Spooky Cross (Cross Crusade #4) - 10/29/06

What a weekend - Beavers beat #3 USC and a great day for Spooky cross. Can't ask for a better weekend. In honor of the Beavs, I made a last minute costume change to Captain Upset. It was a hit for the spectators and it got me $5 off my entry fee. There were some killer costumes out there. I still can't figure out how the girl in the blow up Sumo outfit got over the barriers.

It turned out to be a nice sunny cool morning. The course was great. Reminded me more of a mountain bike course, but you don't ever jump over a COFFIN in a mountain bike race. There were some technical turns in the trees. I kept the speed down in the corners for recovery (learned that one in Hillsboro after 4 crashes). There were a few straight away hill climbs to max out the lungs and pass the slackers.

An extra bonus was FREE beer at the keg stop along the course. I decided to pass during the laps since it was on the dark side. However, it hit the spot after the race was done. I mean, you can't find a better time on a bike than a cyclocross race.

Denise and Luke joined me at the race. They took some great photos below. What a great way to spend a 12th wedding anniversary day (not sure if that's what she had in mind).

Catching the Competition

GIT- R - DONE

My Favorite Fan

Cross Crusade #2 - 10/15/06

The weather was perfect for cross on the 2nd Cross Crusade event. Plenty of rain to slicken up the playing field. No-more sunny summer stroll in the park. It was time to get wet, muddy, and exhausted.

I placed myself to earn a free six-pack of Mac's in the first race (landed on the lucky number 7 with 17th), so I was geared up to perform. Unfortunately, my bike handling skills on the new steed were alittle lacking in prowness. By the 3rd or 4th crash around a muddy slick corner, I realized that a conservative appoarch in the muddy corners would save me time.

Denise and Luke showed up part way through the race. They captured a few photos of the effort shown below.

Some lessons learned....

1. It takes a lot longer time to crash and recover than to take it slower in the muddy corners/gravel.
2. I guess it's a good thing when the doc gives you alittle something and says "normally I tell people to suck it up and don't worry about it, but your's is really looking infected". Guess I better shave my legs after all.
3. The free beer prize sure tastes good later that day.

31st out of ~105 folks in the rookie class. I'll take it.

Putting down the hammer

Negotiating the "six-pack" barriers

Muddy with a big grin

Luke is wondering "what is dad doing?"

Cross Crusade #1 - 10/1/06

The first cross race of the season was at Alpenrose for the Cross Crusade. http://www.crosscrusade.com/

It was also my first race with the Specialized TriCross bike that I'd been using for commuting this year. Wow, what an improvement over a retro 90s converted moutainbike I used last year. It worked like a champ.

The weather was beautiful (not really appropriate for a true cross race. The course was lots of fun through the Alpenrose area - up some stairs, up the velodrome side, and a lap in the velodrome.

Finished up at 17th in the rookie class. The extra bonus - the lucky number was 7, so I won a six-pack of Macs.

I put together alittle setup in the backyard to get some practice (here's a photo).