Crosstobeerfest
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 10:28 am
Despite not being on the preferred race list, a few of us made the trip down to Raynham for Crosstobeerfest. This was a power course all the way with long straightaways, no hills and very few tight turns. I signed up for the beginner race which is considered CAT4/5(?) and I was the only MRC guy in the field. I crashed at the start of my last race, so naturally I was terrified sitting at the start line. We started 6 wide and there was a super long straight away right at the start. When the race took off I focused on finding an edge and staying upright. I managed to hold position pretty well going into the first turns of the course. I thought things were starting to spread out a bit when I got broadsided by a 545 Velo guy going through a turn. I checked up for the guy in front of me and apparently this fellow decided he didn't need to slow down. He goes over after smashing into me and I catch myself (at the expense of his front wheel, sorry not sorry) I get untangled fairly quick and manage to squeeze through the carnage.
As things settled down a bit I had a decent gap behind me and a solid group of 5 or 6 in front of me. I managed to close the gap despite feeling like I was dying. I was making up big chunks of time in the mud by shooting diagonally and angling through the first muddy 'S' turn. By the third lap I jumped to the front of our pack by getting off my bike and running through the mud. I held this until what I thought was the second to last lap.
I lost one spot trying to get through lap traffic and then lost another because I decided I better save myself for the last lap. NEWS FLASH, IT IS THE LAST LAP ASSHOLE.... Shit. Okay, so now we've got a couple barriers and a straightaway for me to make a move. I closed the gap down over the logs and he had me by a half bike length going into the sprint finish. I get the jump and start cooking into the finish, only to have some jerk jump onto the course to pre ride, right in front of the finish line. I start yelling to get out of the way and he veers to the outside, cutting me off. I was pretty pissed (which I made very clear), even more so that he didn't even turn around and apologize. Oh well, 12/100+, I'll take the points and see what I can do with a better starting spot next time.
As things settled down a bit I had a decent gap behind me and a solid group of 5 or 6 in front of me. I managed to close the gap despite feeling like I was dying. I was making up big chunks of time in the mud by shooting diagonally and angling through the first muddy 'S' turn. By the third lap I jumped to the front of our pack by getting off my bike and running through the mud. I held this until what I thought was the second to last lap.
I lost one spot trying to get through lap traffic and then lost another because I decided I better save myself for the last lap. NEWS FLASH, IT IS THE LAST LAP ASSHOLE.... Shit. Okay, so now we've got a couple barriers and a straightaway for me to make a move. I closed the gap down over the logs and he had me by a half bike length going into the sprint finish. I get the jump and start cooking into the finish, only to have some jerk jump onto the course to pre ride, right in front of the finish line. I start yelling to get out of the way and he veers to the outside, cutting me off. I was pretty pissed (which I made very clear), even more so that he didn't even turn around and apologize. Oh well, 12/100+, I'll take the points and see what I can do with a better starting spot next time.