RACE #2: AVC 'CROSS CHALLENGE/HAGERSTOWN, MD.

I woke up early on Saturday morning to grey skies and fog...the typical weather pattern in the DC area for the past week. My sister, Christine came along for the ride up to Hagerstown to be my "Support/Official Photog" for the race. It was super nice having her there to yell and take pics while I was racing. We got up to Hagerstown with time to spare...throughout the whole ride we kept telling each other "yeah looks crappy...but it'll burn off"...we kept saying that because that has been the norm all week.

Got my number...pinned it on the jersey...something I am still getting the hang of...in mountain races the number plates go on the front of the bars...so far with 'cross races the number plates are pinned down the right side of the jersey. Then headed out onto the course for warm ups. Got around 3 solid laps in on the course...the layout was pretty cool...really tight...a bunch of sharp turns...a steep climb section...the barrier section was uphill...and a sandpit on the backside of the course...TAPE WAS EVERYWHERE! As you can see from soem of the pics...the course tape is all over the place. I felt really good after warm ups...like I hit the nail on the head as far as getting my body set for 40 minutes of all out racing.
I headed over to the staging area for the start...the mist/fog was still sitting around the course so I decided against wearing anything for my eyes...due to the fact that in warm ups my clear lenses were basically water collectors. I chilled in the back and waited for the whistle...once the race was underway i kept a relaxed pace...expecially in the first 200 meters...although in what I have read you really should not give up any ground on the start...just gain gorund on the leaders...I'm still learning. I flowed through the first lap feeling real well and began settling into a solid pace.

Laps 2 and 3 were pretty uneventful...I felt real strong on the short/steep climb...I was able to catch people there who were running their bikes up...and on the barrier section...I was having strong dismounts and remounts...it is interesting to see how much ground you can make on people in those short areas. Midway through the 3rd lap I noticed my front derail was making some noise with the chain...when I looked down I noticed my left crank arm was becoming loose and had a solid gap from the bottom bracket. Not good...


Near the end of the 3rd lap the crankarm was REAL loose...I could totally feel it in every pedal stroke...I was bumming...I even tried to kick it back into place...so as the official was ringing the bell for the final lap, I pulled off the course and stopped. DNF'ed my second 'cross race. Now that sucks. I was pretty pissed...ended up taking the crankarm fully off to inspect the damage...lost the "fixer bolt"...a similar problem happened this summer at the Cranky Monkey Series...I literally stripped the "fixer bolt" on my mountain rig. Today though...it just worked itself loose I guess.

So...I cleaned up...kept shaking my head at the frustration of having to stop a race due to a mechanical...Christine did her best to keep my spirits up...we ended up going to watch the Master 35+ race...pretty good racing...the leader had about a 15 second gap on the field...then blew a tire in the middle of his lap...but he had a second bike in the pits to switch out. After that...we both pretty much were ready to split...loaded the car and headed back to Rockville...grabbed a solid lunch...then I grabbed some solid nap time.



In all of my reading and researching I have come across a pretty simple explanation for what happened on Saturday. There are a good number of factors that you, the rider, can control...factors like nutrition/fueling...the amount of training you are putting in...the amount of rest you are giving your body...the clothing you wear for the race. Then on the other hand the factors that are out of your hand...that you cannot control...such as weather: sunny, hot, cold, rainy...course conditions: dry, muddy, grassy...mechanicals: flats, parts breaking, part failure. It sucks but these things happen...it just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth when it happens.

So...where am I now? Dropped the 'cross bike off at the shop...needs a new fixer bolt which needs to be ordered...plus I am getting my King headset installed...2 birds...one stone right? That makes 2 of my 3 bikes out of commission for the time being. Luckily...there are no races on the horizon...for at least the next couple weekends...plus I am heading over to Switzerland with my mom to visit my sister and her family for about 6 days...which is going to be real awesome...I am super stoked for that trip.
Going to get some solid road rides in this week...cross your fingers that this bike makes it without any mechanical issues! Until then...hope all is well...

You live and you learn right?

-johnny