Shedd Park CX
Shedd Park CX
No, I didn't race. But I rode over to watch a few friends and it looks like I missed a great MRC finish in an earlier race. I will let the person and result remain nameless, but it was in the Masters 35+ to keep you guessing... post up Master MRC'r!
Last edited by jraguin on Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Shedd Park CX
Boy I could get used to the whole "getting paid to race my bike" thing. Ha! 10 whole dollars, maybe I should switch careers....
I love the Shedd Park course -- it's a power course cleverly disguised as a driver's course. Lined up first row with a few fast guys; it helped that all the really fast guys were spread amongst the 45's and the Elites, and/or taking the day off. The first few laps were fairly uneventful, I sucked wheels as best I could, especially on the dead headwind finishing straight, ouch. About halfway through the race it became clear that GCD and I would be locked in a struggle to the finish. The few guys up the course were not coming back, and we had a good gap behind us. We traded spots a couple times, but his inner triathlete came out on the power sections -- I tried to make up time in the corners but bobbled a few times.... We were neck and neck until halfway through the last lap, I thought about sitting on his wheel and taking my chances in the sprint -- with the wind (at 10am anyway) it would have been a likely insurmountable advantage to be second wheel coming to the finish -- but what fun is that?? I attacked into the lone remaining switchback-ey section, got a little gap but not nearly what I was hoping for, then I bobbled some and it was all back together by the base of the final climb. We were set for an epic, painful finish, but at the top of the climb I looked back and no GCD. He dropped his chain on the climb and that was that. Cruised in for 5th place, 3 better than the predictor, and good enough to grab the last paying spot at 10 bucks
I also won the unofficial "highest placed guy whose crossresults points don't start with a 2"
Thought about doubling down in the 3/4 but that was the last race of the day (!) so I decided to go home and rake leaves instead....
I love the Shedd Park course -- it's a power course cleverly disguised as a driver's course. Lined up first row with a few fast guys; it helped that all the really fast guys were spread amongst the 45's and the Elites, and/or taking the day off. The first few laps were fairly uneventful, I sucked wheels as best I could, especially on the dead headwind finishing straight, ouch. About halfway through the race it became clear that GCD and I would be locked in a struggle to the finish. The few guys up the course were not coming back, and we had a good gap behind us. We traded spots a couple times, but his inner triathlete came out on the power sections -- I tried to make up time in the corners but bobbled a few times.... We were neck and neck until halfway through the last lap, I thought about sitting on his wheel and taking my chances in the sprint -- with the wind (at 10am anyway) it would have been a likely insurmountable advantage to be second wheel coming to the finish -- but what fun is that?? I attacked into the lone remaining switchback-ey section, got a little gap but not nearly what I was hoping for, then I bobbled some and it was all back together by the base of the final climb. We were set for an epic, painful finish, but at the top of the climb I looked back and no GCD. He dropped his chain on the climb and that was that. Cruised in for 5th place, 3 better than the predictor, and good enough to grab the last paying spot at 10 bucks
I also won the unofficial "highest placed guy whose crossresults points don't start with a 2"Thought about doubling down in the 3/4 but that was the last race of the day (!) so I decided to go home and rake leaves instead....
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PJ McQuade
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Re: Shedd Park CX
Nice work out there, Chris. Shedd Park is one of my favorites as well. Good to be back racing again - haven't seen my heart rate hit 180 since October. Walked away with a top 20 today, one of my better results this season. FYI Chris: Crossresults has you down for a DNF instead of a DNS in the 3/4 race.
To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.
-Shakespeare
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onegeardoug
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Re: Shedd Park CX
Nice work! Would have liked to know the result if he didn't drop his chain. Sounds like you two were duking it out. Great result!pace21 wrote:I looked back and no GCD. He dropped his chain on the climb and that was that. Cruised in for 5th place
Re: Shedd Park CX
Congratulations Chris!
I rode the 4's race in the morning, looking forward to a course more to my liking than Velo Cross the day before. Having flatted my rear wheel on Saturday, I was also hoping for better luck.
I had a third row start and was hoping to move up a bit on the cinder track at the start. Instead, I ended having some guy on my right bounce into me and take out what sounded like a fair number of guys behind. I ended up with both feet out of the pedals, flailing like a rodeo cowboy, but managed to stay upright. I was not moving up from there one the track, but at least I was near the front of the race.
The next few laps were a blur, but I mostly remember that every time I was feeling a little gassed, there was someone yelling my name and telling me to get going. Thanks especially to Chris, who seemed to be in 5 different places and whose screaming at me helped me pick up a number of spots on uphill sections. By lap three, I was somewhere around 20th (+/- a few spots), had just gapped a guy on one of my weaker sections, and had two guys ahead of me who I was convinced I could close down in the upcoming power sections. I hit the gas, and was pretty crosseyed going into the forest... where I hit a rock and flatted.
I ran for a little while, but two flats in a row was a bit to discouraging and I took the DNF - which I've been regretting since about the time I heard Diane Fortini say into her radio "number 324, DNF."
The good:
- I still have fitness left in my legs after 16 cross races and a long, full road season.
- I now have motivation to keep working hard for NBX
The bad:
- Besides the obvious, I was so pissed that I just left Shedd Park immediately after the race. I'd planned to stick around a while to cheer for my teammates, and I should have stuck around to repay the motivation others gave me. Sorry 'bout that.
I rode the 4's race in the morning, looking forward to a course more to my liking than Velo Cross the day before. Having flatted my rear wheel on Saturday, I was also hoping for better luck.
I had a third row start and was hoping to move up a bit on the cinder track at the start. Instead, I ended having some guy on my right bounce into me and take out what sounded like a fair number of guys behind. I ended up with both feet out of the pedals, flailing like a rodeo cowboy, but managed to stay upright. I was not moving up from there one the track, but at least I was near the front of the race.
The next few laps were a blur, but I mostly remember that every time I was feeling a little gassed, there was someone yelling my name and telling me to get going. Thanks especially to Chris, who seemed to be in 5 different places and whose screaming at me helped me pick up a number of spots on uphill sections. By lap three, I was somewhere around 20th (+/- a few spots), had just gapped a guy on one of my weaker sections, and had two guys ahead of me who I was convinced I could close down in the upcoming power sections. I hit the gas, and was pretty crosseyed going into the forest... where I hit a rock and flatted.
I ran for a little while, but two flats in a row was a bit to discouraging and I took the DNF - which I've been regretting since about the time I heard Diane Fortini say into her radio "number 324, DNF."
The good:
- I still have fitness left in my legs after 16 cross races and a long, full road season.
- I now have motivation to keep working hard for NBX
The bad:
- Besides the obvious, I was so pissed that I just left Shedd Park immediately after the race. I'd planned to stick around a while to cheer for my teammates, and I should have stuck around to repay the motivation others gave me. Sorry 'bout that.
Re: Shedd Park CX
ps. Several people recommended a place in Florida that will re-tube flatted tubulars. Since I now have two near-new tires in need of repair (one has about 5 laps at Velo Cross as its total use), I'm planning to do this. They charge $20 per tire for this service, plus shipping (but free return shipping). If anyone else has the same problem I do - the tires, I mean. I've got lots of other problems, too - and wants to split shipping costs, PM me.
Re: Shedd Park CX
This was my first X race since the Minuteman race. I was signed up for Orchard X but that got snowed out. I started about 2/3 the way back and there was instant carnage at the start. Unfortunately it looked like an MRC rider down in the midst of it - since Stefan escaped it must have been Ray. I avoided this and settled into a pretty nice race for me. It was a fast power course with only one dismount for the twin barriers. I must say I don't miss the mud! The first steep hill was a cluster and riders were getting off their bikes and others were drifting sideways. A rider just in front of me slid right and to avoid his rear wheel I had to veer right and was forced to dismount and run. A guy behind me swore and told us all to hold our lines, I held my tongue but my thought at the time was to say "f you, if you are such a good racer maybe you should upgrade".
Anyways, after that I rode up both hills without dismounting the rest of the race. On the cinder track at the finish I sprinted hard and passed the rider in front of me and made a serious effort to catch one more but missed out by about a wheel length. I felt like I was riding well and finished 64 out of 89 finishers. In my mind I thought I was more mid-pack but it was not to be.
I stayed and cheered on Chris and Gary in the 35+ race and then a few laps of the 45+ with Paul and John. Then I decided to get home to enjoy the warm day and get caught up on yard work. Does anyone have any feedback on Sterling - fun race? Saturday vs. Sunday? I am registered for Ice Weasels but am debating getting to Sterling, especially since it is so close.
Anyways, after that I rode up both hills without dismounting the rest of the race. On the cinder track at the finish I sprinted hard and passed the rider in front of me and made a serious effort to catch one more but missed out by about a wheel length. I felt like I was riding well and finished 64 out of 89 finishers. In my mind I thought I was more mid-pack but it was not to be.
I stayed and cheered on Chris and Gary in the 35+ race and then a few laps of the 45+ with Paul and John. Then I decided to get home to enjoy the warm day and get caught up on yard work. Does anyone have any feedback on Sterling - fun race? Saturday vs. Sunday? I am registered for Ice Weasels but am debating getting to Sterling, especially since it is so close.
Re: Shedd Park CX
Congrats on a great race, Chris!
Tom, it's good to see at least one of us 4's managed to finish. This was officially my shortest race of the season--hopefully my career. Started third row, just down from Stefan, and was caught in the mess he mentioned. Unfortunately the rider who caused all of it was right in front of me and I just couldn't avoid going down. In the process my chain dropped, which I didn't realize until I was back on the bike trying to pedal with a mess of people around me. The inevitable happened: I was spinning air and someone rammed through me from behind, went down again (this time a bit harder, banged up my right knee and hip). I managed to hobble to the side of the course and contemplated hopping back on and chasing back but with two falls in 100', a twisted saddle, and what appeared to be a loose headset I decided to pack it in. Very frustrating 'race' as I'm not sure what I could have done different...I saw the crash happening almost in slow motion but there was just nowhere to go in that pack at the start, and then what do you do with a dropped chain in the middle of a start and 60+ guys behind you?
Sounds like others had some solid results, I wish i had stuck around but I was banged up and pissed off, probably better to just get home and forget the whole event. I think this is gonna be my last race before Ice Weasels, too many bruises that haven't healed and my bike (and body) can't take too much more of this constant crashing.
Tom, it's good to see at least one of us 4's managed to finish. This was officially my shortest race of the season--hopefully my career. Started third row, just down from Stefan, and was caught in the mess he mentioned. Unfortunately the rider who caused all of it was right in front of me and I just couldn't avoid going down. In the process my chain dropped, which I didn't realize until I was back on the bike trying to pedal with a mess of people around me. The inevitable happened: I was spinning air and someone rammed through me from behind, went down again (this time a bit harder, banged up my right knee and hip). I managed to hobble to the side of the course and contemplated hopping back on and chasing back but with two falls in 100', a twisted saddle, and what appeared to be a loose headset I decided to pack it in. Very frustrating 'race' as I'm not sure what I could have done different...I saw the crash happening almost in slow motion but there was just nowhere to go in that pack at the start, and then what do you do with a dropped chain in the middle of a start and 60+ guys behind you?
Sounds like others had some solid results, I wish i had stuck around but I was banged up and pissed off, probably better to just get home and forget the whole event. I think this is gonna be my last race before Ice Weasels, too many bruises that haven't healed and my bike (and body) can't take too much more of this constant crashing.
Re: Shedd Park CX
Wow that's some awful luck!
After I read your report and this line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6MIBaC2My0
Just be glad the guys behind you only had 1 horsepower and not 100+!
After I read your report and this line:
all I could think of was a crash I saw back in 2001 when I was pitting for a buddy who was racing the Daytona 200. Through the magic of the internet and YouTube, I found this clip... You can't see me in the grainy video but I was standing right along pit row with the rest of the pit crews watching the start, like 100 feet away from the wreck.brownie28 wrote:and then what do you do with a dropped chain in the middle of a start and 60+ guys behind you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6MIBaC2My0
Just be glad the guys behind you only had 1 horsepower and not 100+!
Re: Shedd Park CX
Wow, that second bike came in pretty hot, huh? That's crazy.
There's definitely a helpless feeling when you're stuck in a sea of riders and you're bike ain't biking...the swarm is gonna bite you in the ass at some point, thankfully there was almost zero speed involved so I only had a few bumps and bruises.
Being the day before Thanksgiving I thought this was appropriate...I guess I can be thankful my crash was at a bike race and not a Target!
There's definitely a helpless feeling when you're stuck in a sea of riders and you're bike ain't biking...the swarm is gonna bite you in the ass at some point, thankfully there was almost zero speed involved so I only had a few bumps and bruises.
Being the day before Thanksgiving I thought this was appropriate...I guess I can be thankful my crash was at a bike race and not a Target!
Re: Shedd Park CX
My report can be found on my race blog. http://mudstache.blogspot.com/2011/11/b ... -park.html