Smithville CX

Sunday was the Smithville CX race, Katie came with me and we brought the dogs. Perfect weather, about 65 and slightly cloudy and a great technical course make for some awesome racing. I thought I was racing in the 2/3 catergory race but found out I was in the Open race. The bad part is I didnt realize this till after the Open class started racing, so I started 10 seconds back with the 2/3's. I put the hammer down and started racing hard, better late than never. By the 2nd or 3rd lap I had caught up to the open field and had started passing people. With 5 laps to go I had passed half the open field and caught up to 9th place, one spot out of the money! Katie was giving me updates as I rode by the money tree (literally a tree with dollar bills clothes-pinned onto it of which I grabbed 5 from) and I was determined to make up for my mistake at the start. I passed some more people and with 2 laps to go I had 6th place in my sights. I caught 6th place with about 100 yards to go, passed him on the hill run up and sprinted for the finish. Finally I won a sprint, usually I get owned in finish sprints. I was happy with the result and can feel my CX legs and lungs coming around. (Pic courtesy of Jon Peck)

Cyclocross Weekend

Raced at Capital Cup in Topeka on Saturday, it was hot, 85 at the start. Nice venue and nice people putting it on and hills led to a great time. Only 5 showed up for the open race and B. Stover took the wholeshot with the rest of us in tow. After a couple laps it was Britton K. and myself left at the front. Halfway through he put down a nice effort and I couldn't match it. I thought I'd catch him later but that didn't happen, second place and a cramping back was the result. Sunday was the Boulevard Cup a little bigger Open field with 22 or so at the start. My wife Katie came out to watch and give me some much needed motivation. The race started and my holeshot was good except it was longer than I realized and by the time we hit the dirt I was almost at the back. The first lap I was riding with a little too much urgency, made up some spots then wiped out on a bunch of acorns in a tight turn, back to where I was when we hit the dirt, about 15-16. I rode a little smarter and started picking people off. In the last couple laps I caught the 9th place rider Nick C. and we battled for a bit, I was beat and he was too strong and rode away from me the last lap. So 10th place in the biggest Open field I have ever raced in, I am happy. This time last year I would have gotten lapped. Good job Boulevard, great beer and a nice race course. Here's a pic on the first lap, pre-wreck.

Cross Out Cancer

That will be my last race with tubeless tires on a CX bike. Had a good holeshot then halfway through the first lap going around a turn, burp, my rear tire is no longer on my rim. Guess I will go back to slow tubes. Oh yeah I DNF'd. It was a good cause and a decent venue, I liked the course, but I guess thats the mountain biker in me.