Today was the first race of the 2011 cross season! The Labor Day Cyclocross Championships took place In Milton, Washington this year. On what I think was the bumpiest course I have ever raced on! And it hurt. 82 degree Temperature. No shade, lots of dust and a twisty twisty course. Did I mention bumps? Not my favorite style of course but good times where had none the less. They started all the master 1/2 racers with the 5 rider strong elite field so about 30 of us took off from the start line together. I had a good start and after the first lap was riding with a group of 4 chasing the 1,2 and 3rd placed riders. My front wheel got stuck in a gigantic hole on the the 2nd lap and sent me over the bars. I never made it back to the group I was riding with. The course really played to my weakness of not finding good lines and keeping off the brakes into tight corners. All the bumps on the course would knock me off line as soon as I touched the brakes. Then more energy is spent getting back to speed. I did this over and over for 50 minutes. I just settled in and tried to stay upright and not lose my position. That position was 3rd 35+ master racer and 8th overall. Not a bad start. My 333 worked great. It was great to see my racing friends and hear some cowbell and encouragement from the folks around the course. My friends Micah and Corrie Middleton worked the pits and handed me water the whole race and are two of the nicest people I know. With out that water I would now be sitting on a bumpy ,dry, nasty, cyclocross course in Milton, Washington crying like a child. Below is the link to my ride on Strava.com. It says my suffer score is 87. I beg to differ Strava. You must take bumps into account.
Cheers, TMT
