CX Nats - Race Report / Disaster Strikes!

superbowlpats · #1 12-08-2022, 08:19 AM

I know all of you have been on the edge of your seats waiting for this.

First as others said in my other CX thread, the parking situation at Hartford sucks. And to top it off USA Cycling saw fit to put ZERO porta-potties in the parking lot. And its not like there are any trees around the lot.

I got there around 10:40 (2.5 hr drive) to be able to register and get on the course for a preride that started at 11 and lasted 20 minutes. I suppose there was grass on the course on Monday but by Wednesday with rain most of the day Tuesday and all night into Wednesday morning, the grass was gone and replaced by thick, slimy mud. We're talking Belgian CX mud. I was riding 38c Vittoria Mix and they were paddle-boating almost the entire lap. The infamous embankment was a churn of deep mud and grass and it was so bad the USAC removed half of the hill prior to the start of the 70+ race. I saw lots of people crash at the bottom of that hill during preride. I fell a few times - more on that later.

I went back and swapped wheels for a set of Challenge Limas. I had no visions of even top 50% in this race, starting 6 rows back in a 66 man field. USAC checked tire widths and motors

The light turned green and we were off. I had my typical bad start but figured the race would be a war of attrition due to the mud. According to my data, at 1:20 my chain wound up jammed between the big cog and spokes. I remember feeling something as I shifted and decided to stomp on it to clear it

Luckily i was near the pit entrance and got some neutral support. It was jammed so bad it took SIX minutes to free it

I thought about quitting but what the hell I was here lets ride it. Didnt finish last somehow and there were a number of DNF/DQs. Postmortem looks like the RD hanger got bent on my preride.

The course, under normal conditions would have been great. But this was brutal. Lap times were 13 mins and growing. So a 3 lap race. On Monday most folks were mid 8 minute laps. Huge advantage to those who had pit bikes and people to powerwash them so you got a clean bike every half lap. I had fun, the folks on the course were great and I bought a nice race sweatshirt. Too bad it was spoiled by mud.

As a side note got the chance to talk with Richard Sachs. He had stopped racing 3 years ago but with Nats being in his backyard he figured why not. cool to see him out there.

trener1 · #2 12-08-2022, 09:28 AM

Nice, thanks for the report.

redir · #3 12-08-2022, 09:29 AM

Yikes that is caked up good. Those are the conditions that so many dream of. I was always good in those conditions but now that I am older I like dry runs these days

fignon's barber · #4 12-08-2022, 09:45 AM

Hey, in Masters racing 90% of the victory is just in showing up. Which race did you do?

superbowlpats · #5 12-08-2022, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fignon's barber

Hey, in Masters racing 90% of the victory is just in showing up. Which race did you do?

Ha, M60-64

AngryScientist · #6 12-08-2022, 09:52 AM

Good on ya!!

Tough conditions but you pinned a number and gave it a go. That’s the stuff right there.

72gmc · #7 12-08-2022, 09:52 AM

Looks like singlespeed conditions! Good on ya for getting out there.

Jad · #8 12-08-2022, 09:53 AM

Way to keep riding. I've never heard it described as "paddle boating," but that's a great way to put it. Last season was full of paddle boat races, which has its charms as long as there's a decent bike wash.

Spaghetti Legs · #9 12-08-2022, 06:31 PM

Well done, New England hardiness at its best!

Several years ago I did a race in Virginia Beach that involved about 100m very muddy steep downhill (Mt Trashmore, the only hill there that’s not a highway overpass!). I’m convinced one could have slid the whole way down on his butt. Anyway it was pick a line and hope you made it to the bottom without going off course because there was no way to steer without going down.

wombatspeed · #10 12-08-2022, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72gmc

Looks like singlespeed conditions!

that is exactly what I said to my daughter when she texted me pictures from her race! Her rear derailleur stopped working (even Campy metal bits can fail. Who on paceline would have thunk!) and the wheels stopped turning.