Cyclocross Weather

Colorado Springs, cycling, cyclocross | UltraRob | Thursday, September 21st, 2006 at 5:42 pm

This Saturday is the Pikes Peak Velo SuperCross. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate and make it feel like cyclocross season. Last night we got rain and the snow level is down pretty low. Breckenridge ski area got 12 inches of snow at the top. The next couple days are supposed to stay cool and wet. I’ll be at Bear Creek Park at 6 AM Saturday to help set up and I’ll take plenty of rain/snow gear.

We always have the race pretty early in the cyclocross season because the races in Denver and Boulder take the later weekends. I remember one year it was in the 80’s and I wore a CamelBak because water bottles are in the way. I wasn’t the only racing with a CamelBak.

Last night I joined some other riders practicing on the course. I haven’t done any intensity since before RAAM and have only been riding once or twice a week since RAAM. I was surprised it didn’t take long for me to get into a rhythm and feel good. We had some barriers set up and I felt pretty smooth even though it’s been a few years since I’ve raced cyclocross.

The county park service mowed down a big area of weeds so we can use more than the gravel paths. I think the course is going to be really great. It will be more technical than most other years. If we can get at least a little more rain and even a little snow Friday night, it should be perfect cyclocross conditions.

After riding last night, I’m really wishing I was in racing shape so I could do it. Since I turned 35 this year, I can do the 35+ Open but I’d still get killed in that. It probably wouldn’t be as as bad as the Cat 3’s though. We have 9 guys from the club racing the 35+ Cat 4 but I don’t think any doing the 35+ Open. I probably wouldn’t be need to help during the 35+ Open but I’d need to warm up during the 35+ Cat 4. Maybe I’ll take my stuff and see how badly I want to get my butt kicked. I still have my rigid fork on my hardtail mountain bike from doing RAAM. It’s the bike I use for cross but I used to not have a rigid fork for it.

Starting at 5 PM after all the races have finished, there’s going to be a post race party at Bristol Brewing. There’s going to be a free pint of beer for every racer and volunteer. There’s also a lot of schwag to be given away including two $500 Rock Shox Reba Forks. I could really use one of them! The coating is worn off the fork on my hardtail and it sticks and leaks oil. I’ve been debating whether to replace it or get a new bike. I don’t really have the money for a new bike and I love the way it rides but it is 6 years old.

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