CSI Northampton Day One

Got to Look Park early on Saturday. Set up the tent. Posted up next to the Hup tent to make a sweet duplex. Took a few laps. Was totally chill. No nerves. No stress. Lined up at the back, ready to go. Whistle and we're off..... about 10 pedal strokes in, I am grabbing two handfuls of brakes and flying through the air. Tangled bikes. Deep breathes. Remount and back at it. Look down and I can see a cut on my leg. Catch back on for the lap one traffic jam at the run up. The run up was pretty chewed up this year, but the left side seemed to be the fast lane.
Course was fast and fun. But you were doomed if you let gaps open. The wind and the watts would conspire to leave you alone. I managed to crash at the little pavilion thing on the top of the course and twist my bars about 45 degrees-which I didn't realize til I was flying over them after remounting. Tip,take a second and examine your bike before jumping back on. 2nd to last lap, I manage to stack it in the sand pit, to complete a trio of crashes. So now, I have a face full of sand and a couple more laps to go. Coming into the barriers I hear everyone screaming about a hand up that has just taken place. I look up and there is Nick riding with something in his hand. I was afraid it was food, but dragged myself up to him to see if there was any liquid. BEER! Success. He gladly handed me the remnants of his beer and we enjoyed a mid race drink. He pointed out we were about to get lapped, and I was bummed and resigned.
My lack of form this season, forced me to reevaluate my goals and "finish a Verge race without getting lapped" had creeped to the top of the list. So I mustered my final few watts and managed to get across the start finish without being lapped. Sort of a Pyrrhic victory as that got me almost another 10 minutes of racing. But hey, set a goal and accomplish it. Then feel good.
When I finished up and rode back to our bum village both Nick and Billy looked at my leg and said way too calmly, "You should probably have the medical people look at that.." So I waked over and interrupted the EMTs lunch to get cleaned up. Looked nasty, but NBD in the end.
So that was day one. I turned myself inside out not to get lapped after crashing within 10 seconds of the start of the race. Finished 128th which was better than that stinking race predictor said I would!
As far as day two, maybe one of the other dudes will chime in. For me it was about the same minus the crashes.

I came into this weekend feeling a little burnt out. Not sure if it was the sun, the taco truck,the NECX, or what, but I felt pretty recharged and stoked coming out of it. As a wise man said, CFR! Thanks to everyone that made this race happen.

Suckerbrook

Been pretty quiet on the race report front. We raced Quad and the Green Mountain Weekend. I can only speak for myself, but it has been a tough start to the season.
Suckerbrook is a NE classic with a pretty timeless course. I decided to double down and race the 3/4 Masters and the 3s.
It was pretty humid when we arrived and the course was still wet and pretty greasy after a couple races. 85 dudes lined up for the 3/4 masters race-that is a lot. Had an OK start, but bleed places over the course of the race. Finished up 40th.
The course featured all the classic chicanes and little rollers and off cambers.


The big surprise was in the woods after the fire road. No more little log you could ride over. They had a double stack of telephone poles. I ran it. Some rode it. Sand pit had a new and improved layout, but was ride-able.

Had an hour between races. Did not stop sweating. It was humid, and nasty. Hot enough for feeds and bottles in the pit, and there was more than one bike with a bottle cage.
Lined up for the 3 races. Small turnout for the killer Bs. Rode 2 laps and called it a day. Racing once in the heat is OK. Twice not so much. The course had dried out and it was fast. Billy and Nick hung tough in the heat to finish 29th and 38th.
Suckerbrook is such a good race, but you know this. I also bought a new camera which Nick took charge of. Here is some of his work.
Me going through the barriers.

So in closing the double down was a fail, but the race itself was a blast. And where was Thom? Down in Philly seeing the Descendents! Pretty good reason to miss a race.

Eco-Cross

I had wanted to do the Coonamessett cross race for a couple years. Missed it three years ago and they didn't run it last year. So I was definitely planning a day off to hit it this year. Small fields and a chance to get crushed by juniors-how could you say no? Got to the farm early for a preride(in kit, sorry business casual crowd). It was a short lap. Felt really short which is odd since I always think laps are loooong when I preride. Had Cape friends coming out to watch so I was hanging out and a little distracted. Distracted to the point that I lined up with no number. Very pro. Number was in my jacket in the car. No way I was going to make it to the car and back for the start. Officials didn't notice, so off I went. My start wasn't a total shit show, but I lost places heading into the woods. Couple laps in and I was locked into the battle at the back-which is as serious as the battle of the bulge, just slower. The gravelly left turn into the beer tent barriers never felt right to me and I hit it pretty slow each lap-including the time I veered into a low wall and almost took my self out. Luckily I was going slow enough to recover.... After the barriers you went out into a field that was soggy, grassy muddy death. The only bright side was their was a "faster line" along the left hand tape that kept you out of some of the mud. Need to check for that line more often. It took til 2 to go for the inevitable to happen, I got caught by Nate Morse. Funnier guys than me have addressed this issue so I will not. I got caught by a few other dudes as I continued to battle it out with Andy. Going into the last lap, he uncorked a brutal attack in pretty much the perfect spot to pass me to win the battle of the back.
It was odd to be the only Newbury dude at the race since we usually roll deep (or as as the full quartet). Missed the crew. Got heckled by the announcer with the classic line, "this guy doesn't look so high&mighty now...." rim shot.... After the race I got a brief scolding from the officals and was on my way to try the "cyclocross salad". Didn't take advantage of the available harpoon as I was mentally preparing for getting spanked in a bigger field on Saturday.
This race is like a shorter Orchard Cross and was really fun. Plenty of beer and food and a cool scene all around. I would recommend getting the day off to do this next year. This was also the only race of the year that had mud in quantities beyond a three foot stretch.
Do the race next year and if you are on the cape check it out. Food is good.

The rise and fall of Catamount weekend

It started out so good. The car was packed when I got out of work, so it meant just a short drive from Boston to the hostel in Burlington. Head over to eat burritos, then on the way. In Stoneham Thom is turned around talking to me and says "We just lost a wheel."



"What?" - Roger

"A wheel just flew off the roof" - Thom

*please let it not be my wheel* - Everyone.



Turns out it was Thom's wheel. We take the rest of the wheels off the roof, and get back to driving. Anyone who's ever taken me somewhere knows that I'm bound to fall asleep in the car. Probaly mid conversation. I don't know why, but it happens all the time. I even once fell asleep while drinking a Red Bull, clutched in a death-grip in my hand. After my nap we listen to the new Madball (awesome) and a Brian Posehn comedy album (listen to it.)



I'll tell the Hostel story another time (night digging) and start with getting to the race venue way too early. The Catamount Outdoor Center is an awesome place, lots of great views, and a ton of rideable terrain. Watching the fog burn off in the morning, and having it get about 10 degrees warmer in about 35 minutes was pretty awesome too.

Day one: Front row start. Ken from Threshold and I go out pretty hard and are leading up the first hill. By the time we get to the first left turn I've drifted back to 10th wheel or so (ah uphill sections.) I don't remember much except getting myself back around Giesel before we get back through the start/finish. Honestly this whole race is a blur. I do know that I rode up the bike jump every time, and that I managed to stay upright the entire ride. I also passed a couple of riders on the last lap n order to take 6th on the day.

I took a ton of photos after my race and proceeded to watch the Tim Johnson show before packing up and heading out for pizza and beer.

Day two: After a night of restless sleep it's back over to the venue super early for pre rides. It looked to be more suited to me (less climby) than day 1 and looked to have only 1 real feature to separate the race out (at least in the 4 field.) I was cautiously optimistic about my chance but was not getting good sensations from my legs during pre rides.

Front row start again. Again Ken leads it up the first hill and around the corner. Unlike day 1 I drift really far back during this part. I realize that there is now at least 1 Geekhouse rider ahead of me. I cannot allow myself to be treated this way and decide to move up on the left hand side. All the way to the front, and then to ride harder. I'm first wheel headed into the turns and still first wheel after the run up (yes I ran in every time.) I got passed just before it went back downhill, but stayed in the front group of 5 or so. We traded places amongst ourselves for most of the rest of the lap and rolled through the finish with me driving a train of 6 to the hill. I realize this is a really bad spot for me to be in so I weave around a bit to get off the front (in retrospect maybe the front is where I should have stayed.)

Back around the course on lap 2 it feels pretty good riding with this front group until we get to the downhill part. I managed to overcook a soft right hander and land right on my head. I also somehow manage to drop my chain behind the cassette and into the wheel. I get right up and realize that my oxygen starved brain can't fix my bike so I pick it up and start running.

I ran a lot. All the way down the hill, over the barriers and to the pit. I vaguely remember Roger yelling at me to keep running as he passed by. Stephen Pierce and Dave Wilcox, god bless their souls, met me in the pit to try and help out. I put my bike down and said "Chain. Needs fix." or something really intelligent like that. Between the 2 of them, and with an assist from Neutral by Mark himself I was back out of the pit quickly and right back into 14th place.

I proceeded to push myself harder than I ever have before in an attempt to catch not only the Geekhouse rider just ahead of me, but I needed to reel Roger in too. I relatively quickly caught up to the Geek (he washed out in a corner I think)and proceeded to cross paths with Roger for the next lap and a half or so.

I make a move to pass Roger and he lets me by with some words of encouragement. I think I see Giesel ahead of me, but he's to far to catch, so I just keep turning over the pedals trying to make up some time. Good for 12th on the day.

Overall I think we did pretty well for ourselves. I know Thom wasn't to happy with 16 on day 1 and 14 on day 2, but Roger seemed happy with 15 and 13.

Up next is the Noreaster and Suckerbrook. Keep an eye out for a special guest rider on Saturday.

Quad Cross

Photos are up on our facebook page. Race reports and more photos to come.
Awesome day of racing! Thom and Nick did a ton of work helping to set the course up and break it down. Thanks Team!

Palmer "Jungle" Cross

Race #3 of the Tobacco Valley/Accelerated Cure Series found Billy and I rolling into the parking of the Palmer High School nice and early. Complete 180 from last years downpour and mud-it was sunny and dry. It was pretty much the classic Palmer course. Fast start,on pavement this year, followed by a hard left into some rooty single track(roots are going to be a reoccurring theme in this post). Next up is a big section in a field with some pretty long wet, power sucking, grass turns. Then it is back into the woods for a short run up followed by a longer run up, before a 3 pack of low barriers in a field. Then it's back into some truly teeth rattling root sections. Be prepared to have your bike tossed around as you fail to find a clean line through this section. Last on the menu is a another quick trip into the woods, a wood bridge(big upgrade from the pallets that were spanning this stream in years past), and a long run up.
The roots were everywhere and amazing. They seemed to just reach up out of the ground like zombies trying to knock you of course.
Conditions were hot and dry. Dudes started staging 20 minutes before the start. 20 minutes? Over achievers? We staged a few rows back and sweated in out til start. The war for the hole shot was not as sketchy as past years even though a guy laid down right in front of me. Same as last weekend, Billy came past me early and I would only see him occasionally when he would drop his chain and then blast past me.
The heat and the roots made for a tough day even if this race finished up well below 40 minutes. I am not begging for more suffering, but a 40 minute race should be a lot closer to 40 minutes. I let myself get stuck in traffic too much and need to get more aggressive about passing. Could have used any kind of liquid hand up on the last lap.
Billy held on for 21st nursing a front flat through the last lap and I came in at 28th. Turns out Billy's issue was more than a flat, he dented the life out of his front rim. So even after the race the roots continued to make an impression.
No more races til Quad Cross on 09.12. Time to train.

Blunt Park

All 4 of us made it to Blunt Park on Sunday for out first chance fly the Newbury/High&Mighty banner. Nick and I were out in Western Mass already. We did the D2R2 the day before and enjoyed the hospitality of Will the man behind High&Mighty Beer. Dirty Truth is a good pub-too bad we had to race the next day.
Woke up to rain. Of course, it's cross season. First lessson learned-do not trust the weather report. Pack all your rain gear. Everytime! No exception! Thom and Billy arrived at Blunt Park(which was suffering the after effects of some major party) and it was time to go.
Nick was right up front. Thom, Billy, and I were further back. I was not too interested in the chaos of the Blunt Park hole shot so back of the bunch was not an issue. The course was basically the same as last year-so after a log dismount you head into some rooty single track. A clear high/low line was getting carved out, but I managed to clip a stump anyway. Billy rocketed past me and that was the last I would see of the team for awhile.
Billy got 14th,Thom 20th, me 28th, and Nick DNF'd after a nasty crash into the quad barrier set up. That quad barrier set up was a disaster and I could never find a good rhythm through it. There were a lot of dismounts per lap-2 logs, a low fence, and the quad barriers. Even though people were finding creative ways to avoid them.
Thom and I were reg'd for the 3/4 so that left us a few hours to hang out in the rain. Got to watch the Justin Lindine show before slithering back into my kit from race one. Gross. The course was deteriorating nicely into a super slick grass and mud fest. A lot of corners you could ride earlier had to be run.
No excuses, but my legs were shot and I road out three laps to try and improve my turning skills. Luckily Billy and Nick were ready to heckle some helpful advice.... Thom hung in. And that was that.
Race one in the books. Great weekend on the bike. Seeing all the familiar faces at Blunt and D2R2, really made it feel like the first week back at school. Can't wait for the next race.