Cyclocross Season ...Non-Opener

Finally motivated at the end of the 2010 Cross Country season, I was psyched to start a new adventure and enter my first Cyclocross (CX) race in Longmont Saturday.  American Cycling Association racing license # 4897 arrived in the mail Thursday.   I had quipped on Facebook that although my good leg had a sprained ankle and my right shoulder separation still needs steroids, I was thinking about doing it anyway.

I didn't.  I chickened out deciding the race course might not be the best place to jump my first CX hurdle. Out of the house around 10:00am headed to Longmont, we wound up in Boulder eating lunch at Turley's and cruising the Boulder Creek Trail walking the weiners and enjoying another beautiful day outside in Colorado.  Farmer's market was on. Fully ready Yeti ARC CX gets a free ride in the truck bed.

Weekend was not lost though.  A trip to Home Depot and I now have my own private barrier practice field hidden behind the privacy fence of the back yard.  First aid kit close by and cell phone staged to dial 911.

Even though I've done 5' DH drops and climbed 30" waterbars.... these things freak me out!!!!! A work in progress. 

Promise, Interlocken race on October 9th ( http://www.boulderracing.com/cross.asp) start will include the Sarge in the SM55+ Cat 3 class.   Just not sure about the finish.

Mountain States Cup Captured Again

There are still a few inaccuracies in the math and placing for the 2010 seasons but, as I have learned over the years, probably not going to get changed or greatly affect the overall outcome and placing.... so live with it.  Yes, Rick, I totally acknowledge you won the Breckenridge Circuit Race and I was second. 

After only showing up for the last 2 venues, I somehow managed to end up 4th in the series.  My only goal was to help push the COMotion/Yeti team.

Mountain States Cup - Rankings for Cross Country CAT 2 Men 50+ - 2010:

1  MARK HOGAN
2  LES SCHAFER 
3  CLINTON CAMPBELL 
4  DAVID STROUSE 
5  RICK ABBOTT
6  MICHAEL SCHAUB
7 TIM FORBERT 
8 FIELD BLEVINS
9 STEVE LOYD
10 BILL MYERS
11 JIM ARNOLD
12 BART INGALLS 
13 DENNIS DOBSON
14 WILLIAM CAPRON
15 STEPHEN AUTRY
And blah, blah blah down to Dan Pate at #40,
You get the idea.

Lots of thought needs to go into what I will do for the 2011 season. 
Could be I actually have to train for it.

Kenosha Pass Ride 2010-See the Aspens Glow!!

Marco's Video Version


Required riding in the fall each year, riding buddies, Gary, Dev, Bob, Marco, Kimberly, Linda, Dana and I enjoyed the fall colors of Kenosha Pass on Hwy 285 this weekend. 

A competitive group, we all agreed to actually look up from the leader's rear wheel and soak up the changing season's beauty compliments of the Quaking Aspen that dominates the mountainsides only one or two weeks out of the year.  Thanks for the experience and fun.

Winter Park MSC Weekend Fun and Easy

We tripped over Berthoud Pass over the Labor Day Weekend to once again enjoy Winter Park's fantastic cycling opportunities and help the COMOtion Sports team eek closer to the 8th Mountain States Cup title.

 I've been bad this year participating in the series.   After forking out fees and travel expenses for 16 races last year I'm burned out.  Sometimes you just need a break. 

But as the end of the season approaches and the team is challenged by a new XC team, it's time to honor the tattoo and help 'em out. 

Old fart division usually requires only a show up and completion to pick up some points and the short track is despised by many so cranking out 30 minutes of grunt climb and whheeeee singletrack was easy to capture last place in the 40+ (although the scoring shows me at 5th) and first place in the 50+ category.  Boom. 200 maximum points for the team effort.

We hung out with Denver friends Harold and Linda for lunch and then watched the Pond Skimming competition over the WP base pond.  Yes, I was tempted to try but even I have sane moments.  We took the short longway home through Rocky Mountain National Park and had lunch above tree line in the truck.  It was 37 degrees with a northerly wind of 35 mph.  Winter is not far off.

Our final leg of the backroad return sent us down the Peak-to-Peak Highway through Ward and Lefthand Canyon.  Halfway down, we realized the puffy cloud formations we had been viewing were not all harmless clouds but rising smoke.  Not until we were home safe in Broomfield did we learn that we had skirted one of the state's most destructive wildfires now known as the 4 Mile Canyon Fire.

As of the Thursday, over 160 homes or structures have been destroyed and over 5,000 acres charred.  The cost of living the mountain life I guess.  Teresa's boss, Doc Orent is one of the homeowners in the area.  Still no word on the fate of his property.

Wish the best for the victims and friends of southwest Boulder.  Now we are off to Breckenridge this weekend to put a lid on this Live-Train-Ride Team and apply the number 8 decal on the trailer.  Circuit Race and Hill Climb Time Trail for me.  Cross Country race the following day would kill me for sure.