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 [photo credit: Geoff Martin] Photos by Jeff - of Jeff | Cat 4/5 50+ Lap 1 Video | Strava Cat 4/5 50+ - Costume Race | Results | My CX History It's Elemental Orchard Cross is a favorite. That still held true on the drive north in a chilly light rain at an early Sunday hour. Fun course, fun venue, fun crowd. And a costume race! Cross' appeal to me lies in the handling of the bike. Not so much that I'm a master (I'm not) but because, relative to my peers, my handling skills exceed my power skills. Here's the way I look at it: if there are 30 course "elements" a lap where I can shave a second off compared with my competitors, that's 30 seconds a lap and two to two-and-a-half minutes a race. And those shavings/savings don't *cost* me energy, they *conserve* energy. Here's how I fared on the four major elements at Orchard Cross. Major Element 1: First barriers (video shows laps 2, 3, 4, 5) The first set of barriers led up a short incline lined by apple trees. The trees on the right offered a hint of a line around rather than over them. I tried that line 3 times (the 4th time, I ran it "normally"). Each time, I got myself lightly tangled in the branches and to dismount before the second barrier. I did find, however, that by running well past the barriers before remounting, I gained a bike length or two. Net result: slower than running them properly. Major Element 2: Steps (video shows lap 5) Three low steps on a gentler incline, three bigger steps higher up on the steeper incline. My friend and master bike handler Jim Paiva was able to ride both sets. With a bit of luck and practice, I might have been able to ride the lower set. Several attempts during pre-ride laps dissuaded me of this notion, but I still tried it once during the race. Equally unsuccessful. What DID work was shouldering and running the entire stretch. I routinely gained multiple positions using this tactic (on lap 5, I passed none other than the aforementioned Jim P as he rode while I ran). Net result: I'm a faster runner than others in the bottom half of my field, which doesn't say much at all about their running ability. Major Element 3: Pump track (video shows lap 4) I held my own on the first climb, gained on the two table-tops and the banked u-turn, lost a bit on the second climb, and gained on the pump track section. No matter, it was a blast! Net result: even. Major Element 4: Second barriers (lap 4) Ninety degree right, ninety degree left, u-turn, barriers. I find that I carried better-than-average speed into these flat terrain barriers, dismounting much later (but not Joey later) than my competitors. I'm also (for reasons I can't fathom) faster across the barriers, faster remounting, and faster accelerating away. I'm pretty sure that if I ever encounter a course that's almost entirely barriers, I'll earn the top step of the podium going away. Net result: faster. My objective at Plymouth this coming Sat and Sun--handle the heck out of my machine, win the elements, and make up for lost power. |
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DIEFFENBACH CROSS RESULTS 2015 RESULTS
*Metrics not included in running total; lesser of two races in a day excluded 2014 RESULTS
2013 RESULTS
2012 RESULTS
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