Pearl
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Hood Position Review
So it’s been a week since I moved my hoods up on the cross bike. I must say, I’m upset I haven’t done this sooner. The control, the neutral-ness of my hands, the ease of braking, so much better. Plus I don’t have to wear gloves, so I look even faster. Should have taken a photo of this before and after. Thankfully the bars have marks on them by the manufacturer, so it was easy to get them in the same spot J
I didn’t take care of this part this week, as I usually follow the “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” motto.
The rest of the week was rather quiet; I had a good time at cross practice ripping around with Kirt. It was also Mandi’s first time back at cross practice and actually putting in some efforts since the pneumonia/toenail slaughter, So that was exciting. That Wednesday night, Kirt convinced me to sign up for the Marty’s race on Saturday. The sun setting earlier was not fun though, as this makes me want to goto bed at 7:30PM now.
MARTYS
I wake up early and head to the first race of the day to support homie Bill. Mandi didn’t realize she signed up for this course, she thought it was Sussex. She was pissed. I arrive just in time to see Bill go off. It was chilly. He had a good time, I think. Got a couple of laps in and I remembered the ride/run up. Last year I wasn’t able to do it. I think they gave you some more momentum this time around to actually get up it, and I was able to make it. Doing it at race pace may be harder, but we will give it a shot.
I line up in the back row. Literally, the back row. I wanted to take a photo of it. My goals shift to see how many people I can pass, as always. The start is kind of tight anyway, have no idea what the heck is going to happen. Making some small talk with the rest of the field and we head off. One guy in a Strava kit somehow ends up on the other side of the tape and decides to #YOLO it right back into the crowd, ripping the tape and almost taking everyone out. Thankfully, no one died. 2 seconds in, and I’m already dodging death. I make up about 10 spots before the second corner and head on my way.
Sadly, this is one of the first times I can’t remember many details from my race… Maybe because the ending was so memorable? The first 2-3 laps I’m making ground and jumping past people. Chris26er tangles wheels with someone on the pavement and I hope he isn’t jacked up. I always feel like I have a solid first two laps. I feel like I can keep on the gas a little longer than everyone else and get a good position. After that, I fall into the same pace as everyone else, except 26er, who motors past us. This is making it hard to make anymore moves that really, really stick. I start to fade as I run into Big Man Sean.
We are in a group of 5-6 guys. At this point, I feel like we are back at Ottos, jockeying for position and laughing out loud the whole time. No stress or tension at all. No place like home. I try to hammer past him and not let him stick around, but I realize he is here for the long run. One guy drops the rest of us, making us a fivesome. We roll around in this group for what feels like the whole race. We all change spots and move around. I try and get some dialog with Sean going. He’s riding strong and I feel like we can beat this group, together. One by one, lap by lap, everyone else but Sean keeps dying.
With two laps to go, I hit the single barrier as hard as I can and jump a little too high on my remount. I hear a crack. Time stops and I recall this post, again;
I think about how I should have done this, how now, my race is over. I pick my ass up, slowly, and sit back down, slowly. The saddle hasn’t moved. It’s in more of a 3 o’clock position, but still isn’t going to hurt me. I think about swapping bikes, but at this point, that will lose too much time. I just hope the CX gods give me a pass today.
I come to the realization it will be the battle between the two of us for the winner of this group.
I start to see that I can make a little gap after the ride/run up. Maybe it’s because I’m not 7 feet tall.
Sean screaming for ice cream.
So here we are, last lap. I feel that if I can stick with Sean and beat him up the steep hill, I should be golden. I would hit the last couple of slight switchback turns as hard as I can and hope he can’t stay on my wheel. Then I can coast into the finish line.
Over the single barrier and we are crawling. It was right at the top of the hill and I wanted to die. Thankfully, it was at the top of a hill and I could coast down the hill. I see that Sean was really pooped as he stepped on the barrier, as if he was 4 feet tall.
7 times up this hill was brutal.
Thankfully I was able to skip past Sean and past the pit. The long downhill gave me enough time to pedal hard and still recover. I kick as hard as I can and see if Sean has an answer; I don’t think he does. I go around the next switchback and hit it again, into the single barrier, and I have more of a gap. Phew! I don’t feel 100% dead and just need to keep the pace going into the off-camber tech section. I see 26er ahead of me, but he is untoucbale at this point.
I roll across in 14th. Very happy with this, compared to where I started. I really hope one day I can get in the two rows and see what really can happen. What was more exciting was the return of Mandi, and watching Kirt just absolutely KILL IT.
Smashed some Mexican food with Norm and friends. Then I spent the rest of the evening playing video games. Man, I can’t believe I used to do this for hours on end during the middle of the day. I ended up staying up till 11:30. Whoa.
Sunday was a great day. I took two naps, went for a easy road ride in the morning, ate burritos and waffles (not at the same time) and watched football. It was the ultimate bum day.
Nutella and peanut butter. Yum.
Towards the end of the day, I felt like this:
So it’s been a week since I moved my hoods up on the cross bike. I must say, I’m upset I haven’t done this sooner. The control, the neutral-ness of my hands, the ease of braking, so much better. Plus I don’t have to wear gloves, so I look even faster. Should have taken a photo of this before and after. Thankfully the bars have marks on them by the manufacturer, so it was easy to get them in the same spot J
I didn’t take care of this part this week, as I usually follow the “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” motto.
The rest of the week was rather quiet; I had a good time at cross practice ripping around with Kirt. It was also Mandi’s first time back at cross practice and actually putting in some efforts since the pneumonia/toenail slaughter, So that was exciting. That Wednesday night, Kirt convinced me to sign up for the Marty’s race on Saturday. The sun setting earlier was not fun though, as this makes me want to goto bed at 7:30PM now.
MARTYS
I wake up early and head to the first race of the day to support homie Bill. Mandi didn’t realize she signed up for this course, she thought it was Sussex. She was pissed. I arrive just in time to see Bill go off. It was chilly. He had a good time, I think. Got a couple of laps in and I remembered the ride/run up. Last year I wasn’t able to do it. I think they gave you some more momentum this time around to actually get up it, and I was able to make it. Doing it at race pace may be harder, but we will give it a shot.
I line up in the back row. Literally, the back row. I wanted to take a photo of it. My goals shift to see how many people I can pass, as always. The start is kind of tight anyway, have no idea what the heck is going to happen. Making some small talk with the rest of the field and we head off. One guy in a Strava kit somehow ends up on the other side of the tape and decides to #YOLO it right back into the crowd, ripping the tape and almost taking everyone out. Thankfully, no one died. 2 seconds in, and I’m already dodging death. I make up about 10 spots before the second corner and head on my way.
Sadly, this is one of the first times I can’t remember many details from my race… Maybe because the ending was so memorable? The first 2-3 laps I’m making ground and jumping past people. Chris26er tangles wheels with someone on the pavement and I hope he isn’t jacked up. I always feel like I have a solid first two laps. I feel like I can keep on the gas a little longer than everyone else and get a good position. After that, I fall into the same pace as everyone else, except 26er, who motors past us. This is making it hard to make anymore moves that really, really stick. I start to fade as I run into Big Man Sean.
We are in a group of 5-6 guys. At this point, I feel like we are back at Ottos, jockeying for position and laughing out loud the whole time. No stress or tension at all. No place like home. I try to hammer past him and not let him stick around, but I realize he is here for the long run. One guy drops the rest of us, making us a fivesome. We roll around in this group for what feels like the whole race. We all change spots and move around. I try and get some dialog with Sean going. He’s riding strong and I feel like we can beat this group, together. One by one, lap by lap, everyone else but Sean keeps dying.
With two laps to go, I hit the single barrier as hard as I can and jump a little too high on my remount. I hear a crack. Time stops and I recall this post, again;
I think about how I should have done this, how now, my race is over. I pick my ass up, slowly, and sit back down, slowly. The saddle hasn’t moved. It’s in more of a 3 o’clock position, but still isn’t going to hurt me. I think about swapping bikes, but at this point, that will lose too much time. I just hope the CX gods give me a pass today.
I come to the realization it will be the battle between the two of us for the winner of this group.
I start to see that I can make a little gap after the ride/run up. Maybe it’s because I’m not 7 feet tall.
Sean screaming for ice cream.
So here we are, last lap. I feel that if I can stick with Sean and beat him up the steep hill, I should be golden. I would hit the last couple of slight switchback turns as hard as I can and hope he can’t stay on my wheel. Then I can coast into the finish line.
Over the single barrier and we are crawling. It was right at the top of the hill and I wanted to die. Thankfully, it was at the top of a hill and I could coast down the hill. I see that Sean was really pooped as he stepped on the barrier, as if he was 4 feet tall.
7 times up this hill was brutal.
Thankfully I was able to skip past Sean and past the pit. The long downhill gave me enough time to pedal hard and still recover. I kick as hard as I can and see if Sean has an answer; I don’t think he does. I go around the next switchback and hit it again, into the single barrier, and I have more of a gap. Phew! I don’t feel 100% dead and just need to keep the pace going into the off-camber tech section. I see 26er ahead of me, but he is untoucbale at this point.
I roll across in 14th. Very happy with this, compared to where I started. I really hope one day I can get in the two rows and see what really can happen. What was more exciting was the return of Mandi, and watching Kirt just absolutely KILL IT.
Smashed some Mexican food with Norm and friends. Then I spent the rest of the evening playing video games. Man, I can’t believe I used to do this for hours on end during the middle of the day. I ended up staying up till 11:30. Whoa.
Sunday was a great day. I took two naps, went for a easy road ride in the morning, ate burritos and waffles (not at the same time) and watched football. It was the ultimate bum day.
Nutella and peanut butter. Yum.
Towards the end of the day, I felt like this:
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