first cross race of 2012

Today was my first cross race of the year.  Cat 4 at the Blandford Beer cross.

Was pretty excited.  Thought I had my equipment dialed in for the start, but as it turns out, not so much.

Lined up in staging about 2/3 behind the front, which seemed like a reasonable place given my expectations.  My first goal on the day was not get get lapped.  Second goal was to finish in the top 30.  In the past few years, cross has been an afterthought after a full season of road racing.  This is the first year I took it easy on the road, and have been working to parlay my fitness from the Alps trip into cross.

As soon as we started, I regretted starting so far back.  The course was 100% grass, a lot of twists and turns and a few hills.  One interesting spiral feature, with three loops into the center of the spiral, two back to back 180 degree turns, then rolling back out of the spiral.  Right from the gun, there were riders slowing to nearly a stop to navigate the first few corners.  After less than a half a lap, it started to open up a bit, but by then things were pretty strung out.  Starting closer to the front would have put me much closer to the leaders.  Lesson learned.

I was riding well, picking up riders here and there, passing more than a dozen in the first lap.  Had a couple of bobbles on remounting after the barriers.  I have not practiced that at all this year, will have to get out with Darren and Tim to do some cross practice this week.  The second lap, there were less passing happening.  I got passed a few times at the runup.  I always struggle to keep the gas up running up a short hill.  A few riders nearly pedaled up the whole bank, which would have been advantageous, as the top was an off camber, with the rider downhill from the bike.  Long legs really helped get back on the pedals, which several riders struggled with.

Two and a half laps in, I started feeling my rim hitting ground on a few small bumps.  Looked back at the rear wheel, and said "Oh no".  rear flat.  I was able to nurse the bike into the pit w/o getting passed, and had a spare wheel, so inverted the bike and switched wheels.  Got back on course, and started passing riders I had already passed 10 or 20 minutes ago.  Felt a bit deflated, but tried hard to keep up the pace I had on the first half of the course.

Finished up, took a short recovery ride, then went back to check results.  52 out of 66 starters.  A bit disappointing, but a much stronger finish than any of my previous cross finishes.  Had I not flatted, I would have been in the 40s.  Top 30 riders did not get lapped, anyone finishing behind 31 did get lapped, which is hard to avoid on a course with laps taking 9-10 minutes, especially when riders stack up early in the course.