I'm starting to understand just how hard cyclocross is.  I've kind of known all along, but Wednesday night, I was actually able to push hard enough to comprehend it. 

Concentration is so important, and you can't loose discipline even when you're exhausted.  Every single inch of the course matters.  If you lose just 3 seconds in a certain spot, that's 30 seconds over 10 laps.  Little mistakes and hesitations could easily add up to five minutes over an hour long race.  Any time you use the brakes, it's just going to make it harder to get back up to speed.  Any time you can use your strength to gain on your competition, you need to do it without hesitation.  It's easier said than done, but I am starting to clue in.  I'm one of the guys loosing those minutes, but I didn't really get it.  It's a race, and it's not easy.  Like any sport, it's as hard as you make it. 

I think cyclocross just got harder for me, and that's progress.

photo David Hanes

The mud at PIR is the best cyclocross mud in the world.  For real.  So when it started pouring rain on Saturday, I was very happy. 

This was the first race of the year where I've arrived at the venue during a downpour.  It takes a lot more planning (and clothing) for races like that, and I was not well prepared.  It was cold.  I swear I saw little pieces of snow hitting the ground.  I put on every piece of clothing I had and got in a good preview lap. 

Next, I went to the car and changed everything.  Shoes, socks, everything.  It's a lot nicer to warm up in dry clothes.  But I didn't bring my trainer, so I just rode around in the rain.  The weather let up a bit so it was not bad at all.  Before I knew it, it was time to line up.

I started DFL.  Decided to do a couple extra warm up efforts on my way back from the car and completely missed the starting callup.  So I just asked Brad Ross what chute to go in and lined up behind everybody.  I was kind of bummed about that, but there were other things to be happy about.

Anyway, the whistle blew and we squished off into the mud.  If there is a nice thing about starting behind everyone, it's that you can only move forward.  I passed a lot of people, moving up from group to group.  The mud was awesome.  I was totally in my happy place.  The bike performed perfectly, so all I had to do was focus on moving up.

After the traffic thinned out, things were pretty smooth.  I was moving forward and gaining ground throughout the entire race.  I sure wish I'd had one more lap to catch the next big group up ahead of me.  With a little more effort, I could have been several places higher up in the finish.  I wasn't sure I could put out much more, but I think I could of.  So I'm encouraged by the result, and hope I'll keep improving with my next race at Washington Country Fairgrounds in two weeks.  It's getting better.

photo courtesy sosovelo.

I've raced at Sherwood before, and the two things I remember most where:

1. Super Bumpy
2. Super Ouchy Hill

The bumps were better this year, but still a defining characteristic of the venue.  The hill was most certainly still there.  This course was fun.  Not well suited for me but I had a really good time.

I was near the back for the start, and I lined up along the left and tried to pass as many people as I could before a run-up that would certainly be a bottle neck.  I got going pretty fast just in time for a little traffic jam.  I ran into the guy in front of me and then hit a pole that was surprisingly well planted in the ground, feet on the ground, rear tire in the air at eye level to anyone behind me.  I don't think I was last after that but any passing I did was certainly undone.

Down and around some loose, twisty turns and into a canopy of trees, we did a hard right turn into the run-up hill.  It was possible to ride it if you were alone and had the strength/gumption to do it, but not on the first lap.  Bikes tangled, bodies on the ground, what a mess.

Out of the canopy, squinting into the sun and a left hand turn that led to a fast, loose and bumpy rolling section.  Transition to a fast downhill, the same place as the bump-fest we had last year.  It was way nicer this time around, but still pretty jarring. 

Sharp left turn at the bottom of the hill into another shaded climb, this one quite ridable.   Flow into a bumpy plateau with a couple of barriers, followed by another section of rolling, bumpy terrain.

Quick dismount to get through a little creek crossing, followed by the hill.  The ouchy hill.  Just go up, and up, and up.  There was a slight flat section and even a little down hill for respite, but it still stung.  The hill led us to a sharp left turn into a pasture and the finish line, where we (or at least the race leaders) must have crossed a good 10 times.  It was tough but I really enjoyed it.

This was my first race of the season running tubeless again.  I overdid it on the pressure and went really low, a little too soft for the hard bumpy stuff.  With about four to go, I hit something hard after drifting sideways and I went over the bars.  Pine needles ground their way in between the front tire and rim, and air started hissing out. 

I cleaned out the dirt and pine needles, but the tire was flat by then.  I limped over to the neutral pit and pumped it up.  The bead snapped back but I decided I'd take a spare just in case.   I lost a few minutes there but was able to finish the race.

The big hill was still ouchy but not as bad as last year.  So maybe things are coming around a little, but still nothing great.  I really don't like riding in the hard dry stuff, but at least it makes cool dust clouds when you ride through it.

PIR next weekend.  And rain is in the forecast.  PIR has the best damn mud in the world.  Can't wait.

Photos are from Craig Ruby's Flikr Set.  Thanks for sharing.

No race report this week.  I did not race.  I do not want to talk about it. 

Stayed up late dialing my bike in for the mud.  Got the new rear wheel built, mounted some Racing Ralphs.  Rode it today in Forest Park and it's fantastic.  So the bike is ready, finally.  Can't wait to race with some softer (tubeless) tires.

And that's it, friends.  Nothing to report, so here's something interesting instead:

I made a last minute decision to hit Blind Date #2 tonight, a night-time cyclocross race at Alpenrose.

The first half of the race was pretty lame, just like last time.  Then, with maybe 20 minutes left, somebody passed me and something clicked.  I passed him back going over the barriers, and then rode away from him.  I tried to catch the next guy up ahead, but he already had a huge gap and I couldn't do it.  At first I couldn't even see him.  Then he was leaving the velodrome as I was coming in.  I could see him on the last lap but there was no catching him.  I could have used a couple more laps.

Anyway, it felt good to feel like a racer again.  It's been a long time since I've raced the bike so I guess it takes time to adapt.  I hope it's a sign of improvement.

On the last lap, going through the twisty grass turns near the finish line, I think I slid out and then clipped a pedal on the ground.  Back wheel went up in the air and I ended up sideways with one arm and one leg off the bike.  Funny I didn't crash, I'm not sure how I managed to stay upright.  But I rode it through the finish line, and moments later my tube exploded.  Turns out the bead of my clincher came undone from that sideways hit.  But everything held together until I was done racing.  Barely.

Photo by Thomas Good

I've been so excited for the 'cross season to get underway. For me, that was today. I know I'm not in prime shape, but I really enjoy getting out there anyway. Of course, it'd be great riding in the front of the race, but you get what you get.

We're just finishing off a big home improvement project, and this weekend was crunch time. I was painting windows and didn't leave my house until 2:00...for a 3:00 race. No time to do anything to the bike, like swap out the training wheels. Just grabbed the bike, threw it in the car, and drove to Alpenrose in my kit and MTB shoes ready to ride.

I arrived and was happy registration was still open. Guess what? No lines at 2:20, just so you know. My race number is 399, which I bet is the biggest one issued in my category right now.

I got a short warmup in, but a short warmup is oh so much better than no warmup. I didn't pre-ride or even see the course but figured it'd be about the same as previous years. Sure enough, there were several elements from years past.

The route through the velodrome is always great, and I really enjoyed the winding grassy turns in what used to be the horse arena. I went backwards on the bumpy grass sections, especially when climbing. Maybe my tires were just too hard, or maybe it was something else. My back was pretty cooked half way through, and once that goes, everything else suffers too.

In the end, I felt tired and lacking in power but I certainly had fun out there. Finished way back in the field but that just leaves more room for improvement. I had to pull an all-nighter to finish the house work before the appraisers arrived on Monday morning, but I managed to fit everything in. Barely.

I hope next week is a little more relaxed and I can focus on race day. We'll see!