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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Cyclocross Season

September 14th, 2006


Cyclocross season is already here! It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again. My club, Pikes Peak Velo, is hosting the first race of the ACA series in a week. My teammates have been getting together and doing skills training.

In used to do a lot of cyclocross and did well at it. Back when it wasn’t as competitive in the early 90s, I had some top 10 finishes in the Men’s Open class. The last time I raced it in the Cat 3 category I was closer to the back than the front. The problem is with the 3’s is they only do 45 minutes. I wouldn’t have done nearly as well as I did in the Open class if it had been 45 minutes instead of 60 minutes. That was even long before I started focusing on ultra racing and was doing 2-3 hour NORBA races.

Adidas AX2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
Adidas AX2 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $135.00
 
Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Salomon X Alp Mid LTR GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $219.95
 
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Salomon X Alp Pro GTX Hiking Boots
Regular Price: $280.00
$209.95 on sale
 


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