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December 12, 2011
by Derwyn
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USGP Saturday

And so it ends. Not with victory or glory but with knees scraping into dusty gravel and hands ramming into course poles. My USGP race could be described as schizophrenic. On the one hand my legs felt good, but my mind was all over the place. I struggled to be in control, as I would enter into a corner my body would move to turn, but straight is how I’d go course tape be damned. The whole race felt like a battle not against other riders but against myself.

With a top 10 placing floating about a minute in front of me I focused my attention on Slate Olsen. Why Slate? According to crossresults.com he is one of my “victims” (I’ve beat him 3 out of 5 races). He was quite a ways ahead but enough such that I could see him and track my progress. The announcers seemed to be in love with him as they would spend a good portion of the time discussing him and even his mother-in-law. Anyhow, with one lap to go I had caught him and was on his wheel. I think he knew it and slowed slightly to conserve. I figure if we are going to fight for top 30 we should make it fun. I decided to stay on his wheel until the final turn but this turned out to be a mistake. Once around the corner the person in front has a distinct advantage and he used it well and crossed the line well ahead of my futile sprint. And so it ends.

Today (Sunday), while everyone raced a second day, Sabine and I headed up to Mt. Bachelor Nordic center for some good clean skate skiing. No dust, no gravel to tear the skin from my fragile knees just good clean pure white snow and the rhythm of my ski’s gliding through the groomed trails. I love cross but I love more the transition into a different season. Just as I’ll love the smell of mud come October next year when cross returns along with my spirit for it.

Photo courtesy of Matt Haughey

DerwynWinter

December 11, 2011
by Derwyn
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GPMC #9 and final

I figured I’d best start with the positive. For the series overall I took 2nd and though my original goal was to at least wear the leaders jersey once – William was just too strong. In retrospect a great series, lots of new races (for me) and a great year overall. I’m so glad there is a new series in town and I look forward to doing many of these venues again.

As for the last race itself, Wintercross, you could not have asked for a better venue nor a better day. However I showed up with legs made of lead and burlap. The two weeks prior could not have been worse as race preparation. Thanksgiving festivities (food and liquor), and the real killer was a surprise business trip to Germany. The Germany trip consisted of about 40 hours travel/flying time, lack of sleep across the board, stress and a time change to adjust to on both ends. Needless to say I was feeling less than spunky.

Photos courtesy of Matt Haughey

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November 21, 2011
by Derwyn
2 Comments

GPMC #8 CX Champs

Have you ever shown up somewhere with high hopes only to have them suddenly seem hopeless at the start, but once in it, your hopes are raised again to new levels, to finally be missed by an ever so slight margin of error? Yeah, I hate that too.

And so there I was starting in line with Tim Butler, William Sullivan, Tim Jones and John Rollert, all of whom have beat me in the past. But I was not deterred, I wasn’t going to drive 2 hours one way with crazy football traffic to not podium! (By the way, what’s with the flags and pom poms sticking out of everyone’s trunks. Maybe it’s just me but it seems kind of…how to put this…well, it just doesn’t seem to jive with the whole rough and tumble football image).

I lead the first lap but was overtaken by Butler, Jones and Sullivan at some point. I think this is the point I struggle with the most. Why did I let them get by me? How did they get away from me? I felt strong enough and I felt technically competent. Maybe how I feel isn’t reality at all. Maybe I’m just off on each skill such that it’s imperceptible to my minds eye? Am I over confident? Can I improve such a small margin or is this a chasm beyond my own blinded perception?

As the race progressed I was alone and far off the podium. However, there was a glimmer of hope as I passed Jones seemingly out of gas. Then in the distance I could see Rollert, who was in third. I came so close to him that I could still see the mud in his wake settling. I ran up the stairs just behind him, set my bike down and heard – and felt – a strange rattle. My rear wheel had come loose. Really? Anyhow, it took me a bit to get it all resolved, as my brain couldn’t do the math trying to recall “lefty loosy, righty tighty” while also standing on the opposite side of the wheel lever. Meanwhile, the crowd was yelling something about a dollar that happened to be sitting right in front of me. So, while distracting, at least I got something for my troubles.

That was it though. I enjoyed the rest of the race flying through the back section and otherwise enjoying a great course. 4th. Just shy of a podium. How glorious that would have been, but it gives me aspirations for next year. I’m so happy not to be the best in the world. How boring would that be?

Photos Courtesy of William Sullivan

DerwynPIR (2)

November 14, 2011
by Derwyn
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Final Crosscrusade – PIR

It’s hard to know where to start regarding this race. It was neither epic nor problematic, my expectations were vague and undefined, and my health was lost somewhere between a long season and a full blown cold.

The course was a perfect cyclocross course with mud, pavement, barriers and the crowd was electric. The drumming squad was on hand to add an element of college sports to the vibe sans the pom poms.

Me? Well, I raced, but as you can tell from my lackluster opening sentence it was a mediocre race. My legs felt slow and stiff, the mud dogged me at every pass and I felt timid in the corners. On my last two laps I honestly felt I was getting a sore throat right then and there. At that moment my “logical-brain” debated stopping, except that part of the brain was conveniently locked up so the “race-brain” could operate unimpeded and without interruption.

I did finish and I did get 16th 17th. On the last lap I slipped on a corner, which I had ridden each time prior, and my foot landed just right to pick up a little wooden stick that prevented me from clipping in effectively. This easily cost me 3 places. But that’s me just cryin’ over nothin’.

This week is thankfully a rest week.

All images taken by Sabine (thanks for coming and cheering!)

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November 7, 2011
by Derwyn
1 Comment

GPMC #7 – Apple Core

When I think about my love for sport it often boils down to a sense of freedom that comes when the medium between me and and my environment becomes less stable. Sports such as powder skiing through trees, surfing ocean waves and cyclocross racing through thick mud. After a very dry season so far, the rains came and set the stage for a very muddy race.

The Apple Core took place on a farm, and while flat, had long muddy sections that had me and my bike gliding on the verge of chaos. Power and finesse had to work in tandem to continue forward movement as the mud would devilishly veer the front wheel in sudden strange directions while also grabbing hold of the rear wheel only to let go sending it spinning violently loose. The section was long too – stopping would mean a long run or a difficult restart, so you had to be vigilant and ever persistent to get through intact. Exiting the mud I would be gassed and lament the return 10 minutes later when I would come around again. I realize it seems odd to start this post with love and freedom for the mud only to describe it with such little joy, but that’s how it is often times in the midst of paradise. So carried away with my burning legs and fear of crashing that I don’t have time to pause and reflect on the beauty of the moment. Only now, next to a fire and a sleeping dog can I think back and realize the inner child spirit that was welling up within me each time I’d float through the mud. The pain now a distant memory, all I feel is the motion of my bike gliding like ski’s through powder, effortlessly forward.

In the end I took 2nd – due mostly to not getting a technical. The good news is that this puts me only a few points from the leader. I might just wear the jersey after all. To do so, however is still going to take a herculean effort.

As a side note. I rarely comment on the work before and after, but this time the mud, grass combo was so atrocious to the bike that it’s worth noting the pain and effort it took to return my bike from the grave. Basically the mud was heavy, thick and engorged with numerous long strands of slimy green grass. The grass managed to weave it’s way into every available nook and cranny. When I got home it took me more than 2 hours to clean my bike involving a complete dismantling of my cassette, chain rings, and rear hub. I realize you, the reader, probably have very little sympathy, but after a long day of racing it’s back breaking work. After a day of skiing or surfing there is litte more to do than open a beer.

Photos courtesy of Matt Haughey

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October 30, 2011
by Derwyn
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GPMC #6 – David Douglas #2

Most of the Portland cyclocross world was going to be down in Bend for the cross crusade Halloween races and party. I new William Sullivan would be there too. This meant that I had a very strong chance of winning my first race. However it was never guaranteed.

I showed up to a beautiful day and a great course. The field was 18 strong but I felt good. As we headed into the first few turns I was about 4 or 5 back and was keeping my eye on the current leader. About half way through the first lap I had passed most of the leaders and was now following Patrick Wilder. He seemed strong and was slowly getting a small gap. We both hit the “lung buster hill” and rode up the entire thing powering the bike against gravity. My rear tire slipped and I had to get off near the top and finish with a run. This gave Patrick and good 10 second gap and I was worried because he looked calm.

I decided I had to get back on his wheel at all cost, so I pushed the big ring and fought to catch. Once on his wheel I took a moment to catch my breath and then immediately passed. I immediately regretted this decision fearing that I’d worked too hard to catch and was now giving him the drafting advantage. We raced towards the hill for our third time with me now in front. (We had both decided independently to run the hill rather than ride). I ran the hill and when I crested the top I looked back and noticed that I’d created a bit of a gap. I pressed hard to try and build on this time. With each lap the gap grew larger to the point where I began to think a win was a reality. I focused on being calm to avoid any mistakes, flats or technicals. I was having a lot of fun.

Photos courtesy of Matt Haughey

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October 23, 2011
by Derwyn
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Cross Crusade – Hillsboro

This season has been very good to me. No major injuries and last week marked my first top 10 placing in a cross crusade. Which brings me to this race where yet another milestone was achieved. I received my first call up. What’s the big deal you ask? Well there are a number of things to consider. First and formost a call up guarantees that you are in the front group at the beginning of the race. This is necessary to achieve good placing – unless you are superman. Second of all, it means your name gets announced in all it’s glory to those waiting to line up. Believe me, I’ve been there and I know that each time they are calling up the leaders there is a tinge of envy. Does it sound egotistical then to say I’m aware of this fact when I’m the one getting called up?

On to the race. They course was going to be fast and flat, but there was one major obstacle. A huge sand pile with a single lane cut out of the center. This was sure to be a factor going into the start. Everyone was going to gun for position to avoid being stuck in the bottle neck that would surely ensue…especially if some fool crashed…

I was about 4th into the sand pile and felt that I was successfully over but as you can see I “crashed”. Was I taken out? or did I cause him to fall into me? It’s impossible and foolish to speculate but there we were face down at the bottom of the sand pile fully aware of the throngs of riders passing. I struggled to get untangled and back into the race having lost any call-up or hole shot advantage.

I raced hard and gained confidence with every lap. I passed quite a few and managed a respectable 9th (especially considering I was in 8th and had caught 7th but was then passed by 9th who, by the way, had been drafting me for 4 laps. The nerve, but that’s racing.)

Photos courtesy of dmroth

October 22, 2011
by Derwyn
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Het Meer GPMC #5

An absolutely superb race. It had everything going for it. The course was fast with some technical and sand. My race was highly engaging for me. A fairly large group, a 6 man break, a gap which I later closed, down to 3 with 2 laps to go, the final attack, and a 2nd place finish.

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October 17, 2011
by Derwyn
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GPMC #4 & Cross Crusade #3

Doing two races in a weekend is tough. I’m just sayin’.

This weekend I did the GPMC #4 Ninkrossi on Saturday and then the Cross Crusade #3 at PIR on Sunday. The whole weekend was beautiful fall weather; cool, sunny, crisp…just lovely. I only wish the week of rain had left a bit more mud.

GPMC: A hilly course. We started way down on a large grassy slope overlooking the Washougal valley. The view had an idyllic European feel to it. Anyhow, from our starting position below we rode straight up a narrow road, made a U-turn and rode back down to the bottom were – after a few addition up and down s-turns just for fun – we proceeded to head back up and up and up and up past the parked cars, past all the spectators until finally we turned around and descended just past the main area at the “top” of the slope just so we could get one last climb in before the final descent to where we started. Whew! Now repeat 9 times!! Count them – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

The two leaders quickly left me in the dust. It just seemed silly to chase. They were too fast. I shifted my focus on maintaining 3rd. As far as I could tell Joe Santos was the closest to me and with each lap he would gain some then lose some. I tried to figure out the areas he was losing ground so I could take advantage of it. Or vice versa to learn where he gained to improve.

Because the course was so taxing, my legs were nearing exhaustion for the final 3 laps. I found my self mumbling “rest, rest, rest” followed by “hammer, hammer, hammer”. This was necessary because the body resists the efforts once you give it a little rest. So the self motivation mumbling was necessary to maintain 3rd.

Cross Crusade: I missed last week so my 13th place Alpenrose call-up was lost at Rainer due to my no-show. However, I lucked out because that my bib number ends in 4 which allowed me to line up just after this weeks call-ups. (Cross Crusade randomly selects the order of how people line up in an effort to make if fair. The top 18 get a front row call up)

78 people were lined up for this race. That’s a lot of people. The course was going to be fast and bumpy so I planned on – once again – trying to move up quickly. It didn’t quite work out as planned. For some reason I kept getting hung up. The traffic was crazy and awkward. I fumbled more than a couple of times and a lot of people got by me. Once it spread out and I got settled in it was a lot of work to get by the people in front of me. I could see the leaders just ahead but the gap was growing. I could even see the specific areas where gaps were forming. Inevitably someone would allow a gap to form and then those people passing would have to work to bridge. Kind of frustrating.

About 30 minutes into it I was racing against John Bravard. He and I were working together to catch other racers. One guy in particular smelled us coming and got a second wind. I thought we’d catch him and pass him but he stayed away.

In the final lap it was still John and myself. I was determined to stay on his wheel and was feeling pretty good. Traffic was getting thicker as we began to catch up to slower A riders and other lapped riders. John got by a group of 3 that took me an additional 3 seconds to get around. Sadly I think this provided him the gap he needed. I tried to bridge but it seemed he also was getting a second wind.

In the end I came in 10th…a first for me and is very exciting because top ten has always been my goal. It’s kind of a big milestone.

Photos courtesy of:
Dave Roth
Matt Haughey
Sabine Pater

After the flat

October 9, 2011
by Derwyn
1 Comment

GPMC#3 Heiser Farms CX

My goal with this new series is to obtain the leaders jersey, however this reality is slowly slipping away.

After a good showing at David Douglas (3rd with a dropped chain) and a no-show at Hood River I came to this race with high expectations for a win.

The course was slick, but fast and fun. Lots of turns, some hills, one mud bog and a good crowd all around. Not many people showed up, or at least not as many as I expected (I guess the cross crusades are still the bigger draw). For me personally the smaller crowds makes for a more sane event, though I will admit there is a side of me that laments not going to Rainer today (Next week I’m doing both races).

The race itself did not go well for me. It was a classic sequence of events that individually were not detrimental, but together caused a considerable setback for my ultimate goal. For the first 2 or 3 laps I was battling it out with William Sullivan for first. He seemed relaxed and confident while I was breathing very heavy. I did wonder at times if I was going to be able to hold out for the entire race but I had to trust my fitness and continue my aggressive pursuit of dropping the field early. I was please with how things were going.

Then I flatted. William passed and said “That’s a bummer” – or something to that effect – I was too depressed to hear. I rode and ran the flat to the pit and grabbed my pit-bike. I was now 5 people back and was determined to regain my lost ground. At this point I would have been ok with the mishap. It happens so deal with it. However, I began to realize that my pit-bike’s rear tire was low…too low. It was then that I realized I had not checked it before the race.

Sabine was now in the pit ready to assist. I yelled that I needed her rear tire – the oh so sweet carbon one :-) . She, with the help of Mike in the pits – replaced the rear tire on my regular bike now sitting in the pit. As I came around for the swap they said the brake was rubbing so I had to go around again while they tried to tweak it. When I came around again Mike asked if I wanted to remove the brake all together…I had never considered this and in my haste just grabbed the bike. In the end I don’t think it was rubbing or at least I did not notice it but by now the leaders were far gone. Knowing that I was pushing my limits to stay with them at the front I knew it would take a miracle to suddenly go faster than them to catch. A miracle that was not going to happen.

Thankfully Jeff Standish was there to motivate me forward and a race within the race began to emerge. We were back and forth for the rest of the race. I thought he had passed me in the bog, which he had done before, but it was someone else. Still not sure what happened but in the end I got 6th, which I suppose considering the mishaps is a solid result.


Photo courtesy of Matt Haughey