Kruger's Crossing

With the Cross Crusade over, it's only a short while before I hang up the cyclocross bikes and move into the off-season. 

To fill the void here in Portland between Cross Crusade and the upcoming USGP weekend, there's Kruger's Crossing.  This race is held at a big farm on Sauvie Island.  It's a fun course and fairly close to home, so I decided to go. 

It's only a 40 minute bike ride from my house, so I loaded the backpack with water, clothes and race wheels and headed out. 

The course was great.  Lots of wide open places to pass (or be passed in my case).  Lots of winding slippery turns.  Lots of barriers.  And we rode through a barn.  Perhaps the best feature was a pumpkin barrier. 

Just before a very deep muddy section, there was a big pile of pumpkins to go over.  I was loosing so much time running over them that I decided to "jump" them.  I made it over with a hesitant little hop at first.  Next time around, I decided I'd do a real, legitimate bunny hop.  In my mind, it played out just fine.  In reality, I went over the pumpkins, and landed on my front wheel, which then stuck in the mud.  Down I went, much to the content of the crowd.  "Good try" someone said.  After that, I just lifted my front wheel and plowed through the pumpkins instead.

I did not have much fight in me at the race.  It was fun, and I got a good workout, so that will have to be enough.  I really enjoyed the course.  Next time, I don't think I'll carry an extra set of wheels on my backpack.  Riding up Newberry post-race was a bitch.

Photo: SoSoVelo