn't enough that needed to slow down for the shimmy but did have to give the bars a little push to the side.  

Of course what goes down must come up.  We started the first hill in a zig zag fashion but the last half was straight with a log in the middle.  During pre-ride we did a couple tests to see if we could bunny hop it.  I tried left at first but the back wheel didn't make it.  One of the course marshals said to stick left and try it again.  I wasn't buying it because the ground behind the log seemed a bit higher to the right.  I tried the right side and it worked.  So, during the race I stuck right and gained a ton of distance over other racers who were dismounting and running it.  

I was still in third at the top but the rest of the race was getting strung out behind.  We took a left and headed into the woods down some single track.  The entry you could take with speed but then there was a right-left-right combo you had to brake for.  It got more slick with the subsequent laps.  [In the race after ours one racer crashed and messed up her leg/ankle.  Took a while to get her up the trail and to the ambulance.]  I ended up deciding to unclip with my left foot and hand it out for balance on the tight left and slid the back tire a little.  It worked for me.

George and I had done our pre-ride together and we talked about the next hill and not blowing up.  It was a slow drag where you could easily go too hard and over heat (so-to-speak; remember it was 39 degrees).  So that hill led to the second sketchy downhill.  This one was a crushed limestone path with a u-turn at the bottom.  When your heart rate is up there (average was 166) the brain doesn't always work as planned.  So at the bottom of the gravel I had to slam on the brakes because I forgot it turned left.  No harm no foul.

The last main feature on the course was a combo of an even bigger tree across the pass right after a u-turn which then led to a straight, but rooty, single track through the woods.  The first lap I dismounted fine and got over the log.  But the second of 3 laps I took the u-turn with some speed and unclipped the inside foot to help with balance.  But that is normally the foot I keep clipped in when dismounting so now I was stuck with no feet clipped and my butt stuck in the saddle and came to a full stop.  Ugh!

At this point in the second lap the chance for the second step on the podium had been lost so my fumble wasn't costing my progression, but maybe my hold onto 3rd.  Turns out after owning a GoPro for a number of years I still can't figure out how to turn it on.  In the middle of the second lap on a straightaway I took a peek to see if the red light was on and it wasn't.  So I clicked the button again and got the blinky red light I needed.  This distraction didn't make me lose my balance or ride me directly into a hedge but it didn't keep my focus sharp.  The second place racer was about 2 seconds in front of me and when I took the next left turn I took it too hot and slid out.  Usually, I fall because I brake too much and the back wheel loses traction.  This time I should have tapped the brakes.

I was able to pop up quickly and the other racer was still only 10 seconds away but it took a while to regather my mojo.  I think I ended up about 30 seconds back from second in the end.  [For some reason the GoPro turned off right after the crash so this is all I have].

Now my focus was looking back instead of forwards. I knew I was still in third place and was excited about being on a podium.  Another rookie move was thinking about my position in the group as opposed to focusing on the course.  Luckily I didn't fall again but I kept checking over my shoulder.  The 4th place racer was a guy with a long goatee.  He was about 10 seconds back and even though he might make some progress in the corners (everyone corners better than me) he was thicker than me and I thought I could make up some time on the hills (As you all know I am a mountain goat).

At some point in the last lap I peeked back and there was someone who had passed the goatee guy.  Uh oh.  I was talking to the 2nd place guy after the race and he said this guy doesn't start fast but makes progress throughout the race and was strong.  That put a little more pressure on but I was able to hold him off.  

The 35+ race started 30 second before ours and we were catching the back half of that race (Actually I think I finished around 6th in that race too lol).  As I came to the hill with the log I had two racers from the 35+ group in front of me.  I yelled ahead that I was going to the right.  I wanted to have a clean line to bunny hop the log.  They both moved to the left as they dismounted for the log which was great.  I hoped the guy behind me was going to dismount and then I would gain some more time.  It is fun to have a feature you know you can nail where others might not.  

This was actually the place on the course I was hoping to pass the 2nd place guy (before I fell).  I was feeling good and I wasn't worried about being just behind him.  He was dismounting for the log.  I could get past him here and then push it hard in the last lap.  Oh well.

I went with a little higher pressure since it was mostly dry which probably contributed to the fall.  But it was good everywhere else.  In the last corner I had pulled past another racer from the 35+ (he was nice enough to move over) but he decided he wanted to sprint.  His pressure must have also been high because as he tried to come around the outside of me he slide out.  That corner took out more than one person that day.

So I made the podium and was super excited.  I made the podium at regionals last year but there were only 11 guys.  What made it even better is Erik Hagen let me use his Tower jacket which looked awesome on the podium!

The winner got some local beer.  The 2nd place guy got a bag of coffee.  Me, I got a box of Clif Bars.  They pay out big up in Wisc.  Actually, it worked out perfect as I don't really drink much and I don't like coffee.

So, this was really a field of riches for me.  Hoping to build on this keep moving forward.

Thanks for reading!

>>> Bonus pictures I just found from the Trek races courtesy Focal Flame Photography.

Trek CX Cup 2022

Two days.  Two races (in 16 hours).  Two friends.  Same course.  

Let's compare:

First race on Friday: Cat 4 (all ages); Second race Saturday morning: 45+ Cat 4/5

1st: 50 degrees; 2nd 35 degrees (um, brr)

1st: 30 minutes (actual race time 40 minutes WTH); 2nd: 30 minutes (actual 32 minutes)

1st: 120 racers (5th row start for me, 7th for George I think); 2nd: 29 racers (more in 35+ and 55+ scored separately) (1st row start for me, George had a second row start in the 55+) (Bryan C. started in the Cat 4 race right after ours)

1st: Finished 55th; 2nd: Finished 10th

1st: dry and dusty course; 2nd: frosty grass that slowed things down (but not as much as expected)

1st: 1 crash (a slide out on the off camber dust); 2nd:  no crashes (at least I learned something from the day before)

1st: Number of guys who passed me because of the crash: 11; 2nd: Not applicable

1st: 0-5 number of times I cleared the rock wall; 2nd: 3-4 (And I woulda made the 4th time but the guy in front of me stalled)

Total number of flyovers both days: 27

Weird mustache guys on course: 1

1st: Lap where my legs blew up - 3rd; 2nd: None (Didn't go into the red at the start and kept it steady all race)

1st: People at the Secret Bar > dozens; 2nd: Zero > Too damn early (For the World Cup race Sunday there were hundreds)

1st: Did I finish strong? No.  Chased the same Eliel sponsored guy for 2 laps and was 2 seconds behind at the finish; 2nd: Yes, took the final 180 turn 100 meters from the finish behind a guy.  He went wide and I went tight so we were head to head by the time we straightened out.  We sprinted and and I beat him.  Kinda like getting a birdie on the 18th hole.  Made the day worth it.

1st: Lap times >  7:49, 8:09, 8:03, 7:57, 7:49; 2nd: 8:12, 8:03, 8:17, 7:58.  Excited that the last laps were fast. (Again, same course.  Legs were tired the second race)

1st: Avg HR > 168; 2nd: 161 (The lower second day is a combo of being tired, early morning [7:30am start], and colder temps)

It is a great course for amateurs.  The pros raced on the same course Friday but the harder version on Sunday.  

Come 'Cross with Us

Schiller Woods CX - CCC #1

Schiller Woods in the city is the first round of the Chicago Cross Cup series (of 7).  It is a new venue as the typical kickoff (Caldwell Woods) is under construction.  The pre-race info was that it was flat with one hill used in multiple ways with a gravel run up.

This was a real power course.  Those with good power should be able to take advantage of the long grass sections.  This was me last year.  This year is up in the air.

The gravel run up had 2 barriers in the pre-ride but they came afoul of regulations because they were too far apart and they ended up scrapping them until later races.  So it became a gravel ride up for those with skill and space (Foreshadowing).

The turnout for the day's racing was really good - 532 people pre-registered.  70 in the 45+ race  (Bryan, Tony F. and myself) and 43 in the 55+ (Fran, George, Bob, Brad, Mark M.).  Old people basically fund these races.

So, we had perfect weather (high 50's) and dry grass and a nice course.  All that was left was to let the legs to do their thing.

The 55+ race was first (30 seconds after the 35+).  The boys battled it out.

                          

In my race I started 4th row.  Bryan and Tony were near the back.  For the third race in a row I was able to clip in right away and had a good start.   (Well, except for forgetting to start my Garmin and GoPro.....rookie).  I lined up 30th but was inside the top 20 in the first meters.

After that it was a slow attrition.  My bib number was 99 (my group started with 65) so I tried to keep track of anyone 100+ that got past me.  At first it was fine, only 80's and 90's were passing me.  And I would make up a position or two in the longer grass power sections.  But then I had a morale blow.  See, Fran's race did 5 laps in their race.  So at the end of my lap 3 I expected to see 2 to go or maybe 3.  But the number 4 was showing loud and proud.  UGH!  My mouth was dry at this point and now my shoulders slumped.  

My prep for this race wasn't the best (Excuse list coming).  My car got totaled a couple weeks prior (everyone's ok) and I was totally stressed about getting a new car quickly - and in this market that really sucks.  Then after that stress ended I caught some kind of non-covid bug.  

So my mouth was dry in the third lap even after plenty of hydration for days and now I had to stumble home for 4 more laps.  The bittersweet moment of the race also happened on lap 4.  I could see Tony making progress and it was inevitable he was going to catch me.  Awesome for a guy who was supposed to be in Florida on a beach.  I decided to let him get past me the hard way and used too much brake on a downhill corner and laid it down.  Tony was nice enough to ask if I was ok as he passed by.  I hopped back on the bike but it took a lap to get any mojo back.

The coolest part of the race was when the leader lapped me.  Not just any leader, the 3 time BMX World Champion and current age group National Champion in CX.  I was ok with the lapped part because it meant I only had to do 6 laps instead of 7.  He came past right when we got to the gravel run up section.  I had never made it to the top riding each of the previous laps (so it was an actual run up for me) but by watching how he did it I was able to accomplish the task the last 2 laps.  It was now a good day.  I finished 40th/63.

The best part of cyclocross is the community.  I met people I hadn't seen since last season.  Kenny was on the microphone.  And all the Tower guys hung out after.  Fran even brought home made blueberry pie and chocolate milk for everyone.  What a guy!

Next is Trek Cup in Waterloo (Still not 100% but am giving it a go anyway) this weekend and then back to the CCC in Glenwood.