I’m a schlub in my own ways. Dan inspired me to catch this thread up on Cross season. It’s crazy how just because the sun goes down 3 hours earlier, it’s like the days have 3 hours less to get shit done.
Anyway, a brief recap of my last few races starting with...
Caffeinated Masters 40+ NJ CUP:
It was hot as hell if I remember right. The course has some aspects which lend itself to a MTB'ers skill set. I found myself in second place 2 laps in and really felt like I could ride away from the race. So on the 3rd lap, just before we entered the woody, singletrack-ey area, i made a move. When i looked back a few minutes later I had a huge gap. I kept pushing the pace for a few laps and with 1 to go i totally blew up. Luckily i was so far ahead nobody knew. I was able to ride at tempo for the remainder and still make it to the finish in first without any stress.
First place - Cross Results score of 340
Cooper River 35+ MAC
Masters categories at MAC races definitely bring out a higher level of competition. This is easy to see by just looking at crossresults. The front end of this race would definitely be able to hold their own in the A race. As soon as the race started i knew it was not going to be a good day. I just did not feel like I had good legs and lungs. 2 laps in I was mid pack and in no-mans land. I got picked off with 2 laps to go. I gave it a chase but could not catch back up. I also had a few guys chasing me which I was able to hold off. Definitely a hard effort and i was happy to get out with a top 10.
9th place - Cross results score of 329
Marty Cross 40+ NJ CUP:
I knew exactly how this race would end the day before. Ask
@seanrunnette. At the CR group ride on Saturday, I correctly predicted the 1-2-3-4 finishing order. 1 Lap in 1st and 2nd were gone. Ralf and super strong jalapeno guy were riding their own race. I was chasing
@Delish. After 2 laps of seeing him execute every turn perfectly with seemingly no brakes, and myself having to brake and power of every turn to stay within sight, i pulled the plug and took my 4th place.
4th place - Cross results score of 336
HPCX Day 1 35+ MAC
Again, this is a much tougher level of competition. I felt good on the course and warming up. Once we take off I get into a little tangle with another racer. I kept trying to take the inside line on the first turns and he kept shutting door after leaving it open for a little longer then he should have. Not wanting to waste any more energy than I had too, i let up. On the next straight I blew him away. He chased but I was able to hold him off.
Starting the second lap I bridged up to Dan L. His back was exploding and as i passed him i said sorry that sucks. I like Dan a lot and like to see him crush it. Good for him, bad for me, he recovered enough to pass me again. He's way stronger and when he is healthy he's got a shot to podium. After he passed me, the same guy who picked me off at Cooper passed me. Grrr.
I finished right behind them, never able to catch up.
12th place - Cross results score of 329
Apple Cross at Melicks - No Series Affiliation
This was a weird day. Between a late dinner and some drama going on, I didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before. I was going to bail on the race even though it was at noon, or so I thought. I decided to race and then realized it was an 11 AM start and not 12. Luckily it’s a 10 minute drive.
We start and there are 3 of us. Me, brandy, and a guy who I had not raced before. 2 laps in we dropped Brandy.
I just sat in second place and was really content. Judging from Sean's commentary every time we went by the start/finish, I was pretty sure I could pass the guy.
So with 2 laps (very short laps) I made a move and was able to make it stick.
1st place - Cross results didn’t even feel it appropriate to give me a score for this one.
Next day at
SCCX - A Race, NJ CUP:
I decided I would try to 1-2-3 race at SCCX. It was the last race of the day and it fit my schedule. Plus, if I raced the 40 + I knew exactly how that would finish so I said the hell with it and went for the hour race. Pre-Reg got me lucky #13.
My strategy was to not blow up with 15 minutes to go. So after the start I tried to keep it in my head that this race was going to last longer than any other race I’ve done. I settled into a group of 3 with Kucharski and loguduce (SP?). Eventually we bridged to Offer and then there were 4 of us.
I think we stayed in a group for most of the race. We may have traded a few positions, but for the most part we were together. I was staying in the back of the pack and looking for spot where I could make a move in case it presented itself, but we were all pretty tight in our lines. There were a few climbs and then swopping downhills that went right back up and they were super slick. Definitely an area that needed concentration and a little luck. Not much to be gained but you could lose 3 spots instantly.
With 2 to go the pace picked up a little. Andrew seemed to have had enough and fell off the back. That left 3 of us.
I was pretty sure I had a lower gear and would be able to get up the climbs faster with less effort so I decided to make a move there. On the first climb I went. I should have waited for the second, but i was already committed. I think I was able to drop kucharski here, but Offer bridged with half a lap to go He was slightly stronger in in the straights and my advantage in the twists was negligible. With 30 seconds to go he made his move and it was in the perfect spot. The last straight with a few twists left. I was able to stick his wheel but there was nowhere to pass. We got to the road and it was gonna be a sprint.
Usually I like my chances but he was the stronger rider that day. I may have went too early but he held me off and pulled up. I say up with 50 ft. to go reluctantly satisfied with 5th.
I was torn with being happy to pull a podium but somewhere I knew i had a chance for much more impressive 4th. Hats off to Offer though.. dude man is fast. After looking at his cross results, maybe i should be happy to have been as close as i was.
5th Place - Cross results score of 329
Bubble review coming up next....