Recap of my First CX Race
Horseshoe CX Race
They say that the first time is the worst time you never forget, this can also be true for CX racing. Also jumping into the B class for my first race is a good way to highlight my lack of bike handling skill necessary for this kind of racing. This is like a 15 yr old trying to take on Jenny McCarthy, in over his head. But hey fuckit, I raced under Utah's reg., I used his bike and as my first race I had nothing to prove...other then to finish.
Through the encouragement of teamates I find myself at the back of the pack about to start the B race. With 0 experience at racing cx I decide not to try and line up at the front, since I would just get in the way of the fast guys. The whistle goes off and feel good about hanging mid pack for the first 5 minutes. I make some aggressive moves and hold my line to keep from getting passed in the turns.
It all went down hill at the end of the paw paw patch, the downhill burm actually. What looked like a good line going down this thing was actually bad, this is where I broke Utah's right shifter. Before I knew it I was on the ground and being passed by 5 guys, and the guys I was chasing where gone.
I didn't just brake that shifter I exploded it. no rear brake, no shifting = no chance. I managed to finish the lap with it and do another one, falling on that broken shifter 2x more times to make sure it was totally beat shit.
Utah yelled at me to pit and see if Eric can fix it. When I pulled in I just stood there helpless and Eric handed my a neutral support bike with flat pedals. More people passed me at this point but I was still not DFL so I had something to fight for.
After crashing Utah's bike 3 times I learned where the bad lines where and avoided them. I think the 2 guys that where chasing me bailed on the last lap...quitters.
The first 5 minutes of the race was fun, once I crashed and didn't have the pack to fight with the race was not as exciting. My effort also tapered as I found myself at the back of the race, since it didn't mean much.
On the whole it was a positive experience since I got to try a cx race and get warmed up, standing around watching cx races in 30 degree weather can suck the life and warmth out of you. Seeing how fast the other guys where gives me a greater appreciation for the tech handling in cx racing. Hopefully when Utah fixes his bike I can try this again next year😀
Horseshoe CX Race
They say that the first time is the worst time you never forget, this can also be true for CX racing. Also jumping into the B class for my first race is a good way to highlight my lack of bike handling skill necessary for this kind of racing. This is like a 15 yr old trying to take on Jenny McCarthy, in over his head. But hey fuckit, I raced under Utah's reg., I used his bike and as my first race I had nothing to prove...other then to finish.
Through the encouragement of teamates I find myself at the back of the pack about to start the B race. With 0 experience at racing cx I decide not to try and line up at the front, since I would just get in the way of the fast guys. The whistle goes off and feel good about hanging mid pack for the first 5 minutes. I make some aggressive moves and hold my line to keep from getting passed in the turns.
It all went down hill at the end of the paw paw patch, the downhill burm actually. What looked like a good line going down this thing was actually bad, this is where I broke Utah's right shifter. Before I knew it I was on the ground and being passed by 5 guys, and the guys I was chasing where gone.
I didn't just brake that shifter I exploded it. no rear brake, no shifting = no chance. I managed to finish the lap with it and do another one, falling on that broken shifter 2x more times to make sure it was totally beat shit.
Utah yelled at me to pit and see if Eric can fix it. When I pulled in I just stood there helpless and Eric handed my a neutral support bike with flat pedals. More people passed me at this point but I was still not DFL so I had something to fight for.
After crashing Utah's bike 3 times I learned where the bad lines where and avoided them. I think the 2 guys that where chasing me bailed on the last lap...quitters.
The first 5 minutes of the race was fun, once I crashed and didn't have the pack to fight with the race was not as exciting. My effort also tapered as I found myself at the back of the race, since it didn't mean much.
On the whole it was a positive experience since I got to try a cx race and get warmed up, standing around watching cx races in 30 degree weather can suck the life and warmth out of you. Seeing how fast the other guys where gives me a greater appreciation for the tech handling in cx racing. Hopefully when Utah fixes his bike I can try this again next year😀
