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! :-)

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

soft corinthian leather

What the hell is corinthian leather?

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?

Ladies of PdC, what say you?

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.

Ask Pete – it’s easy to fall in love :-)

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.

The mark of a true cross rider. You’ve arrived.