Cyclocross Season

September 6th, 2007

Pikes Peak Velo cyclocross

It’s hard to believe that cyclocross season is almost here. This year Pikes Peak Velo is putting on 2 cyclocross races in Colorado Springs. The first one is only a few weeks away on September 22nd. Dennis has been working on the course layout. The 2nd one is November 18th.

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More PPV Cyclocross pictures

September 27th, 2006

There are more pictures of the Pikes Peak Velo SuperCross race posted at cyclocrossELEMENTS (site no longer exists). It looks like they are mainly of the SM Cat 4 and women’s races. Ryan Amirault that runs cyclocrossELEMENTS also raced the SM Cat 3 race.

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Cyclocross Race

September 24th, 2006


Yesterday morning I got up early and rode the 35 minutes over to Bear Creek Park in the dark for the Pikes Peak Velo SuperCross race. Friday when I left work it was snowing but it was just slushy rain at my house. I was afraid I might be riding over in the rain or snow but when I got up it was clear and 35 degrees. I got over to the park just as it was getting light.

Once it really got light, it was beautiful with the fresh snow on the mountains. When I was driving on the course to set up barriers, I saw a coyote. We got everything set up in plenty of time. The course was pretty muddy for the first couple races but slowly dried out. Once the racing started, I rode around and made sure the runners and people walking stayed out of the way. I was able to take a bunch of pictures.

I had debated whether to race and if I did whether to do the 35+ Open of the Cat 3 race. Danielle, my 3 year old, wanted to see me race. Julie was busy in the morning which was when the 35+ Open race was so I did the Cat 3 race at 1:20. I thought there was a good chance I’d finish last and get lapped with as little as I’ve been riding. One or two hours a week of easy riding doesn’t qualify as training even for something as short as cyclocross. I was in last place for part of the race but I passed a couple guys as they started getting tired and I was beginning to get warmed up. My legs felt strong but I just didn’t have much aerobic fitness. My IT band and hip have continued to be tight since RAAM but I didn’t notice them during the race. I had an average HR of 186 and a max HR of 193. I may not have been fast but at least I was working.

In the SM 35+ 4’s, Pikes Peak Velo had 8 riders in the top 10. Katie Compton, the women’s national cross champion, lead the Cat 3 race most of the race but got passed near the end. The women’s race was next and she won that by a big margin.

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Cyclocross Weather

September 21st, 2006


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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