DCCX

It took some doing, but thanks to the help ofa RBR /FB "friend", I got into the Master's 3/4 race. Had to get up at 5:45 am, but this race is worth losing sleep over. Beautiful cool fall morning, temps in the high 30's, climbing as I drove. By the time I hit DC it was 50ish. Didn't get as good a warmup as i would have liked but felt OK. Didn't hurry to the start; got to pre-ride a big section of the course. Similar to before but with some changes. I had rider #725 which meant I started DFL. Can't complain since I didn't even expect to get in. Was chatting with some riders an dbefore you knew it, the race had started; so much for the hole shot. Avoided 3? crashes in the start and started picking my way through the field. The course was dry but the ground was soft so i was glad I used my Fangos, which i had dialed in just right. Felt really good and had 2 guys in my sight with 2 laps to go. Got past 1 with 2 to go and aimed for the next. Had guys cheering at the last set of barriers before the finish line (saw 2 other HUPsters there in the 4 race-might have been on eof them) and despite bobbling the off-camber U-turn on the hill on the next to last lap and dropping my chain on the last lap, I passed the final guy and stayed in front while passing 1 more guy on the finish straight. 79th out of 93. Felt like I passed more, but still my best race of the year. Thanks to Joe Mallis for the foto.

Granogue, Day 1 Masters 45+

Another great day in the Mid Atlantic. Breezy, clear, temps climbing into the low 60's. And WTF?? No mud? Granogue and no mud??
I got a nice warm up but pushed my time too much; ended up getting to the start too late and was in the last friggin row. Ugghh. 60+ riders went off; I gained a few places up the paved uphill start, into some twisties in the woods. This is a section that rewards bike handling. Thanks to a good choice of tires, I was able to corner really well. However, there was 1 180 around a tree that had sand on the outside line; definately the wrong line to take. Up a steep run up, and up through some paved/gravel climbing, onto some off camber long sweepers that you could carry a decent amount of speed through if you took the right line. I found myself battling with 2 of my cross-results nemesis. I'd pass Louis on the climbs and he'd gain time on the run up on the back side of the course; I can't run for sh*t this year. Gustavo managed to just stay ahead of both of us. I THOUGHT I passed Louis for good with about 2 laps to go when I did a bone-headed move and took the wide line in the sand on that aforementioned 180. I was able to get around him again but wound up finishing right behind him and Gustavo. They have our results effed up so i really don't know exactly where I placed; they have me DFL but I know that I wasn't. Anyway, this is probably the best course in the Mid Atlantic. And there was beer and BBQ at the end

Town Hall Cross in Bethlehem, PA

It was an absolutely gorgeous day in a really pretty section of PA. 11 am start. I'm kinda liking that. Masters 45+ (35 and 55 in a combined field). I hadn't done this race before so I didn't know what to expect. Turns out there is s fair amount of altitude change, hence the "St Lukes (a Hospital that sponsors the race) staircase", a section of switchbacks up a sizeable hill with a steep kick up at the end. Then a long, twisting decent into a flattish area. Got a good warm up, felt pretty good. Pre-rode most of the course and found that the only way I could get my rear derailer into the largest cog was to hold my lever in. Not good, but workable. We had a staggered start, 35's going off 1st, 45 's a minute later, and then the 55's. i got a front row startingb position and got the best start of my life, right up the hill. Lost a few stops initially and then gained a few back by the top; I was in the 1st 10 to crest the hill. I rode it all of the laps (lots of cheers for the hooligans at the top, heckling/cheering the racers on). The decent allowed you to recover, but was tricky; I wiped out 3 times (2x at the same turn. Yea, really) on it and once in the gravel. Not good. I think I didn't have enough air in my front tire, plus I should've brought my Rhino front tire; I likely would have stayed upright 3 of those times. Short laps, we did 7 (leaders anyway-I did 6). I felt pretty good and really don't know where I placed; had to bolt because I needed to get back home and go to work. And with that in mind, why is it that the only time I get a beer hand up is when I have to work that day and have to politely decline? This was a really nice course an I'll make sure I do it as often as possible.

BCA Challenge in Fort Ritchie, MD

 I did BCA challenge at Fort Ritchie MD. Right over the PA/MD border. October came in with a bang; 48f when I arrived, drizzle, and plenty of mud. WTF was I thinking for buying file treads this year?? But I digress...
Anyway, it's a small race and I had heard that the course tended to be not very "creative". Well, due to conditions, it was a tough slog. A paved start into some long grass and packed dirt; a bit of mud but very rideable. Up a small incline, over 2 barriers placed on either side of a tree (ala "the tree" @ Charm City) and over to a pretty technical "S" turn on the side of a hill. I ran it the 1st time through (due to congestion-picked up some places by doing so) and rode it afterward. Some more grass and then a paved section over to a decent climb and then a steep drop down, U turn, and back up. Had to run up that. Wished I had put my cleats in my shoes. Back down and then off to a really hard mudddy section of the course. Had it been dry it would have been fast but as it was there were long sections where running was the best option. Another small "S" turn on a hill that was easier/faster to run and a small run up and back down through some twisties and the start line. We did 4 laps in the Masters 3/4. I felt decent but I am not a mudder, although I must say that my new BMC is much better handling than my Empella was; I was able to take lines and pass through slop that others were having more trouble in. Had 3 guys in front of me for a good deal of the race. Caught 2 with about 2 laps to go but couldn't get the 3rd guy. I really don't know where I placed but it was a decent race. But some sun would be appreciated. Soon. That, and I need to get my rear Rhino repaired because having 1 up front ROCKED. My Fango rear did OK but I'm thinking with the Rhino I could have rode some stuff I had to run through.