NC Cyclocross Grand Prix

We headed to Hendersonville yesterday to watch The North Carolina Cyclocross Grand Prix. For family and friends who don't know what cyclocross is, it is a form of bike racing that is part road biking and part mountain biking. Popularized in Europe, a cross bike looks very similar to a road bike, with with a frame designed to shed mud that is common during the fall and winter cross racing season. In addition, cross bikes use wider tires than road bikes, often with knobby tread patterns to tackle off-road conditions. Cross races are typically 30-60 minutes in length and are run on a mostly off-road circuit course of around a mile. Cross racing is unique in that courses are designed to force racers to dismount their bikes and jump over obstacles at different points over the course. Short, steep climbs, often requiring riders to carry their bikes, are typical as well.

The race in Hendersonville was part of the NC Cyclocross 2009 fall race series. The weekend's racing featured internationally-sanctioned divisions for elite men and women, meaning that the respective fields, which were comprised of some of the top national cross racers, would also earn points toward their international ranking.

Below are pictures of the "wall" at Jackson Park during the elite women's race. Despite the steep grade of the climb, most racers sprinted hard before the climb and grunted their way up without dismounting.


Our buddy Paul with Amy and her broken collarbone/conversation piece, watching the action at the wall.

Below, the elite women are hitting one of the other steep climbs on the course. This climb required riders to dismount, jump over two obstacles, and run with their bikes to the top of the climb.

Here are a couple of videos of the wall, which was situated just before the start-finish line.

One Tough Broad

"Snap back to reality, up, there goes gravity.."

While Eminem wasn't rapping about cycling, the reality of riding a bike is that, at some point, every cyclist will confirm the laws of gravity and hit the deck. This past Sunday, approximately 2.5 hours into a training ride south Black Mountain, Amy crashed while descending a mountain at 30+ mph. After hitting a disguised rut in the road, she lost control of her bike and flipped over the handlebars, landing on her head and left shoulder. Although unconscious when myself and teammate Frank got to her, she quickly came to as Frank called 911. Despite being in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, the first responders were in church right at the top of the hill, so help arrived almost instantly after the call was placed, with EMTs from the local VFD around the corner arrived soon after. The first-response care was excellent and we are forever indebted. Amy experienced amnesia for the day's events, but even by the time the ambulance arrived, her memory was steadily returning. Evaluation in the ER at Memorial Mission hospital in Asheville revealed a broken left collarbone but no concussion, her crushed helmet having done its job. Follow-up evaluations on Tuesday confirmed no hidden head trauma. Additionally, a follow-up x-ray of her collarbone revealed that it broke in a manner in which a child's more elastic bones would, stymieing her orthopaedist and making for a very clean, non-displaced break that will heal well with a much lower chance of calcification.

In a testament to her character, Amy has taken this painful rite of passage in stride, still claiming that it pales in comparison to pushing out a 9-pound baby boy after 26 hours of labor. We of the male gender are having to take her word on that one. In fact, her first question to her coach was, "How long before I can start training again?" Tough indeed. So, Amy has come out of the experience with more resolve as she looks toward racing in 2010, and we had a bonding experience with teammates that was unwished for but nonetheless positive. Erica, Frank, Joey, Andy, we are glad you were there with us.

And to all you kids out there - stay in school, say no to drugs, say your prayers, and ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!

Bank of NC Short Track Mountain Bike Race

Saturday was the third race in the Bank of NC Short Track mountain bike race series in Harrisburg, benefitting the Cabarrus Rotary Club. The 4-race series takes place at Harrisburg Town Park, which features a NORBA-style 3/4-mile short track. The local mountain bike club put together a great track including a downhill singletrack section with berms, a grassy cyclocross-esque grassy section coming into the start-finish stretch, and a short, nasty climb.

Conditions were near-perfect, as we enjoyed weekend temps in the mid-70s. Ahhh, the summer we never had, right smack in the middle of November. The rain from two days ago left the trail in excellent shape.

Amy's teammate Erica Chard hit the loop first for the day, competing in the women's Cat 3 division. With some snap still left in the legs after a season of road racing, she paced the eventual race-winner and finished a strong second. Above, Erica is coming off the upper half of the singletrack downhill section and cresting a short hill before finishing the downhill.

Since my last race, I was invited to join the Asheville-based Velosports Racing Team for 2010. Above, new teammate (and Erica's boyfriend) Frank Obusek begins the grind up the steepest section of the climb during the Cat 2 40+ race. Frank also rode strongly to finish 3rd.

Rounding out the day, I entered the singlespeed division for my first mountain bike race of any kind. Above, I'm coming out of the grass track and heading into the gravel start-finish double track.
Grinding through the steepest section of the climb in my crisp, new Velosport kit. Pushing a 32x18 gear, in hindsight I probably would have given up a little on the downhill sections in favor of being able to spin a little bit more on the climbs.

Hitting one of the berms on the upper downhill section.

Another shot of the upper downhill section. Amy handled the photography for the day.

Grunting up the short climb separating the upper and lower downhill sections.

Cresting the top of the climb. I rode my Redline Monocog 29er, set up by singlespeed and fixed gear guru Chris Jordan. Steel and fully rigid with Sram 175mm Hussy downhill cranks, Thomson seatpost, Ritchey stem, saddle, and bars, Surly stainless chainring. Wheels are Salsa rims laced to Surly singlespeed hubs, handbuilt by Chris, with Maxxis rubber.

Hitting the finish line after the 45-minute effort. I came across the line in second place or last place place, depending on one's interpretation of the half-filled glass. With only two entrants in the singlespeed division, I was assured of at least second place. As the other singlespeeder sprinted away from me at the start line, my placing was secure. Regardless, the results show second place. It was a fun event, well-organized on a great course, and a fantastic day. Next week is the last in the race series, but it will be at night. Time to break out the lights!