Saturday, September 28, 2013

Gloucester Grand Prix of Cyclocross - Day One!



This begins what's called Holy Week in New England Cyclocross.  Two world cup-level courses.  The first weekend in Gloucester, the second in Providence.  

Gloucester always seems to be a rainy mudfest. Perfect fall weather all week made for a very dry and dusty course — I've actually never seen this course dry.   

Here's the report. 

At staging we played Brad groupies — Patrick, Billy, Freddy, Stan, Lewis, Jeff, me — all wanted to check out what the front row actually looks like.  

They talk race stuff up there — not like the back of the pack.  Back there we talk about how many doughnuts and beers we're looking forward to post race.  

We fist-bumped Brad and headed to our rows.  I started 54th in the grid, right across from Patrick.  Note to self:  race more, race faster, get a better starting spot (duh)!

From the gun I got on Patrick's wheel along with Billy and we picked a ton of people off.  Despite 2 crashes by me in the first two laps, we'd moved up into the 30s.  

On the 3rd lap, I felt great — Patrick must have too because we picked off even more guys and moved into the 20's.  Things were looking great.  I passed a bunch of guys on the hill up to the finish line on the way to the last lap.  About a 1/4 of the lap in, Patrick slowed at the top of the stair run-up.  This headed right into a 180 degree turn.  I turned and said, "let's go buddy – get on!"

Turning back and talking -- not a good technique for a 180 degree turn.  

I hit the inside wooden stake hard, and I did an endo.  Managed to clip my knuckle on a nail and it bled like crazy.  Brad had flatted, ran most of a lap and was chugging back through the entire field said, "Jon, you lost your watch" as he went by.  I looked down — he was right.  No watch on the wrist.  

(Not so) luckily for me, Brad has an on-board camera that captured King Klutz in action:

Brad: "See that dark thing going past your front wheel?  That's your watch :)"

What happens when you are a _____ :

So I did some quick ROI analysis – lose my backcountry watch or gun it for 30th place? 

The watch won, so I went on a search in the dust.  And amongst the riders flying by.  It took a few minutes and I lost about 30 places.  Found it got back on the bike and discovered I'd manage to lose the chain in the crash.  Off the bike again, another 5-10 places.  

Great — 3/4 of a lap to go and I'm now in the 70s.  Went from being the windshield to the bug.  Took off like a banchee / mad Irishman and clawed my way back up to 53rd.  

Still fun.



Now headed to the watch repair man (and a bottle of Advil)  ;).


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