Great things and mysteries
The following things were great about Gloucester:
- During the first day mudfest, I crashed as soon as I hit the mud after the pavement. On the first lap. As I was going down, my body rotated and some dude put his chainring into my side. Then he catapulted over me. Yes, this was great.
- Somehow being able to pass people in the deep mud straightaways (see number 2 below).
- Stealing someone’s beer from the tent right after getting lapped by Jon Page.
- Hoegaarden.
- Beating people.
- HOLY CRAP I LOVE TUBULARS. AND TRP EURO-X BRAKES.
The following things were shitty about Gloucester:
- Losing all the time I gained by powering through mud as soon as I hit “turns”.
- The mud sucked every ounce of energy out of me. As a result, on Sunday, I was a shell of Ryan Kelly. I was cooked, never knew where I was on the course, and was frequently on the cusp of over cooking every turn because I had no idea what was going on.
- My shoes weighed about 15 pounds after a lap on Saturday. I need new shoes.
The following things still confuse me about Gloucester:
- Gabe Lloyd’s crash with another dude when they just…rode into each other. It was like watching a pee-wee hockey check gone horribly wrong.
- How Jon Page can be so insanely fast in the mud. He must have a mud pit in his yard which he just rides through for practice. And also a mud covered hill. His backyard must suck.
- How Jeremy Powers can wear jeans. His quads are huge.
Other news: PVB and I have an agreement. He beat me at Vermont, I beat him on Saturday, he beat me on Sunday. Looks like I have to beat him this weekend.
More news: I am in considerable pain today.
Hey, some pics of you from Gloucester:
http://into-the-blue.com/gallery/v/misc/gloucester-2009-10-04/Gloucester+CX+264.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
http://into-the-blue.com/gallery/v/misc/gloucester-2009-10-04/Gloucester+CX+265.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
http://into-the-blue.com/gallery/v/misc/gloucester-2009-10-04/Gloucester+CX+308.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
and
http://into-the-blue.com/gallery/v/misc/gloucester-2009-10-04/Gloucester+CX+314.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
The “other dude” is Pete Hurst. Pete and I remounted our bikes after the barriers, but Pete started to fumble for his right pedal. Looking down while doing this, he started to veer right. It never occurred to me that someone would do this in our race and I thought I could pass him on the right as he was fumbling for the pedal. Had it been a Cat 4 race, I would have suspected a little veering and might have tried to go to the left or swing way right against the fence.
Its too bad since Sunday I had better legs, though way the hell off from what I had hoped for. That crash started a slow leak in my front wheel and a few laps later with 10psi left I was a kamikaze through every turn and crashed two more times. I made it to the pit, but was promptly lapped by Tim.
Heads are gonna roll at Providence.
I couldn’t believe it when I found out in VT that the UCI races are entirely fixed. First WWF and now CX.
Gabe –
Bummer, I saw that happen…and promptly rode past you guys. I was confused. But, as they say, shit happens.
yeah, thats racing.
My whining report: http://www.racewheelrental.com/blog/2009/10/05/gloucester-race-report/
You owe me one beer. Actually, one half beer. No, actually, I’ll by you a beer since you created road results.com
That was me in the beer tent. You can check out my version at http://www.startfinishbikenews.blogspot.com.
I agree that that course was completely dissorienting. I couldn’t remember what was coming up next except maybe around the paved section. But I only had to do it 4.5 times.
Say hi next time, or just steel another beer.
I will only take beers from you.
Also, I’m only a data monkey on road-results.com – it’s Colin’s labor of love. He just yells at me to do stuff.