Minuteman Road Club

45+
missed the hole shot, settled in around 7th
passed a few and got passed by a few as everyone found their rightful position
almost nothing changed for 7 laps
8th place out of 20 starters

After racing the 45+ race I did the 1-2-3 race as a "cool down".
Knowing that I wouldn't have enough gas to finish as high up as I did in the previous race, I didn't even fight for the hole shot and just settled in. I was sitting near the back of the field with probably only 3 guys behind me and was in the process of railing the first big turn in the woods (the lefthander with the berm) when a yahoo from Bethel Cycle Sport decided that he HAD to dive under me and take an impossible line. He must have thought that he could move up from "third to last" and onto the podium with one single cat-5 move. I started to say something about there being no line to take when he intentionally took out my wheel and hip checked me. I called him a not very nice name and he laughed a sarcastic "sorry". If any of you in the NECX find yourself in a race with Jeremy Brazeal this year you should be warned. He expects to make up for his lack of cornering ability (and class) with dirty racing and gladiator style tactics. (Another racer that was behind the takedown sought me out and commented about how dirty the move was.) This is my 20th year racing cyclocross in New England and the first time anyone has been this much of an a**hole around me.

Michael - Sorry to hear about the A-hole in your second race.

I lined up right behind Michael for my first race in the 45+ field. It occured to me that when you look around at the line and can't identify the "dead wood," it may be you. Thankfully, this was not totally true. Sadly, the one of even bigger sticks of deadwood squeezed in front of me at the hole shot, then proceeded to lose a few bike lengths on every turn through the woods, so I was watching Michael's group roll away from me while I was stuck behind. When I tried to get around Mr. Deadwood in the straight section, he sprinted hard to keep me from passing, then continued to cock up the next set of turns. By the time I finally got around him, there was a sizable gap to the next group.

I worked my way across the gap and even passed a few guys, but all that effort eventually took its toll, and I eventually let a few guys sneak back by. The only one that really bugged me was the guy who passed me when I kicked my chain off while missing the pedals on a remount.

Ended up 13th, which I'll gladly take.

I forgot how much CX hurts.

Great job guys. I guess I wasn't the only one getting a jump on the CX season.

Good Job boys!

3/4 Race with Josh Merchant
I've forgotten that a Mike Norton race is a race that doesn't follow the typical rules. While doing my last preride lap I heard the first call to stage at 11:45ish. I was close so I finished the lap and came to the start line to see the other 35 racers already staged. Josh rolled up, we both looked at each other and knew we were in for a long race of trying to get around everyone! Silly me for thinking that there'd be staging by http://www.Crossresults.com... oh well. On to the race.

The race starts and I know there's gonna be a crash but to what side, I guessed it would be on the inside so I lined up to the right. WRONG! The crash was on the outside, that left me slowing way the hell down to pick my way through it all. I saw Josh make it through and that was the last I saw of him. Looking at the results Josh climbed all the way up to 6th. Well done man!! So after FINALLY getting past the initial mess I found myself literally sitting 2nd or 3rd from the ass end of the group, time to work. I think we did a total of 6 laps, the first 4 laps I killed myself to chase down every rider I could see and did a decent job of driving my bike through most of the turns. Last two laps I found myself leading a pack of 4 or 5 riders. I knew that my strongest spots were the straights and gunned it every time, shed two of them with one to go. Last lap just kept it even tempo through the course figuring that the final stretch they would try to jump me. The last few corners before the finish I may have used a few dickish tactics of taking the whole lane in my turns... but I was leading them all so what ev's. Hit the pavement stand up go and stay ahead of them for 17TH! YES 17th... haha Only in CX can you write a race report as if you are contesting the win.

Negatives:
KNOW what the staging protocol is! Starting from the back SUCKS!
Shifting was a bit wonkey, Mark the Mechanic (not me) worked some magic and got it in shape enough so that I had the full compliment of gears. Note to self... take better care of your shit!

Positives:
Was happy with the result seeing as how I picked off 20 riders and haven't raced at all this year.
Was happy with being able to navigate the turns better than I have in the past. I guess riding in the woods actually helps.