# Sunday, September 28, 2008
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Sunday 28 September 2008 - Seattle Cyclocross - Evergreen High School
posted by: Martin Criminale
Hrs. Sleeping: 6
Pulse (waking):  
Pulse (rising):  
Difference:  
Weight:  
Body Fat:  
Time of Day: 2:30 PM
Distance: 9 laps
Time (total): 60 min
Time (moving):  
Time (stopped):  
Speed (moving):  
Speed (overall):  
Total Ascent:  
Weather: 70, sunny, dry, calm
Workout Type: cyclocross race

Breakfast: 8:00 AM - smoothie, 3 pieces of toast with apple butter
Lunch: 12:30 PM - gel, HEED
Dinner:  
Workout Food:  

Course: Evergreen High School
Results: Masters Cat 1-2, 35+: DFL as far as I can tell
official results
Comments: Ouch... I keep learning more each time I do a cross race.

Today I learned:
1) people don't ride carbon bars for a reason, they slip much more easily in your stem than aluminum
2) gloves are good, they prevent blisters
3) try as you might, if your back is weak don't go with the same length stem on your cross bike as on your road bike

Last week at Star Crossed I finally wasted my right shifter and decided to replace my STI levers along with the rear derailleur and go from 9-speed to 10. That much was okay but I also decided to bolt on these carbon FSA bars I had lying around and no sooner did I do a practice lap when my brake hoods took a dive on the first steep descent. Oops... So I cinched the bar clamp down as much as I dared and started the race.

There were about 30 or so riders in this category and I was staged towards the rear so right form the gun I was eating dust and about 5th from last as we excited the cinder track and hit the grass for the first time. I kinda hung out here for a bit but one by one the remainder of my field slowly rode away from me. About three laps into the race the first few Cat 1-2 45+ riders caught me and for the next several laps I was doing okay. Tony O and Gentry M and I were passing each other back and forth and I was only at about 90-95 percent.

Then just as they passed me back I fell down. Rats. I jumped back up but had to get off again to straighten my stem and right brake lever. By that time Tony and Gentry were long gone.

With 3 laps to go my back gave out again and I had so slow down. That was when the first few elite riders lapped me. With 1.5 laps to go I had to stop for a second at the top of the main run up; my legs were toast! At this point I just coasted in (and had to stop at the top of the run up on the last lap again...). During that last lap about five more elite riders lapped me and a few more Masters riders caught me.

When I crossed the finish line and got off the bike I saw why my hands were hurting today, I had an open blister on my left palm and a big one (luckily not open) on the heal of my right hand. Sheesh... I usually do okay with no gloves but I just put this grippy tape on my bars and I bet that was the culprit. And this was a rough course too.

Parts of the course were fun. Right after the run up there was a steep descent and I finally got the hang of that and could roll it without touching my brakes. That was fun. And exciting when your heart rate is pegged. Our own Bilko was announcing and I heard my name a couple of times, yeah! :) The terrain was rolling in the grass so you were always going up and down a little, sometimes that was a blast, felt a little like a roller coaster.
Equipment: Red Line Conquest Pro, 36/46, 12-27, 52 psi
cyclocross race
Sunday, September 28, 2008 5:03:17 PM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Related posts:
Saturday 20 September 2008 - Star Crossed

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