RR: BASP GGP Cross
Monday, 01 December 2008
Yesterday was the biggest cross race in the San Francisco area and right ~in~ San Francisco in Golden Gate Park. The venue and course was just incredible and we had a BEAUTIFUL day, sunny and in the low 70s. Yea, not typical cross weather, but fine by me.
Since one can never have too many bikes and since I'd just gotten a new bike and had taken it to the park on Saturday to pre-ride the course and get a second ride on it, Paule talked into racing Sunday on it. It was only my 4th ride on the single speed and I've never raced a cross race on a single speed, so it was going to be a learning, fun time. And I was sure I'd be last, but what the hell. Race, drink beer, have fun.
The Women's C race had 30 entrants, which is a big field! They called up the top 10 and then the rest of us lined up, with teammate Brooke and I towards the back. We also had about 4 other Mice in the race.
I got to the park later than I wanted to and still had to swap out pedals, so I was running real late. Warm up? Who needs a warm up. Thanks to Rocklobster mechanic Ryan and my bike guy Stef for getting the pedals sorted. The guys in the registration line were nice enough to let me jump ahead and I got entered, pinned and time enough to do a quick sprint to the bathrooms.
I do have to thank teammate Brooke for pushing me during the race. We lined up at the back and the group was off at the whistle and I was a little surprised that I was able to stick with the pack up the long straight (about 1/4 mile). I was sure I would get dropped immediately and be last. But there I was, right in the mix. Then came the right hand turn off the pavement, through a little sand and roots and EVERYONE IS STOPPED AND FREAKING ABOUT THE SAND. Get the hell out of the way! Now really, if you can't ride through the little sand, do you think you can just start out from a dead stop trying to ride in the sand? No. Those big, fat tires gave me a fleeting thought to ride right over some people, but I didn't and we were finally off again, but the front of the field was already down the trail.
The course curved around down a path, then back near the road, and then another turn and down through more sand, then dirt, the through a big sand pit. The trick was to ride hard through the sand and try to float the uphill just after (which leveled out and then there was a second, shorter, but still steep uphill. On Saturday, I never did get up the first uphill. About 3/4 of the way up was the furthest I got.) Race day, the first time through the big sand pit I blasted it but had to scrub speed a lot coming out of it since there was another jam up of riders on the uphill, so it was off the bike on the first hill, back on the bike and power up the second hill. Burned a few matches riding up the second hill, so ran it the other two times. Nothing of note the rest of the lap, just go go go. Some single track, some fire road, three areas of barriers, pot smoking onlookers, beer drinking cross fans, dogs, kids, lots of people.
The second time through the big sand pit I was alone and I hit it hard and almost made it up the first hill. Close!
The third time through the sand pit was again slow. I'd scrubbed some speed before the sand pit to let a junior (the leader and eventual winner) get by me before the hill so I wouldn't slow him down. Rest of the course--no problems. Hit the downhills hard, which is a big deal for me.
Came off the last barrier for the last time and I hit the finishing straight and rode as hard as I could in case there was someone behind me and crossed the line really tired, but totally psyched. I beat people! Not last!! A good day!
Man, racing on the single speed was hard, but it was a BLAST! And I am a badass. At least according to one of the spectators (said when he noticed that I was on a SS.). Made my day. (I'm easily amused.)
Hey Cathy...yep, you ARE badass on the SS. VERY COOL, indeed!
Posted by: Jason Mancebo | Monday, 08 December 2008 at 02:16 PM