Boulevard Cup CX!

Headed on down for Boulevard Cup CX with the family on Sunday. I have raced at Herman Laird Park many times so I knew what was ahead of me. This course is pretty flat, always has that gravel loop in it and usually some additional pavement. In years past being primary a MTB guy in the spring summer, I have never done very well out on this course. Last couple of summers I have been getting my roadie on so I was pretty sure I was going to fair a bit better than usual.

Signed up for the Cat 3 race and had a perfect warm-up, took a couple laps to check out the course and actually brought my trainer out to look like I know what I am doing. 20 min before race time as I was keeping warm, I noticed my front break rotor was rubbing just enough to annoy me so I headed to the truck for some last min adjustments.

Then it happened......

So I leaned my bike against my truck to adjust my break. Got it to quit rubbing, went to go put my tools back in the truck bed and wouldn't you flippen know it... Wind blew over my bike and bent the crap out of my rear hanger!!! My pristine Boone, Zipp wheel rocket ship, out of commission. AND 15 min before the race is supposed to start.

Luckily I had enough time to go get my single speed pit bike and go change numbers and get into the single speed race. So the day was salvaged.

Lined up behind the 3's and the game plan just got really simple. Hold Britton's wheel for as long as possible, then once dropped, have fun and catch as many Cat 3's as possible.

Holding strong here! Why is it Britton even looks faster... Huh.... Anyway- Yes, this is only about 45 seconds into the race. And yes, I was dropped  shortly thereafter. 

I had pretty decent legs today and think I am finally getting back into cross shape and ended up 2nd on the day in Single Speed. First time I had this much fun on such a flat course. Sure would have loved all those corners on my new Challenge tires though. 

Most important aspect of the day by far was that my wife and little guy came out to watch. This is the first year he kinda knows what is going on. 

Let me tell you, there is no greater feeling than your little boy studying every move you make and cheering you on like your some sort of super hero!

He wanted to get on Dad's bike!

My escort to the Start Line. No training wheels.

RESULTS

ROGERS PICS

Carbon CX Disc Wheelset for Sale.

Carbon DISC Tubulars... Ready to CX rock and roll! 

Britton built them for me a couple seasons ago, normal wear and tear (I only raced them, no gravel/commuting etc) Light and fast, look great on your bike. Freehub has your normal grooves in it, should last another season or so before you should probably just switch it out. 

Tires are new this season, only has two races on them and a handful of training rides on grass. Tread is still mint. They are Vittoria Cross EVO XM 32. 

Bolt on disc. I use 140s and put them on my new weelset, if you want I can put some 160 Avids on it. I have a drawer full. Also, I can put some Shimano skewers if you want. $500.

Joules Cross

I think I have hit this race up the past 4 years. It has been an up and down affair, I have had some podiums and have gotten my arse handed to me.

Most of the time I can only squeeze in one day of racing each weekend, so I opted for Sundays course. Joules is always challenging for me because I have more of a difficult time keeping up on the flat straights than I do hills. Sundays course had a bit of everything. The start/finish is always a nice straightway that leads into some turns in a field over to where the fun part is usually. Around the pond had a nice 15 yard mud section, also had Rogers usual spiral and about two moderate climbs out on course.

KC Cyclocross Blog has a good video of the mud section. 

I decided on Sunday to do something I have not done in a season or two.... Ride Singlespeed! It was everything I remembered, fun as crap! It was a blast to go out racing against guys I have not raced with in a while.

Race wen't pretty well, started the race second row but was able to find a hole and sneak in behind Britton and Roger W and held that for about a half of a lap until those two and one or two more slowly gapped me and off they went. Andrew S came by and for a moment I thought to myself, hey we can work together and catch up to Roger sitting 3rd. Then 20 seconds later I found myself not being able to hold his wheel and tossed that grand idea.

It stayed that way for the rest of the race, came in 5th. Those boys are pretty fast. One day I'll keep up! Till next time... Hermen Laird I think.

Thanks to Roger for the pics!

RESULTS

ROGERS PICS

Owe, and one thing. CX just got serious!!! Boom. Zipp + Challange = Awesomeness

Hit me up if you want first dibs on my old set of Volkler specials. They are carbon and disc and have fresh ready to race Vittoira tubluars glued to them. All you need is disc's and a cassette and your racing carbon tubulars next weekend!!!

They can be seen on my cover photo from Cliff Drive CX. Those be the ones.... Just some training rides and two races on them (tires). Tread is still mint, corners on rails. 

Robidoux Roundup CX!

Head on over to the race blog to get the full scoop!!! Robidoux Roundup CX

Personally I had to DNF on my home turf!! Had some drive train issues and dropped my chain 3 times on the first lap. Done.....

Real bummer to DNF a course you could ride though with your eyes closed.

The course was as soft as it had ever been, which is probably a good thing or the stupid fast guys would be putting in low 4 min laps...

Only one thing better than being on the podium, your son on the podium!!!

Till next time..

Cliff Drive Cassic CX

1st race of my season in the books and it was a hard one. The boys from Manions switched venues and was it ever a tough one to start the season.

Since I normally think I am a lot faster than in actuality, I went down on Saturday and threw my hat in with the big boys (Cat 1/2/3) and proceeded to get destroyed. Man those guys are fast....

The course had plenty of climbing and what gave me the most fits were the off camber turns all in dry dirt that was basically powder.

Granted, I did not have high expectations of my performance being so early in the season for me, but man... When your in a 50 min race and your in survival mode come 20 min into it, its going to be a long one. I remember looking at my Garmin at one time seeing that we were only half way, I knew I needed to get into dumb animal mode (just pedal, don't think) and get it done.

Finally got lapped by the winner and YamsForLife on my second to last lap. Rolled in for a midfield 11th.

Photo from Pete Barth

All in all, it was a pretty good venue and I really enjoyed being out there racing again. Especially enjoyed seeing everyone out racing again, sharing this same dysfunction.

Photo from Pete Barth

Thanks to the guys putting the race on!  Painful fun was had by all!! Sunday looked like a blast too..

Owe yah, Thank you to the 8 Lumen Crew for the handups!!

My partner in crime seemed to need a break.. Hand up and getting lapped simultaneously, Bravo Chris. 

Get all the info and pics you want over here at Cliff Drive dot org.

Some good CX info over here. 

Results for both days is always easy to find over on:
KCA   &   Local Cycling dot com.

Also don't forget to get our race on your calenders for October 12th!!!!! Robidoux Roundup CX!!

Hey, hey, hey... Its Cross Season!!!!

Okay, Its been a while...I can't wait to get back to the race scene. I have only race 3 times this year. I raced more than that the first year I started!

But that is about to change. Hoping to get out this Sunday if I can get one of my bikes up and running right.

On  another note... Myself and some of our Joetown good old boys are putting on our first cross race!!! Pretty pumped about it...

Head on over to the website!

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Sweet Crit Video!