first cyclocross race of the year

1st Cyclocross race of the year.

Mom, cyclocross is road bikes w/ big knobby tires that go offroad. Its generally crazy and fun. Its shorted to cx.

Check this out: there were 150 starters in cat 3 cx today. It was insane. There were about 50, 50!, single speeders. The promoter came up to us and asked who should start first, geared or ss ers. The SSers were very loud and one of them yells out: "feats of strength!" So the promoter, whom I had met at his velo studio a couple weeks ago, asks me to compete. So I had to indian leg wrestle a SSer to determine who would start first. The SSer who piped up was 160 lbs and 5'5". We laid head to foot on the side of the road with everyone watching. Everyone was cheering and then everyone joined in on the countdown. 1,2,3! I crushed that kid, sent him tumbling through the ditch. Wasnt even close. I got the #1 callout! Front row start saved my race.

I was 3rd into the hole shot and one dude overcooked a corner and smashed his head into a jeep grand cherokee. Awesome. I was wearing the Contour HD helmet cam and hope that I picked that part up. Hope to have it up on youtube soon.

I was feeling cooked from my 70 mile ride yesterday and just had no pop. I wore the Cal kit and go many many GO BEARS hoots. It was tight. I ended up 12th ish on my tired wheels. Once I move to tubulars where I am not terrified that I am going to pinch flat, I'll be able to be more aggressive. Star crossed next saturday.

One last thing, cross is really hard. YOu just suffer the entire time. Time to get on the rollers for some 2 mins on 2 mins off intervals.

This is the start. I went into the woods at 3rd place

Brad smiling too much for cx. He is a prior army and current ER doc.

I closed this gap from about 10 seconds w/in the last 1/4 mile, but just couldnt close.