Early results showing John Raguin finishing 4th in a large field of 4/5's!! Congrats!
http://www.crossresults.com/race/4111#cat51274
Quadcross
Re: Quadcross
... and PJ, Pat, and Nolan all in the top 10 cat 3
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PJ McQuade
- Chasseur
- Posts: 769
- Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:44 pm
- Location: Millbury
Re: Quadcross
The Quad squad reversed the course this year and ran in counter clockwise which I liked better. I thought the woods mountain-bikey section was better this way, especially since the previously fast/long/sketchy downhill was turned into a power climb.
I had a great start, thanks to a front row slot and sat 2nd wheel through the hole shot. I felt good and thought about taking the lead during the first lap but didn't want to blow too early. Into lap two we had a group of 4 with a small gap and a guy riding solo a few seconds up. I liked this group and decided to stay as close as possible and make a move on the long climb out of the woods on the last lap. That plan failed when we lapped a group up U19 juniors in the twisty sand section. It was a total mess. Some kids moved to the right, some stopped, others tried racing with us.I dismounted, bobbled, lost my rhythm and the front group. Now usually juniors are faster than me and know what they're doing but these kids were totally green high-schoolers. They started 1 min. behind us but should have been combined with a different field. Anyway, I spent the next couple laps trying to close the gap but couldn't make it happen. Meanwhile, I saw Patrick coming out of no where behind me! He must of gained 30+ spots. Impressive for a debut race, to say in the least! Nolan wasn't far behind me either and seemed to get stronger as the race got deeper. I got 6th. We were all in the top 10. Great start to the season.
John R. let's hear that report. Sounds like all that practice has paid off!
I had a great start, thanks to a front row slot and sat 2nd wheel through the hole shot. I felt good and thought about taking the lead during the first lap but didn't want to blow too early. Into lap two we had a group of 4 with a small gap and a guy riding solo a few seconds up. I liked this group and decided to stay as close as possible and make a move on the long climb out of the woods on the last lap. That plan failed when we lapped a group up U19 juniors in the twisty sand section. It was a total mess. Some kids moved to the right, some stopped, others tried racing with us.I dismounted, bobbled, lost my rhythm and the front group. Now usually juniors are faster than me and know what they're doing but these kids were totally green high-schoolers. They started 1 min. behind us but should have been combined with a different field. Anyway, I spent the next couple laps trying to close the gap but couldn't make it happen. Meanwhile, I saw Patrick coming out of no where behind me! He must of gained 30+ spots. Impressive for a debut race, to say in the least! Nolan wasn't far behind me either and seemed to get stronger as the race got deeper. I got 6th. We were all in the top 10. Great start to the season.
John R. let's hear that report. Sounds like all that practice has paid off!
To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.
-Shakespeare
-Shakespeare
Re: Quadcross
This was my first CX race and I didn't really know what to expect. I started in the last row so decided to ride aggressively and pass people whenever I had the opportunity. I almost washed out a couple times in the corners. Kudos to PJ and Nolan, solid performance by MRC. I had a blast and I can't wait to race more!
Cat 3 7th/48
Cat 3 7th/48
Re: Quadcross
Ended up in 10th after racing with patrick's group that was 7th to 10th. In the last half lap I lost contact with the group that I was racing with due to the whooped out euro section downhill that was 2/3 of the way through the course. I was a little bummed because I feel like I could have passed the group to at least make it up to 8th but ohh well still a solid result.
Re: Quadcross
First, let me say that the three top 10s in the 3s are far more impressive than anything I did today. That really rocks PJ, Nolan, and Patrick. Awesome job.
So to my races: I decided to double and do the 4/5 and the Single speed. Why? Because it was one of the few races I can do it. Only 5 miles from my house, I could race, go home and hang out with the family, and then race again. What can go wrong with that plan?
First race: Cat 4/5 35+. 10 AM. Course was not wet at all and was packed pretty well from the rain. We started 1 minute behind the Cat 4/5 younger guys. Chaos. I was 3 or 4th row of the older guys, and had 33 younger guys to navigate. A big kudos to Mark Bernard for helping me with my CX skills on Wednesdays, and to Len Engel for yelling at me the whole race to pass guys. I felt pretty smooth out there and navigated through the traffic pretty well. 4th of 67 guys. I had no idea that I was that close to 3rd... if I did I might have worked a little harder to try to get on the podium.
Second race: Single speed open. 3:20 PM. Never done this before. I am in the back but get a decent start and go by a few people. I am moving up and doing well and 3/4 the way through the 1st lap I am close to Chris Busick and feeling good. Then disaster. From the heat of the day and lots of riders, the course got very dry and dusty. Very different conditions compared to the morning. I go in very hot to a turn that I navigated the same way every lap in the AM. This time, massive wipeout. This one hurt. I was dazed for a bit, and then pulled it together and slowly started running with the bike. Lots of people going by. I jump on and shortly afterwards I realize I have a flat on my front tire. Not sure if the flat caused the crash or the crash caused the flat. I tend to think the former. I end up going about 1/2 lap with a flat before I get to the pit, with lots more people passing me along the way. I get a wheel change at the pit and head back out. Unfortunately, at this point I don't feel much like racing. I slowly get some motivation and race along. I race with former MRCer Abel Tomkinson for a while, then get motivated in the last lap to try to get some last guys. I come close to catching them but no cigar. 34th of 46. Tough double.
So to my races: I decided to double and do the 4/5 and the Single speed. Why? Because it was one of the few races I can do it. Only 5 miles from my house, I could race, go home and hang out with the family, and then race again. What can go wrong with that plan?
First race: Cat 4/5 35+. 10 AM. Course was not wet at all and was packed pretty well from the rain. We started 1 minute behind the Cat 4/5 younger guys. Chaos. I was 3 or 4th row of the older guys, and had 33 younger guys to navigate. A big kudos to Mark Bernard for helping me with my CX skills on Wednesdays, and to Len Engel for yelling at me the whole race to pass guys. I felt pretty smooth out there and navigated through the traffic pretty well. 4th of 67 guys. I had no idea that I was that close to 3rd... if I did I might have worked a little harder to try to get on the podium.
Second race: Single speed open. 3:20 PM. Never done this before. I am in the back but get a decent start and go by a few people. I am moving up and doing well and 3/4 the way through the 1st lap I am close to Chris Busick and feeling good. Then disaster. From the heat of the day and lots of riders, the course got very dry and dusty. Very different conditions compared to the morning. I go in very hot to a turn that I navigated the same way every lap in the AM. This time, massive wipeout. This one hurt. I was dazed for a bit, and then pulled it together and slowly started running with the bike. Lots of people going by. I jump on and shortly afterwards I realize I have a flat on my front tire. Not sure if the flat caused the crash or the crash caused the flat. I tend to think the former. I end up going about 1/2 lap with a flat before I get to the pit, with lots more people passing me along the way. I get a wheel change at the pit and head back out. Unfortunately, at this point I don't feel much like racing. I slowly get some motivation and race along. I race with former MRCer Abel Tomkinson for a while, then get motivated in the last lap to try to get some last guys. I come close to catching them but no cigar. 34th of 46. Tough double.
Last edited by jraguin on Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Quadcross
Start: Quad had clear signs indicating, essentially, "if your number ends in xx, you're in this row for the start." Staging was amazingly fast and orderly. Why has nobody ever done this before?
I had a good start, moving up from my last row position, but we quickly were forced single file in the turns, and things strung out fast. Bye, bye front of the race.
My Waterloo on this course was a steep, rutty, downhill into a right turn, followed by some rolly, bumpy crap, then a left hander uphill into the long power section. I never found a confident line down the steep part, then I'd get stressed at trying to catch the wheel I'd just lost, and ended up getting tossed around on the bumpy section. Finally, for at least the first three laps, I'd forget to find an easier gear for the steep part at the end and get bogged down. I'd lose the group I was with, then fry myself trying to catch back on to them on the uphill. I'd usually get within striking distance, but shortly thereafter screw up a turn or remount or something because I was tired. With a few minor variations (pass a guy here, get passed there), repeat the above paragraph five times and you have 98% of my race.
The last 2% came as I was hammering the final section of the course, trying to stay away from two guys who caught me in the woods because of my roadie handling. I'd gapped them on the uphill, but they were close, and I didn't want them to get me coming out of the final turn. So of course, I completely overcooked the turn, laid it down, and they both passed me.
I still got 24th - not quite the top 20 I was shooting for, but had it not been for my stupid last turn, I'd have only been 30 seconds off that group. So, improving.
Congrats to the guys who got single digit results today. Well done!
I had a good start, moving up from my last row position, but we quickly were forced single file in the turns, and things strung out fast. Bye, bye front of the race.
My Waterloo on this course was a steep, rutty, downhill into a right turn, followed by some rolly, bumpy crap, then a left hander uphill into the long power section. I never found a confident line down the steep part, then I'd get stressed at trying to catch the wheel I'd just lost, and ended up getting tossed around on the bumpy section. Finally, for at least the first three laps, I'd forget to find an easier gear for the steep part at the end and get bogged down. I'd lose the group I was with, then fry myself trying to catch back on to them on the uphill. I'd usually get within striking distance, but shortly thereafter screw up a turn or remount or something because I was tired. With a few minor variations (pass a guy here, get passed there), repeat the above paragraph five times and you have 98% of my race.
The last 2% came as I was hammering the final section of the course, trying to stay away from two guys who caught me in the woods because of my roadie handling. I'd gapped them on the uphill, but they were close, and I didn't want them to get me coming out of the final turn. So of course, I completely overcooked the turn, laid it down, and they both passed me.
I still got 24th - not quite the top 20 I was shooting for, but had it not been for my stupid last turn, I'd have only been 30 seconds off that group. So, improving.
Congrats to the guys who got single digit results today. Well done!
Last edited by swawersik on Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Quadcross
A little help for those that had trouble with that downhill into the right-hander: my 41 mile "gravel/adventure" ride on Saturday reinforced the technique of riding the drops on those bombing descents.
Not only is it easier to grab a handful of brake if you need to (esp. w/canti's you might need all fingers on deck), I feel like I can get my weight lower and back much easier and feel more in control. On Sat, I really got in the groove on the drops as we zipped through the woods in Weston and Lincoln, ripping the downhills with confidence. HTH.
Not only is it easier to grab a handful of brake if you need to (esp. w/canti's you might need all fingers on deck), I feel like I can get my weight lower and back much easier and feel more in control. On Sat, I really got in the groove on the drops as we zipped through the woods in Weston and Lincoln, ripping the downhills with confidence. HTH.
Re: Quadcross
Congrats guys. I'll be joining you in a few weeks