Cross Nats Pics--Better Late Than Never!

[BumbleBeeDave]

Well, here they are--finally!

Real life has intervened over the past few weeks, but I’ve managed to snatch a spare moment here and there to distill my 350 some pics from Cross Nats fown to 85 or so that are the most entertaining. So here they are, starting with the kids stuff.

Please keep in mind that if I have a photo of a contender in here, it’s pure serendipity. I had no idea who any of these people were and was just enjoying the spectacle of all these muddy guys go flying by. Except Zanc, of course. He went to great pains to crash right in front of us and roll around in the mud, so we guessed who he was!

This first one is the start of one of the kids races. Silas Anthony of Essex County Velo (center in blue) leads the pack as the boys get started in an icy sprayed frenzy!

Enjoy!

BBDave

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . racing around the quagmire of a course. I was amazed at the dedication of some of these VERY young kids.

BBD

[Serotta PETE]

Dave, those are great pictures....THANKS. Pete

[BumbleBeeDave]

Some of the rigs were decidedly low tech . . . I wouldn’t want to get in too deep, either, until I was sure my kid really was interested . . . but they were really trying hard!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

Bbd

[BumbleBeeDave]

Bbd

[BumbleBeeDave]

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

Zank goes down HARD on “Suicide Hill!”

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

Thang-kew very much, Ladies and Gentlemen!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . into the sunset!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . amidst the depths of embarrassment!

[BumbleBeeDave]

They’ll, uuuh, make you a better rider! Yeah, THAT’S the ticket! :rolleyes:

[BumbleBeeDave]

Left to right, BBDave, William (with Little William) and Kevan, pining for Sandy.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . doing, er, doing, well, uh, SOMETHING for one of his riders. He sure takes GOOD care of his team! ;)

Kevan at left wondering what’s going on.

[weisan]

Dave-pal, I have always enjoyed the pix you post...thank you for doing that.










ps. If the forum comes down, we'all gonna look in your direction. :D

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . supports his team!

[coylifut]

. . . amidst the depths of embarrassment!

that wasn't a crash, that was product development

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . seen through the columns of the Atheneum . . .

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . on the Atheneum . . . “One from Column A, one from Column B . . . “

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Time for dinner!

BBD

[weisan]

. . . Time for dinner!
BBD
you got two minutes! :rolleyes:

[Serpico]

1) Zank got OWNED by that mudspill

2) He totally turned it around with his attitude and good sense of humor


calm under pressure = cool (the noun not the adjective)

:beer: Zank

[Bruce K]

Picture number 1 shows Silas Anthony (ECV), younger brother of Jesse Anthony, Josh Anthony, and Crystal (I forget the married name) - keeping it in the family.

BK

[Ginger]

Thanks Dave, those are fun pics!

[William]

1) Zank got OWNED by that mudspill

2) He totally turned it around with his attitude and good sense of humor



calm under pressure = cool (the noun not the adjective)

:beer: Zank

Zank was showing humor & class. But don't let that fool you...he's really serious about product crash testing. ;)

Nice job Dave! :cool:

William

[zank]

I don't know what to say. I guess one thing comes to mind. I can't believe I put my hand/arm out as I was going down. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Dave, I am really amazed that you got that entire sequence on film. Those are priceless. Definitely one of the funnier moments of the cross season. Thanks for sharing them!

[shinomaster]

way to lay it down in the mud! I did exactly the same thinkg twice in my last race..I'm glad I'm not the only one who crashes.

[Tailwinds]

I can't believe I put my hand/arm out as I was going down. Dumb, dumb, dumb.


Those pix are pretty entertaining!

Zank, you can break your collarbone without putting your hand/arm out, too. Don't ask. :crap:

[zank]

Shino, if ya ain't crashin, ya ain't goin fast enuf.

At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

[gasman]

Dave-
Thanks for the great photos. I bet some of those kids could beat me !

[zank]

Those pix are pretty entertaining!

Zank, you can break your collarbone without putting your hand/arm out, too. Don't ask. :crap:

ouch.

[Tom Byrnes]

BBDave,

Great photos. Thanks for sharing them.

Tom

[shinomaster]

Gasman,

Juniors are scary!! I was passed by a junior girl in a race.....She eventually tired and then I passed the little brat for the win...but wow..kids are all turbo.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . to get some posted from work today. There’s still many more where this came from. Should be fairly easy--this is our “holiday” at the paper and not much going on news-wise.

Bruce--thanks for the ID on that first photo. If anyone else sees anyone they can ID, then let me know and what post number it is and I’ll add the ID’s!

BBDave

[weisan]

You mean you have to work today??? :rolleyes:
Sorry pal....I'm going for a 5-hr bike ride. Would love to see more pix on my return. :)

[Kevan]

I can smell the mud. Thanks Dave.

Hell, Zank it was your fall that made me want to try out this sport. If I ever have to fall off my bike I can't think of a better place. I can think of warmer places, but not better.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Women's races. Again, I have no idea who these people are, though I'm sure I have contenders in there somewhere.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . this is my favorite one. The tents made a great backdrop.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

Bbd

[BumbleBeeDave]

Bbd

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . are the same for everyone!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . dancing on the (muddy) pedals!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . TREE!!! This is on "suicide Hill."

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . up to the top of "Suicide Hill" and seein what it looked like when you're about to go DOWN it, I no longer laughed at anybody who did this!

BBDave

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . I'm gonna CRASH!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Ouch!

[BumbleBeeDave]

This lady was NOT having a good time. Some choice words expressed before she limped away and kept riding.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Last one. Now for the men.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . . who I'm told is Coley Bryan, owner (and team leader) of Harborside Cycles in Gloucester, MA., had just set his trainer up by the lakeshore and was warming up. Once the sun came out it was not too bad for us spectators, and certainly not too cold for the racers.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . the course LOOKED muddy, but if you tried to walk across all the ruts you realized the shine of the moisture was just a film over the still frozen ruts. I don't know if that was more difficult to ride on than actual squishy mud, but either way I was glad I didn't have to do it.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . not only to see kids racing, but to see how many people had brought their kids to spectate. William brought Little William Sunday, and now the little guy apparently hads the bug!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . THESE guys in??? . . . :rolleyes:

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . reacts to my request to borrow his bike for just a "couple of seconds." Last time I cheer for HIM!

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . about going to this was seeing just about every kind of cross bike setup from every cool maker you've ever known--and a few totally obscure, no-name makers who obviously have a thing or two to learn. Like this guy . . . Richard Sachs? Never heard of him! Team had cool outfits, though. ;)

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . the set of barriers in front of the beer garden. In the background is the Atheneum.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Page? I figured anybody on the Clif Bar team was good to shoot because maybe I could show the pics to them and get free food . . .

Oops. It's Jesse Anthony!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . barrier action. Note the beer garden full of questionable characters in the background. :beer: :beer: :beer:

[BumbleBeeDave]

Jonathan Page followed by Ryan Trebon on the off-camber section.

[e-RICHIE]

Page? I figured anybody on the Clif Bar team was good to shoot because maybe I could show the pics to them and get free food . . .


it's jesse anthony.

[e-RICHIE]

. . . this is one of the Wells brothers on the off-camber section.


that's page and trebon.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . this is my favorite barrier shot. Peak action, good expression, more riders close behind.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . were really looking winded after carrying bikes up these hills 5-6 times. I was winded just watching them!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . the 55-60 division or the 60-over crowd, don't remember exactly which. But the vast majority of these "geezers" could probably have kicked my butt on this course.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . totally blown at the end of the finishing straight, where Mavic had their tent with free drinks and food for the racers. Nothing like gulping down a stack of pancakes just before you race, I guess.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . .was also pretty well spent and just sat there a few minutes. I also got some pretty good shots of him out on the course.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . again. Everybody looked pretty much like this by the time they were done.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . In this case "winners" being anyone who managed to finish.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . at getting good shots with this much sunshine and this much color. What a great sport to shoot!

[BumbleBeeDave]

They're gonna catch you!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . coming out of the start/finish straight. If you missed this shot on the first lap, you're done. They're totally strung out already by the time they come around again.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . very steep, short run-ups that some managed to pedal.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . of "Suicide Hill" . . . As near as I could tell the best way to get down seemd to be to just GO, but it must have been hard to avoid reaching instinctively for the brakes when you come over the top and see everything drop away.

[93legendti]

. . . seen through the columns of the Atheneum . . .
That is a really photo...nice job!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . ended up farther away from his bike after a crash than anyone else I saw. Note the tongue.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . steep run-up. A lot of guys would get literally within a few feet of the top before realizing they'd have to dismount. Note this is the guy I also got at the finish line.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . seen from the side. This IS with the camera held level. It was really this steep. I was able to get inside the ribbons and stand literally in front of these guys because it was totally safe--there was no way they could hold the momentum to be any danger by the time they got to the top of the rise.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . .Is that YOU, Richie?

[BumbleBeeDave]

NOW is it you?

. . . Yes, now we have definitive ID . . . it is Richie himself struggling up the hill on his ONE lap before technicals apparently sent him back to the Team RS giant box van and luxury bus.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Hey, RICHIE!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . look alike, D@MMIT Richie??? . . .

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . the hill AND over barriers.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . coming down "Suicide Hill."

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . DOWN he goes!

[e-RICHIE]

. . .Is that YOU, Richie?

that's pal dave g.

[e-RICHIE]

. . . look alike, D@MMIT Richie??? . . .


that's also pal dave g.

[e-RICHIE]

. . . Hey, RICHIE!


that's fred w. from virginia.
not an RS rider.

[Bruce K]

e-richie beat me to the Jesse Anthony ID, but "trainer guy" is Coley Bryan owner (and team leader) of Harborside Cycles in Gloucester, MA.

Great photos Dave.

BK

[e-RICHIE]

NOW is it you?



YES that is me.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . of one of the older guy's races.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . wonderful mud!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . run up that short, steep hill.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . things just don't work out.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Jonathan Vaughters? I heard the announcer say he was there, but never saw him, unless his is him racing. Looks like either him or Napoleon Dynamite . . . :rolleyes:

Nope, that's not him, I'm told. It's Troy Wells on the way to winning the Under 23 race.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . possibly famous dude at the barriers.

[e-RICHIE]

. . . Jonathan Vaughters? I heard the announcer say he was there, but never saw him, unless his is him racing. Looks like either him or Napoleon Dynamite . . . :rolleyes:


that's troy wells on his way to a u23 victory.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . of spectators and muddy butts. #313 is Richard Sachs (our own e-richie!) on his way to glory.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . scales the hill!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . and definitely running short of "Oomph."

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . but the attendant refused to rinse off Kevan.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Kevan and Sandy. But they WISH they were!

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . We're at the top of the hill and we don't have to get muddy!

[e-RICHIE]

. . . of spectators and muddy butts.

number 313 is moi.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . "Suicide Hill." It's eithe total mud of frozen mud with a slippery sheen of thaw on top. You decide which scares you more!

[BumbleBeeDave]

Why I do believe this is . . .

THE END.

Hope you enjoyed my little photo essay! It was fun to shoot. :banana: :banana: :banana:

BBDave

[Smiley]

Great Shots BBDave , did anybody other then the kids try to ride this course with a true MTB , I would have thought the larger tires would have been better on the muddy stuff ?

[e-RICHIE]

Great Shots BBDave , did anybody other then the kids try to ride this course with a true MTB , I would have thought the larger tires would have been better on the muddy stuff ?


the mtb tires are non uci worthy for cross.
ps: in many cases, thinner is better for deep mud.

[Louis]

Cool Pics BBD

Hardware Question:

For “normal” guys who don’t get their stuff at super-low subsidized prices do components last longer than one season in that muck? (However many races that might be.) I assume most races aren’t quite that snowy, but do have lots of mud.

(I’m not an MTB type so I know nothing about maintenance for that kind of riding.)

[Bruce K]

"more famous guy" is another Jesse Anthony shot.

The crashed guy in the green and yellow Rock Lobster kit I think is Paul Sadoff the builder of Rock Lobsters and a sponsor of both the Veol Bellas and Rock Lobster teams.

BK

[Bruce K]

Louis;

I have been playing at cross for about 5 seasons now.

So far I have had to replace one rear derailleur and some brake pads.

I don't race more than twice per season as yet, but I am out on my cross bike2-3 times per week between Labor Day and mid-November.

BK

[William]

BBDave, the shots came out great! Makes me almost feel like I was there. ;)


William :cool:

[Hysbrian]

. . . of spectators and muddy butts. #313 is Richard Sachs (our own e-richie!) on his way to glory.
Hey thats me!!! Nice pics!

[e-RICHIE]

Hey thats me!!! Nice pics!


you're MY chimeric twin?

[Hysbrian]

you're MY chimeric twin?

mio fratello!!!