Riverside Racing

This weekend the Riverside Cyclocross festival featured races on both days with a reversal of the course on day 2. The venue is very close to home and sat right on the Missouri river next to one of the riverboat casinos in a sweet little park. The course would test the handling skills of the best riders. Beautiful sunny weather around 60 degrees both days, can't beat it.

Day 1 - Good start, sitting in 3rd, but just can't bridge up to my teammate in 1st. Head through Harter's Horseshoe, a downhill rutty section toward the river where it turns to sandy dirt in a horseshoe shape and back up. The Up part was dug out to make back 2 back ditches that were "rideable" but sketchy. #2 goes over his bars in front of me and I run it, sittin pretty. Next big feature is real off-road, a log across the trail that is easily one foot tall, maybe 14 inches with a steep hill right behind it. Bunny hop the log and ride the hill. 20 feet further, another smaller log with a downhill on the other side, bunny hop and into the rolling downhill double track, its wicked FAST. Out to the twisty grass and turn it up. Onto the sandpit/volleyball course and I decide to ride... the deep carbons cut through it like butter and actually gain speed coming out... Kick Ass, I knew those things were worth it! Barrier section guy comes flying by me bunnyhopping the boards!! Not the bump and jump type, full-on BMX both wheels off clearing 'em by several inches and Supafast! I catch him on the straight sections and get by him. He does it again on the next lap, AHHHH! Next thing he blows a corner and goes through the tape, ah I got him now. Well he continues down the side of the course and cuts the tape back in. Now I'm gonna protest if he beats me. Well it didn't come to that as on the next to final lap, in the wooded section I get up and over the big log and hill then got bucked on the 2nd log and endo with front wheel turned into the brush. Pick myself up and ready to go but the tubular is partially off the rim, FUCK!! I scramble to get it put back on the rim, finally get it pushed on and ride it gingerly half a lap back to the pits. Change out the front and of course now several riders have passed me. I try to ride the sand on the bell lap, but the Ksyrium on the front just didn't cut it, bogged down at the end, guy passes me runniing. Relegated to 9th, aint that a bitch. No protest but I tell the guy to go back in where he went out next time. The barriers were low and I'd like to see if he could actually do that on regulation barriers. Photo is Jim going over the bars, but is probably what I looked like too, except I was flying on a downhill slope.


Day 2 - Pissed off ready for vengance. Big field today with 40 starters (Lucas and Songer included due to the payouts). Good start and rolling with the front group of 5 or 6, hear a crash after the first tight corner, at least its behind me.... that's why the start is so important. The tight technical turns aren't feeling that smoothe today. One downhill tight left is getting me everytime where I actually lock it up to make the turn. The uphill swoopy double track section is fast and now there is a step up jump over the log, hit it perfect every time. The front group has formed into 4 guys and I'm leading the chase but they are on my ass, especially in the corners. Lucas pops of the front and Brendan passes me, so still in 4th. Josh passes me and Mike goes on the pave' section... I jam it to not let him pass, looking down as I floor it, I miss the cones and blow through the corner. So frustrated, turning around to get back on course only to see a couple riders get spots on me. Bury it to get back on, Mike crashed and I pass him. Hammer it to the finish and still end up out of the money. 7th place.

So mad about a weekend full of mistakes. Both days mistakes cost me several places and some cash. I had 3rd locked up on Sat and probably 4th on Sunday. What did I learn?? Well.. 1)Pay attention in those technical sections with jumps, be smart and dont try to go too fast 2)Don't land on your front wheel with it turned, Doh 3)Its ok to let somebody pass as long as you stay on their wheel and pass them later 4)Keep your head UP you dumbass! That's why you missed the corner. The bunny hopper is actually a supafast mountain biker who regularly wins Expert and Open categories so that makes me feel a little better. Think I'm gonna start practicing those jumps.