Race Report: SuperPrestige CX La Vista Park

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.

I was smiling early on . . . *Photo credit: Mike Dawson

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.

Race Report: Hermann CX 2012

Saturday morning I helped out at a cross clinic.  It was good for me to go through a few drills and get some feedback from some more experienced racers.  I headed to Hermann after that was over.

I was there early enough to get laps on the course between a few races.  The turns were all wide and smooth.  Obstacles included normal barriers, three short barriers on an uphill, one section of stairs and a sand pit with a turn.  I watched the single speed race to see if any of them were able to ride the short barriers or the sand -- they were all running it which was what I had been planning on.  An hour before my race I got ready and headed out to warm up.  I did a few hills and surges and also hit some grassy areas.  I did one more lap on the course and headed to the line.  There were seven of us racing.  We got instructions and the go.  I was sixth off the start.  I definitely need to work on my cx starts!  We wove our way through the "technical" section of the course and the lead three (Sunny, Karen, and Jenn) were beginning to get a gap.  Cory was on my wheel, but I knew she starts hot and fades, so I wasn't worried there.  I took the barriers smoothly and added some gear on the first pavement section.  We hit the grass again and wound to the short barriers.  I was smooth going over them, but I'm guessing dropped my bike too hard because I dropped my chain.  I had to stop to put it back on and Cory passed me.  I told myself I would get her on the power section on the field or the stairs.  I jumped back on the bike and went down the short hill and back up the other side.  SNAP. There went my chain.  Not much I could do at that point because the pit was still a good distance -- time to run.  I started to shoulder the bike and realized I was better off pushing it.  I kept a nice pace and ran through the baseball field and up the stairs.  I rode the bike down the hill and to the next up hill before I dismounted and ran again.  Through the sand and another hill and back to the pit.  I switched bikes and was off.  At this point I knew that I didn't have a snowball's chance of placing in the race, but I was not about to let up.  I needed a good workout and no better way to practice racing than in a race.  I rode solid and switched back to my bike at the end of that lap.  I was able to close the gap between Cory and me to 50 seconds by the last lap.  My highlights for the race were cornering well, even in the dark and staying focused on going hard even though I was way off the back.  My areas to work on our remounts on pavement -- I bobbled a few at the top of the stairs and starts.

Just happy to cross the line! *photo credit: Dan Singer

Sunday's course was much the same as Saturday's with one notable exception. Sunday we ran the full set of stairs...61 of them I've been told. There was also an added section with an off camber down switchback to an uphill off camber 180 around a tree.  I won't lie, that section made me nervous every lap.  I warmed up on the road again and took a few extra times down the added section.  I wanted to make sure I had good lines for it.  We had 10 ladies in the race on Sunday--three the same as the night before, everyone else was fresh.  Off the line I was in sixth place.  I was following Mary Piper and was on her heels up the stairs.  I should have switched sides on the stairs so I could get around her, but my hypoxic brain wasn't thinking that clearly.  She got a gap on me on the downhill section.  I was determined not to let her get away.  Also, Teresa was right on my wheel at that point.  We started through the turns on lap two and I got a little heckling from a friend.  When I yelled back Teresa commented "how can you still talk, I'm dying."  That made me think that I wasn't going hard enough so I added gear and went harder.  I got closer to Mary, but wasn't able to over take her.

Top of the steps . . . those hurt!  *photo credit: Mike Dawson

The off camber section after the turns.  Yep, scared me! *photo credit: Dan Singer

In lap three I knew I was closing the gap on her. Plus I could see Liz and Karen in front of Mary.  I knew if I got Mary, I could get them as well.  Lap four we hit the baseball field and I put my head down and went after her.  I was on her wheel at the dismount for the stairs.  She took the right side and I took the left.  Run, run, run.  It helped that I had my Boo yelling at me "Faster, Mommy, faster. Your mom can take these stairs faster than you."  I was a half step in front of her at the top and I lunged forward with the bike, set it down and remounted.  I got the line for the downhill.  It was now time for a gap and fourth place.  I saw Liz in the sand when I went over the hill.  I knew I could take her.  I was able to pass her in the first wide turn after the start finish.  I knew with Liz I would have to keep going strong because she is known for fighting her way back.  I started concentrating on catching Karen.  I could see her in front of me on the stairs on that lap.  I passed her just before the start/finish and beginning of Lap 6.  I heard the announcer say that I must have been lapped . . . he apologized later.  Karen passed me again going through a turn.  I stayed on her wheel through the barriers and subsequent turns and overtook her again on the pavement.  She got me through the second turn on the grass.  We went over the short barriers, just a few paces apart.  She edged me out on the downhill/uphill and I knew I had to do something if I wanted the podium spot.  We hit the pavement section and I attacked and didn't look back.  I got a sizable gap on her and knew I needed to ride smart and strong and finish the last lap well.  I got a gap count for Jenn in second.  She was about 30 seconds ahead of me, but I ran out of time to catch her.  All in all it was a great race for me.  It reinforced that I need to work on starts.  And while I'm remounting quickly, I'm still double hopping to do it.  I know in my cx skills workouts I'll be slowing down my remounts to work on that muscle memory piece.  

Podium shot -- two great ladies to share it with! *Photo credit: Dan Singer

Race Report: Veldrijden Columbia

I remember when I first saw Jim's post about a cx race in Columbia.  I was in disbelief!  Shocked, excited.  A cx race in the city park.  I do my cx skill workouts there . . . it was too good to be true.  And somehow, someway it all came together.  And it was everything I could have hoped for.  Someone on stlbiking.com posted this description of the course: Take the stairs from Hermann, the run up from Mt. Pleasant, the sand and woods from St. Vincent, the boggy zoysia and long stretches of pavement from Spanish Lake, throw in some tundra and a creek crossing and you have Columbia.  That sums up the course perfectly!

Lined up with the boys!  EEEK!

I actually did get my act together, packed my backpack and rode to the course. I got there early enough to ride the course before any of the races began.  I wanted to watch all the races and truly enjoy the day.  If I have one small down side of the day, it was the turnout.  None of the races had a great turnout.  By 12:30 there were only two of us signed up for the 1/2/3 race.  Larry talked to Beverly and me and decided to combine us with the Elite men's race.  I think the men had about 17 in their race.  We lined up at the back, but got the ok to go with the men at the whistle.

We got the whistle and I jumped in with the boys and was mixing it up.  I held with them through most of the first lap.  My goal was to stay with them through the first lap so that I could see the lines they were taking on the course.  Beverly was no where in sight.  On the second lap, I headed down into the woods and rode through the creek--splash, no problem.  I headed towards the little culvert and decided to try to bunny hop the drain pipe.  I'm assuming I landed wonky because within a pedal stroke I came to a grinding halt.  My tire was off the rim.  WTF!  I shouldered the bike and took off running/walking.  It didn't take long until Beverly passed me.  The worst thing was, I was going to have to run most of the course to get back to the pit. F! F! F! F! As I was running up the hill, I started to take my wheel off so I would be ready to change it when I hit the pit.  I was holding the wheel and BOOM!  I realized that if I let a little air out, I would be able to pop the tire back on the rim.  DUH!  I tried it and it worked and I hopped back on.  I knew I would need to be careful with cornering, but at least I was back on and riding.  I set off to try and catch Beverly . . . and never made it.  I eventually closed the gap to about 45 seconds, but finished 2nd--which was DFL for this race.  Still, I had fun the whole time.  

Climbing that effing hill!

Highlights of the race included:

• My mom and brothers came out to watch me race!
• Jim waving his skirt at me . . . and then wearing it.  I didn't get the full HAWT leg look though.
• Riding the hill on the backside of the football field every lap. (except for the lap sans tire).
• The stairs.  I love running those stairs, always have.
• Racing for a full hour with the boys -- women never get to race that long.  I was zapped afterwards though.
• Pedaling through all the corners.  I still have a long way to go on handling, but I'm starting to get there.

Hittin' the creek! *photo credit: Mike Dawson

Things to work on:

• Riding the sand.  I tried to ride the pit during warm-up and fell right over.  I ran it every lap.  I need to head over to the park and practice.
• Off camber turns.  I rode the turn over the ties the first lap, but my line sucked.  I dabbed the subsequent times, and only two of those were smooth.

I have next weekend off racing before heading to Chicago for the UCI New Years Resolution races.  Three races left in this years cx season!

Race Report: Bubba #4 and #5 -- Faust Park

I knew going into Saturday night's race it would be hard.  I did the trail run in the morning and had fun, but I haven't really asked that much of my legs since GEO in July.  It also didn't help that I realized at Tesson Ferry that I had left my number at home and had to turn around to get it.  By the time we got there I didn't have a chance to pre-ride the course and I effed around and didn't warm up.  All my fault, I own it.  Just like I own my poor performance.  I was quick off the line at the whistle, but Sunny just rode away from us all.  I was quickly passed by the rest of the A field and that's where I stayed--DFL.  I even got passed by some of the B racers.  That really helped my ego.  The only thing that kept me going were the lewd comments from the crowd about my costume. I did get quicker every lap, as my legs got warm and I got familiar with it.  But I never got quick enough to catch anyone.  The big lesson for me was when I downloaded my data.  I obviously played bad mind games with myself because my average HR was only 168 . . . a good 20BPM slower than typical.  I let my "perceived" fatigue and overall poor attitude get in the way of having a good race.


Sunday morning didn't start off much better.  Saturday night's sleep was about three hours due to issues to remain unnamed and my problems sleeping past 5AM any day.  So I began crabby and my legs were still a little tender.  I emailed Coach and asked him if I could just go for a long road ride instead.  In typical Chuck form, he gave me permission but made me really think.  Here's part of his message:
if you are not looking forward to the cx race today, don't do it.  there is physical and mental fatigue.  staying 'in the game' yesterday was likely similar to a very tactical road race of a couple hours or more duration or a 60-70k tt.  if you decide to go for an easy ride, be able to say (if it's true) 'my muscles are sore, i've had enough.'


Of course after reading that I decided to race.  Because truly, above all else, I'm a horrible bike handler and anytime spent riding and working on those skills is good for me.  I made sure I got to the park early enough to get on the course.  It was basically the same as last night, with an added side section through the trees.  It was about 1.5 miles and at least I could see the ruts and avoid hitting them in the daylight.


It was windy and overcast at the start, about 58 degrees.  We got the whistle and I jumped but was third off the line.  Courtney immediately took the lead and Gina followed.  I tried to stay with them but didn't have the power today.  Kerry was right on my wheel.  We stayed that way until after the tree section when Kerry passed me.  I pushed to stay on her wheel through  the rest of that lap.  A few times I thought about going around her, but knew I didn't have the gas to put a gap on her and didn't want to continue to go back and forth with her.  On lap two we were heading to the path and I felt good.  I went around her and added gear and kept going.  I concentrated on seeing how much room I could put between us.  I was able to extend my lead on her through the next three laps.  In the final lap, she made some ground, but when I saw that she had come closer, I went harder.  I ended up with 3rd.


The hardest part of the day's race for me was the barriers.  I tried to run and jump but my legs told me no.  I made sure my dismounts and remounts were clean so that I didn't lose too much ground there.  I also worked on pedaling through my corners and taking clean lines.  The handling is definitely getting better.  And I say that knowing I haven't faced anything truly technical yet.  

Race Report: PICX #1

I definitely could tell I hadn't been on my cx bike in nine months.  It was a brutal race, but I smiled my way through it!

The course wasn't technical, but it wasn't easy. Lot of hills, a bit of tall grass, a fun, quick downhill and a nasty, steep, short uphill.

The weather was beautiful, high 70s, and we had six women in the Open Race.  I set three goals for myself today:

1.  Not fall.  My elbow didn't need the impact.

2.  Not get lapped by any girls.

3.  Not finish DFL.

I accomplished the first two.  We got the whistle from the line and I guess I forgot about how to start a cx race because I wasn't prepared for jumping so quickly.  Yep, off the back from the go.  I decided to take the nasty little hill near the end as a run up on the first lap.  I had tried to ride in during my warm up, but didn't make it up.  Second lap I moved a little faster through the course and decided to ride the little hill.  I almost made it the top, but had to put a foot down near the top.  I got lapped by the men's leader during lap three.  Two laps later, I finally made it up the hill!  The last lap I pushed myself harder, standing through all my climbs and got some great speed on the cobbles.  

It couldn't have been that bad . . . I was smiling. *Photo credit: Kelly Patty

My bike handling definitely needs some work.  I lost a lot of speed in the tight turns.  My dismounts were passable, and remounts were ok.  I'm choosing to look at it positively in that I have lots of room for
improvement!

My best side!  *Photo credit: Kelly Patty

Race Report: Mt Pleasant Winery Bubba

I am beginning to think I've been cursed by Murphy's Law during cx season. Today's race was a tough, tough course. It was incredibly hilly, thick grass and lots of switchbacks. I knew it would be tough. Nine women in the A race, about 15 in the B race. We took off on lap one and I rode what I could. The switchback turns were all at the top of small climbs and the thick grass made it difficult to maneuver some of the turns to go downhill the opposite way. I was able to pedal through a few that I didn't make during my warm up lap.

The grimace on my face from my scraped knee and flat tire. Photo cred: Dennis F.

The second lap I was able to ride a hill that I had to take fully as a run up last year. I was feeling good, saw 5 to go on the lap cards and headed into lap three. The course started on pavement and had a 180 sweeping turn. I took it too aggressively and laid my bike over. Amazingly I stayed clipped in as I slid through the parking lot. I unclipped jumped up and made sure everything was still attached to my body (and that I hadn't put a hole in my skin suit!) and started again. I hit the first long downhill and tried to turn and my rear wheel slipped. I dabbed and went on the second and my rear wheel slipped. I dismounted and felt my tire and it was nearly flat. I ran the next three switchbacks and remounted to see how far I could make it. Every turn I was fishtailing, and of course I had passed the pit already. I ran the bike the rest of the course, through the start finish and back to the pit. I got to the pit and had no wheels there. Sam assumed that I would DNF because the course was tough if I flatted so he left my wheels in the truck. I take full responsibility for not checking. I told him to give me the rear wheel off of his bike. Carrie put it on and I took off. I grabbed my brakes for the downhill and had none...it wasn't reconnected and I didn't check before leaving the pit. I messed with it for a couple of minutes before I was able to get it rehooked and take off again. By this time I had been either lapped or passed by everyone. I refused to quit a race though. I rode the lap and did what I could with Sam's wheel--my bike didn't like his cassette and it slipped a bit.

Sonny lapped me for a second time as I finished the lap so when I went back through I got one to go. There were a few B racers in my sight, so I made the move to catch and pass them and was able to do it.

It was amazing how many cheers I got as I ran with the bike. This season has taught me a lot about bike racing and a lot about who I am and the mental and physical determination I have. I may not be the strongest, fastest racer out there, but I have a stick-with-itness that would rival anyone.

The smile on my face as I sprinted towards the line . . . and yes, you still should sprint even if you are DFL. Photo cred: Dennis F.

Race Report: PICX #6, The One Not On My Schedule

So I decided to race today even though it wasn't on my schedule. It was the last of the Pride Series and I'm easily swayed when it comes to racing my bike. The course was very hilly and bumpy, had a lot of off camber sections. I was fast off the start until I hit the first off camber 180, everyone broke hard, including me, going into it. I just didn't accelerate out of it as fast. I was doing well, making up ground, until the barriers on lap 2. That's when I hit my speed/cadence sensor as I was going across the barriers, turning it into my rear wheel. (similar to what happened at the Creve Coeur night race) I stopped to adjust it and lost all sort of ground. I spent the rest of the race playing catch up, never quite getting there. Highlights/low lights of the race:

This gives a good overview of the course and the barriers from hell. *Photo cred: Mike D.

• I was never very confident on the first 180 off camber. It was a tight turn and I had visions of my back wheel slipping and me ending up taking a swim in the lake. (I have a small phobia of lakes, turns, and cx racing...not sure why).
• Remounts after the barriers were HORRIBLE. The barriers were uphill and off camber. I couldn't get the timing down at all.
• I was strong on the hills and on the 180 off camber around a tree after the barriers. I was able to get a great line on that turn every lap.
• There were four landscaping ties in a turn later in the course. I rode them once successfully during warm up and fell the second time I tried to ride them so I decided to run them during the race. I was able to hold my position or gain ground by doing this because most had to slow down so much going over them.

For me the most important part of the race today was, in spite of being last in the A race, I had fun again. My three previous races had left me shaking my head and wondering why I was investing time, energy, bruises and money in this part of the discipline. The course today and my time on it got me back in the cx spirit.

The second 180, right after the one by the lake. I could smile because the water wasn't near. *Photo cred: Mike D.

Race Report: Bubba at the Seminary

Today was more like true cross weather. Mid-40's, overcast and windy at race time. The course was about 1.5 miles, another mtb-like course. I got a good start and held with the leaders through the barriers and up the first set of stairs. I began to lose ground when we got to the woods. The wooded section was very technical in that it had a lot of turns, roots, and heavy ground cover.

Looks a little like I'm marching over them instead of running them. *Photo cred: John Pfeiffer.

By the end of the first lap, I was in last in the women's A race and ended up finishing there. I was timid through the woods and would make up ground on the long downhill and climb and on the front section where there were two straight aways. I rode the two small tree limbs that were obstacles each time without a problem...that was a plus for me. I also was able to handle the quick, steep uphill with a 180 and an immediate down. My dismounts and jumps were great with the exception of the last lap, I struggled unclipping my left foot before each of the sets of stairs. My remounts all had foward motion, but I'm still adding the little hop with my left foot. Bethany Himmel was there to push me the entire race. I knew she was right behind me and if I let up at all, I'd be chasing her down. I always appreciate the motivation that comes from competition.

The Sprints of Darkness Night Race Report

First lap on the beach. *Photo cred: Mike D.

Ah, the Bubba costume race . . . anyone in costume, or in the top 10 overall standings, got a call up. I fit both so I was in good shape off the start. The course was very flat, not technical, and included the beach at the lake. There were 31 women at the line. That in and of itself is pretty amazing.

We got our start and went off in the dark. We hit the sand still bunched up. I'm assuming when I shouldered my bike, I hit my speed/cadence sensor because when I remounted, I heard and felt something on my back wheel. The barriers were next up, so I stopped to see what was going on. It took me a couple of minutes and some deductive reasoning before I figured it out. By that time, I was DFL. UGH! I hopped on and took off with the intention of seeing how many girls I could pass.



I did pretty well. I ended up 17th overall, probably still DFL for the A race. There were a couple of highlights for the evening for me. My running was great. Everytime we hit the sand, I was able to shoulder the bike and make up good ground--no walking whatsoever. It was my strong point in the evening. I was also a crowd favorite in the sand. I had filled out the front of my costume with Whoppers. Everytime I hit the sand, I tossed a handful to the crowd and yelled "trick or treat." By the third lap, they were asking for candy.



The best part for me though was the perfect, or at least felt perfect, remount on the last lap. I didn't rush myself, I ran with the bike until I was ready to throw my leg and did it without a hop! I was beaming the entire last lap...all as a French maid.

My photo for the day is a pre-race shot. I chose it because it shows how amazingly creative my friends are. As a kid, I made most of my costumes. As an adult, I've only dressed up the last two years. I have to give huge kudos to both Steph and Cindy (as well as many others) for their creativity and originality. I'm hoping that some of it wears off on me.

20/365: The bee getting her stripes from the trainer park debutante.