This past weekend, Chris (ncvc) and I rolled down to North Cackalack for 2 days of cross racing in the frigid cold. we were told it was unusually cold, a random weekend around freezing where it'd usually been in the 40s.
Jay Morali, Kevin Dillard, and fellow R1V'er Thori were also present from the DC area (maybe among others?)
thori
Saturdays race was in Salisbury NC, and mostly made up of fast grass sections, 2 wooded "single track" sections, a forced run up (2 stairs) and lots of places with no tape... (anyone cheat?).
After getting my bike stuck in the trainer and taking a last minute pee, i rolled up to the Men's B start, right as the Mens Elite were rolling out. AKA- almost missed my start. Chris caught this on the helmet cam we borrowed from Bill. It was a small field of about 20 starters, and i was off the back immediately. I dont think i had the fitness i wish i did, but one thing i did have that i didnt have all season was my nerve back, and some technical riding skills. i took turns well, and didnt bite it at all until the last lap, while getting lapped by the elite breakaway, (gave them some room, at an off camber, and slipped out, bummer)... ended up getting 14th. felt okay, probably shouldn't travel for races without being in shape, but who cares, it was a cross race and felt like it. good people hanging out, a great course for spectating... drove to greensburo to stay with friends.
next day was in mooresville? i dont remember. This was an interesting course... lots of long straight aways that were mostly flat, a section in the woods with the ground being entirely made of traction stealing pine needles... and bumpy frozen ground. and a dumb 90 degree turn that was about 4 feet wide right before the finish... Thori looked great in the masters race and got 3rd place... i lined up to race on time, got caught behind a crash close to the start and spent the rest of my race trying to make that space back up... but ended up botching a short steep climb, where i was forced to pick a more difficult line, and as i went to put a foot down and not fall over at the crest i came down stepping on my chainguard pinching my chain... tried riding it out, and after wrapping up the chain a few times i pulled off exhausted and feeling okay with my mechanical. Chris was sitting great, 2nd wheel after hole shot, then falling back into a chase group of 3 after the a duo off the front... but ended up botching the barriers and redirecting his chain around his bottom bracket shell twice somehow. DC mechanicaled out of the Mens B race together.
Small Fields, a bit faster than i expected, and being way out of shape... but ive been concentrating on turning and looking through turns and weight distribution over the bike...and feel good about my handling... now all i need to some legs and learn how to remount better and ill be something worth racing against.
One race Sunday this weekend, and One in greensboro the 24th, (raleigh race was cancelled) and ill be trying to get to greensboro if not both. hope to see you all there.
We also ate at sheetz 7 times this weekend. WaWa is for suckers and carpetbaggers.
making this look good.
Pics from K. Dillard on Demon Cats
