Who's Number#1? Well if you don't know who's number one by now, you're living under a rock. Of course there's still some racing to be done, with Worlds on the way. The Cycling Dirt above is a pretty good recap (and funnier than hell), and yes, as Colt says you can find hundreds of videos available interviewing the Champs - but I think this one is the best, with Julie Lockhart, the 70+ Women's US Champ. I saw her on course in Chicago, crashing in a sand pit and struggling to get up, and back on her bike. She's pretty amazing. Just check it out. She's was coming back from having plates put in her pelvis and her clavical in August - from a training riding accident. Awesome!
Planning on riding tonight. Guess I missed a large group on Tuesday, but was sadly unable to make. Last time I rode, I took my apres ride dining and drinking to Vitales, in Ada, rather than the Old Haunt. The service, food and drinks were great - tasty and you could split your bill - and were pretty well assured that you were paying for what you ingested. The only problem I had (and I always have one don't I?) was the entertainment. I wanted to sit and talk and tell lies about cycling, but there was this damn guitar player/singer entertaining a crowd that looked like they were more interested in the Red Wings game, and lying about their cycling exploits, than listening to his f*cking mellow-ass music (actually he was a good muscian).
Somewhere, in the midst of gobbling my second meatball and glass of wine, I had a yearning to recreate the scene from Animal House where Belushi takes the guitar and ... well you know what I mean. If you don't, take a trip back into Animal House History. We'll all like to go here, at some time, wouldn't we? But if I do this, where the hell am I going to go for something to eat after the ride. The options are closing.
If you're keeping up with Cross on either Cycling Dirt or In The Cross Hairs, you might have seen this, but if not take a look. This is the first time I've been able to see just what these guys were racing on and what the course was really like. While the live coverage was cool, the shots were so loooooong you couldn't see what the actual combat was (it was more like a hunting video where somebody's shooting an Elk at 5,000 yards.) Now you can see what the battle was like up-close and personal. And what the hell is with now course markings, just mow a swath through the prairie?
Same goes for the excellent video below covering the women's race. Hard fought battle for second place behind Katie. It's also pretty emotional at the end - the new Katie threw down a great race and it looks like she's going to be the Next Katie.
Congrats to the Michigan Racers who did so well at the U.S. National Championships:
Joe Brown on the Podium!
Tom Burke Top Ten!
Kim Thomas Top Ten!
Susan Shaw Broken Ankle (that's some trophy to bring home)!
Forgive me if I missed any other National Championship Michigan Crossers in this short and quick list - anyone who participated is a hero in my book, and you deserve recognition. I'm still on the road (no I didn't go to Nats) and I'll make amends for my errors, as well as digging out some appropriate photos of the above (and other participating) Michigan Cross Brave Hearts upon my return to the motherland.
While these few did a wonderful job or representing Michigan at Nationals, and gave it their all, I want them all to study the following video, in preparation for winning a National Championship. I mean I saw J-Pow and Mr. Katie Compton's, and even Nys quiet and tearful "Winning" reactions, and they were nothing like this. Watch and learn Champions, this is how you celebrate your "Nats" Championship properly. Take it away Styby!
Susan Shaw, happier at State Championships than she is at Nationals - get well fast and come back strong Susan!
The first report in from Nationals is a sad one - our good friend, and super Michigan Cyclocrosser Susan Shaw broke her ankle yesterday in a pre-ride. More people are injured in pre-rides than they are in actual races. I have no facts to back that up but just ask Ryan Trebon. We all wish you well Susan!
Here's Susan's bike I'm assuming after the fracturing pre-ride. I'm glad I didn't go. One more time cleaning a bike like this year and I'd snap. Yeah, I really would. Slippery mud over frozen hard ground too - there's a mixture for trouble.
In related Nats news that's not sad, another Woman Michigan Cyclocrosser, Kim Thomas is also at Nationals with a series of races lined up in the upcoming days. Yesterday she kicked off by her racing in the Women's Single Speed Championship race. New to Single Speed racing, I guess Kim's gearing was a little to low and she was spinning while the others are gunning. In single speed racing picking the right gear is tough. Too tall you're on foot or blown. Too low, spun out and left behind. That's why I have raced SS yet. Well, lesson learned, but Kim still has more races to come - and with a bike that has all the gears. Good luck Kim!
Is that the Single Speed bike that won the World Single Speed Championship in Seatle and a National Championship yesterday in Madison? No, it's not this one, but one exactly like it - I know who owns this one and where it lives.
Maybe Kim would have had a better day if she had been riding the Redline Dirty Mudder Single Speed. Women's National Single Speed Champion Kari Studley (what a name for a racer) was, with the same gearing (42 x18) strangely enough, that the same bike, located in Grand Rapids Michigan, is rocking in the photo. Here's a nice interview with Kari right after the race. I love the reporter's "Awesomenesssss."
In other dumb news from Nationals, I'm in this never ending discussion on Face Book over the construction of the barriers, of all things.
Lynne from Podiuminsight.com took a picture of the barriers at Nats, how is this Nats caliber?http://lockerz.com/s/171590187 The barriers under my house is nicer and so is the approach. Ok enough of me, I'm not usually a hater but this just doesn't feel right...
National Championship quality barriers, or repurposed bee-hives?
Kimberly said, in effect, that these barriers looked a little lame for Nationals (my words not hers), which is what I took her to mean - so if I'm wrong about her intent don't throw anything at her, it's my take. I agreed with her and said it didn't look like Nats quality stuff (in fact the views of the course look like that old race we had in Holland behind the barn). Now everybody and their brother, including Adam Meyerson, has chimed in about safety, USAC, UCI rules, and I think even NASA (which is now out of business) was even mentioned but I'm not sure why. I'm sure these things are safe, but the stakes and taping is wrong (Meyerson pointed this out too, and I knew it when I saw it). I'm also not a fan of the "flow-through" centers. There really should be banners or fencing instead of just tape. Guess I'm a snob, huh? But I really have to wonder if this is how these barrier started out in life ...
I'm sure that's where those barriers orginally came from. Notice the open centers? Now that's what I call sustainability. Do you think riding over the barriers will wake the bees up? Maybe it will get J-POW riding faster than he was last week if they do!
IN WORLD NEWS TODAY: NYS AND STYBIE JOIN UP TO BECOME A SUPER HERO CYCLOCROSS CRIME FIGHTING TEAM!
It's like "The Pink Hornet and the Green Kato" isn't it. I'm glad I haven't eaten anything today because the look of this color combo is enough to make you want to hurl.
With Super Powers, these Crime Fighting Cyclocrossers can turn back time and prevent crime before and after it happens - whatever. Found this video yesterday and thought it was pretty cool. Watch as Albert, or one of his teamates, can't tell, just saw off the front end of his carbon bike while trying to hop a barrier.
Adam McIntyre (aka Big Mac) at the finish of last week's New Year's Resolution Race. Blown-up, slightly beaten, but ready to go home and upload another great first lap video. You'll see mud "flaps" like the one sitting on the bill of his cap throughout the video. Enjoy! I was on the edge of my seat, reliving the experience of that course.
Early today I made the mistake of writing a headline on a post that made it look like the racing for the year was done and finsihed and that all that was left to do this winter was to pick through the beautiful remains of past races in a big old pile of videos. I was immediately taken to task for this mistake by the lovely and ever vigilant Iri Greco who set me straight with a message over a thing called Face Book this morning.
Iri GrecoWho says the racing is over? Nationals, masters worlds, world cups, world champs!
I apologize for the unitended implication I put out there, Iri. I hope you accept my apology and "hell yes girl, there's lot of racing to be done" (none of which I will be partaking in because I'm done like dinner).
There's the upcoming National Championships in Madison this very week. Here's a peek at the course. Let me tell you I'm glad I opted for the Chicago course, after taking a "slip and fall" tour of the Madison course. I'm sure the ice will be gone by race day, but gee-willikers, Bat Man, that looks like it hurts!
After watching this I wasn't the only one who was having thoughts of loss of traction issues. Also on Face Book, I saw a comment by the poster of the video, Tati Cycles, in Chicago, that pertained to the extremely frequent and icy sections on the course that caused so many bike-to-ground-interface incidents - all captured on video.
Tati CyclesJust saw the #cxnats course preview video from yesterday. In related news, toe spike prices have tripled today.
Further comments ran in much the same direction, with similar concerns ...
Eric Goodwin Will the pits have orthopedic surgeons and titanium hip replacements?
Mr. Tati and his friends came up with a number very intelligent solutions to prevent painful Ice-face-Interface™problems. I'm sure you'll find these ingenious and innovative products once again being sold from under Mr. Tati's voluminous Sales Trench Coat™. Here's just a sample of what I just picked off Mr. Tati's Face Book Wall today. Hopefully these items are all ™™™™™™™™™™™™™™ and under full Tati protection - they look damn fine.
The first idea is pretty obvious. Even I could think of this one. I think I gave my dad a pair for Christmas.
But when mounted on an actual Bicycling Shoe™ - Voila! It's pure Velo-Genius™! I'll be on the podium while the rest of you Bastards are still slipping and sliding all over the course. (Not quite, I'll still be here - I'm not going to Nats.)
Of course the real answer to Ice-face-Interface™problems is in the video below. It's one of my favorite videos of all time because it features my favorite Cyclocrosser Sven Njis/Nys, and tires that I can't afford, and one of the cheesiest announcer openings of all time. It also has a bit of Peggy Fleming in it (Wheeeeeeee!).
Maybe it's time the UCI reconsidered and legalized the Dugast Diabolo. Madison may prove that its time has come. After all didn't the UCI just make it legal to mount Pizza Cutters on your wheels? What the hell, why not get sliced and diced at the same time. It will be like some kind Ronco commercial out there.
Just for fun, here's another very entertaining cyclcross video from the USGP finale in Bend, Oregon. It's essentially a Specialized commercial, but it's very well done - not that commercial I guess.
Well I have to go now. The phone's ringing. I'm hoping it's Iri telling me that all is forgiven!
The racing might be over for now (just wait until the last American gasp in Madison this week), but the videos keep on coming. Just received this compilation last night, of the New Years Resolution in Chicago this past weekend. If the photos from yesterday didn't give you a good enough idea of what the experience was like, this will. The only thing better will be a Video Lap Video from Big Mac - expected soon.
Adam Myerson posted this video up a week or so ago. It's today's version of a race he did years ago. Apparently Europeans have cyclocross races everyday, somewhere, at sometime. This is just another one of them
To me this was the cover shot of the race - the HILL which turned in to a greasy lump. I just want to know what they buried under this thing.
Talk about stupid- challenging, this was the HILL. Most golf courses are pretty much dead flat, but this great big lump, where they buried old golfers, presented one of those "do I ride, do I run?" propositions that make for a great course. While my results sucked, I'm glad to say that I rode the front side, and slithered down the exits, for the entire race.
I went to the Chicago Cylcocross Cup New Years Resolution UCI Race and all I got was this lousy piece of paper with numbers on it. Not really - one of the most fun races of the year.
Let me get this out of the way now: I've never been disappointed by a Chicago Cyclocross Cup Race (at least not in this millennium). The organizers have got it right - while they put on a big time event, and draw the top names in the American Cyclocross Racing, they don't forget that it's all about the amateurs and masters that spend the bucks that keep the whole thing going. Some events, and cycling organizations, unfortunately, focus on the Pros - which is great to a point - I go to events like this to watch the pros, but unless my racing experience is "fun" and by "fun" I don't mean I even have to have a good result, I want to enjoy my race, in a great vibe, and feel like my presence is appreciated. This isn't Europe, and the sport isn't drawing big gates, so we depend on the racer's to support it. The Chicago Cyclocross Cup people just get it. Hat's off to them, and thanks for a great New Year's Party!
Now on with the regular program of stupidity.
Big Mac looking like he's somewhere in deepest-darkest Belgium, not Chicago Illinois.
Big Mac, AKA Adam McIntrye, put on a great show and picked off a bunch of guys in his Cat 2/3 Race that was stacked with great racers getting a tune-up before Nationals next week (there was a lot of that going on). He had a great race and moved well up into the top 20 (he was in the mid-30's on the grid). Before he over-cooked that engine in the last lap. Trying to kill it like Stybie from the gun will do that to you once-in-awhile kids.
Ouch! I tried to catch this shot, but missed. Luckily somebody else was there to nail it. He recovered and went on battling - but it looked like it hurt. That hill was just a slimy grease chute - but remain pretty rideable all day long.
How Adam could run like this, at this point in the course, is beyond me. You had to ride through a mud bog on the approach, jump over 18-inch tall barriers, and then run-up hill. The course-guys told me they were taking these out on day two, but I'm not sure if they did. The original plan was that the pros were going to hop these things - sounds like an escape plan for J-Pow. He could have used it.
Cupcake killing it through the sand. With a good starting grid placement, and one of her best rides of the year Cupcake AKA Laura, came away with the best results of us all! Congratulations Laura on a great ride! That's the way to finish/start the year.
One happy Cat 2-3 Racer. Cupcake wearing a little bit of the course on her face, but happy with her ride. Until ...
... she got a look at her brand-new, pure white Mavics. And yeah, the bike was pretty much a 30-pound load of mud.
As for me, well I was happy with my ride. My race kicked off at 8 a.m.! I had to warm-up in total darkness. This shot, coming up the hill, gives you and idea of how the course looked. Fabulous! The course I mean, not me. I sucked.
Another shot of me. My ass. Here's the approach to the barriers. No need for a flying dismount here. By the end of the race I picking up my bike and putting it down like it was a walker at the old folks home.
This is the last shot of me (finally!). Looking pretty clean at the finish line. This has to be after just a lap - I know I wasn't dead last off the line - was I?
How do the fast guys look on the same course? Fast, that's what they look like. And blurry, because they're going so damn fast. Here's the winner (both Saturday and Sunday), Ryan Trebon, stepping on the gas and pulling away from J-Pow, seen just behind him in the sand pit. Ryan was super smooth and looked like he was riding on top of the mud while everybody was dragging a plow.
He may not have finished with a working bicycle, but he finished with style.
There was a lot of great racing to watch - some great riders, with great style, power and technical skills. But of course that's only part of the race. What happens on the other side, or behind the barricades (not barriers, you jump over barriers, you stand "Behind Barricades") is almost as interesting.
Take for example the Animal Sisters from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was there when people came up asking to take their photo, and have there photo taken with them.
Another interesting character on course was the "Podium Cat Lady" carrying a bunch of medals, I assume that she was going to award. I have to give it to her, she huckedCyclocross circuit around the country. She also had some nice tattoos, and a new movie that just came out about her life when she's not at cross races. Maybe you've seen it already, I year it's yummy.
Speaking of filming, videos and drama-comedies, on Pro-Row there was some video taping going on while we were there. Inside this hermetically sealed tent J-Pow was laying down another "Behind the Barriers Barricades" episode. Can't wait to see it and hear what he has to say about the race. I'll bet it's dirty, so dirty ...
Out on course there were scenes like this that just made you go, what the hell. I'm thinking of having a "Caption Contest" for this photo. My own caption would be, "We claim this Sand Pit for the King Crossland!" You can do better than that.
What is your caption for this photo: ________________.
It doesn't matter where you go, what state, country or planet you visit, when you go to a cyclocross race you can always count on people humiliating their dogs with silly coats and costumes.
Big waiting lines for the washers all day long. They had huge-ass power washers in the pits and a couple of hoses for the finishers. This young racer looks like he's tired of waiting. "Hey, you don't need to detail the damn thing, just blow the crap off and let's get going, will ya?"
It wasn't just a race and New Year's Eve, it was also my birthday. The last one I'll be celebrating, or let anyone know about. From now on the age categories start lists are going to get smaller and smaller, if you get my drift. Guess who gave me this birthday present, complete with cupcake candles? And guess who washed bikes earlier in the day?
A well known Cat 3 cyclocross racer, celebrating her great race, the end of the year, and the end of the season in the Cave Bar with the rest of the cyclocross world.
No matter how good, how bad, how painful, or how much fun a late season cyclocross race is, this is how it all ends - always. In the dark of night in a damp cold car wash with a bunch of nasty, muddy bikes, wheels and shoes. Happy New Year! And goodbye to the 2011 'Cross Season.
Looks like a nice Crazy Bastard Ride tomorrow. On snow, or what? See you then! And thanks for all the Happy Birthday Wishes.
