Montrose Harbor: CX Illinois State Championship

Another great turnout for the final weekend of the ChiCrossCup at Montrose Harbor! A near capacity field of just under 100 4A riders lined up for the challenging course that had a little bit of everything... hills, technical sections, long straight-aways, and of course lots of sand and mud! Just as I have been gaining confidence and was ready for a great finish to end the year, I was humbled by the course and finished a disappointing 30th.

A few small things really got me out of rhythm, coupled with some strategic errors and a little bad luck reminded me quickly that I am still new to the sport. Between the mud and sand packing into my cleats, I had all kinds of problems clipping into my pedals after each remount. This problem got in my head as all I could think of was having to ride this way, rather than keeping focus on the race at hand. It took a while before I figured out an effective way to rap my shoes on the pedals, clearing just enough debris to clip in. Also on the first couple laps I attempted to ride sections that were simply beyond my abilities and lost positions to others that took a more conservative approach by running through the same sections. Over the middle of the race I was able to pick up a number of spots and was closing in on a top-20 finish. With about 1/2 lap to go I dropped the chain and lost close to 10 positions while trying to get it back on.

Whew! What a race! After having sometime to reflect, I am confident most of the errors and misfortune can be overcome with more experience. Although this is the race we would like to have our best performance, and I am disappointed with my finish, I can use it to measure where I am and where I need to be to compete with the riders on the front line. I am confident with an off-season of quality training, another year of experience, some CX-specific training, and learning from other more experienced riders on the team that expectations for next season will be high! I know I have a lot to learn, but that also means I have a lot of room for improvement! I'm exciting already for next season!

Mike

Race Report: KissCross, Holland, MI

Thanksgiving tradition for many Michiganders, like myself, begins with watching the Lions lose, followed by eating way too much, freezing in the woods waiting for that trophy buck, and getting a Christmas tree. This year may have started another Thanksgiving weekend tradition... Cyclocross!

Michigan has a decent cx series dubbed Kiss Cross, and their finale was held this past weekend in Holland, MI. Cross weather finally arrived, about a day too soon, for fair weather fans like myself. I was actually getting used to the 60-degree weekend weather we've seen so far in October and November. I was hoping for a couple of more unseasonably warm weekends to end the season. Welcome to cross weather! Rain! Mud! Wind! Mud! Cold! Mud!... and more Mud!

Fortunately, the entire course was not a quicksand-type terrain. Unfortunately, however, these sections consisted of running up stairs...

I started and finished in nearly the same spot, coming in 12th/51. Not a lot of passing going on. I was passed by someone trudging through the muddiest spot, while I was actually riding it. Maybe he had the better strategy...

Even though the November weather and true cx conditions finally showed up, and I actually had to race in long sleeves, I still managed to have a ton of fun. Looking forward to Montrose this weekend and hopefully one last bit of pre-cx-season weather...

Mike

Breaking! News: Back Racing Cx!

Lots of fun this weekend at Indian Lakes Resort for the CCC race!!! Capt. Tony was there both days as well representing BBVP. Tony and I took turns yelling, cheering, and jeering for each other during our races. The encouragement helped me to keep focus and keep pressing. That's what the team is all about! Thanks Tony!

Fortunately I was able to start racing again this season, although cautiously, after having a surgically repaired clavicle. Witnessing Rich's break didn't help the psyche either. I was eagerly anticipating racing again, but in the first few races I couldn't help but sit at the back (almost literally) until the pack thinned out before making any moves to pass. I was overly cautious not to spill again and get re-injured.

A certain amount of aggression and fearlessness is necessary for success in racing, yet I was easily giving positions away to stay upright. Little-by-little, after a few more races, my confidence has come back and this weekend I was going to do my best to suppress any anxiety about wrecking and race aggressively from the whistle. Although I still lost positions at the start both days, I held on, battled, and settled in the top third instead of near the back. Once the field was thinned-out, I was able to pick up several more spots both days and finished 13th and 16th out of 80+ respectively for the weekend. Although still no where near the podium, those finishes feel a lot better than the feelings from a month ago in Carpentersville sitting in 84th place ahead of only one rider on the first lap.

Maybe the best thing that happened this weekend was wiping out... Yes, wiping out can be a good thing! I took a turn too hot and lost it, spilling onto my "injured" side. I had done what I was fearing! Another trip to the emergency room? Surgery? Time off the bike? Again?!? I got up, after losing a position of course, got back on and finished. Shoulder in tact. Only a small scrape and bruise on the knee. It's good to be back!

Mike

BBVP Happenings

First off I wanted to thank everyone that came out and raced in the Day Ryan Woods, were hoping that all of you had a good time. We are already looking forward to putting on next year’s race, with some slight changes to the course. To hopefully add some more challenges to test your Cyclocross racing skills.


Just to bring everyone up to speed From the BBVP Team. We have started to put together next year’s team roster. We are hoping to have 4 riders racing in the Cat/123 & Masters 123 races, along with our newer riders in the Cat 4/5. Last year we demonstrated that we have the ability to race well on all levels of the local race seen. So the plan is to capitalize on our achievements, and raise the bar for next year.

We will be having our next team meeting on December 2nd, if you are interested in the team come on out and see what’s going on. The meeting will be at 6pm at the Beverly Bike Shop.

"Off" Season?!?!

Well, as I write this, I am enjoying (believe it or not) NOT doing CX workouts in Dan Ryan Woods. I just completed my longest run in about three years yesterday (8.1 miles near Swallow Cliff). AND the assorted mix of seasonal harvest ales never tasted so good at the side of a fire in 58 degree weather. But, alas, I do miss my bike. There really is no off season when you ride for the blue flash that is Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak.

By this time years past, I was happy to ditch the 23c wheels for watching Sox games, running a few days here and there after school, and chasing my dog for a bath after she was sprayed by a skunk. But, and I hate to admit it after riding almost seven days a week from December 'til mid July: I do miss my bike.

Especially now that the leaves are falling on the ground and your wheels make that trademarked CRUNCH sound that almost resembles a big wheel of years ago. Especially now that the wind is really ramping up, and I do enjoy a tailwind almost as much as a headwind. Especially now that I can get on the saddle and hammer out as many miles as I want without feeling too sore the following day. Especially now that one of the most anticipated times of the year is upon us (or so I'm told): Cyclocross season! Especially now that "wind chill" is more often thought of than "heat index." Especially now that it doesn't seem like a job.

Yeah, riding so much and racing so much can get a podium dreamer toasted more than a broken broiler (or something like that). But what I think I'm trying to say is that while I do miss throwing my right leg over the top tube, I do miss riding with the Wackos of Western that make up the BBVP team. The best I can do at this point induce temporary hearing loss with a cowbell at the weekend CX races so my teammates know how much I appreciate their efforts this late in season, and how thrilled I am that it's not me suffering through a sand volleyball pit, 23% inclines, mud puddles, etc... Enjoy this time of year, boys, until the next "off" season!

Sully