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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

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

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

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

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.

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