We had perfect weather on Saturday for the first race. It was a little chilly in the morning, but quickly warmed with the sun shining in a cloudless sky. The course was twisty, but mostly flat. There was only one rise, coming about 1/3 of the way through the lap. The interesting part to me was the many corners that came right before the finish line, almost guaranteeing there would not be a close sprint finish. I loved the last section. It was a series of slalom-like corners through a ditch. You could hold all your speed through the quick corners and let the bike drift on the grass if you had the guts.
Kevin Hinson
My goal was to do both the Pro/1/2 and Singlespeed races both days. I had intended on riding my All City singlespeed in both races, but the pre-ride showed me how difficult that would be. I only have one gear for my singlespeed and it's 42x16. It took one lap for me to see that my gear was way to huge for getting out of the numerous tight, 180-degree turns. I chose to race my black Redline Conquest for the Pro/1/2 race. It was the first time I had been on it since January. The Redline was definitely faster getting out of the corners. It is much lighter than the steel All City singlespeed, and much more maneuverable in the corners.
Out on a warm-up lap to test the Redline
The Pro/1/2 race was scheduled for 60 minutes. We had 9 riders on the line for the start. The pre-race favorite was Andy Reardon and he showed why, smoking the group on the start. He already had a gap after the first turn and barriers. I was back in 7th after the start. My goal was top 5. I thought that would be a stretch considering how much I have struggled with cross the past few years. I followed wheels the first lap, then realized everyone ahead of me was suffering much more than me. So I moved on around them and up to 2nd by the end of lap 2. I was having so much fun in the slalom section. I just let the bike drift on the grass. It was one of the most fun sections I have ever ridden.
Pro/1/2 race underway
Lap 1
Andy Reardon leading on lap 2
Tim Hall and I chasing on lap 2
I was leading a chase group of three on lap 3. Troy Tucker and Tim Hall were latched onto me as we tried to limit our losses to Andy. He was now 15-20 seconds ahead. After a really rough section, I started to hear rubbing on my rear wheel. It sounded like the wheel was catching the brake. I looked down to see what appeared to be a big wobble in the rear wheel. I moved over to let Troy and Tim go by, then limped around to the pit, where I changed bikes. I came out of the pits in 6th, over 30 seconds behind 5th place and 45 seconds behind Troy and Tim.
I had a hole to climb out of now. I hit the first few laps on the singlespeed really hard. I was breathing like a big horse. The corners were so hard to get out of with the big gear. I learned to be more smooth and carry more momentum through and off the corners. I was really gaining on the open sections where I could get the big gear turning. For the first time ever in a cross race, I was faster than everyone on the power sections!
Andy Reardon
Me chasing hard on the All City
My legs felt great and I was able to catch the rider ahead and move back into 5th. I still had a good 20 seconds to go to catch Troy and Tim. We were now halfway through the race, so time was beginning to become a problem. I was really hitting the corners hard and didn't realize that the ground clearance on the All City cranks are way lower than the Redline. I clipped a pedal in a fast turn and went down, sliding across the grass on my right side. I wasn't hurt, but the fall jammed grass and dirt into the side of my shoe, separating the shoe from the sole. There was so much dirt wedged between the sole and side of the shoe, that it was crushing my toes. I had to stop and pull some of it out. I thought I got out enough, but as soon as I remounted, I realized it was still hurting my toes. A second stop was necessary. I had to use a rock to help dig it all out before I could ride comfortably again.
Back up to 5th place
Digging the grass and dirt out of my shoe after a crash
By this point, I was way back in 8th and nearly a lap down to Andy. My chances of a top 5 were long gone with just a few minutes to go. I managed to get one spot back by the finish, but did lose a lap. I nearly got another spot back on the last lap, but came up a few bike lengths short of nipping Bert Hull. Andy easily took the win.
Bert Hull and I hit the barriers on the last lap
Pushing hard at the end of the Pro/1/2 race
I was tired after two efforts to catch back up. But I still had the 30-minute Singlespeed race to go. I started in the back of the 12-rider field. That was a mistake. Even though I was tired, I was still faster than a lot of the guys. The start was way faster than I expected. I lost a lot of ground by being back in traffic. By the time I got in the clear, three riders were 15 seconds ahead. I rode in 4th place for most of the race, but began to fade with 2 laps to go. Lawrence Czarnecki caught me as we started the last lap. I couldn't hang with him through the turns. The power in my legs to get out of the corners was long gone. The other singlespeeders had picked a much smaller gear that was more appropriate for this course ad it showed. I wound up finishing 5th.
Singlespeed class on the start line. Photo by Dahron Johnson
Me waiting for the Singlespeed start. Photo by Dahron Johnson
SS leaders
3rd and 4th place on lap 2
Me in 5th
I got away from Czarnecki but he caught back up to me on the final lap
Jeremy Nagoshiner with me in pursuit
Me on an off-camber section during the SS race. Photo by Dahron Johnson
The day was disappointing. I felt strong enough to have battled for the win in both races, but things just didn't go my way. There was still some happiness to be found though. My power and cyclocross form have definitely improved since last year. And I found out that my wheel was fine. It was actually a tire problem. The bead had come off the rim. It was the tire that was rubbing the brake and appeared to give the wheel a wobble. I'm guessing the rough section caused the tire to pop off. That's the first time I've ever rolled a clincher tire in a cross race.
Sunday brought even better weather. More sunshine and warmer temperatures greeted the riders at Fontanel. This race was the first of the Cross the Way Cyclocross Series. I want to do well in the series this year. I have been 2nd before and want to finally win it. The first race of any series is always important. It sets the tone for the rest of the races. With only three races in the series this year, it would be even more imperative to have a good result today. Two years ago, I lost the series by 2 points. In the first race that year, I led most of the first race, only to crash at the end and finish way back. I was hoping to start a little better this year.
Back at Fontanel on Sunday
I was again signed up for the double. Pro/1/2 was first. It was again a 60-minute race. The course for Sunday was very similar to the previous day's race, only in the reverse direction. There were a few minor changes to a few corners. The slalom section was gone and now the barriers were just a few turns before the finish line. Again today, there were two tight corners just 50 meters before the line, so a close sprint was not likely. I fixed my tire issue from yesterday and was back on the Redline.
Kathy Mead
Ed Jaramillo
Jessica Owings
Todd Nix
Kevin Hinson
Nick Leonard
Me getting in a warm-up on the course. Photo by Dahron Johnson
Andy got the hole shot again, and it was deja vu. He got a gap in the first few turns and quickly started pulling away. We had 11 riders today. I was 6th after the start and just stayed patient, waiting to see how my legs felt after yesterday's throw-down. I forgot my gloves today, which really sucked because my hands were hurting bad. The singlespeed really tore my palms to pieces yesterday with all the hard sprinting.
Pro/1/2 start video
The ice bath yesterday must have helped because my legs felt good! I just waited patiently in line the first lap. Then on lap 2, the bad luck bug bit me again. I was railing the corners, apparently too hard, and rolled my front tire off. I couldn't believe it. Never had a tire problem in a cross race before and then two in one weekend! I was passing the pit as it happened and came to a stop about 3 feet from the exit to the pit. The key here is that I was 3 feet past the pit. I turned to go into the pits and was immediately stopped by the two guys working the pits. They said I couldn't go backwards on the course and they would DQ me if I swapped bikes. Really? Over 3 feet?!! I wasn't angry about the tire, but I was super pissed when I had to start running. It was a long way back around to the pit.
Off my bike with a mechanical for the second day in a row
I ran for a while, then decided just to ride the bike anyway. The tube was still up so I might as well try and save some time. I was a long, long way behind but I knew every second mattered. Every rider I could catch was another point for the series. And I know I will need every single one I can get. I was half a lap behind the last rider once I pulled the All City singlespeed out of the pits. I was upset to say the least. And I rode my guts out. It was maybe the hardest effort I have ever made on a bike. I was determined to catch somebody.
Photo by Dahron Johnson
I rode by myself for a long time, but did catch two riders, who then quit. Then another had a mechanical, putting me up to 8th. I was still hammering the corners. The low pedal clearance almost got me again. I clipped the right pedal in a fast turn, but somehow I saved it this time. It was a good sphincter-clinching moment. Andy lapped me again today. I was able to hang with him on the open sections, but after a few corners, he started inching away. I simply couldn't turn my gear out of the corners at the speed he was going.
It looked like 8th would be all I could catch up to, but then I began to pull back major time on Shannon Williams with 2 laps to go. He was fading badly. I was way faster on the open sections and was able to catch him with a lap to go. I dropped him on that final lap and crossed the line in 7th, again near exhaustion from my effort. My hands were destroyed from sprinting with no gloves. I was really hoping I would only have to do one race on the All City today, but it wasn't to be. I was happy that I at least got a few points back. It made the hard effort worth it.
I was still upset after the race, especially after someone pointed out that the pits were not regulation length, and had they been, I would've still been within the entrances to the pit. The guy telling me this thought it was a little rediculous to be that much of a stickler in such a small race. But nevertheless, the rules are the rules. I didn't argue about it, even though I did, and still do, feel like they wouldn't have treated some of the other riders the same way.
I started the singlespeed race still all fired up. I got a better start today, again getting into 4th place after the first lap. I had two riders just ahead of me for a few laps. I caught and passed them both, but then dropped a spot to Bert Hull. I wound up taking 3rd place, but was much closer to the winner today than yesterday. And I didn't fade with 2 laps to go. I will have to say that I actually felt stronger today than yesterday.
SS start line
Singlespeed start video
Jeremy Nagoshiner and Bert Hull during the Singlespeed race
Me on my way to 3rd on the SS race
Little de Shon goes through the barriers
SS barriers
I am really excited for the next race. Without mechanicals, I think I can contend for the win. It was weird how I heard a lot of crap after the race about how slow I am now that I'm married. I've heard that so many times since August, despite racing better and winning more races since the marriage. Nobody seemed to notice the mechanical issues I had this weekend. I remember hearing somebody yell out "Maybe you should go eat some more donuts." The person said it in a mean way, but I will take it as a compliment because I'm the DGD champ! I can ride faster and eat more than you! Thanks go out to my lovely wife Shannon for helping me at the race, and for taking most of the pics you see here. She makes me everything but fat and slow. Thanks also to Dahron Johnson for the other pics. Thanks for reading! Back to running and mountain biking next weekend!
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