Beer, Bikes, and Snow

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that this year's CX Nats would be one of my only chances to race Nationals.  With the locations moving every year, Hartford, Connecticut was one I could pull off with work and traveling.  So I trained longer in my season than I usually do and had January 5th as my last race. I had a pretty stellar season, winning a few races and earning my Cat 1 upgrade - and I kept Nationals as an "experience" race.  I didn't want to put so much pressure on myself that I was a stressed-out mess leading up to it.  My legs and mind felt great leading up to the race. Nationals started on Tuesday, January 3rd .  The weather was mild with rain - making the course an absolute mudfest.  I watched videos posted of people slogging up Bonk Breaker Hill and sliding down on their butts.  Lots of running.  Bikes completely covered in mud.  Would it be like this for my race Thursday? The forecast was calling for colder temps to ar...

I had two races left on my calendar for the 2016 season.  These would be the last two races before Nationals. Solstice CX and Limestone CX at the Kiln were both in Emmaus, PA - Solstice was a new venue for me and I had only raced Limestone once, a few years ago (which was 2013, in a few inches of snow).  After taking a few weekends off for the holiday and recovering from being sick, I was looking forward to seeing friends and getting back out on the CX bike. When I arrived at Solstice, there was a light coating of snow on the ground.  I got out for a pre-ride lap, noticing that the ground was frozen and the corners were icy.  I talked to a few others about the conditions, what pressure to run, and what lines to take.  I went back to check out one section and ate it on a corner.  I knew this race would be one that was slower but required more handling skills. As the day progressed, temperatures rose enough to thaw sections of the course, creating a...

With the MAC series over, I've been looking to fill my calendar with some new-to-me venues in order to keep pushing towards Nationals .  Lucky for me, the PACX series keeps going to mid-December.  This past weekend I headed to West Chester, PA for their 2nd CX race of the series. I arrived early enough to get in two laps before the first race.  I heard the course had some climbing and that was true.  Some off-camber sections and flowy turns.  But that wind. This was a race that I wanted to hide if I could. Since it was blustery cold, I sat in my car in between races rather than watch.  Oh, and I've now decided it's not necessary to arrive uber-early only to sit in my car (rather than spectate). I rolled over to the start, noticing how much tape was down from the wind.  A bunch of us huddled together to stay warm since we were out in an open field. Pre-race huddle - photo by B. White We lined up, waiting until the 1-minute warning to s...

Sly Fox CX.  I've seen some funny and insane photos and videos of the race.  Plus, it's held at a brewery.  So this year I made sure it was on my calendar (sorry NJCX). The Elite races were later in the day.  So naturally, I showed up uber early.  I watched the Women's 3/4 and Master's women race, cheering on friends on the infamous "hill".  I got out for a few laps in between races.  The course was...insane.  Lots of tight corners and turns, off-camber sections, sick descent and a log.  There wasn't much room to pass except on the paved road section (which seemed to have a pretty strong headwind). I watched the races leading up to mine, chatted with friends, and thought about the race. I knew the start would be critical - getting a good position going from the road onto the narrow course.  And that's when I started to freak out.  The paved start turned into a parking lot with a small curb at the turn.  I don't like 1) be...

I'm about 1/2 way through my CX season.  And I'm starting to feel it - mentally and physically.  Previous years I've ended my season mid- to late-November because well, I was tired and ready to take a break.  This year with Nationals on my calendar, I need to keep pushing. Kutztown has never been my favorite course - it always seems cold and windy.  It's pancake flat and more of a power course.  So when I got up Saturday morning, was it normal for me to feel "meh" about racing? With the lower temps and wind, I lathered on embro and pulled out my winter skinsuit.  I packed everything in case it was frigid cold.  The sun was shining and surprisingly the wind wasn't too bad.  I got in two laps before the first race and tried to set my trainer up between the cars to be blocked from the wind. We lined up at the start and the sun felt awesome.  We chatted about "where is everyone", missing a lot of our usual ladies.  At the blow of th...

I love Bubble CX.  I have had some really great races at this venue.  And this year it would be a double race with the NJ State Championship on Day 1.  But when the dates were announced, I already had a "save the date" for a friend's wedding.  What to do...I made the decision to race and then head to my friend's wedding after.  Luckily the Master's race was early enough that I could race and make myself presentable for the wedding. I couldn't sleep and rather than sit at home I got to the race early.  I knew that getting out to pre-ride would be limited due to the stacked start times.  I watched the first race then got out for a lap.  My legs were still feeling HPCX and I was a bit worried about how they would feel racing today.  I knew the sand to woods transition would be tricky, so I went back and tried two different lines.  I opted to sit and watch the other races before getting on my trainer. There were only 3 of us in the M...

My feelings about HPCX go back and forth.   Maybe it seemed to have more climbing than I remembered because most of my CX races this year have been relatively flat.  The start is always a grinding pavement climb.  The barriers always seem extra high.   And now they've added a double sand pit. This year Jalepeno Cycling announced that they would be stepping up and matching our Master's Women payou t to the Men's for both days.  Wow.  Thank you thank you thank you!  This is incredible and I hope it's a sign of what could come. Saturday (Day 1) was chilly.  It was the first day I lathered on embro and pulled out my thicker gloves.  The course was similar to previous Day 1 races.  I somehow got turned around and was going the wrong way until I got to the barriers. Doh.  One of the corners was full of acorns and going into it too fast, I nearly ate it.   I was happy to see the volunteers raking the area on my 2nd lap. p...