Finally! My broken finger has healed and I’ve gotten back into the swing of things. And by the swing of things, I mean weekly gym workouts with Coach Paige (the best coach in the world), long training rides and races every weekend.
In my last Cyclocross blog I mentioned aching to put some wins in on my carbon Grammo CX bike, and I’m proud to say I’ve done just that! On November 5th and 6th, Ace Course Design and BicyclingEvents.com put on two back to back Sacramento CX races; One at Lembi Park and one at the Folsom Rodeo Grounds.
Saturday, the morning of the Lembi park race, was bitter cold. The Lembi course was almost entirely on grass and was for the most part flat. I was stoked though, I’d had a win at the Condon Park race two weeks before and I’d been doing well (winning the B's) at the Wednesday night RodeoCross races. I really wanted to land another win at Sac CX. There were a few new faces on the Women’s B start, but I was still hoping for a top spot.
I had a good start and by the end of the first lap I had a little gap. It wasn’t big, but it was certainly enough. The last thing I wanted was a sprint finish. As fun as th
ey are to watch, they’re stressful and it can be embarrassing if you don’t come out on top. All I had to do was hold them off…for four more laps. Easier said than done, eh?
With 2 laps left, I was still in the lead but at every hairpin turn I could see second place gaining fast. I was gonna have to hammer my last few laps. I started to shift into my big ring, and heard something no racer ever wants to hear. Click, click, crunch. Click…crunch. My chain wouldn’t shift up. I tried again. Nothing. I stalled out in my third attempt and saw second fly past me. I gave up on my shifters and chased after her, but I needed those gears.
One lap to go and she wasn’t ahead by much. But again, it was just enough. I was almost around the last turn as she crossed the finish line. I was happy with second, but I had that nagging feeling in the back of my head…What if I’d had those big gears? What then? Fortunately, the next morning I’d get to see.
When we arrived at the Folsom Rodeo grounds on Sunday morning, it was drizzling rain and freezing cold. But lo and behold, my lovely Mad Cat teammates had set up a four pop -up, walled off, food-stocked team compound complete with a space heater and carpet.
I liked the course at Rodeo a lot better than the Lembi course. It was muddier, but it also had more climbing, like the course a
t Condon that I’d done well on. I got another really good start and was off the front from the very beginning of the race. But I knew that this first lap could make or break my race; I could make a solid gap or I could blow myself up early.
By my third lap my lead was holding up, and I was right on long-time friend Robert Terra’s wheel. I felt really good, and my Grammo CX bike’s light and stiff build allowed me to bunny-hop the low set of log barriers at the end of the course, buying me some valuable time.
With one lap left, I pressed my SRAM shifter and my chain went straight up into the big ring-thankfully-and I pushed through the short, twisty grass section and down the sketchy descent before the steep climb. Afraid to shift back into my little ring, I destroyed what was left of my legs on the climb; but all I had left was the last set of barriers. I crossed the finish line muddy, tired and pretty stoked.
Paige (best coach in the world) and her son Will had come out to watch and cheer, as had Marianne from Placer Foothill Mountain Bike Club. I’m super thankful for all their support through the different race seasons.
I’m also stoked that I’ve finally gotten some good results and some solid wins this CX season.
Thanks to Grammo and Unreal Cycles for my amazing Grammo CX bike!
I’ll keep you up to speed on the 2011 Cyclocross season as we finally get some real CX weather.
Keep chasing…..
ey are to watch, they’re stressful and it can be embarrassing if you don’t come out on top. All I had to do was hold them off…for four more laps. Easier said than done, eh?
t Condon that I’d done well on. I got another really good start and was off the front from the very beginning of the race. But I knew that this first lap could make or break my race; I could make a solid gap or I could blow myself up early.