Edgefield CX: I like my bike again

The past few week have been kind of rough on the racing front.  First there was the flat at PIR then the next week I got turned into a speed bump, then the following day I flatted again.  Needless to say, I just wanted to go out and finish a race without anything happening.  That's what the Bend/Halloween races were for.  I didn't fo well but I got my confidence back that I can ride a bike without crashing, flatting or doing something stupid.  Plus, when you're dressed as Kermit the Frog it's hard to have a pissy attitude.

When this week rolled around I knew this was kind of the make-or-break for the season.  If I did well/put up a good fight then I knew I could keep racing for another month.  If not, then well, I'm pretty much just one more person on the startline.


Let me start by saying I had two courses to choose from.  The first was the Apple Core Cross down in Salem which I raced last year or a new venue out at the Edgefield McMenamins.  Let's put it this way, I could go race through a flat apple orchard with approximately 6 right-angle turns or I could go to a brand new race on the ride of a huge hill.  Yep, I chose the hill.

Ok, really short plug for this venue.  This place is awesome!  Course aside, this is an awesome place just to come hang out.  The fact that they can hold a quality race here makes it even better.  This is easily one of the most difficult races I've raced this year in the fact that it offered a little something of everything.  Gravel road-like section, some awesome downhills, fast grass sections and about 4 ball-busting run ups.  I'm usually the one to complain that there aren't enough running or technical sections in a course.  This one satisfied me.  While I don't like to see multiple races on the same day competing for participants I know this one will be on the top of my list for next year, regardless of other races occurring on the same day.  My only critique for the course:  if the promoter could somehow work in a sand pit and possibly change the start/finish location then you have a golden course.

photo courtesy of Richard Rosko

As far as my race goes, it went.  Nothing super special and as mentioned above, it was a tough course.  After the first lap I was riding in third but knew I couldn't hold that.  I eventually settled into 5th and just cranked away.  Today wasn't about winning, just being comfortable on the bike again and remembering why I come out and do this every week.  With about 2-3 laps to go Kolben, riding in 7th put in a huge surge.  I looked back and had one of those "oh shit, I need to start trying" moments.  He made up a ton of time and dropped the 30-second gap down to about 5-10.  At first I was almost willing to let him take it and then I remembered, I worked for this, it's mine.  I put in a solid last lap and held him off.  To his credit, Kolben rode himself inside out.  Yes, he definitely worked harder than me and if he would have caught me I doubt I would have been able to hold his wheel.  That said, this is cyclocross.

photo courtesy of Richard Rosko

A huge thanks again to the promoters of this race, I really hope to see it on the calendar in the future.

Upon further reflection, this is the first time we've had real mud in Oregon all season!  It was nice to finally break out the mud tires and get a little dirty for once.

A few pictures from the Bend races:

Kermit railing a corner

I'm passing Molly! I hear cracked ribs aren't
conducive to racing.  Heal up fast!