Capital ‘Cross Classic – local cyclocross race in Reston

[crysb]

@Bilsko 37040 wrote:

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

That photo is insanely cool. Not sure I’d even try that, though!

[GuyContinental]

@Dirt 37039 wrote:

Guy

Awesome! I look like I’m grimacing, but I think that I was actually yelling Peeeeettttteee!

Gotta say that CX racing could be a habit- after I survived the first 5 minutes it was all sorts of fun and I think that I was still somewhere in the top 25% before I flatted out on the third lap (also right in front of Pete)… I should have kept running, honestly I didn’t realize that was Kosher.

Nice to meet Bilsko, ArlingtonRider, DCV and others. Special thanks to DCV for helping me flip my number around… newb mistake for sure. Oh and Sean, that tuck and roll was epic, the only plus of my flat was that I got to see it in person!

[crysb]

@GuyContinental 37062 wrote:

Awesome! I look like I’m grimacing, but I think that I was actually yelling Peeeeettttteee!

Gotta say that CX racing could be a habit- after I survived the first 5 minutes it was all sorts of fun and I think that I was still somewhere in the top 25% before I flatted out on the third lap (also right in front of Pete)… I should have kept running, honestly I didn’t realize that was Kosher.

Nice to meet Bilko, ArlingtonRider, DCV and others. Special thanks to DCV for helping me flip my number around… newb mistake for sure. Oh and Shawn, that tuck and roll was epic, the only plus of my flat was that I got to see it in person!

I think running the rest of your race because of a mechanical makes you even tougher. Better than getting a DNF

Also, on the women’s beginner starting line, the organizer who blew the starting whistle walked around as we were lining up to start pointing out who had their numbers on wrong. He said like half of us had our numbers on upside down, and mine was crooked. But I guess that’s why it’s a beginner’s race!

[dcv]

@Dirt 37047 wrote:

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.

Difficult Run kicked my arse worse than the cat 4 race. I’m not sure if I need another bike for off-roading or if I need to HTFU.
Probably both

Big kudos to Bilsko who did it with road tires and road shoes / pedals.

[vvill]

@dcv 37071 wrote:

Difficult Run kicked my arse worse than the cat 4 race. I’m not sure if I need another bike for off-roading or if I need to HTFU.
Probably both

HTFU and n + 1 solves everything!

But seriously, you were on a fixie @ ~70 gear inches right??

@GuyContinental 37062 wrote:

Gotta say that CX racing could be a habit- after I survived the first 5 minutes it was all sorts of fun and I think that I was still somewhere in the top 25% before I flatted out on the third lap (also right in front of Pete)… I should have kept running, honestly I didn’t realize that was Kosher.

Nice to meet Bilsko, ArlingtonRider, DCV and others. Special thanks to DCV for helping me flip my number around… newb mistake for sure. Oh and Sean, that tuck and roll was epic, the only plus of my flat was that I got to see it in person!

CX racing is insanely fun. I’m not technically savvy/brave enough to ride fast so I’m happy to let the faster riders through and then make up places as I go. I think I would’ve placed somewhere around 50th if I hadn’t broken my chain. I ran to the finish line from the break, and asked the officials how I could finish vs DNF, and they said I had to run another lap. After a couple mins of running, an official signalled to me and took pity on me – he said I could just run a half-lap to finish (short cut through the pits). I got a prime – Swiftwick socks! (thanks Mark) so it was all worth it although the running muscles of my legs don’t agree today. I knew a bit about running in CX from watching one of the higher level DC CX races this year – one of the racers had to run most of a lap to get to the pit.

I also stupidly figured that MTB gloves would be warm enough and couldn’t feel my fingers for a lot of the warm-up lap/race – making feedback on shifting/braking a little tough. Even more stupidly I assumed I had no other gloves, but when I got back to my gear bag in the car remembered I’d packed warmer ones as well.

Huge thanks to Pete for snapping pics, and helping organize the post-race ride. The Mavic vest is great for finding you in a crowd.
Here’s dcv and myself:

[GuyContinental]

@vvill 37083 wrote:

I ran to the finish line from the break, and asked the officials how I could finish vs DNF, and they said I had to run another lap. After a couple mins of running, an official signalled to me and took pity on me – he said I could just run a half-lap to finish (short cut through the pits).

Dang… now I feel ridiculous for not running- but I honestly thought that such silliness would be frowned upon in the tighter sections of the race… in cross, worried about silliness… yeah. Newb indeed.

Great job Will!

[Bilsko]

Umm – watching this makes me think that maybe the Capital CX race was doing it wrong:
[video=vimeo;58151439]http://vimeo.com/58151439[/video]

[vvill]

I think the DC CX race was a *tiny* bit closer to that. Also mix in the Crystal City Diamond Derby.

[crysb]

@vvill 43350 wrote:

I think the DC CX race was a *tiny* bit closer to that. Also mix in the Crystal City Diamond Derby.

Yeah, the run through the van reminded me of Diamond Derby! Except in the Diamond Derby you brought your bike through the van with you. Meaning we’re more hardcore here. (Or our vans are more spacious.)

[dcv]

Registration is now open for this year’s Capital Cross Classic, if you don’t have a cx bike you can race on a mtb (no bar ends). The race is Sunday, Dec 8 at Lake Fairfax, Reston – you can get there from the WOD.
Come out to race or cheer.

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/21826

[Jason B]

You know, I have done a couple of these this year and I would have to say, these are not fun, they are painful. They are basically time trials on rocks. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was thought a guy named Gunther would be handing me a beer on every lap, and if I fell, a Saint Paulie girl would be helping me back on my bike. None of that happened. Heck my kids don’t even watch me because it is too cold and early. (guys like me are sent out at the crack of dawn to groom the track for the elites)
But you know what?, I was feeling a tad bit chipper today, rather sure of myself, and I thought there would be no better way to slap myself with a dose of depressing reality than to come in last place in a local cross race, so I’m in.
Dibs on last place.

[consularrider]

No racing for me, but maybe I’ll come out with cowbells in hand (I’m keeping the beer for myself).

[acc]

I have a special place in my heart for folks on suicide missions. I promise not to slap anyone (at least not in the first hour) and will come out to watch the paunchy and infirm at a ridiculous nearly-dawn hour because I’m old and don’t sleep much. Furthermore, I promise to be equipped with beer and cupcakes for the few, the sad, the miserable middle-age people who race before 9:00 am.

You are my people.

However, I will not help anyone back onto their bike because I might throw my back out or get muddy, eeww. But I will pull out my phone, dial 9-1-1, and wave in the direction of someone who can provide you with emergency services. Don’t let my nurse outfit fool you.

If you happen to hit your head and fall into an unconscious state, I’ll drink your beer and eat your cupcake.

[jabberwocky]

I’ll probably come out and spectate. You couldn’t get me to race cross at gunpoint though.

[acc]

Jabberwocky, you race cross every single day just getting to work.

[Author]

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