Because YOU asked for it
Ok, that's a lie. A couple of people (Jens and Nikki) asked for some cross pictures from a race I did at the end of September, and since it was rainy, muddy, and my wife was good enough to attend and snap some pics, I've finally uploaded them to Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32070184@N05/
I've put in some descriptions for each and hopefully I saved them in the proper order. Hope you enjoy them.
Comments
The one at Middlesex Community College that our club put on
It was a day exactly like today. You’re going to love your race – good luck.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on Nov 15, 2008 7:14 AM EST 0 recs
Nice
Looks like fun (really, no kidding). Naturally, from an entertainment-perspective, one would have hoped for more “facedown-in-the-mud-shots” but hey, there is something to be said for personal safety too.
One technical question that strikes me (who is totally ignorant) as I watch pictures from a course like that: Wouldn’t you benefit from riding a mountainbike? Are the non-technical sections long enough to offset the advantage? Am I talking out my ass here?
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on Nov 15, 2008 7:46 AM EST 0 recs
Good question (honestly)
But a road bike offers more advantage than a mt. bike. The courses are usually not bumpy enough where the advantage of the suspension from a MB would win out. Plus they’re too damned heavy. And though you wouldn’t believe it, even in the muddiest situations the road bike will get through it faster than the MB.
And I did have a total face down situation in that race, but my wife didn’t get a shot of it. I crashed spectacularly on a wooden ramp that was the transition from a field section to an asphalt section, adding one more permanent scar to my knee. Funny thing was not two seconds before I had been thinking “I’ve really got this course dialed in” (which I did actually). Right after that – boom! :-)
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 15, 2008 8:10 AM EST
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dude AWESOME PIX
those shots of you dismounting look like they should be in a cyclocross instruction manual — “Here we see Drew unclip and prepare. Here we see Drew in the classic Bavarian dismount. Here we see Drew…”
really cool. i’m totally jealous. but just got surgery on my knee. i may be hobbled and in pain today, but i will be back.
by Tiki on
Nov 18, 2008 11:45 PM EST
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Well I didn't ask for pics
but I’m very glad you posted them. Most impressive! I’m tired just looking at the pics.
But just because your legs are a little dirty, I don’t think you should refer to yourself as a pig. Or necessarily expect anyone else to clean you. :)
by Katiek on Nov 15, 2008 9:59 AM EST 0 recs
As someone who's just completed his third race
I concur about the road bike vs mtb although there are some downhill sections that you may wish for suspension. Today’s course however was more of a big-ring/in-the-drops kind of course and all the technical stuff was on foot. By lap three I was glad I had my 20lb cross bike on my shoulder running up a hill hurdling logs as opposed to by 28lb FS mtb rig.
by Mr Van P on Nov 15, 2008 11:05 AM EST 0 recs
i'm a shitting cyclocross cyclist
because i’m old and out of shape, but even i finish in front of all the guys on mtb’s. a cyclocross bike is just faster and lighter on any cyclocross course I’ve ever been on
by Tiki on
Nov 18, 2008 11:47 PM EST
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Hola Tiki!
The key is to get comfortable enough on the Cross bike so you would never even want to use an MTB. I’m devoting more time to singletrack training rides on the cross bike lately.
by Mr Van P on
Nov 19, 2008 11:13 AM EST
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Quality stuff man!
So tell me, what does the soil at Middlesex Community College taste like? Do they have showers there, or do you must climb all macho like into the passenger seat of the Subaru and figure if it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough for the upholstery?
¿Quién es más macho? Drew o Ricardo Montalban?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on Nov 15, 2008 7:48 PM EST 0 recs
After cross you need to sit on
What the hell is corinthian leather?
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Nov 16, 2008 4:54 AM EST
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No leather - velour baby ;-)
The mud quality was quite good, kind of peanut buttery with a hint of flint and slate. Sticky, but no too much like spackle (which just weighs down your bike after a while), and provided you hit your lines right you can actually get a bit of traction.
Now, the mud in RI (where I’ll be in 3 weeks) is more clay based, a has a quality like ice covered with a thin layer of lard and grease. In other words it’s about the most slippery service known to man. The key to riding that is straying upright in a straight line and not cornering too sharply. Otherwise that front wheel is washing out every time.
See how much fun not climbing rocks can be?
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 16, 2008 8:33 AM EST
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mmm, clay
wet clay, very very diffcult.
looks like fun. very east coast brick there in the background ;-)
by gavia on
Nov 16, 2008 10:07 PM EST
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Jimbo, in the future , remember that you started this
Did the story of Pandora and the box teach you nothing? Some things are best left alone.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on
Nov 16, 2008 3:11 PM EST
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Why thank you James
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 7:41 AM EST
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once you start complimenting one, no matter how nice,
you have to compliment them all, or someone’s feelings will be hurt. Slippery slope, clay’s got nothing on it. So I’ll just take the belly flop, and say you all have beautiful asses, even the ones I have not yet seen. Yes, Drew included ; )
by JFS_PGH on
Nov 17, 2008 12:58 PM EST
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(blushing)
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 9:38 PM EST
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Jimbo you are so right.
We will now have to add Drew’s “remounting” pic to the rear of the year thread.
Thanks. :-P ha ha!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Nov 17, 2008 1:34 PM EST
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Nice Ventana.
I didn’t know those frames traveled that far.
by brunopitton on Nov 17, 2008 1:49 AM EST 0 recs
You're the only one to recognize it - kudos
AFAIK I’m the only one in this neck of the woods with one. Our shop owner picked up the frame for me at Interbike 2004 when I was just starting out. He got a good deal on it, built it up for me, and the rest is history. According to their website they don’t even make cross frames anymore – pity. I think it’s the bomb.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 7:43 AM EST
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I think they still do.
I live in Davis, near Sacramento and I could swear I’ve seen them at the local series. The local mountain bike races are overflowing with them since Ventana is based in Rancho Cordova, East sac area. Even Sherwood Gibson comes out to the races, but he’s not very fast, more into jumping things. Nice guy though, donates a few frames for prizes every year.
by brunopitton on
Nov 17, 2008 11:57 AM EST
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What a coincidence
My last name is Davis (no, really). I’m glad they’re making them, I think very highly of mine and would hate to think they’re not cranking them out. Would love to try one of their FS bikes as well.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 9:36 PM EST
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Thanks Drew!
I hope you post up some more on the races. I think Mr. Van P needs to share some stories too.
I could go about the Sunday races here but I’m not racing them, just enjoying the fun. Yesterday we had nice big sand pit and snow flurries. Good stuff! Pic set here. Make sure to check out our Supergirl rider. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Nov 17, 2008 1:38 PM EST 0 recs
Nice pictures - I think you've found your next thing to try
Ask Pete – it’s easy to fall in love :-)
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 9:36 PM EST
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Did my third race Saturday in nearby Brockton MA
at the Travis Cycles cyclocross race. This was my first time at this course that was described in the past as a “grass crit” (Drew described it this way, but the first thing the organizer said at the start, was THIS IS NO LONGER A GRASS CRIT, so i believe that was the sentiment). How right he was. The course was redesigned by Mark McCormack, and it was easily my favorite of the three courses that I’ve raced this year. The park that it’s in is fairly flat, but the course was at least 60% singletrack with 4 transitions including running over a bridge and a couple other steep run-ups. I had a modest goal of staying upright and not being lapped (successful on both parts), but I can’t wait to do this one again next year. Fortunately it rained friday and saturday so it was good and muddy too. I do feel cheated though that I haven’t had a race in the cold weather yet. Maybe Wrentham in 4 weeks will give me that chance.
by Mr Van P on
Nov 17, 2008 9:37 PM EST
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Several comments from races around here
are that many are grass crits. A few of the guys don’t mind the flat as long as they attempt to make them technical. Technical is truly more enjoyable to watch too.
Way to stay upright Pete! And woo hoo! for not getting lapped! On the longer courses that’s harder to happen but on the shorter ones, it hard to stay on the lead sometimes.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Nov 18, 2008 10:10 AM EST
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You're kind, but this was probably a longer one...
(8 minute laps)
by Mr Van P on
Nov 18, 2008 11:53 AM EST
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Also, I completely lost the ability to
brake with my rear brakes after a few laps. The Avid Shorty 4’s may not offer the best mud clearance around. Fortunately the front was all I needed to check speed for some of the twisty sections, but if there were any steep downhills I would have been farked.
Funny story of sorts, my last race (Plymouth), ended with my catching my front wheel on a rut on a steep downhill and being catapulted through the air. I always thought the term face-plant was just an expression, but I honestly ate some.
by Mr Van P on Nov 17, 2008 9:43 PM EST 0 recs
And you came back for more
The mark of a true cross rider. You’ve arrived.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 17, 2008 9:55 PM EST
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Yes, because every day life
no longer offers the opportunities for me to hurt myself enough.
by Mr Van P on
Nov 17, 2008 10:02 PM EST
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And hitting yourself in the head with a hammer just gets dull after a while
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
by Drew... on
Nov 18, 2008 7:48 AM EST
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Truly a Cross man now.
And to start it off by saying – “funny story of sorts”. Nice of you to give us anticipation for a smile and instead, an OMG sense. Happy you were okay and good on you for getting in some extra fiber. How did the ground taste? ha ha. :o)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on
Nov 18, 2008 9:57 AM EST
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Plymouth is essentially a 150 square mile sand dune
the dirt had a gritty taste to it. Maybe a little moss thrown in as well. it was as hard as I’ve ever hit the ground on a bike. Fortunately the ground was soft and it sloped away from me. I managed to avoid rocks and trees. Kudo’s to the crank bros eggbeaters for springing me instead of taking the bike along for a ride (those canti brakes can cause some damage). Also, if your large chainring comes with a removable pin to keep the chain from wedging between the crank arm and the ring, don’t throw it away (ta specialties sells the rings and the pins need to be attached). My chain hopped from the small ring over the large ring, and I was able to get back on the bike quickly since the chain went back on easily enough. if it got wedged in there, I’d still be pulling it out.
by Mr Van P on
Nov 18, 2008 11:53 AM EST
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