10/21 Hansen Dam Cross UCI Race Report

I have come to believe that for myself if there is not adversity it is not a cross race. Dam Cross was no exception. The Sunday race had a different time schedule so my usual category of 35+ 3/4 was not until late in the afternoon, thus I decided to enter the 3/4 race which was late as is, but I wanted to race. Hansen Dam was the location of State Championships last year, that was the race that I was competing for the podium before a mechanical forced me to drop back to 5th. To 2007. I thought it would be a good idea to ride my bike to the race. Save some gas, get a good warm-up, go green, etc. It looked like the ride was only 18 miles and about 1800 feet of climbing. HA! While, the climbing was not bad, the mileage seemed a bit off. And the WIND! Not sure if you saw the news but SoCal is burning again. Santa Ana winds blowing over 70 mph with virtually no humidty. Once I crested the hills into the valley I was slapped with a headwind that would have made me cry had it not been for the dryness of the air which sucked all the moisture out of my body. I march on and make it to the course. Just as I pull into the parking lot, I flatted. Always a pleasure with tubulars and spare wheels at home! I borrow a wheel, ride part of the course, fix my gears and get on with it. The gun goes off. Long straight into the wind. I get the holeshot. Make them pass me is my latest plan. Well, after the first turn and onto the first climb these 2 animals come pedaling past me as if I was standing still. Holy shit are they fast. I try to settle in and realize that I am out classed and out geared on this course. Add in the stupidity of not chaning my tire pressure from the road pressure I had them up to. This course was bumpy and hard. Crash, drop chaing, people are flying past me. Oh well. having fun at least. The most rewarding part of the day was someone came up to me and said that I was one of the smoothest on the barriers! So, I have that going for me, which is nice.

two photos, one after the Battle of The Wind and the other the flatted tubular. Photos courtesy of Josh Caffrey http://december9.net/