First weekend of racing cross in Texas. We missed the opener because we did some races up on the east coast. Highlight up there was a 37th at Providence Cyclocross Festival on Sunday. A great way to end the vacation and head back to Texas with some great momentum.
The weekend was in Fredericksburg not far from where we have team training camp each year in January. It was a challanging course, with a loose long dirt run up, a few sets of barriers, a screaming fast downhill dirt slalom, one tight technical downhill corner, and a sandpit.
Saturday:
I didn’t get a great start, but was in the 3rd start row, so I wasn't too far back. I got edged out by TSA rider in the start, so I lost a little momentum there. Went into the holeshot probably 11th, which was unfortunate because once we hit the dirt we went back down the hill, and it became a giant dust bowl as the ground was very dry even with the recent rains. I was close to Stefan Rothe and Austin Stewart. I knew I would be better to at least ride in their draft so I bridged up to them.
Rode with Stefans group for a little bit then passed Stefan in the short run up right before the Pit/feed zone. Austin had made a gap at this point so I made it up to him and Austin rode on his wheel for maybe 2 laps, bringing my heart rate back to normal. He attacked on the start hill and caught one other rider. I bridged up to both of them and passed Austin. Andy beres(ride away bicycles) had a good gap on me, and was he was one spot up. I would only would see him once per lap, but we would pass at the same spot where we had last seen each other every lap. So he wasn't gaining time, but I wasn’t loosing any time to him. I kept on chasing him, but wouldn't make up any ground, and finished 7th.
My rear tire was feeling somewhat soft, and I was thinking I had lost air from when I started. Started with around 43 when I measured after and I had 37 in there. It was maybe a little light, but felt like just the right amount of give in the corners. Almost like I was gonna roll a tire(if it was a tubular, I’m on clincher Michelin Mud 2s), but it would grip right before I would break contact. My front wheel started rubbing my brake during our final pre-race lap as we headed to the start. I figured I might have a broken spoke, and would deal with it post race. It rubbed for most of the race, slightly more noticeable towards the end, but i just kept my brakes pressed a little, not enough to make contact, to eliminate any rubbing. Turns out my tire had a bulge in it, and the tube was popped out and hanging over the edge. So I got really really lucky that my tire didn't explode on me during the race.
It was 88 degrees on Saturday so we were allowed feeds, Penny of Dallas Bike Works was giving Bryan Fawley feeds, so she hooked Michael and I up with feeds as well. This definitely saved the day. I found the going up the longer steep run up/climb was easier with a shouldered bike as opposed to pushing it. I also made up time hammering up the start hill, and then recovering on the downhill slalom-esque dirt side.
Sunday:
Sundays course didn't have too many significant changes, trade the sand for the run up barriers. It was possible to ride most of the sand pit, but had to get off for the turn around. I chose to go with a higher psi closer to 45. Should have run less probably closer to 40. I was sliding out in corners instead of the rolling tire feeling. Would have preferred less pressure. It also made my lower back hurt more significantly sooner during the race.
I had the same start position, but was way more aggressive at the start and got a much better position. I was at the back of the front group of 8. I kept up with everyone trhough the first half of the lap. Fawley was super aggressive to get to the front as he started at the back, he dismounted before the 180 degree turn for the longer run up, where everyone was still on their bikes. Sometimes in high traffic running while everyone else fudges around with dismounting/remounting running is a good maneuver. Got a dollar in the first lap at the top of the run up. The front group of 5, Fawley, Helmig, Kevin Fish, Paul Bonds and Johnny Sundt, started to make a gap. So then it was Wiley Mosely another other tsa(Team Super Awesome) guy, Andy Beres(Ride away) and myself. They had a small gap, and I put in an effort to catch back up to them.
Wiley popped and other tsa guy rode away. I caught ride away guy, and we would both pass Wiley. We rode together for a lap or two but I would drop my chain over the barriers and the run up. So he would get a small gap again. I attacked after the technical downhill turn into the head wind and got a gap but was sloppy over the barriers and would drop my chain again. So he would go around me and get a small gap on me again, 5 Seconds at the most. I'd attack on the pavement and make up the gap he had put on, and we would chase like this for another few laps. With one to go I caught him on the pavement hill and could tell he was done, but I could feel Paul Bonds charging (2nd previous day) so I had to keep smooth and not let up.
I was catching some lapped riders as well. I made the last lap smoothly, no chain drops, and knew that the lapped riders would help keep Paul at bay. On the last half of the lap I could see the Tsa rider from earlier and he had maybe five or ten seconds, gave it one last effort and got close but couldn't catch. I think with one more lap I could have had him. I finished 6th on Sunday
I had a much lower heart rate today, not sure if that was from sitting on, or my heart rate monitor malfunctioning. It was hot this day as well, possibly in the 90's, but Andy Beres the rider I passed with one to go, didn't take a feed all day(they ended up having a few guys doing neutral water), But I believe this was a factor in his eventual relinquish of position to me. As I took a feed(drink of water) every lap.
