Don't Call it a Comeback
- Thread starter kush
- Start date
kush
Active Member
Nittany cross race
Woop! I didn't think much of the course, but the race was fun. The course was twisty, dry, fast which was kind of good. The only features were two barriers and a rooty section. The rest of it felt like a road race, which I don't know if that is the norm or not. The only experience I have with Cross is the Mercer Cup last year. That had numerous barriers, a fly-over, and a sand-pit. It also had the muddiest conditions ever. So by comparison, this was plain jane. Whatever, it was good to suffer for 45 minutes, and the organization was top-notch, as was the talent.
I have no idea where I finished, Leslie thought it was in top 10, I have my doubts. We'll see, it doesn't really matter because I'm not trying to place in a series, I'll do a few random races that's all.
the mtbnj team was represented by Ben, Fred, ChrisG, Adam; we also had Larry, Leslie and Forrest. Unfortunately I couldn't hang around, family calls.
Here are some snapshots - and rest available here
CHRISG
C.PUNCHER LARRY
CHRISG
ADAM MEDITATING
FRED
THIS IS WHAT BEN LOOKS LIKE WITHOUT A TONGUE
Woop! I didn't think much of the course, but the race was fun. The course was twisty, dry, fast which was kind of good. The only features were two barriers and a rooty section. The rest of it felt like a road race, which I don't know if that is the norm or not. The only experience I have with Cross is the Mercer Cup last year. That had numerous barriers, a fly-over, and a sand-pit. It also had the muddiest conditions ever. So by comparison, this was plain jane. Whatever, it was good to suffer for 45 minutes, and the organization was top-notch, as was the talent.
I have no idea where I finished, Leslie thought it was in top 10, I have my doubts. We'll see, it doesn't really matter because I'm not trying to place in a series, I'll do a few random races that's all.
the mtbnj team was represented by Ben, Fred, ChrisG, Adam; we also had Larry, Leslie and Forrest. Unfortunately I couldn't hang around, family calls.
Here are some snapshots - and rest available here
CHRISG
C.PUNCHER LARRY
CHRISG
ADAM MEDITATING
FRED
THIS IS WHAT BEN LOOKS LIKE WITHOUT A TONGUE
at least he's still got his trumpet
kush
Active Member
Hey Chris, we need to get you out crossing!
Rest of the pics (not many) are on facebook here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105798&id=616184332&saved#/album.php?aid=105798&id=616184332
Here's my garmin of the race. not very exciting but ou can see the map.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13612322
Rest of the pics (not many) are on facebook here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105798&id=616184332&saved#/album.php?aid=105798&id=616184332
Here's my garmin of the race. not very exciting but ou can see the map.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13612322
I'm still workin on 29ing. Cross riding does look cool... its on my long list of things to get into.
kush
Active Member
After a long day in NY, I needed to air out with a nice tempo ride. Half was in total darkness since I started at close to 6pm, but with lights it was fine.
57 miles
2h52m
19.7mph
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13994637
I think the issue with missing 6-8 weeks of real riding is that you lose some fitness 🙄. It feels like some of it is coming back.
From the Nittany cross race-
I'm targeting the Mercer cup in Nov as my next A-priority race. Looking forward to that one.
57 miles
2h52m
19.7mph
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13994637
I think the issue with missing 6-8 weeks of real riding is that you lose some fitness 🙄. It feels like some of it is coming back.
From the Nittany cross race-
I'm targeting the Mercer cup in Nov as my next A-priority race. Looking forward to that one.
nice ride....
glad to hear the fitness is coming back, based on your last couple of rides it seems like your fitness is better now, at least you are riding faster anyways.
Just curios; With this length ride, you could have easily added a bunch more climbing. Are you staying away from the hills for any reason? Just wondering if has anything to do with your knee or maybe other specific thing you are working on?
glad to hear the fitness is coming back, based on your last couple of rides it seems like your fitness is better now, at least you are riding faster anyways.
Just curios; With this length ride, you could have easily added a bunch more climbing. Are you staying away from the hills for any reason? Just wondering if has anything to do with your knee or maybe other specific thing you are working on?
kush
Active Member
I like your new tag.
While the ligament is fully healed, there are other things going on with the knee that got shook loose with the impact. But nothing really serious or preventative, although I feel it a bit when doing big ring seated climbing type of things
I had only time to jump on the bike and ride from home. If I ride from home, closest meaningful hills are 15-20 miles away which would mean 30-40 miles of flat riding anyways. And I wanted to do a nice tempo ride.
I'm going to do hills tomorrow evening as I'm not rushing back from NYC, and the rain forecast cleared up some. You wanna join?
While the ligament is fully healed, there are other things going on with the knee that got shook loose with the impact. But nothing really serious or preventative, although I feel it a bit when doing big ring seated climbing type of things
I had only time to jump on the bike and ride from home. If I ride from home, closest meaningful hills are 15-20 miles away which would mean 30-40 miles of flat riding anyways. And I wanted to do a nice tempo ride.
I'm going to do hills tomorrow evening as I'm not rushing back from NYC, and the rain forecast cleared up some. You wanna join?
I would love to but most evenings don't work for me and definitely not tomorrow. Have you been doing the PFW rides?
kush
Active Member
No, I've been a bit down on that scene, and my schedule is getting hectic-er
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
The Tuesday/Thursday Cranbury rides have died for the season. They were not published in the Sept. PFW newsletter and everyone stopped going.
Sounds like you have a goal. How do you train for cyclecross, where do you ride on cyclecross?
So if you do well at the Mercer cup can we call your thread a comeback?😉
kush
Active Member
I saw this in the newsletter -
Thursdays September A/A+ 42 mi 6:00 PM
THURSDAY NIGHT FROM WASHINGTON PARK: If you need to pick up a training loop on Thursday, this is the ticket. Expect a quick, hard pace and a good workout. Meet at Washington Township Park, corner of Gordon Rd. and W. Manor Way, Robbinsville, NJ. Leader: Marc Davidoff 609-371-0117
kush
Active Member
So far I just ride my bike. I may join the practice that's been posted a couple times. I still have Jungle and Ringwood that hopefully I won't mess up 🙄 to call a comeback.
kush
Active Member
call o' the jungle
Course
Jungle was a true roadie paradise. There were a few pebbles, but mostly it was like it was paved. I was kicking myself for not bringing my cross bike.
Seriously fun course though. Lots of everything, covered the whole gamut. No mud to speak of really.
Bikes
I brought the injured Superfly, and the healthy Single Speed (Rig). My intent was to ride the Superfly, and take my chances that the fracture is minor enough to hold. I used duct tape (black), so that should've done the trick for sure.
I did the preride on the Rig, and then got on the Superfly to test it out. About 200 yards into it, the brand new Python gets a 1/4 inch tear, which Stans again doesn't hold.
So that was probably karma's way of saying "your bike would have snapped in two had you raced it".
I wind up racing the Rig. It's a good bike, but heavy compared to SUperfly, and handles a bit piggishly. But whatever, it is less about the bike.
Race
I was geared on a 20t. That was just right. Coincidentally, I found out last night that I raced a 19t at Blue, and I thought it was a 20t. No wonder it felt a bit rought.
Anyways, from the start I was back of the pack. JH has these paved roads that you really can have fun with in the big ring.
I had a bell. That helped. People generally would move aside. I passed a lot of people.
I caught up to Kirt. He was chilling behind two markers, I think he's really quite a gentleman that way. I started dinging away, and we passed these guys, and more.
Anyways, long story short, Kirt got 3rd and I got 4th.
Fun race. Not many teammates, and not a lot of people in general. Must be late season rainy blues. Lots of "DNS" on the scoresheet.
Some mandatory pics
Course
Jungle was a true roadie paradise. There were a few pebbles, but mostly it was like it was paved. I was kicking myself for not bringing my cross bike.
Seriously fun course though. Lots of everything, covered the whole gamut. No mud to speak of really.
Bikes
I brought the injured Superfly, and the healthy Single Speed (Rig). My intent was to ride the Superfly, and take my chances that the fracture is minor enough to hold. I used duct tape (black), so that should've done the trick for sure.
I did the preride on the Rig, and then got on the Superfly to test it out. About 200 yards into it, the brand new Python gets a 1/4 inch tear, which Stans again doesn't hold.
So that was probably karma's way of saying "your bike would have snapped in two had you raced it".
I wind up racing the Rig. It's a good bike, but heavy compared to SUperfly, and handles a bit piggishly. But whatever, it is less about the bike.
Race
I was geared on a 20t. That was just right. Coincidentally, I found out last night that I raced a 19t at Blue, and I thought it was a 20t. No wonder it felt a bit rought.
Anyways, from the start I was back of the pack. JH has these paved roads that you really can have fun with in the big ring.
I had a bell. That helped. People generally would move aside. I passed a lot of people.
I caught up to Kirt. He was chilling behind two markers, I think he's really quite a gentleman that way. I started dinging away, and we passed these guys, and more.
Anyways, long story short, Kirt got 3rd and I got 4th.
Fun race. Not many teammates, and not a lot of people in general. Must be late season rainy blues. Lots of "DNS" on the scoresheet.
Some mandatory pics
walter
Fourth Party
kush
Active Member
Funny, that is really close - we actually were talking about her 29er right about then 😛
southernerinnj
New Member
Would have gotten some pictures for you, but it was raining and we put the camera away. What was going on with you yelling your # out at the line? We were all trying to figure that out. BTW The fist pump was cool 😀
Good job out there!
Good job out there!