haikalah
10-31-2007, 06:30 PM
Well I'm tired of the banner telling me I've never posted and saying: "Why not start with your first post today and become an active part RoadBikeReview Forums forums now!" So here goes.
First, thanks to all who have posted helpful info on this forum. With tips I've found her, I leaped into cross, buying a Cross Check frame for $370, buying a few miscellaneous parts, and swapping wheels, Shimano 105 shifters, bars from my crit bike. Got panaracer cinder tires on sale (seem ok) and all told got a cross bike for about $450. I was hoping I'd like my first race.
Raced first bamacross race in Birmingham. Went out slow to be safe and finished 10 out of about 30. Had gas at end, but everyone was too far up to catch.
Second race was first victory -- sort of. Fast course, with only three dismounts: one two-barrier set; one steep, short, but slippery run-up; and two logs followed 15 yards later by 12" brick wall, but the wall was rideable at one side. Cat 4 field had only 18 men. However, we raced with 9 Juniors, who would be scored separately. Can you guess where this is going?
I started hard and was 8th going into first barriers. Was in third place after first of 5 laps. On backside of second lap, I was in second behind the leader (from then on it was 10 to 30 yard gap) when spectators yelled, "Catch him, he'd thirteen." From my house of pain, I yelled back, "I'm too old, I'm 44." On third lap, there was a bunch of 3-5 riders about 50 yards back and for a while I thought I took off too hard and was going to get caught. On fourth lap, vomiting seemed like something I might do at any moment. But now no one was near the thirteen year-old and me so I backed off a tad. Last lap, I realized I had first in CX4 men's race won, so I decided to take it safe and easy and not risk a crash, did'nt push it, and I ran over the brick wall instead of riding. About 500 yards from finish, I changed my mind and decided to make a push to catch the kid, who had gapped me a bit more after the brick wall. Made up a bunch of ground, then all the spectators started yelling, "Go Logan, he's catching you." I finished short by about ten yards and then pulled over for some dry heaves. Won a mussette bag with gloves and saddle inside.
Last couple days I've been thinking I'm a loser and that instead of sitting in, I should have pushed the kid hard the whole 5th lap as I was more likely to beat him with a sustained effort than in a sprint.
But I'm hooked on cross. Hate that I gotta miss the race this weekend as it is my wife's birthday.
HH
First, thanks to all who have posted helpful info on this forum. With tips I've found her, I leaped into cross, buying a Cross Check frame for $370, buying a few miscellaneous parts, and swapping wheels, Shimano 105 shifters, bars from my crit bike. Got panaracer cinder tires on sale (seem ok) and all told got a cross bike for about $450. I was hoping I'd like my first race.
Raced first bamacross race in Birmingham. Went out slow to be safe and finished 10 out of about 30. Had gas at end, but everyone was too far up to catch.
Second race was first victory -- sort of. Fast course, with only three dismounts: one two-barrier set; one steep, short, but slippery run-up; and two logs followed 15 yards later by 12" brick wall, but the wall was rideable at one side. Cat 4 field had only 18 men. However, we raced with 9 Juniors, who would be scored separately. Can you guess where this is going?
I started hard and was 8th going into first barriers. Was in third place after first of 5 laps. On backside of second lap, I was in second behind the leader (from then on it was 10 to 30 yard gap) when spectators yelled, "Catch him, he'd thirteen." From my house of pain, I yelled back, "I'm too old, I'm 44." On third lap, there was a bunch of 3-5 riders about 50 yards back and for a while I thought I took off too hard and was going to get caught. On fourth lap, vomiting seemed like something I might do at any moment. But now no one was near the thirteen year-old and me so I backed off a tad. Last lap, I realized I had first in CX4 men's race won, so I decided to take it safe and easy and not risk a crash, did'nt push it, and I ran over the brick wall instead of riding. About 500 yards from finish, I changed my mind and decided to make a push to catch the kid, who had gapped me a bit more after the brick wall. Made up a bunch of ground, then all the spectators started yelling, "Go Logan, he's catching you." I finished short by about ten yards and then pulled over for some dry heaves. Won a mussette bag with gloves and saddle inside.
Last couple days I've been thinking I'm a loser and that instead of sitting in, I should have pushed the kid hard the whole 5th lap as I was more likely to beat him with a sustained effort than in a sprint.
But I'm hooked on cross. Hate that I gotta miss the race this weekend as it is my wife's birthday.
HH