I was still working way too much and not getting in regular ride time. It was starting to really frustrate me. I knew this would be an off-year of sorts, but this was not what I had imagined. I was overweight and out of shape for my standards. The Cross the Farm course shows all your flaws to the world. The climbing will chew you up and spit you right back out in a heap. I was not ready and borderline not excited for the weekend. It's bike racing, so it still beats doing just about anything else. I was still happy to be on two wheels and racing.
Saturday was the "warm-up" race ahead of Sunday's State Championship. The state title was not of much interest to me. I knew my chances were slim on this course. I wasn't being negative, just realistic. I know enough about my body and my form to know when I am way off.
I bought a new stem for this race to try to make the cross bike fit me better. I got it on Friday, so I was not able to ride it until I got to the race. The stem was 30mm longer. I liked the position seated, but the stem was much too long when standing. It made the bike feel like a limp noodle. Cornering was also terrible, like driving a boat through water. I took one lap on it and put it in the pit. It would be mountain bike again today for me.
We had just five riders in the Pro/1/2/3. Apparently, everyone was saving it for Sunday's state championship race. That tends to happen when you put the big race on the second day. The race was ugly...for me anyway. I was off the back almost immediately as we plowed our way around the grassy course. The loop started off with some false flat grass, then had a few small climbs on the hillside before a bigger climb and some off-camber stuff across the hillside. Then we had a nice descent with a log and some corners. I liked that part. Then came a long, twisting grass climb all the way up the hill before a fast descent in the woods with a little ditch at the bottom. I really liked that part. Otherwise, it stunk for my skill set. I could rip the downhills, but I was making up 5 seconds, while losing 10-15 up every climb. My legs were not good and my weight slowed me even more on the climbs. I was also nursing a little elbow injury that bugged me in the second half of the race. It was a tough day.
Just after the start of the Pro/1/2/3 race
Jeremy Chambers
Spencer Whittier
Splashing this puddle was the higlight of my day
Photo by Tami Kuper
My frustration was compounded by the fact that the officials pulled me at one to go. I know I sound like a broken record, but I just don't understand pulling people early when they are not in danger of being lapped. There were 15 minutes between races and we were running 8-9 minute laps. There were five of us. Why even pull anyone really? I rolled on around for another lap as I would have just felt like a quitter if I had stopped my effort under an hour. I knew I had that 15 minutes and would not be in anyone's way. Still, when I finished my lap, riders were already lined up and some comments were made about how I was interfering with the start of the next race. It was seven minutes until their start and I didn't even ride through them while they were lined up. I pulled off the course before I got there. The official said something about me being slow and them having to wait. I just tried to ignore it as he says unprofessional things quite regularly. Not really the attitude I would want portrayed by my officials, but apparently he is nice enough to everyone else that they tolerate him.
After the race, we went to Nashville to catch some college football. I came across some super cheap tickets for the Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt game. I couldn't pass on a fun Saturday night SEC game. It was cold, but the action was hot on the field. Ole Miss was able to tie the game up late in the 4th quarter to send the game to Overtime. Vandy scored to start OT, then held the Rebels out the end zone to nab the home victory. It was a fun night out. Some video from our viewpoint is posted below. Game highlights can be seen here.
Video: Clips from our vantage point at the game
My last place finish on Saturday somehow put me in the lead of the TBRA Cyclocross Series with just one round to go on Sunday. I had no ambitions to win the series. I mean none. It never had crossed my mind that I even had any points, let alone that I might could win it. I had like a two point lead. Sunday would be double points with the state championship designation, so the odds of me winning this thing were slim. Like Lloyd Christmas hooking up with Mary Swanson odds, one in a million.
Things were much more serious come Sunday. It seemed as though everybody close to me did want to win the series. I offered to try to help my teammate win the series, but it was so serious on the line that nobody wanted to talk. I really didn't expect to be close enough to the front to assist, but I wanted to make it clear that I thought he had more chance of winning than me and I was willing to work for him. I never have teammates so it would have been cool to play the teammate role for once and help someone out.
We had a bigger group today with 10 riders. The course was run in reverse with a few alternate paths thrown in, including a steep run-up midway through the lap. The steps on the run-up were gravel held in place with some small, concrete cylinders. There was a slight line off to the left of the stairs after a few feet. It looked rideable on a mountain bike. I hit it a few times in warm-up. I never got to the top, but I got close before cutting my rear tire. I was running super thin MaxxLite tires and the edges of the cylinders cut right through the sidewall. I spent most of my warm-up changing the rear tire, which kind of sucked. I lost ride time and had to switch to a heavier tire.
Despite the tire change, I felt good with my warm-up. I thought there was a funeral service for me on the hillside after Saturday's race, but somebody dug up my body this morning and put me back on my bike. I had a better race today, but still got smoked. The initial climb was way too long and steep for my current fitness. That thing kicked my butt every lap. My extra weight was like dragging an anchor. I was in a battle with several riders for the first half of the race before settling into 7th. I steadily lost time to those ahead and slowly pulled away from 8th.
Pro/1/2/3 start line
Jeremy hopping the barriers
Whittier leading Simon Lewis on the run-up
John Carr with his signature pain face on full display
As I was out there by myself the last 20 minutes, I was thinking about my season and how disappointing it had been. I felt like I was not ready for a single race this entire season. That is the worst feeling in the world. A few people commented at me those last few laps about how they knew I couldn't win the series. Duh! I could have told you that! They were irritating, but I was mostly disappointed with myself. The disappointment was about way more than today. It was a culmination of the entire season.
Jeremy ripping an off-camber turn
David Rush
TBRA Series Podium
Dina rocked the weekend with not one, but two wins! The mountain bike won it for her. She has been riding well, but her bike choice made the difference. The other women couldn't turn the gear on their cross bikes up the hills. Most dismounted and ran while Dina steadily chugged up the hills. She had the lead on the first lap on Sunday over some strong riders simply because she rode the first climb. I kept telling her to stay steady and ride smart. It's so easy to get excited about leading a State Championship and blow yourself up. She kept her cool and swapped positions with Maria Danker several times during the race. In the end, Dina climbed away to nab her first State Champ jersey!
Paul Carter leading the Masters 45+/55+ group on the first lap
The first hill was tough
CX 4/5 Women started just behind the Masters
Dina grabs the lead by riding the climb
Rick Harmon
Halfway through the first lap at Maria Danker is back in front of the CX 4/5 Women
Danker leads...
...Dina in pursuit.
David Rush in the Masters race
Dirk Pohlmann took the 45+ win
Dina gets the win!
Tammy Richardson
Rick took the 55+ win
CX 4/5 Women's podium
One of our Uncles lives near the race course and came over to watch Saturday's race. It was the first Greer family member outside of our parents to come to a race in about 14 years. Of course he came the day I sucked the most. I had to hear about how slow I was later at Thanksgiving dinner. At least Dina made it look like we know how to ride bikes.
