Crossasaurus Awesome...

AKA doing dumb stuff in my first 1/2/3 race 

I almost didn’t race today. Yesterday afternoon I was talking myself out of it because the alternatives were more appealing...I could go to the gym and have the rest of the day to get stuff done...I could ride alone at Batsto...I could ride with my teammates and eat cider donuts. Then, the right words came at the right time and they were...”Not my circus, Not my monkeys.” So I made a deal with myself...I would race, but after that I’d go for a run. I packed up the car and headed to Upper Salford Park.  

Two years ago, I did a handful of races and fell in love with CX. Last year I had success in the PACX 3/4 Series. Today, I returned to the place where I had begun, my goal: not come in last...and I didn’t...I’m actually not sure how I did because I left right after the race to go for a run...but I know I didn’t come in last...and I know I could have done better if I hadn’t “yardsaled” (thanks for the lingo, Robin) in the last lap...but it was so much fun catching that air and it’s nothing that a couple motrin and a bottle of Pumking can’t fix. 

I don’t think I’ll ever have that competitive edge, the one that makes you want to sprint it out for 14th in the elite field. That could be a problem down the line, but right now I’m enjoying myself.

The Tumbleweave Diaries

Underpass Weave

HPCX Day 2

I woke up with no regrets about ordering that pizza last night. When I went outside to load the car it was noticeable that it had changed from summer to fall. I hopped on the Turnpike North and opted for Lionel Richie over Taylor Swift for my soundtrack.

The course was noticeably different with the exception of the nasty paved climb. My legs felt like cement on the warm up so I tried to keep moving until the start of our race. The field was smaller than the previous day, but the competition was still present. I vowed to have a better start, which I didn’t and promptly went to work. Heading into the second lap I was in eighth. On the bell lap I found myself in fourth. That’s when I noticed a yellow jersey on the side of the course. It was the series leader with a flat. 

I successfully avoided all remaining trees and finished third...the podium I had hoped for, one day late.

A special thanks goes out to Noodles the dog for heading up the cheering section today. Next weekend I put on my big girl pants for the first time in the 1/2/3 race at Crossasaurus Awesome.

HPCX Day 1

I got dumped this week. I was handling it fairly well until sitting alone with my thoughts on the drive to Jamesburg this morning. Breakups should be forbidden during CX season.

In order to race, one needs to possess both a physical and a mental presence. Today, I lacked the latter.

There was a run up, followed by a steep descent. I made a mental mistake, being more concerned about clipping in than the line I was taking, which left me off course and into a tree.

This came at the very end of the fourth lap. I went from third to sixth, with only one lap remaining. I could not shift and my saddle was crooked, but I finished. Aside from a nice handlebar check to the ribs I am ok. It could have been much worse. I drove right to the shop and am ready to roll tomorrow. Hopefully, all of me will show up this time.

life in the slow lane

I’ve been training at a gym in Moorestown for about two years. Last Spring, I started working with a client who was only available at 8:30am on Tuesday and Thursday. The commute to make it to the gym for an 8:30am appointment is much different than the commute to make it to the gym for a 9:00am appointment. I found myself sitting in a ridiculous amount of traffic on those days. A drive that should take 12 minutes was taking closer to 30 minutes. It wasn’t the lost time which concerned me the most, it was the people I had to encounter during that time. Everyone was in a hurry...aggressive drivers, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgaters, impatience...it left me feeling on edge. That wasn’t how I wanted to start my day.

So I opted for life in the slow lane.

In the mornings, it can actually take less time to ride my bike to Moorestown and I get a workout. It’s win/win situation, except for the fact that I still have vehicles to contend with. The first time I nearly got hit was by an older woman who was making a right hand turn into a doctor’s office. She did not see me and started her turn. I yelled, but she didn’t hear me. Thankfully, her turning skills weren’t that sharp. I had enough time to react and hop the curb into the parking lot. She seemed startled when she saw me. The following week, I was riding in a residential neighborhood. A woman pulled out from a side street with the intention of crossing the road that I was on to get into her driveway. She didn’t see me...me with my bright green kit and matching helmet, yellow back pack and flashing lights...that was a close one! I am thankful for the stopping power of disc brakes. 

Since then it’s been a mixed bag...wanting to go around a car that's making a left hand turn...rolling through a stop sign...attempting to make a left hand turn in front of me. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid getting doored on Kings Highway, but it’s only just a matter of time.

What I’ve determined is that riding my bike to work is no less stressful than driving. In fact, it's even more stressful. In theory, life in the slow lane is a good idea...if only the rest of the world would slow down so I could enjoy it.

The Tumbleweave Diaries

This was not staged...

WhirlyBird CX

The entire week had been a struggle...the company I work for owes me nearly $600 in back pay and is giving me the run around. I received a letter from a lawyer indicating that a long time tenant would be holding rent in lieu of repairs. She filed a complaint with L&I indicating that her heat did not work, even though I told her on numerous occasions that it did...and it does...the technician confirmed it on Friday morning in her presence. I’ve a laundry list of repairs to tackle over the next few weeks. People expect to just snap their fingers and have things done. Let me tell you, contractors are not the easiest people to pin down.

So, needless to say I was looking forward to racing this weekend. It had been three weeks since Charm City. I was on my bike three times since then and was hoping for fresh legs instead of that rusty feeling. 

I never trust the 10 day. The 5 day can be hit or miss as well. Both were forecasting rain on Saturday...and rain it did...but I didn’t even care. WhirlyBird will always be special for me because it was my first CX race...and this was my two year crossaversary. I had waited two years for a mud race. It was Saturday morning and it was here.

I arrived at Bensalem High School at 8am, walked to registration and took a look at the course. After two preview laps, I revisited the off camber sections. They were rideable, but all bets would be off at race time.

I got my useless front row call up and ten people blew by me when the whistle sounded. Going into the barriers I wasn’t in the best position. I knew that people would be riding aggressively on the first lap, making them more prone to errors and falls on the slick sections...and that’s exactly what happened. This enabled me to gain some ground on the lead group. 

My strength is endurance and the ability to pick people off as they wear down. Unfortunately, this was a short, three lap race which had me begging for one more. I crossed the line fourth, not far behind a buddy of mine who I enjoyed heckling in the final minutes of the race. I was covered in mud...I was happy...and for thirty two minutes I had forgotten about the battles I had been fighting all week.