Race: Lion of Fairfax CX. White Hill Middle School, Fairfax So that makes two years in a row. Two years in a row that I’ve flatted out at this race. Last year it was with a couple laps to go as I chased a podium spot in the B’s race. This year I flatted on the first lap while I was sitting mid-pack A’s.  I stopped in the pit to borrow a rear wheel but it was too wide, couldn’t adjust my brakes, borrowed some shoes, did a lap on a friends (much too big) bike, got back in the pit, found a wheel that worked with my bike, hopped on and got back in.  This ridiculous mechanical circus costs me an incredible amount of time so I finished last. Oh well, DFL > DNF. Photo: David.Cheung
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Race: Lion of Fairfax CX. White Hill Middle School, Fairfax

So that makes two years in a row. Two years in a row that I’ve flatted out at this race. Last year it was with a couple laps to go as I chased a podium spot in the B’s race. This year I flatted on the first lap while I was sitting mid-pack A’s. 

I stopped in the pit to borrow a rear wheel but it was too wide, couldn’t adjust my brakes, borrowed some shoes, did a lap on a friends (much too big) bike, got back in the pit, found a wheel that worked with my bike, hopped on and got back in. 

This ridiculous mechanical circus costs me an incredible amount of time so I finished last. Oh well, DFL > DNF.

Photo: David.Cheung

bigringriding: HOLY FUCK, IT’S THE CREATURE FROM THE BIG RING LAGOON.
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bigringriding:

HOLY FUCK, IT’S THE CREATURE FROM THE BIG RING LAGOON.

I wish this applied to bike racing but then there’s this quote: “It doesn’t get easier, you just go faster” - Greg Lemond
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I wish this applied to bike racing but then there’s this quote:

“It doesn’t get easier, you just go faster” - Greg Lemond

(via idkmybffgio)

Race: Sacramento CX #1, College Cyclery Compound My first Elite A’s race and all I can say is wow. I got absolutely crushed. Don’t let my 8th place result fool you, I was done. I literally had a hard time moving after the race and I was pretty sore for days after. The course was unlike any other I’ve raced. There was a long and fast grassy section with a couple sharp turns (standard) and a BMX style jump section with high-berm turns (wtf?). It was really fun but I came close to more than a couple catastrophic crashes because of all the weird momentum. I’m not sure I can race A’s every weekend but I’m certainly going to try. Wish me luck at Fairfax this Saturday. ;) Details: 8th place (out of 18), 90+ degrees, windy, dry, 9/24/2011 Photo: JN56 
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Race: Sacramento CX #1, College Cyclery Compound

My first Elite A’s race and all I can say is wow. I got absolutely crushed. Don’t let my 8th place result fool you, I was done. I literally had a hard time moving after the race and I was pretty sore for days after.

The course was unlike any other I’ve raced. There was a long and fast grassy section with a couple sharp turns (standard) and a BMX style jump section with high-berm turns (wtf?). It was really fun but I came close to more than a couple catastrophic crashes because of all the weird momentum.

I’m not sure I can race A’s every weekend but I’m certainly going to try. Wish me luck at Fairfax this Saturday. ;)

Details: 8th place (out of 18), 90+ degrees, windy, dry, 9/24/2011

Photo: JN56 

I learned to love that crazy bridge/banked turn at Sacramento Cyclocross #1
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I learned to love that crazy bridge/banked turn at Sacramento Cyclocross #1

This is NOT the best way to get over CX barriers. 

Race: Folsom Cyclebration, Folsom City Zoo and Rodeo Grounds. I actually pre-rode the course about 300 times and I had all my lines down but what did I do on the first turn of the first lap? Yup, I crashed! Slid out on an off-camber turn. That messed up my rear brake and I rode the single track section with just a front brake. The pits where far so I tried to diagnose what happened on a short pavement section and realized my brake straddle cable was just unhooked. I popped it back on and I started to chase. That incident knocked me from 2nd place to about 15th place. Luckily I was able to chase back, pass the leader, and finish with over a minute of a gap. It was this little comeback that convinced me to try my luck against the big boys and upgrade to the “A” category. Details: 1st place in the B’s, 9/17/2011 Photo: JN56 
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Race: Folsom Cyclebration, Folsom City Zoo and Rodeo Grounds.

I actually pre-rode the course about 300 times and I had all my lines down but what did I do on the first turn of the first lap? Yup, I crashed! Slid out on an off-camber turn.

That messed up my rear brake and I rode the single track section with just a front brake. The pits where far so I tried to diagnose what happened on a short pavement section and realized my brake straddle cable was just unhooked. I popped it back on and I started to chase.

That incident knocked me from 2nd place to about 15th place.

Luckily I was able to chase back, pass the leader, and finish with over a minute of a gap. It was this little comeback that convinced me to try my luck against the big boys and upgrade to the “A” category.

Details: 1st place in the B’s, 9/17/2011

Photo: JN56 

Love these shots Time Westmore snapped of me at CCCX #1.

Podium shot - CCCX #1 
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Podium shot - CCCX #1 

Race: CCCX #1, Ft. Ord First race of the season and I take home my first win of the season. Took the lead with 3 laps to go and held it to the end. I kinda freaked out when they announced I was in the lead (I didn’t know) but I just took some deep breaths and focused on not crashing. My prize? 2 lbs of sweet California Strawberries and a cool medal.  I even got to the that cool thing people do on TV where they lift their arms as they cross the finish line. \_T_/Details: CCCX #1 - Ft. Ord, Monterey, CA. Men’s Open B’s. 1st place, 9/10/2011
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Race: CCCX #1, Ft. Ord

First race of the season and I take home my first win of the season. Took the lead with 3 laps to go and held it to the end. I kinda freaked out when they announced I was in the lead (I didn’t know) but I just took some deep breaths and focused on not crashing.

My prize? 2 lbs of sweet California Strawberries and a cool medal. 

I even got to the that cool thing people do on TV where they lift their arms as they cross the finish line. \_T_/

Details: CCCX #1 - Ft. Ord, Monterey, CA. Men’s Open B’s. 1st place, 9/10/2011