cyclocross season recap for 2008
After a couple of years of sporadic racing, I returned to regular competition this fall by partaking in the BC Cup Cyclocross series. I'd left off racing Men's B back in 2006 and having done only half a CX race in 2007, I figured it would be a safe bet in that group. New this year: a Masters category. A lot of the usual suspects from Men's B in days gone by had moved over to the old farts category. Of course, 90% of everyone racing Men's B could be in Masters...
After getting back on the bike in May and bike commuting every day (minus travel days where I was on a plane or out of town), I was curious as to my fitness levels going into the season. The odd Tuesday Nighter and big weekend ride kept me improving my fitness all summer long. But Cross can be hard and it's really anyone's guess as to how your body responds to doing 45min at max in October.
I was pleasantly surprised with my season, quite proud all in all. My first race at the Delta Watershed, just across the street from where I grew up in North Delta, was a good indicator that I had more fitness than I thought. I managed 6th. And the results got better from there.
BC Cup #1: Delta Watershed
Men's B - 6th place
Technical course, more "mountain bikey" or "single track" than I'd prefer, but a great way to start the year on a hot September day in the forest that I spent a lot of time hiking and running through as a teenager. Was with the lead group for the first couple of laps, then died a slow death during the second half, losing spots along the way.
BC Cup #2: Wedgewood (New Brighton)
Men's B - 3rd place
I got a lucky call-up for the start of this race and put the hammer down from the gun with Graeme Martindale (Trek-Red Truck). We set the pace for the first half of the race, then he dropped me running through the sand section. I got passed by big Mike Sidic (Superchampion) towards the 3/4 mark and hung on for 3rd place. Loved the course -- lots of grass, open sections, power course. My kind of cross. Lucky to have Joe Sales out to immortalize my legs and suffering that day.
Cross Crusade #2: Villebois (Portland, Oregon)
Men's B - 45th place?
Headed down to Portland for Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving, that is) to race Cross Crusade. Having heard so much about it, I was keen to see the real thing in person. And what an event. 105 guys in the Men's B. Over 1000 total cross racers in all categories. Oatmeal. Beer. Waffles. It was a great scene. I went to the line 20 minutes before the start and sealed my fate. I was about the 60th guy of 100 to line up and no call-up luck here. The course was hot and dusty and bumpy and not my favourite. I rocked all of the flat road sections, but had chain problems (it came off) elsewhere. Just to be in Portland for the Oregon Manifest, Rapha Roller Races, and Cross Crusade was awesome though.
BC Cup #3: Westcoast Racing (Vanier)
Men's B - 5th place
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory: that's my summary of this race. Spent the race in a lead group of 4 or 5 guys, crashed early on after getting tangled up on some off-camber grass, chased back, saw Mike Sidic ride away for first place, and then after attacking hard on the last lap, managed to crash 200m before the finish to drop from 2nd to 5th. Great classic Vancouver course, again lots of grass. Disappointing result, but happy with my attempt to put it away for 2nd on the last lap.
BC Cup #4: Local Ride (Maple Ridge Pumpkin Cross)
Men's B - 12th place
My worst finish of the year. I can't blame it on the polyester leisure suit I was wearing or the wig... or the glasses. I will blame it on my inability to ride technical single track. I shut this one down about lap 2 and rode it pretty easy. Pick your battles. It was not my day or course.
BC Cup #5/6: South Surrey / Aldor Acres
Managed to skip both of these. Pouring rain, feeling tired, and generally full social calendar stopped me from doing either. Aldor Acres looked very, very muddy.
BC Cup #7: Crossquitlam (Poco)
Men's B - 2nd place
EV's very own course, I really liked the format of this race. How much course can you stuff into one park? Crashed hard on the first lap, yard-sale style at 30kmh on a grass corner leading in first place. Picked myself up, chased Matt Newsome (Local Ride) for the better part of the second half, then he just rode away. Finished about 20 seconds down on him, unable to stick. A hard earned second spot. Still no victory though.
BC Cup #8: South Surrey
Men's B - 1st place
So a bit of a skeleton crew in the Men's B thanks to upgrades and people saving themselves for the BC Provincials being hosted the next day (another fine EV event). I went hard off the line, sprinted full out for 200M and got the hole-shot onto the grass. By the end of the first lap had a few seconds gap and just kept adding to it the rest of the race. Finished nicely ahead of the field, some 45 seconds up. First bike race win since 2004 or 2003. Must admit, it felt nice. It's been a while. And first CX victory ever. First prize: 12 Belgian Beers. How sweet it is...
I wound up with 19 points in the BC Cup series in Men's B: enough to race Men's A next year, most likely. I spent the Sunday at Provincials wondering how I'd stack up in the Masters race or in the Men's A race. It was a course that favoured my style of riding: long, power, lots of flat sections, not too technical. But I was pretty cooked from a full season and happy going out with a win.
Now we'll see if I can keep some of this fitness around for the Spring 2009. March is only a couple of months away, after all...
After getting back on the bike in May and bike commuting every day (minus travel days where I was on a plane or out of town), I was curious as to my fitness levels going into the season. The odd Tuesday Nighter and big weekend ride kept me improving my fitness all summer long. But Cross can be hard and it's really anyone's guess as to how your body responds to doing 45min at max in October.
I was pleasantly surprised with my season, quite proud all in all. My first race at the Delta Watershed, just across the street from where I grew up in North Delta, was a good indicator that I had more fitness than I thought. I managed 6th. And the results got better from there.
BC Cup #1: Delta Watershed
Men's B - 6th place
Technical course, more "mountain bikey" or "single track" than I'd prefer, but a great way to start the year on a hot September day in the forest that I spent a lot of time hiking and running through as a teenager. Was with the lead group for the first couple of laps, then died a slow death during the second half, losing spots along the way.
BC Cup #2: Wedgewood (New Brighton)
Men's B - 3rd place
I got a lucky call-up for the start of this race and put the hammer down from the gun with Graeme Martindale (Trek-Red Truck). We set the pace for the first half of the race, then he dropped me running through the sand section. I got passed by big Mike Sidic (Superchampion) towards the 3/4 mark and hung on for 3rd place. Loved the course -- lots of grass, open sections, power course. My kind of cross. Lucky to have Joe Sales out to immortalize my legs and suffering that day.
Cross Crusade #2: Villebois (Portland, Oregon)
Men's B - 45th place?
Headed down to Portland for Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving, that is) to race Cross Crusade. Having heard so much about it, I was keen to see the real thing in person. And what an event. 105 guys in the Men's B. Over 1000 total cross racers in all categories. Oatmeal. Beer. Waffles. It was a great scene. I went to the line 20 minutes before the start and sealed my fate. I was about the 60th guy of 100 to line up and no call-up luck here. The course was hot and dusty and bumpy and not my favourite. I rocked all of the flat road sections, but had chain problems (it came off) elsewhere. Just to be in Portland for the Oregon Manifest, Rapha Roller Races, and Cross Crusade was awesome though.
BC Cup #3: Westcoast Racing (Vanier)
Men's B - 5th place
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory: that's my summary of this race. Spent the race in a lead group of 4 or 5 guys, crashed early on after getting tangled up on some off-camber grass, chased back, saw Mike Sidic ride away for first place, and then after attacking hard on the last lap, managed to crash 200m before the finish to drop from 2nd to 5th. Great classic Vancouver course, again lots of grass. Disappointing result, but happy with my attempt to put it away for 2nd on the last lap.
BC Cup #4: Local Ride (Maple Ridge Pumpkin Cross)
Men's B - 12th place
My worst finish of the year. I can't blame it on the polyester leisure suit I was wearing or the wig... or the glasses. I will blame it on my inability to ride technical single track. I shut this one down about lap 2 and rode it pretty easy. Pick your battles. It was not my day or course.
BC Cup #5/6: South Surrey / Aldor Acres
Managed to skip both of these. Pouring rain, feeling tired, and generally full social calendar stopped me from doing either. Aldor Acres looked very, very muddy.
BC Cup #7: Crossquitlam (Poco)
Men's B - 2nd place
EV's very own course, I really liked the format of this race. How much course can you stuff into one park? Crashed hard on the first lap, yard-sale style at 30kmh on a grass corner leading in first place. Picked myself up, chased Matt Newsome (Local Ride) for the better part of the second half, then he just rode away. Finished about 20 seconds down on him, unable to stick. A hard earned second spot. Still no victory though.
BC Cup #8: South Surrey
Men's B - 1st place
So a bit of a skeleton crew in the Men's B thanks to upgrades and people saving themselves for the BC Provincials being hosted the next day (another fine EV event). I went hard off the line, sprinted full out for 200M and got the hole-shot onto the grass. By the end of the first lap had a few seconds gap and just kept adding to it the rest of the race. Finished nicely ahead of the field, some 45 seconds up. First bike race win since 2004 or 2003. Must admit, it felt nice. It's been a while. And first CX victory ever. First prize: 12 Belgian Beers. How sweet it is...
I wound up with 19 points in the BC Cup series in Men's B: enough to race Men's A next year, most likely. I spent the Sunday at Provincials wondering how I'd stack up in the Masters race or in the Men's A race. It was a course that favoured my style of riding: long, power, lots of flat sections, not too technical. But I was pretty cooked from a full season and happy going out with a win.
Now we'll see if I can keep some of this fitness around for the Spring 2009. March is only a couple of months away, after all...
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