this weekend past without my formal planning it was decided that my older son would step up from the Lil' Beligian's Race at Ed Sander's and line up with the juniors in the 10-14 group although Dean is only nine years old... his cyclocross age is 10 so... he would fit right in but not really
originally I had thought that my son would ride with his cousin Eric Eric was a no show even without his cousin Eric present Dean did not back down... he said he was going to do it... so he was going to do it even after some scrapes, bruises, and cuts that happened in a crash while warming up Dean was still game
Dean and I took a pre-ride together both of us in street clothes both of us with flat bars
the effort by my sons on this day made me proud I am proud of my boys for who they are
Dean lined up younger and smaller with less experience than the other around him dressed in street clothes on a low end mountain bike with no prior cyclocross practice
that looks to be an electric bike they are so sleek they are so stealth it is hard to tell the electric from the standard bicycle
that is a nice advantage to the cyclist with the battery and the motor I know I have been passed more than once shocked at the speed at which the other cyclist passed me with such a subtle pedal cadence only to search the bike for what appeared to be a battery pack and motor
I am not sure who is carrying the widest variety of Electronic Bicycles in the area but I have been meaning to stop by and check out THE GREEN COMMUTER in Takoma Park
not everyone is training for a race some people just want to ride their bicycle to work so... the 16 mile commute each way... well... I can see where the electronic assist would become an asset but not on the bike path
ah... my music collect growth slowed some years ago most of what I listen to now is what I listened to then there was some stuff in between but the old cds seem to be the current cds even my Pandora stations repeat what I have on cd
listening to Blood Sugar Sex Magic would not mind listening to Mother's Milk gotta love the Chili Peppers
I need to look at a calendar it looks like I have not registered for any cyclocross weekends in the near future best I get my mountain bikes in order get out on the single speed
some seasonal links like candy corn in the fall enjoy these links
I like to look at the numbers I like to crunch the numbers I like to play with the numbers
it is fun to look at the tale of the tape it can play into all sorts of comparisons there is some measure to it then there is some fantasy
when I look at the numbers there is always a visual image in my head a reality and a fantasy all displayed in the numbers the resuts and the actual times lap times can really add in some recollection
at the Granny Gear 24 Hour races I would always play with my numbers... compare the times... fastest lap... lap times night versus day.... the average time then take the average time and make that a four man team factor where that imaginary person would fall in a hypothetical overall
this can be done with any or all multi lap races or series held on the same course then also that same course on different years
I have not toyed with the technology it amuses me... I need to dig around CROSS RESULTS... CROSSRESULTS DOT COM "we wrangle the data so you don't have to" this is a fun one there is a ranking of teams in the MABRA Series www.crossresults.com
as per usual the comments amuse then the comments begin to infuriate
the short answer to the statements attacking the behavior of the cyclist... everyone bends the law... car drivers tend not to bend the law but break the law
there is an accepted parameter for which each of us may break the law the SPEED LIMIT would be the perfect example of this as far as the bicycle causing traffic... THE BICYCLE IS TRAFFIC
what is the cyclist's relationships to businesses in DC? does WABA have a relationship with the area businesses? what is the line of contact?
cyclists are consumers... just as car drivers are consumers...
I think it would benefit businesses to embrace the bicycling consumer
WABA could create a relationship where storefronts have a sticker that reads WABA BIKE FRIENDLY BUSINESS or something to that effect
then there could be coupons for WABA members like Living Social or Group Ons where cyclists have a week of discounts at that bike friendly business starting in September there could be discounts focused on holiday shopping
businesses that feel that they have a decent bicycle clientele should have ample bicycle parking near by
it is easier to shop on a bicycle than in a car much easier to go from store to store yes... it is tough to carry the larger items but the small stuff... no worries and no money in the meter
I know that certain bicycle shops give a discount to WABA and MORE members but... where is this information? who else gives discounts to WABA members? www.theprovince.com
this looks a little sketchy but... I like the ingenuity it makes me want to build a bike but... I want one that I can arrive alive on http://lifehacker.com
one lone shot of me racing at NCVC's Ed Sander's Memorial Cyclocross Event DEMONCATS.com
the camera lens seems to turn away when the large man on the bike with flat bars passes last week at Charm City there did not seem to be any photos of me racing my bike
THE FASTEST OF THE FAST at Ed Sander's Memorial Cyclocross Race this weekend past check out Matt Bailey (I think that is his name) placing 6th on a mountain bike
several years ago Ed Sander an employee at Lily Pon's and a member of the NCVC cycling club died in a bizarre training accident riding the rollers in his house Ed slipped and crashed through a glass table found dead and bloody on the floor by his ex-wife yes... life can be more strange than fiction
I never knew Ed Sander but from what I have heard he was a good person with a warm heart it pleases me to see his name attached to this race people gather to race an event where Ed worked the event is hosted by a team that Ed raced with some of the money earned at this event goes to a college fund for Ed Sander's children
Race Report: Ed Sander's Memorial Cyclocross Event 2010 Sunday morning was met with a slight drizzle with the morning still dark I worked my way through the mist and loaded three kids bikes into the Honda Element then put my cross bike on the rear rack I still have not ordered the parts to fix my rack after the parking garage valet shamelessly broke my roof rack
with the windshield wipers pushing aside the lightly falling rain I drove the short distance out of DC on Interstate 270 headed west towards Frederick as I drove I fueled my body in anticipation of my second cyclocross race of the season... my second race that acts as the first race in the MABRA Series
I had not ridden my cross bike since Charm City the week prior no cyclocross practices no mid-week work outs nothing. well... nothing more than riding my bike to get the kids from school and then our short ride across town together
after packing helmet, gloves, socks, shorts, and jersey the bike got a glance there was still dust from Charm City's race the week prior no more than a second in the bicycle repair stand and things were good to go with a WABA Bike to Work Day shirt I cleaned and lubed the drive train... pulled the rear wheel and tossed it in the trueing stand so that I could tightened some spokes... and with a spin of the cranks I checked the brakes and gears everything seemed ready to rock everything seemed ready to roll
the bike seemed to be working as it should I felt confident that I would be as ready for Ed Sanders as I was for Charm City not race ready... but ready to race
with a painless drive in the falling rain I arrived at Lily Pons I cursed myself for the shortage of gear for some reason I did not bring a raincoat... an umbrella... or any clothing options no knickers... no arm or leg warmers... nothing
how could I pack the car in the rain but not be lucid enough to think to bring some sort of rain gear?
but then after I registered and got my race number the rain stopped everything would be fine
I had been anxious for nothing
as I pinned my race number on my DCMTB jersey I wondered why my number was so high... 861(or something like that) had I really registered so late or was I being punished for some bad blogging? had I slandered the NCVC name one too many times?
861 would put me pretty far back sadly I would be too far in the back to really make any sort of charge for the front last year I think I had a top twenty finish... I doubted that would be possible on this day oh well... such is life... or really such is cross racing my race would be the race within the race not the race for the top spot on the podium
some socializing with familiar faces and old friends as I warmed up on the road then took a lap on the course there had been some changes to the course... but no real surprises it was the characteristic Lily Pons Cyclocross Course... a grass packed path weaving between the man made canals that act as the home to exotic aquatic plants then the long double track jeep road that goes to the area that has been come to be known as "the back nine" with its steep run up... equally steep drop in... feeding into another set of turns and then a short steep climb that passes a second announce booth that is usually surrounded by an assortment of hecklers
the rain had dampened things.... but not really any worse than the standard morning dew the course would be good by the time my race was to begin at 10am
the C Race started and finished then the Men Master B 35+ gathered for their call ups my head was not entirely in the game it was hard to think "race" with the race so many rows ahead of me anxiety filled me as I feared a pile up around me
I thought about where and when I could possibly try to get closer to the front I realized that the first lap would be the deciding lap that was no genius discovery in most cross races the first lap is the deciding lap the first lap... and then the final lap
there were some words from the officials then we were set to go there may have been a countdown... I was so far back I am not sure if I heard anything except for the sound of the start the bicycles in front of me stood still I stayed dormant as well... trying not to collide with the wheel in front of me then we were off...
bikes moved and there was the sound of cleats clipping in pedals and then the sound of countless skinny tires with little knobs rubbing against the pavement
the race started with a short 100 yard dash on pavement before the turn onto the prologue on the grass I tried to maintain composure I did not want to be caught in a crash I did not want to cause a crash I tried not to get too wrapped up in trying to pass people it was congested I did not need to say this but it was congested about 125 racers congested
we looped onto the main course then took to the barriers bikes and bodies were everywhere it was tough to get a fluid dismount and remount with all the racers packed in so close the cluster of people kept our pace a little slow back on the bike I figured I best start working forward the main group seemed to be going a tad slow while the leaders were more than likely pulling further away
I could not really tell what the leaders were doing all I could see was the sea of cyclists around me on the tight winding turns on the grass path between the lily ponds I tried to work my way around the racers instead of staying on the main path I made my pass around the racers on the grass on the outside I worked to get around people all the while trying to be respectful of the other's racer's space while also trying to not go so hard that I blew my load too early in the race
it was hard to say where I was in the game I was not too far back the leaders were in sight on the hard pack double track jeep road I worked to try and catch them
I wanted to try and get into the top twenty on lap one
as it turns out my secret strategy of going fast on the jeep road was not an original concept as I passed a number of racers even more racers passed me
heading into the back nine it was still pretty congested no one was willing to let things string out... which was smart it seemed everyone wanted to get closer to the front knee to knee elbow to elbow
on the so called "technical sections" I tried to make a few passes I tried not to get stuck at the other racers' pace after each aggressive pass I was often passed back on the off camber downhill with the powerlines to the right I accepted the moderate pace of the long line of racers in front of me a pass at this point was too risky
in my mind I felt that their tentative pace was better than me trying to make up ground and over cooking a turn leaving me on the ground
at the start of lap two I was feeling pretty okay I had worked my way up cheers from the sidelines gave me an idea where I stood in the pack someone on the sideline told a racer behind me that they were 24th this gave me energy I felt that there was some hope for me after all
even if I had not broken the top twenty I was still putting in a good effort
I worked hard to catch the racers in front of me making a few passes here and there only to be the victim of someone else's effort again on the double track jeep road I got passed by the stronger and more fit road cyclists this so called "mountain bike" course was not at all technical this was a fast and flat hammer course that favored those that had the powered to hammer the straight at high speed
not sure if it was lap two or lap three but somewhere early in the race there was a downed rider 3/4 of the way through the double track jeep road that leads to the back nice there was a racer flat on his back refusing to get up scrapes on his forehead some blood and a look of anguish of his face
a number of racers from our event had stopped their race to lend assistance no one tried to move him there was a buzz about neck injury the racers passed the downed rider but did not work to pass each other on this section it was a designated "neutral zone"
the downed racer was a grim reminder of the risks of racing on each lap it was a rude awakening to the fragility of it all
there was some friendly banter between racers DCMTB's Darren Biggs passed me... then faded in front of me a classic roadie maneuver then on a little technical rise and then turn Darren bumped another racer then crashed in front of me thanks Darren
Darren would then regain composure and pass me again then pick up a number of spaces on me anyone with any road training had the advantage over me it irked me for Darren to beat me... but it did not shock me that jeep road was such a disadvantage to me that it favored all who had logged the road miles in the months leading up to this day
the bike and body felt good I was riding hard but did not feel as if I could ride any harder the long double track jeep road seemed to be the deciding factor of this race for me years prior I had witnessed my weakness here never have I altered my riding to compensate for my deficiency in speed or endurance all I do is ride my bike
I ride it hard... but usually for fun intervals are not part of my vocabulary I thought to myself... some interval training would helped me alas... training is the dreaded T WORD I regret not training the laps went passed I did not have my usual "I AM GONNA DIE" sensation my race ended and I felt I had a little left in the tank there was not that I HAVE GONE SO HARD I AM GONNA PUKE sensation no... I had ridden hard... but I may have not gone hard enough
the final laps were fast and fluid I shared these laps with a 55+ racer who was really digging the course he cornered fast and hard and ended up crashing harder he launched nice little hops on the humps and really seemed to enjoy it all
across the line and I felt a little bit of a victory that there were racers behind me I had finished ahead of a few of my team mates but behind others off the course I saw my family it looked as if they had just arrived not soon enough to cheer me on oh well... their voices would not have changed anything but I would have liked to have seen their faces on the sideline
I gathered my wits and altered my focus back to the car to get the kids their bikes and to start getting them thinking about their races six year old Grant was excited to get on his bike but told me he was not going to race while nine year old Dean was willing to try stepping up from the lil Belgians to the 10-14 Juniors race
the boys suited up... well... they put on their helmets then I gave them each a juice box once properly fueled we went down to the lil Belgian's Course the boys did some laps Dean crashed and scraped himself up pretty bad
I gave Dean a few minutes to lick his wounds with a band aid on his knee I told him to mount up sore with fresh blood on his knee we went for a father son pre-ride in street clothes we rode the course together
this sixty-six pound kid has trouble lifting a 40 pound bike over the knee high barriers we moved at a casual pace around the course I knew that the racers around him would push is pace during the race proper we took the pre-ride so that there would be no surprises and so that he would know where he is in his race on each lap I was not trying to make him too tired to race
then lil Belgian's race happened with Grant as a willing participant all his "I am not gonna race... I am not gonna race" vanished when it came to race time Grant raced and raced hard it was a good contest where he landed second the experience was awesome to witness and he got a medal
Dean's effort was admirableas well younger and less prepared than those around him on a mountain bike in street clothes Dean lined up around kids on cross bikes in lycra it was a tough... two long laps for a young child two long laps in the heat
I worked the course and cheered for Dean at various points taking photos in between cheers trying to lend encouragement showing my pride
I stayed late after Lisa left for home with the boys so that I could watch some of the Men's Elite walking the course with the camera it amazed me how much faster these guys attack the course than any of the other classes
after snapping some shots it seemed like it was time for me to get in the car and head for home it had been a good day an exhausting day it is tough to wear so may hats to race... to parent... and to take photographs
it was a good day my race... my parenting... my photographs they were all pretty good although I would have had a better race... been a better parent.... or taken better photographs had I focused on just one activity but that is not how it happened
a good day all around thanks to NCVC for a stellar event a great course with fantastic competition
A preview of the course with a video shot during the 2009 race lots of Gwadzilla butt in this www.cxhairs.com
yesterday in the Men's Master 35+ race a racer crashed I am not sure of the severity of the injury he was conscious but immobile there was talk about an injury to his neck or spine
thinking good thoughts sending well wishes to the downed rider
we are out there to have fun it saddens me to hear that there could be such a disaster on the course
I am not sure of the specifics if anyone knows more... please share
more photos of from this event on the GWADZILLA FACEBOOK page I did not take as many photos as years past most of these images in this set are of DCMTB racers