Capital ‘Cross Classic – local cyclocross race in Reston

[crysb]

@dcv 36922 wrote:

Thanks to Tim & Zanna of BikeArlington, I picked up some cowbells and vuvuzelas to hand out on race day. I might ask my wife & son to pass these out. I’ll be cheering for Crysb (looking for a robin egg blue cross-check). I definitely won’t be cheering for VVill or GuyContinental anyone else racing in the cat 4 mens.

If I don’t regonize you I’ll be looking for your bikes (silver r3, black poprad, disc trucker, CAADX, cypress, bedazzled mtb…), hope to see you there.

Nice! I’m also willing to bet I’m the only racer with bar-ends. But, race what ya brung…

[Arlingtonrider]

We’ll be rooting for you Crystal! And all the other forum people too, but first timers especially!

[jabberwocky]

I’ll likely ride over on my MTB and spectate for a bit. If anyone would like to do a real MTB ride on the surrounding trails, I’d be happy to lead something.

[culimerc]

I and the little missus will be there a little later, complete with handup supplies. save a vuvuzela for us!!

[acc]

I saw Crysb race today! She was terrific. By the time my fingers thawed out enough to take photos, most of the forum people I know had gone on with their day but I did take some shots of Arlingtonrider and the Bagpipe Dude.[ATTACH=CONFIG]2120[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]2121[/ATTACH]

These shots give you and idea of the course and the close riding.
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[ShawnoftheDread]

Crysb was awesome. It was good seeing everyone. Bummed we missed the piper, though.

[crysb]

Thank you to everyone who came out and braved the chill! I heard my name every lap which helped me get through So good to see those I knew and meet others from the forum.

Racing cross is a ton of fun, and it’s easier to stay warm when you’re riding hard.

I also finished top ten!
…9th place out of 11 beginner women riders.

[Megabeth]

crysb – You had a smile on your face that lit up the race course. Fantastic job! You inspired me to consider doing a cx race (someday…maybe). (I was in the pink jacket w/ some of the forum folks. Sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet in person.)

[Arlingtonrider]

It was great day for watching races in a beautiful park, despite a chilly and foggy start for some of the early races. We started the day rooting for people we knew (incl. CrysB, GuyContinental, Will, Sean, dcv and Patrick – I hope I didn’t forget anyone), but were soon rooting for all of the intrepid racers, especially some of the young kids who were putting it all out there. There were lots of familiar faces among the spectators too – skreaminquadz, megabeth, DaveK, Bilsko, acc, Dirt, Mark Blacknell, Tim Kelley, Shawnof the Dread and TwoWheelsDC, among others. Several of them took off for a post-race ride.

These races are just amazing to watch and seem to take place in very scenic places. Interesting parts of today’s races included watching racers go up a steep hill with steps (most carried their bikes at least part of the way, but a few actually rode up all of it), a downhill section with multiple switchbacks (where one racer who we might know demonstrated expert tuck and roll technique for everyone – we hope for a link to an instructional video of this soon) and a set of barriers on the flats that at least one racer managed to negotiate his way over without ever getting off his bike. Another racer who we might know showed real perseverence by continuing the race on foot with his bike after his chain had broken! Just as we were all getting a bit too chilled, the sun came out to burn off the last of the fog and the food trucks started selling hot crepes and coffee and gourmet sandwiches. I missed the Lil’ Belgian’s kids’ race but heard that a young cyclist named Rachel did very well in her race. It was great so see so many friends out there! Congrats to all the racers!

[jabberwocky]

It was good to see everyone racing. I know I met a few bikearlington folks, but I didn’t think to ask for screen names to put to faces. I was the dude on the MTB in a black sweatshirt.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I didn’t end up getting out of the house until late due to some household chores and what-not, so I missed all the fun races and just caught some of the Cat 3/4 stuff in the afternoon. This was my first time watching CX and it looks really fun. Kudos to all the BA folks who got out and did it!

[Dirt]

Guy

Lots of good photos from the race and the post-race ride. That was a lot of fun. So great to see y’all out there today!!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/sets/72157632157413266/

Rock on!

Dirt

PS: I soiled my galoshes.

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 37039 wrote:

Dirt, on his own CX ride today. It took him 3 crossings to get that stream right.

[Bilsko]

Also great to see and meet a bunch of Forum folks today – I was there shivering with my bright orange vest on and the green Surly Disc Trucker.

Congrats to the racers and thanks for a good ride to all those who hit the trails afterwards

[Dirt]

@Bilsko 37040 wrote:

Dirt, on his own CX ride today. It took him 3 crossings to get that stream right.

I need a little bigger set of cogs for rides like we did today. Lots of the creek crossings and technical sections were a lot harder with road gearing. I just don’t have the legs to power up stuff like I used to. That was such a great ride.

TOTALLY inspires me to really do the Fairfax Epic. I need to get out to Riverbend with a saw and clippers and reclaim that loop. It will be easier/harder with the leaves all down. We did less than 1/4 of what is available at Riverbend.

[Author]

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