BayCross Day 1.... racing like an animal... or being chased by one?

Sorry for the delay on the recaps, life seems to get in the way. Still working on finding time to get the video up too. UPCross has a write up on the Baycross weekend as well -- (thanks for sharing your space guys!)

With the le-monds start at Day 1 of Baycross, I figured to put my bike as far out from the start line as reasonably possible. My days of sprinting around the bases & playing outfield this summer would come in handy. The plan was simple -- get to the bike first, drive it hard and see who would be coming along for the ride. Nikoli & Shawn were the logical assumptions of who would be going out strong riding cross bikes while I was on my hardtail Gary Fisher Superfly. But it could have been anybody as Big Mike Weisphenning showed us a couple years back leading us with his big splash into the infamous "mud hole". (I know someone must have a pic of that.)

My plans nearly went to crap off the start as I could not clip in for the life of me, 1,2,3,4,5 times until I finally got the pedal to clip. I quickly looked over my left shoulder & saw Big Mike coming up, so I put my head down & just went. Based on how well Nikoli had road the WORS MTB series finale the previous weekend & the unknown element of how well Shawn could be riding I'd told Kate before the race I may not be feeling 100% but today I'm going to probably go out really hard and make someone work equally hard to catch me. The plan was not to towing anyone around today if

possible and revise the game plan if I was caught.

In years past the first stretch over a 200-300 meter open field has a cross/head wind which I've used to push hard & get gaps.... this year it was a cross/tail wind and with a bunch of cross bikes hunting down my poor little MTB. Crap! Guess that meant I had to go even harder. I entered the field with 20 yard gap maybe. And just went for it. After the race, Russ Trip asked me "Just what did you have in your water bottle, are we going to need you to pee in a cup?" I told him it must have been the tainted beef I got from my buddy 'Berto. :) It was just one of those days where you have "it" -- I just hammered on that section and it even surprised me because I felt like I was just able to keep pouring it on.

Whatever gap I could muster I was working on holding or increasing. The next section of the course was a flat gravel railroad grade before entering the rough & rocky trail & the mud hole affectionately named "the Pit of Despaire". I looked over my shoulder again & saw racer after racer rolling up on the railroad grade... again thinking "crap" they're going to hammer this on those 'cross bikes. So I put in another big effort......must get to Pit of Despaire, must get to Pit of Despaire, must get to Pit of Despaire, sort of a mantra playing in my head. I slid into the corner that turned onto mud hole trail and didn't look back. With the exception of a few racers I likely had the advantage riding this section. I blasted down the rocky decline, kept a loose by reasonable grip on the handle bars and prayed I took the right line as I spray mud, dirt & water for yards in all directions. My front wheel went in well, held the line & I got through -- soaked but smiling. Downshifted a bit for the incline out the Pit and went back to full speed.

At this point I realized I'm "in". I'd committed myself to an hour effort by myself, I just prayed they'd estimate the lap count on target & I wouldn't "Bell-isized" like I was last year in our hour 22 minute marathon 'cross race. (Bell-isized is a term of getting the short end of the stick by two Bells....one is the final lap bell, the other was Jesse Bell the rider that overtook me in the marathon that was last years day 1 BayCross race).

Though I'd look back occasionally, after that point I mainly just wanted to get into the flow and ride steady from that point onward. At the first lap switchbacks I guesstimated perhaps a 20 second gap. I'm thinking, wow this is a pretty good day so far -- it'll be nice if I can keep it up.

Lap 2 the gap was yet bigger & on Lap 3 I couldn't see anyone behind me on the switchbacks of the start/finish area. Sense of relief? Nope! Having the experience last year of losing a 1minute + lead and knowing Gort & Anikin both have shown strong second half race efforts in the past. I just felt the need to the keep the gas on, so if I had to I had room to spare if necessary at the end.

It was a pretty solitary race after that point, with the exception of this stealthy creature that was stalking me......

Ok, ok.... maybe he looked alittle bit more like this.....

But it's no lie, Nikoli admitted to seeing it as well after the race. Now how can you miss a 'cross race where there are Bobcats, huh? Only BayCross!

Just over half way through the 9 laps (right on target for the hour finish this year -- thank you gentlemen!!!) I asked Kate for the time gap, she said 1:30min. I'm feeling good backed off just slightly knowing alot can still happen. So the next time through she said 1min... Aghh! I'm thinking, not good. Back to hammering, I can't lose this thing again like last year. Come to find out after the race (don't you hate finding out some things after the race?) that she was passing along what she heard from the start/finish person and misunderstood the 1 minute gap was between 2nd place Nikoli & 3rd place Shawn. She's a beyond awesome water bottle hand off person but gotta work on those timing skills.. :).

Finally the last lap, regardless of the time back provided I didn't flat or crash in "The P.O.D." I was still feeling strong & fairly confident I'd finally take home my first BayCross win. As it was I crossed the line in just over 58minutes and Nikolia rolled in at just over 1:01 for 2nd, Shawn at 1:02 for 3rd. Getting 3 & 4 minutes into guys like that I was grateful to be that "on" for the day. (Wondered if I'd have anything left for Day 2 however..).

The rest of the race was pretty good according to Kate & other fans/racers -- alot of back & forth contests. Tom Gaier & Scott Nesvold traded laps back & forth a good share of the race with Tom taking 4th, Scottie in 5th. Mike Weisphenning was having a real good day until his back started fighting him forcing him to drop back. Nick & Curt had a close 6 second difference in the finish. While Tom Meyer for his efforts on the day had a one screwy sounding hub for his single speed when it was over and Adam Tripp wrapped up the day on P.B's new 'cross bike giving the Kona Jake the Snake a thumbs up.

BayCross 2010.....

....Was not a weekend of racing to miss. The annual Ashland area cyclo-cross race held the 3rd weekend in October was a perfect combination of racers, fans, weather & fun atmosphere. My many regards & thanks go out to the organizers of Paul Belknap & Sara Hudson, as well as the volunteers who made it possible to put on such a great event year after year.

My hearty suggestion is make it part of your bike racing schedule in the future and give it a try, one day or both. You won't be disappointed by either of the venues, the set up or the good times you have. (Disclosure: I have no vested interest in promoting it other than it's a truly good event to check out).

So how did the racing go anyways, right?

Well here's a start....

Saturday morning I'm about relaxed as it comes. My attention had recently been on the UPCross series so BayCross hadn't amped on my racing radar. Though as the morning went on, I could feel myself getting more & more into race mode. I'm not sure what's that's like for other people but as the years have rolled by, I'm certainly not the jittery, anxious nervous competitor I used to be. Doesn't really matter what race either -- the butterflies are mostly dead. I figure I've done everything I can leading up to any race & what I haven't done I can't change. For the most part it's full on effort from the word "Go" so all you can do as the saying goes is "run what ya brung" and let the cards fall where they may.

Paul Belknap & some others had worked on putting the word out this year on the race so it's always interesting to see who's going to show. With $500 in prize money having a inkling of what the competition is like sets a tone to what the race might be like.

Some good suspects showed up, Shawn Gort who's never, ever let me have easy time on day 1 of Baycross. Curt Cline, Big Mike Weisphenning & Scott "I don't race nearly as fast as I'm capable" Nesvold from Washburn. The "T n T" show from Seeley/Hayward Tom Gaier & Tom Meyer, as well as Adam Tripp and Mr. former kick butt Time Trialer Nick Robertson to name a few. Even my long time racing adversary I struggle against time & again -the skiing stud Nikoli Anikin.

More of the recap to come including a video of the "le-mond" start... but I just checked the time I gotta scoot for now.... later.

Travel, support & sick... racin' yet again

This past weekend of racing became a toss up when the choice hadn’t been up to awhile ago. I’d just gotten back from 20 plus hours of driving this week back & forth to Indianapolis and another 12 hours in the car to Sheboygan & back for the WORS finale wasn’t looking too appealing to me, let alone Kate & the kids. Kate, God bless her, she is super supportive and a big reason why I’ve been able to race to the degree I have – however I think better of testing the limits of that support. So if she said, “There’s a race in Marquette instead and it's 4 less hours in the car than Sheboygan…..” that’s not a bad direction to head then.

The second part of that is on Friday I came down with what I thought was a headcold in the late afternoon and had been feeling pretty crummy since – and I’ve never had much for luck racing when I’m under the weather. The shorter cross race, even if it was more intense, made more sense than a 2hr mtb race.

Hence on a beautiful October Sunday morning we took the 3hr excursion over to Marquette to take in UPCross #3. Curious as to what the 3rd installment of the UPCross series would bring. I’ve come to expect – to not have any expectations on who’s going to be there or not be there. You go, you race hard and let the chips fall where they may.

Held at a park with baseball fields, wooded trails & a bmx race track it was the perfect site for a cross race. For those of you familiar with the Ore to Shore MTB races, this cross race shares some of the single track at the very tail end of that race. (I don’t know if I should say the memories it brought back were good or bad…)

The “A” race appeared again to be 20 deep in racers, faces I was now starting to get more familiar with and more easily having conversations with. At the start, a hairpin turn put Jesse Bell in the front with Joe Graci & two others with whom I’m currently unfortunately drawing a blank, but I think Dave Grant was another. I got in line in 5th position, further back than I would have liked but not too far back where any break away would hopefully be out of reach. Sitting in, I liked the pace and was content there. I did jump up to 3rd before entering the woods & some singletrack just to make sure if any mishaps happened I would minimize my odds of getting stuck behind it. Jesse pulled real good through the first lap & soon it was just he & I mid way through the 2nd lap. At that point I went to the front not intended to go any faster but to just hold a steady sustainable pace. Jesse held with me but on the third lap some gaps started to happen, not sure if he had a mishap or what. But Jesse hasn't exactly been riding much & not up to the potential he's capable of.

With that happening I figured if I’d be riding out solo for most of the day it was best to build a cushion, so I pushed it up a slight knotch and more of a gap started to occur. About half way through the race it was close to a minute and I felt for lack of a better term “safe”. Jesse had faded back even more & Paul Belknap & Tim Kostner had taken his place. Even though I like to charge hard throughout an entire race giving it my all, I must admit it was nice this time around given the fact I was feeling alittle sick and didn’t want to press my luck & risk getting more sick. If I could back off and still hold on I was more than happy with that.

Fortunately, Tim & Paul didn’t coordinate riding efforts and I was able to ride conservatively after the midway point of the race. A place with intersecting barriers I could clearly do a time check each lap and the gap held or slightly grew. My wife later told me she would have liked a more exciting, closer race however this was one time I was in total disagreement. It felt good to not have to knock myself out the entire race. I came in about minute & half over Tim & Paul wasn’t that far behind him. Paul usually puts on some good speed in the later laps but said it just didn’t quite come around for him that day.

Again got to meet some more of the UPCross regulars, thanks again guys for being so welcoming and nice. Keep up the great stuff you have going on. It’s been a lot fun last few weekends.

Not sure what will transpire for the remainder of the season. I’m just about “traveled out”, and plenty of fall projects waiting around the house & trails here to attend to. Many thanks to all the competitors, race directors & volunteers who put untold hours of work and/or training into the great sport that cycling. If time & circumstances allow you check out these races in the future. I certainly enjoyed them this year....

-Rhinelander Rasta Rally
-Cable Off Road Classic
-Chequamegon 100
-Afton Alps
-ChainDrive
-WORS Cup
-Miners Revenge
-Ashland Mudrutters
-Washburn Brownstone Days
-Firehouse 50 events
-Ore to Shore… oh, wait I would have if I’d not been half dead with the flu
-Calumet Great Deer Chase
-Seeley Pre-Fat
-Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival
-Chequamegon 40 (Fat Tire Festival)
-UPCross.
More…… we’ll see

UPCross #2...

Had a such good time at UPCross #1, when the time, great weather & opportunity came up the following week how could I pass at taking up the 2nd venue those distinguished racers of the Upper Pennisula where putting together.

Was not at all disappointed.

UPCross #2 held in Old Town Negaunee -- really cool ghost town like feel. Without hatcheting the history too poorly -- it's basically part of Negaunee that long ago was abandoned and torn down due to the mining that took place underneath a great deal of that town. However their are remenants of house foundations, slidewalks and staircases abound that gives the weirdest vibe in what is otherwise a relatively mature forest of trees and wildlife. Gotta see it to believe it -- considering taking in the race sometime in the future.

The course itself was a mixtures of widesingle track, "mystery" sidewalks in the woods, some open roads and plenty of good sections to climb.

In the race I made some tactical errors at the start that I wish I could have changed. Tyler Gauthier having a stellar year hit the start really hard and instead of jumping to get on his wheel I backed off & let Tyler Jemma go in the 2nd spot. He was going fine but TG was already getting a gapped established. In an anxious effort to rush my first dismount & attempt to not let TG's gap get too big, I dropped my bike's chain on the first stair climb. Resulted in TG getting almost entirely out of sight &Tyler Jemma getting a 70 or 80 yard gap & watching 3 other guys go cruising by me as I massaged back on my chain.

Feeling pretty good that day I wasn't about to let my normal fast go-juice at the start of a race go to waste, so I set out to close things down to Jemma & hopefully work with him to reel in TG. As best as I recall by the end of the 2nd lap I caught & passed Jemma, saying it's time to go to work & get TG. Only bummer part was, (and I didn't get to confirm this with Jemma after the race as to why), but I would be the only one leading the chase the next 7 laps.

So round & round we went through our laps, a few times I'd put a dig in & push alittle harder otherwise I just keep as steady hard effort throughout and each time I'd put a bike length or more between us TJ would come back. He did an excellent job running on the barrier sections closing the distance I'd had each time. I just had absolutely no rhythm getting through those damn things at that race. (Fortunately I've been practicing since & I think I've got it down finally).

It was a great race and a day of alot of hard efforts. Much better than the previous week of just trying to keep up the pace & demand of a 'cross race. TG won in fine fashion. Some jostling on the final barriers left me to roll in 3rd after being 2nd place for 80% of the race. Jesse Bell took 4th.

Great group of guys (& gals) that get together for this UPCross series. I've got two of them in & really like the atmosphere & setup. Considering the relative remoteness of the series & population it has to draw from it's great to see the numbers they have attending the races.

One other note about UPCross #2, great MTB cross course. Not that alot of die hard cross bike guys want to hear that but it was nice... of course I'm biased in that regard.

UPCross #1... recap alittle late

With racing not out of my system after the Chequamegon 40, the closest fix I could find was the UPCross series in Ispheming, MI the last weekend in Sept. Kate, I & the kids packed up made the 3hr trek.
Got there with a half hour to sign in & warmup. Wasn't sure what to expect for competition in the "A" race, I recognized several of the guys but knew only Jesse Bell. (Hadn't quite forgotten the come from behind shlacking he gave me at Baycross last year). Fortunately the UP guys know the correct length/time for a cross race so I liked my odds better this time around.

We lined up under the Pavilion at the Al Quaal Park (that name .... I gotta shake the terrorist image it conjures up) -- anyways, front row next to me is this bulking muscle of humanity. I introduce myself & he in turn introduces himself as "Eric". Great part of coming to race where you don't know everyone is there's no preconceived of how the race is going to turn out.

At "Go" Jesse lead to the front & for the first several turns had the lead, I took over when an opening presented itself. When it seemed like a gap happened I was set on committing myself for a long day at the front. Little did I know "Eric" would be zooming up along side & past me, to stay with him I went from alittle pain to abit more pain. The dude was rolling it hard and being my first taste of cross racing for the year the pace was getting a bit irritating -- no breaks just go, go, go. He pulled a small gap of a couple bike lengths thru the first lap and for the next two laps it held pretty steady at 10-12 seconds... that was until my chain popped off when re-mounting on the first set of barriers. A second mishap in approaching the 2nd barriers too hot & getting tangled up opened things up quite a bit more. Kate gave me a split of 50 seconds back shortly thereafter. It remained that way through most of the remainder of the 9 lap race. I kept pushing to close things but my body was resisting the effort that 'cross racing requires. I don't know how to explain it any better than that. It's a hard, all out effort, for the entire race.

I could see some trailing racers on the switch backs but no one was pushing me, Jesse I found out later had some tire issues & swapped out bikes a couple times and had a rough day.

The fans were great, cheering everybody on. I think I surprised some folks riding a mountain bike (I think I only saw two of them in the "A" race) and keeping relatively close to who I later found out was their hometown hero "Eric Marcotte". A road & criterium racer now living in AZ who was home for a visit. Try a google of him, he's not exactly a slouch -- having bettered some of the fastest sprinters in the country, even former National Champ Rashaan Bahati, at national races... so can't feel so bad placing under a minute back at 'cross race to a guy of that caliber.

Won a bontrager 29er ACX tire for my efforts, not a bad consolation for 2nd place & the $10 entry fee. Also was nice to chat with the riders & organizers afterwards. Got a chance to meet Sisu cycles founder/owner Matt Palomaki and also main sponsor of UPCROSS this season. I've got a fascination with bikes, their designs and what makes them handle they way they do so it was a really a great conversation and some very interesting insights I came away with. Thanks Matt!

What's up next? Well, it's what happened yesterday (I said the recaps were running late)... The fortune of having some travel in my work schedule afforded me to stop by round #2 of UPCROSS. A sweet 'cross course in Negaunee, MI....Good organizers & sponsors & some guys named Tyler made for a good day... more on that later.

'Cross season...

Feels like the 2010 Cheq 40 was already ages ago when it's only been two weeks. As the racing season wound into the late summer months more & more of my focus was on that race & not beyond. Fortunately, for once, things panned out well in that race with a top 50 finish & didn't feel the compulsion to get back to racing.... however sorta leaves a person with that limbo feeling of what do I do next?

Coming into the season my focus had been to improve on the races with predominant amounts of singletrack, but to really perform well at the biggies (Ore to Shore & Cheq 40) and then tune into a really strong cyclocross season. The cyclo-cross however became less & less of a focus over the season as travel & training commitments began to take their toll. So I took a well deserved week off after the Chequamegon 40 to unwind and let the motivation fall where it would. By Saturday, I was back to mulling back & forth about what to do about racing again.... ugh, so much for the mental break.

In the fall of '09 I noticed a cyclo-cross series going on in the upper pennisula of Michigan, UPCROSS that really caught my attention. The Wisconsin series takes place way to far south for travel purposes to regularly participate in & I'd already done the MN/Twin Cities 'cross races in past years with so-so interest & enjoyment. The UPCROSS series seemed to have decent participation, some good competitive racers & a nice format. I got a terrible itch for doing it but timing & circumstance never panned out hence it started out as one of my 2010 goals.

When Saturday rolled around I really wondered if I should bother with it. I should be happy & content with the Cheq 40 results, rest up & focus on other things this fall....however when you've got as competitive streak as I do running through the veins saying no to any race is difficult.

So with without a 'cross bike & only my Gary Fisher Superfly with some semi-skinnies -- off to race #1 of UPCross I headed last Sunday..... race report to come shortly.