So the cyclocross season is upon us, and it has been for several weeks and its only the end of September. With so much action and so much time, its time for a little recap of the pivotal races thus far:
Nittany Lion Cross Day 1
The first UCI race in the world, ever (for 2011) happened in a pungent set of fields in Pennsylvania. That being said the cast of characters to line up was quite impressive for an early September day. Jeremy Powers decided to step up and step in to open his account for the season. Besides one of the fastest cross racers on the continent there were a host of Euro hawks all coming over to gather up some easy UCI points before heading back to their mid pack results in the World Cup circuit.
With nothing to my name except an expensive license and clean handlebar tape I got an impressive 2nd to last row “call up” (or hollar back.) Sitting at the tail end of a 52 person field all chomping at the bit to get the season underway put some calm into my mind that I would not have to worry about impressing anyone.
With a start like the first sip of soda on the way to Type 2 Diabetes I could feel the breath of fall on the nape of my neck, and looking back I was assured that I was in last place. With a course more suited to a mud run and bachelor party than a cross race, it was slippery and muddy going, but once the legs got used to everything, we started that glorious movement forward and began moving through the crowds on hand.
With a 100 meter long unrideable section of mud that had overwhelming notes and hints of swine, bovine, and human fecal matter that had to be run through, it highlighted the importance of running in cx training and disregarding the warnings on bleach containers, which are placed there by fear mongers to scare the liberal elite.
After an hour of ingesting this foul concoction of PA mud (or Dutch Brew as the locals call it) both orally and osmosis through every square inch of porous skin, covered and uncovered I emerged an ok 12th place after a feeble yet successful sprint battle. Not bad. Then the sinking realization that everything had to be cleaned and functional for the next day put a dark cloud over things that not even a hot, balanced and friendly meal at Cracker Barrel could lift it
Ryan couldn't put it down
Using the hotel garden hose and aggressive maneuvers to secure the one and only washing machine in the hotel we got the duds clean. The bikes we just scraped off, leaving a huge pile of dirt in the parking lot, and gaining a few adoring fans in the process (I’m sorry you’re angry that your daughter married that black man, Mr. Oklahoma, but thanks for complimenting our bikes) We tuned in, turned on and dropped out to the US Open for the rest of the night
Same thing, right?
