The most fun time of the year - no not Christmas... Easter... the Oscars.... - but CROSS season is in full swing (and unfortunately will be winding down in a few weekends) and many SPHers have been enjoying the wonderful booty provided by the many 'cross racing opportunities.
SPHcross has been going swimmingly. Other than one hiccup every Wednesday we've invaded a park and dropped multiple hammers. Unfortunately or fortunately (if you're Jake), Jake has completely dominated, only being beaten once. All other races have been won in landslide fashion. BUT, the lower ranks of SPHitude are slowly catching up... last week for instance Jake only lapped Job once... AND he didn't lap me at all. So... HA HA!!!!
Larry and I meandered up to Taylor's Falls to partake in a little Red Barn CX action. And a fine morning it was. My race report is as follows:
At the starting line for a while me and Larry were alone. Thinking a front row start wouldn't be the smartest for the likes of us, we commenced stepping backward a few feet. As more and more people straggled to the line I was struck by how many freaking sandbaggers there are in cat 4. Or at least how many people by massively expensive bikes to dominate beginners and slowpokes.
As the whistle blew to signify the start of the race we proceeded to get dropped by everyone. I think an old lady in a wheelchair actually rolled past us up the little soft grass hill. Eventually though we started going and picked off a crippled kid and maybe a few dwarves that could only pedal with one leg.
The opening part of the lap was grassy and fast! A few corners here and there as you wind a bit through the tree farm (did I mention it was at a tree farm?). The first time off the bike was for a weird double barrier. Over one. Turn 180 degrees and over another. Then the course proceeded to hit some very loose chipped rock gravel. I really sucked on this as my crash last year on gravel on the grey tubies has me very skittish. Larry would pull ahead of me a bit here and the crippled kid that I thought was in my rear view mirror also gave a bit of a dig.
Once through the long gravel section I dropped the hammer on some more of the twisty grassy stuff. Over three (yes 3!!!) barriers and up a little hill down a little hill and I was getting in my groove. Still a little behind Larry but catching up. 44-20 is dominant (against slow people) on the grassy flat stuff. I was just behind Larry when the twisty course sent us down a steep hill and to a wall of dirt that we had to climb up. Running up this pretty much ended the lap.
I was getting a bit faster on all of the parts except the gravel, which would hinder my performance. Larry would always catch up and then I'd have to work hard to pass him.
On the last lap I dropped the hammer just after the triple barrier/hill. Running past people who were walking up the steep dirt climb meant a solid finish ahead of a few guys (and Larry) that I was fighting with the last lap or two. Unfortunately the digs required when combined with a smoky camp fire proceeded to make me vomit. Just a little. And it was all water. Unfortunately this moment was captured for all of time...
It was a great race and I'm looking forward to the 2011 Red Barn Classic!
