Originally I had said I wasn't going to do any of the SuperPrestige races. I'm excited that there are additional cx options in the area, but I think I raced entirely too much last season and I needed to make a cut somewhere. Well, I went back on my word.
Sunday we packed up and headed up to Godfrey. It was about a mile and half course. It had been well ridden because the grass was gone on most of it--it was dry, dusty dirt. I pre-rode the course and was comfortable on it. Nothing really technical, some longer climbs, a few off camber turns. One set of tall barriers, one set of short. I warmed up in the grass around the course, following the tape on the outside.
We had nine very strong ladies in our field. We got the whistle and were off. Liz was first off the line with Carrie on her wheel and I jumped in third. I was feeling great, doing well until the off camber switch backs. My turns were off. I couldn't seem to corner well and I didn't know why. All of a sudden I had given up four places. I started out on course again and still didn't feel right. I couldn't figure it out until I tried to shift and felt like I was reaching. My bars were tilting. By the time I hit the pit, my levers were faced downwards. UGH!
I switched bikes in the pit and took off. Something was wrong though. I felt too extended to get power on my pedal stroke. I remounted after the short barriers and could barrier swing my leg over the saddle. Enough! Racing, in spite of the 'normal' pain, is supposed to be fun. This was sucking. I rode to start/finish and withdrew.
Lesson learned: I need to be better at checking my equipment. No one's fault but my own. I spent the rest of Sunday afternoon making sure my bikes were in working order. They were cleaned, lubed, and tightened. This won't happen again.
Sunday we packed up and headed up to Godfrey. It was about a mile and half course. It had been well ridden because the grass was gone on most of it--it was dry, dusty dirt. I pre-rode the course and was comfortable on it. Nothing really technical, some longer climbs, a few off camber turns. One set of tall barriers, one set of short. I warmed up in the grass around the course, following the tape on the outside.
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| I was smiling early on . . . *Photo credit: Mike Dawson |
I switched bikes in the pit and took off. Something was wrong though. I felt too extended to get power on my pedal stroke. I remounted after the short barriers and could barrier swing my leg over the saddle. Enough! Racing, in spite of the 'normal' pain, is supposed to be fun. This was sucking. I rode to start/finish and withdrew.
Lesson learned: I need to be better at checking my equipment. No one's fault but my own. I spent the rest of Sunday afternoon making sure my bikes were in working order. They were cleaned, lubed, and tightened. This won't happen again.
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