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BatesCross 2014 p/b McNeill Sports Ventures |
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Inaugural BatesCross p/b McNeill Sports Ventures, and what do you know, I get a front row call-up.
And by call-up, I mean that most of the field politely hung back, so I joined the sole rider with his front wheel right on the starting line.
The faux whistle sounded, and I thought, why not go for the hole shot?* I figured that the low stakes, early hour, and lack of coffee might lead to a softer than usual start. And I was right. I led around the small backstop, over the first barriers, and into the Devil's Chicane. *For those not familiar with cyclocross, the "hole shot" means getting to the first turn first. As a result, you avoid the inevitable bottleneck as following riders neck down from a wide opening straighaway to a narrower track. In "official" races, I've never started front row (front row slots being reserved for racers with strong finishes throughout the current or prior year), and I've certainly never gotten the hole shot. With more than 100 cones pitoned into the side of a vertical cliff alternating 50 feet above and below one another, MSV had set a course that makes the Night Weasels ski slope course look like a multi-use rail trail. I safely navigated the first 400 cones before my front wheel washed out on an ice sheet straight out of a Coors Light commercial. I was quickly on my feet, but with the final 100 feet before the summit of Everest facing me, I chose to shoulder my trusty Fuji and run, figuring I'd block the field already stacked up behind me. And that tactic worked for 2 cones before my footing failed me as well. (Note to self: start a 1,000+ email message thread on 'cross toe cleat length, material, and installation torque.) I secured my belay and roped my way up to the next cone, then remounted as most of the group passed by. What started as a promising first lap in Brad's front-view camera quickly became a brief and then receding cameo in his rear-facing video. I safetly navigated the remaining 1200 cones on this first of what would be eight laps and plunged back to sea level. From that point on, it was Dieffencross as usual. A few riders behind, more ahead, and courtesy of a DNF or two, a finish about 70%-80% of the way back in the back. Jon M, thanks a ton for organizing! Given that the only New England races this weekend were in Hartford CT, it was great to drive a few miles, pin on a number, get in a 40 minute effort, and convene for caffeine at Peets ... all by 9am. |
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