After learning a lot in my first race, I was ready to try again. Seven days later I was back on the starting line, ready to make another go at it. I had made some changes to my bike and my mindset coming into the race. I flipped my stem to a positive 7 degree, giving me a bit more control and confidence on the bike going into the corners, and I shifted my mindset from going out hard to put people behind me to playing it a little safe at first, and building.
The course was much faster at this race, a bit more open with a few twisting turns around the trees and some more fun run ups and twisting sections.
I had gotten some new tires on my bike, Challenge Grifo's, and was anxious to try them out. I started out with a bit higher pressure and did a few warm up laps to get a feel for them. I brought the pressure down a bit and decided to give it a go.
At the start line I was third row back again. I knew I wasn't going to get to the front quickly with a short sprint heading right into a hard right up an off-camber turn, so I stayed put and got ahead of a few people and settled. I tried to stay calm through the first part of the race. I kept my cadence steady and concentrated on what I was doing, feeling the terrain and the turns.
I got passed by a few guys early on, but they were steaming. I knew they were either much faster than me, or they would explode. So I kept working, staying within myself. I was doint everything I could to make sure I didn't blow up, but still stay just around that red line effort level. It's a delicate balance, one I was starting to understand.
One of my favorite parts of this course was the almost half pipe type section. There is about a 75 yard stretch of open field that seems to normally be a drainage section. However, today it was built to weave from one side to the other with a little bit of a lip on either side. I could really build up speed and it felt more like road biking than off-roading. So I was able to rip it up and put some ground on people.
Another great spot was the run-up section. About 1/4 of the way through the course, there was a mound that shot about 15 feet up into the air that was built into the course. You come up to it and kick down basically the shoulder of it and turn away, then do a 90 degree hairpin turn and head right back into it. Not much room to build speed, it was an easy choice for me to get off my bike and run up it. Despite the steepness of it, guys still tried to climb it on their bikes. Another place that was a fine opportunity to pass. Especially have a solid running background, I was able to put on some ground.
The final lap came and I was working hard, knowing I had a little left in the tank. I got to the bottom corner of the course which lead into a long open slight incline into the wind. I was actually able to draft off a guy leading up to the crest of the hill and overtake him quickly and put in some ground to keep him away. I never thought I would be drafting in a cyclocross race, but it worked.
Finishing up, I checked over my shoulder a few times to ensure I had room and wouldn't have to sprint anyone. I stayed clear and finished strong. Right around 10th place. Better than my first race, but still having a lot to learn.
-Dave
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