My First Cyclocross
by
Ryan (Flyin’) Brown
(Mr. Limbaugh’s 3rd Grade English)
I came to lying on the grass, facing a bright blue sky, my back wrenched with pain, mouth dry, teeth aching, lungs burning barely taking in oxygen. “What has happened to me?” I though. “What have I put myself through?” Looking around I notice others as well, collapsed, gazing aimlessly about the surroundings. Some holding their stomach as if ready to explode, others completely still. “Dead?” I wondered.
I hear music. No, no, not the kind you might imagine at the pearly white gates, but rhythmic, dance club style. I muster up some energy to sit up and try to assess the situation. Noticing a small area where many people are trapped behind a fence. “Are they drinking beer?” There’s a huge banner to the right. I rub my eyes and squint. It reads “Finish.” Interrupting my gaze, an announcer over a loud speaker hollers “It’s a ragin’ 7th annual Star-Crossed here at the Marymoor Velodrome, kickin’ off the 2007 cyclocross season as our top Cat 4 finishers make there way to the Finish...”
...
It had only been about an hour earlier that I was riding warm up laps with John Limbaugh of Pasco, Brian Schur of Kennewick and Ivan Anderholm of Hermiston. We had 10 minutes or so for one final warm up lap. I had just received my new Trek X01 cross bike only 3 days earlier. Still trying to dial in the rear derailleur as it had not been shifting well, my attention was not on the course ahead of me... The next thing I notice was the beer garden to my left. I quickly realized this is where they set up a set of barriers. It was too late. Quickly trying to unclip and dismount, I get one foot out and partially around the back of the bike when I slam into the first of two barriers. The next thing I know I’m lying face down between the two barriers under my bike next to the beer garden. Quite embarrassing!!! “At least you got that out of the way.” John chuckles as he grabs my right arm to help me up. I dust myself off and continue on.
The race director had earlier announced that start position would be based on assigned race number. So, not in a rush to the start line of the Cat, 4’s race, I ride carefully not to make any more mistakes before my race. Brian and I round the final bend to the start. …and there they are all 88 or so of them all lined up ready to go. We had arrived late and were forced to start at the back of the pack. This was upsetting to me but would soon realize it to be an advantage of sorts.
Lining up in the back of the pack, only 8 riders wide, spouting a few more colorful words under my breath about my start position, I notice Ivan not too far ahead of me. The gun goes off and the leaders take off in an ALL OUT SPRINT. Row by row the pack roles out. I’m now really getting frustrated as I notice the leaders taking the first corner about 200 meters ahead and I’m just crossing the start line. I give it EVERYTHING I’ve got. Weaving through the cluster of bikers trying to make up some time. I think being in the back and upset help my initial start as I gave more to try and catch the leaders than I would have had I started in a better position.
After passing half the pack 200 meters later and a handful or so of enemies made, the first corner was a congested mess. Slowing WAY down to avoid tangled aluminum and rubber, I negotiate the piles of riders down; I make the first corner unharmed. Passing another 10 or so through the corner the course opens up and I let’er rip!
The weather was, well, perfect. Perfect by Tri-City standards. Sunny, calm and warm. Although, from what I hear, this is not ideal cyclocross weather. According to seasoned veterans, cyclocross weather is wet, cold, and well, miserable. Perfect for cyclocrossing. So today truly made for a fast, fast course. The course was a mix of grass, pavement, short climbs up the back side of the velodrome and 2 sets of berriers; one forcing a short run-up and the other in front of the beer garden for the fans. The grassy area was hard and rough. I believe they may have an issue with gophers or something because there were plenty of holes dug in the grass that made sitting nearly impossible.
One by one I start picking them off. After the first couple of lap and no crashes, I hear John Limbaugh on the side lines, warming up for his cat to start right after ours, hollering out “your in the top 10! Keep it up!” “Ok,” I thought, “let’s keep giving everything and see what you can do.” Every few laps, I here the announcer mention my name and how I’m working my way up the pack from dead last. This, of course, adds motivation to my efforts and I dig deeper to tap every bit of energy and strength to keep movin’ up.
The course is a tangled mess of twists and turns. Very spectator friendly, very easy to assess your position, but very hard on the breaks. I notice 2 riders way off the front. I was about a minute off these two with about 20 minutes to go. The riders around me were now a little tougher to catch and it was starting to be more back-and-forth between a group of about 5 of us. These guys were really hard to shake.
Lap by lap, I continue to pick’em off and there’s John giving me updates as I go... “You’er in 9th... 8th...” By now I’m really getting tired. Wishing I had my full suspension mountain bike, the rough, hard grass is killing my back and hands.
Three laps to go. No sign of John to get updates from and I’m to spent to focus on how many I’ve passed. I just focus on the next guy in front of me ‘til I overtake him and find the next guy. By now the racers are completely spread evenly across the entire course as I start to lap some of the slower guys making it difficult to assess my position.
Two laps to go. There are 3 of us now jockeying for position. Although not quite sure of my position, I knew I had a chance for a podium finish (Top 5). Over the 2 barriers in front of the beer garden where fans cheered and hollered over the blarin’ tunes from the hip-pop DJ, out across the velodrome, and out toward the parking lot. So continuing to max out the effort, we made our way back to the parking lot near the start line to finish our last lap. I went super wide around the 90 deg. turn at the start line to maintain speed. Leaning into the turn as far as I dare with knobby tires, I just clear the flags on the other side as I stand to sprint for the guy ahead of me. Looking back, the other two guys are right on my tail. Back on the grass things slow down a bit so I give a little more. Through the rough bumpy section on the south end of the course, struggling to keep a strait line to the run-up/log barriers. Obviously the spot to be if you’re a spectator as there were hundreds of them, all lined up to see some “action.” Here, there are about 4 logs in a row on a slight incline turn up the grassy back side of the velodrome. Dismount - hop, hop, hop, hop - remount, clip in and go. Flawless. I think I’m starting to get the hang of this stuff. Now to the far east side of the course were there was a short dirt road where I could get up top speed and rest my back a bit from all the crazy bumps in the grass. Back on the grass on the north end and now right on the wheel of the guy I was chasing. Another 90 deg turn as we head into the center portion of the course. I get a burst of motivation and energy and fly the guy as I make a perfect line through the zig-zag on the north grassy bank of the valodrome. The other two guys are still on my tail. Across the smooth track of the velodrome now on the inside near the beer garden and Finish line. Making one last 90 deg turn, I fall back one spot. I’m now just trying to hang on his wheel not to loose any ground. The last 100 meter stretch was strait past the beer garden to the finish. I could see a handful of people beyond the Finish and was unsure if they were lapped riders or top finishers. Still I know I was in a good position for finishing so I gave it everything to keep my position. Past the beer garden, past the announcer, under the Finish arch and strait to a clear open grassy area to lie down and die!
...
“Yes folks, we’ve got a great course in store for you today. ... It’s fast, it’s tough and it’s spectator friendly...” The announcer continues to welcome the riders into the finish. I ended up with a 4th place finish, 3 seconds behind 3rd and 43 seconds behind 1st and scored some nice swag. Not too bad for my first cyclocross race.
Results: http://www.seattlecyclocross.com/starcrossedresults07.pdf
The rest of the evening was less painful but not any less exciting as we stuck around to watch the elite man and woman race under the “Stars” as we sipped hot lattes and mochas to help stay warm. Next Cyclocross: Portland velodrome, Alpenrose, Oct. 7th. But first, I must defend my XTERRA title at Lake Tahoe this weekend.
Life is good... :)
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