I've been curiously eyeing cyclocross, with the idea that it looks like something I'd like to try, for the past couple years. Seeing Pure Sweet Hell at least summer's Bicycle Film Festival pretty much confirmed my suspicions that it was something I had to try.
This past weekend I finally got my hands on a cyclocross bike -- just in time to make the first race in the Urban Cyclocross series.
I had a blast! It's a strange kind of paradox, how something so painful can simultaneously be so much fun, but somehow it is.
Being that it was my first ever 'cross race, and I didn't have a whole lot of practice on cyclocross specific skills, the pre-race jitters were in full-effect. As is usually the case, they quickly disappeared with the start of the race, only to be replaced by pain. And boy do cross races hurt. There was a little bit of recovery on the two short downhill sections, but the rest of the time you're pretty much red-lining; either passing, hanging onto a wheel, or trying to keep from getting passed.
I started to fade toward the end, which proved to be my undoing. One guy had been on my wheel for several laps, just waiting for me to crack, and with three laps to go he made his move. He hammered past me, out of the saddle, right before a dismount and run-up. This created a gap that I couldn't close. About a lap later, another guy came around, and while his move wasn't quite as decisive, and the gap not quite as large, I still couldn't close it before the finish.
I figured that I'm probably strong enough that starting out in the beginners would be a bit too much like sandbagging, so I signed up in the intermediate class. However, didn't want to be the noob, 'causing a big pile-up at the start, so I played it conservative and started toward the back of the pack of 20 riders. So, it was a bit of a surprise when the results listed me in 5th place. I remember passing quite a few guys early in the race, but I could have sworn that in all that traffic there were at least 3 or 4 guys off the front. Apparently there were only two. I can't help but wonder if I would've been able to dig a little deeper, in those last three laps, if I'd have known I was battling for a podium spot.
Still can't complain about a top 5 the first time out.
I think I'm hooked on 'cross!
Monday, October 15, 2007
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3 comments:
they have an intermediate class? last time I looked I had to race the cat 2 class because of my semi-pro statis. non the less....good job........ sand bagger ;)
just playN.
My understanding is that cyclocross has traditionally had A, B, and C classes, but they've tried to align that with the UCSF and NORBA categories.
I'm a 5 on the road, so they assigned me to the 4s in 'cross (no cat 5 in 'cross).
In cross the categories are: C/Beginner = 4, B/Intermediate = 3,4, and Elite/A = Pro,1,2,3.
Regardless of my semi-pro mtn. bike license, I'd have to petition to upgrade to the 3s, and given the run-around I'm getting just trying to get an upgrade to the 4s on the road, I figure it's not even worth the bother to ask. I'll just hafta earn the points to upgrade.
for some reason my usacycling licence to ride has me as a cat 5 on the raod and a cat 2 for cyclecross
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