Cross Crusade-Alpenrose Dairy: consistency

So originally this post was going to be about me sucking today.  Don't get me wrong, I didn't ride a great race today but I just made a revelation.

start line of our race today (photo unceremoniously
stolen from Embrocation Journal via Twitter)

Last year I placed 34th.  This year I crossed the line 34th.  That said, last year had 38 starters, this year had 81. I'll consider that an improvement.


(Sorry, no pictures at the moment but I will update when I find a few-check back Tuesday or so)

Ok, now on to the race.  When prepping for this race Saturday night I forgot one thing:  the Alpenrose Clusterf*** Factor (ACF).  I showed up with a clean bike, a bag packed the night before and at least some level of preparation and motivation; that all went out the door with the ACF.  On the pre-ride the course was dry and bumpy.  The corners and off-camber sections were a little torn up but just enough to either make it really exciting or give you a little extra grip depending on how you hit it.  As always, the course is going to be slammed with people so the goal is to continually move up.  In this race if you're not moving up you're moving back.

At the staging area the ACF raised its ugly head again.  What is normally a fairly structured call-up process was quickly thrown out the window and people just scrambled to the line.  I wound up just a little over halfway back.  Not bad, but last year I had the advantage of a front-row position.  In some ways my race was already determined from that point.  The first lap was exactly how I predicted it:  slammed with people and absolutely no room to pass.  My goal immediately became "no one past me after the first lap."  That kind of worked.  I started working my way up but bobbled a barrier, throwing a chain, a few laps in.  Most of the people I'd just passed sailed past me.  A few more laps go by and it starts to rain.  Nothing heavy but just enough to totally change the course.  The lines I had been riding a lap before were immediately greasy and I knew I was in bad shape; I did what I could but all I came away with was another reason that I need a mountain bike.  With about two laps to go I decided to mix it up.  How about a Superman?  But seriously, I was coming down the off-camber-ish descent and suddenly I had no more traction.  Superman mode!  After sliding the rest of the way down the hill I grabbed my bike and saw the saddle we askew about 30o to the right.  A few quick slams with my hand and I thought I'd gotten it straightened out.  Nope, still about 15o off.  Screw it, the next person was at least 30 seconds up on me and there were only masters riders behind me.  I just rode it in.  (Whichever official decided to start pulling us early, thank you!)

Overall, today wasn't quite what I was hoping for.  My legs don't feel like they worked that hard and I'm a little frustrated how easily your place can be determined by your start position.  Regardless, I finished, the bike is okay, I'm not too banged up and I'll live to race another day.

A special thanks goes out to all the teammates and friends out there cheering today.  I really appreciate all the support, I'm just a little bummed I couldn't have put on a better show.  Thank you for coming out!

Next week:  Elite USGP race in Ft. Collins, CO.  Because racing the A field at Cross Crusade isn't humbling enough.