CYCLOCROSS CAREER LAUNCHED-MAY BE SHORT LIVED.....

Finally made good Saturday on my promise of 2 years ago to race Cyclocross. 

Just decided to shut up, get on the bike and have fun ...and that I did.  I got that wormy feeling in the gut you get when you don't feel good about something you are about to do but do it anyway.  You know, like when you shoplift.

I arrived early at the Interlocken race venue to finish setting up the COMOtion trailer pit area I had dropped the night before.  Brother Isles had started the process of dragging out canopies, chairs, bike stands, pumps and ice chests so by 9:00am we were set.

Having been to the site before, I pretty much knew the grounds but took a walk around the course to visualize what was going to be the  biggest challenges.

Mountain biking skills would come in handy on the tight switchbacks and short steep climbs but sprinting in the big gears on pavement and running the muddy inclines carrying the bike felt very strange.

Part of the resistance to this type of racing was the right "drop foot".  Not confident that I'd be able to leap the barriers and then there is the required dis-mounts and re-mounts without falling flat on my face and permanently destroying my ego.

The practice sessions with teammate Doug D. helped boost my confidence and convinced me to just do what comes natural.  I'll be working on being smooth, working on techniques and waiting for speed to come.

Sand pits were no problem, just the carbon wheel busting curbs exposed at the far ends. First smack into the end of sand pit #1 had me visualizing  fore end rim cracks and pinch flats but neither materialized.

Had a good feeling on the bell lap as I passed 3 grey beards in the switchbacks and no one was coming as I glanced over my shoulder on the final banner sprint. Left nothing on the table and heard the PBR calling.

Novice showed big time when I checked out the results posting.  There I was FIRST ON THE RESULTS POSTING!!

Surprised I told several teamies I'd thought I'd won!  Shoplifting again I guess. 

Turns out the registration sheet also serves as the finishing order posting only your placing was recorded in the little column "PLC" on the left.  Only won the race to register first.  Duh!

More accurate placing was 13th out of 20 racers but I'll take it!  Had a ball, didn't crash or take out any passing ladies so I guess it was a success.  Like I need another bad habit.  Thanks to Boni Sandoval for the photos and all the COMOtion team members.who cheered me on.