P-burg 'cross recap- Biffs all around!

So 'cross nationals are next week. It's my first season of cyclocross, and somehow we've decided that it's be a good idea to race at nationals in the B Race.

The B race.

I'm dying at the C races already, so this should be interesting. It'll also be more interesting considering it was snowing last year. Oh, yeah, and there's also 179 people pre-registered FOR THE B RACE ALONE. definitely stay tuned for next week's race report. it should be a Doozie.

Being that this was the last weekend before nationals, Chad and I decided to get a tune-up race in just to check our form and have some fun. We ended up driving out to Phillipsburg, NJ. I had no idea what to expect from the course.

What we found was (with the exception of Granogue), one of the most technically challenging courses yet. a super steep run up (about 45 degrees) and an equally steep run-down. I tried riding down the run down and pulled off a full on endo, much to the pleasure of the nearby onlookers. no more of that for Christophe. It was actually quicker to bound down the rundown, so i did that instead.



the field was pretty small (32 C racers), and filled with some familiar faces. the whistle was blown, and off we went. Hoo-rah.

I have to admit, my bike has been a pretty tough cookie during this cross season. This race, however, it really got pounded on, and I had a few mechanicals to deal with.

First of all, i think my headset was a bit loose, so my front end was all over the place.

The ground was frozen, which made for an interesting road feel. it was hard and jarring. The run ups were challenging, and there were two sets of two barriers in different parts of the race. lots of turning, and a bunch of steep but rideable parts.

There was one run up that was rideable, but barely. halfway into the race, i rode up it, but my front end slipped out over the top. I crashed on my side, and bent my derailleur hanger. I had to yank the derailleur pulley out of the spokes and keep going. as i rode on, I quickly realized that I could no longer use my three easiest gears.

my three favorite gears.

the gears i use most.

oh sweet easy gears, how i missed you for the rest of the race.

I had to Jan Ullrich it for the rest of the race, and I was dying. I was able to hold off some people that I had wanted to stay ahead of for the race, but one almost got me at the end. I had to sprint and fight to keep from getting caught at the last minute. My body thanked me for the stupid effort by almost giving me a heart attack.

It was a fun race nonetheless!

the bike's in the shop getting a once over at the shop, so hopefully it'll be good to go for nats.

Chad was able to monster ahead of me and came in 14th out of 32. I came in 21st out of 32. not bad considering the mechanicals. and I've got goofy pics of me jumping over the barriers!



Looking ahead, I'm just going to do my best to not come in last at nationals. I figure if i can avoid any pileups, focus on keeping a rhythm and attack the technical sections well, I should be ok.

'cross is such a badass sport.
However, It's not nearly as badass as Cippo is in this photo:



Remember, kids, Mario Cippolini is the only guy badassed enough to get away with smoking on a bike.

and don't do drugs!