Sunday, October 9, 2011

Yesterday's Cyclocross Racing

Whoever told me the course in Moscow is fun was right. Twisty turns combined with short climbs and descents, short rolling bumps, and even stairs to run up. During a practice run I endoed on the short climb with the sharp left turn and somehow hooked the small strap on the back of my shoes onto a brake lever. It's difficult to stand up and move out of the way with a bike attached to your foot. I did back-to-back races again and I think that's enough of that. Tweaking my knee in the second race didn't help any.

There's one issue I really need to work on and it contributed to my knee tweak. When it's time to get off the bike for a run through or run up, I'm coming in too hot. I don't feel like I am, but I am. If I slow down some I'm smoother and more comfortable. And there's the rub--I'm having a tough time figuring out I need to slow down because I don't think I'm going that fast. Hopefully, my knee is okay for next weekend.

Here's a video I made of yesterday's racing.



*** Update

I should also mention the other lesson I learned yesterday. When the route begins with a wide path for about 100 yards and then becomes a 100-yard single track followed by a very short and sharp S-turn with short and steep inclines, you want to get out in front of as many people as you can during those first 100 yards. Otherwise, the bunching up that happens when everyone slows for the S-turn--we were literally running into each other--sets you even further back from the front runners if you're in the back of that mess.

6 comments:

Jacque Hendrix said...

Great video Hank. Thanks for sharing. I have yet to attend one of these races. I really need to do it.

Hank Greer said...

Jacque,

It's fun to watch and race. If you're interested in giving it a go, they have a mountain bike race, too. The next one is at Riverside State Park next Sunday.

Wileydog said...

Yeah, that start was a killer. I think I ran into you - I looked up and suddenly saw another racer at a complete stop in front of you and by the time I hit the brakes it was too late. Sorry! I gotta learn to get out front...or maybe stay back even further? Fun course, though. I loved that banked turn.

Hank Greer said...

Scott,

Yeah, I ran into the guy in front of me. It couldn't be helped.

John Speare said...

Funny -- here's me at the same spot last year. Check out my smug smile as the field crashed behind me. Of course that smile disappeared a 1/2 a lap later when I went over my bars into a ditch at the back of the course. Then threw a chain on the next obstacle. Ah Cat 4 cross. How I love and miss thee.

Hank Greer said...

Speaking of going over the handlebars, there's a point at 2:24 in the video where a bike pops up behind the vegetation and disappears. One of the collegiate women went through a dip in the trail incorrectly and went over. She lives to ride again.