13th in the 40+ 4's. I went down on the final left turn after the downhill (where Patrick rolled?) and gave up one place. What the bike gods giveth , they taketh away. All-in-all, a good course, and I'm happy with my finish. Only problem I had was the finish line was far from where we started., and at a spot where a lot of focus is necessary. I did not see a lap card all, day, and blasted through the finish not even knowing that it was the finish. Guess I just wanted to keep going!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally forgot to mention that Konrad got THIRD!!!

yea man!!!!

Bubblecross Cat 4 40+ and Open Cat 4 reports

This weekend I decided to take a cue from Dan and race two races in a single day. A little nutty I know, but they were separated long enough for me to get to eat a burrito, heckle and hang out with teammates. I recommend it. 

Cat 4 40+

I lined up with Marc, David S., Jim, and Phil for the Cat 4 40+. Within the first lap I was part of the leading group of 4 or so and Marc rode from a third row all up straight to the front of the pack. Pretty good for a guy who kept saying “I’m not the same guy who won last year” before the race. Yeah right. Back to the race. Several of us took turns leading the race for various sections. The bubblecross course is great because it has lots of sand but also climbs, descents, off camber turns, gravel, a jump and straight out power sections. Before the race I thought the critical section was the long sandy “beach” section that preceded a rocky climb in the woods. Staying upright on the bike in the sand meant being able to ride up the hill whereas running would take more energy and time. I botched it EVERY time. I handled the sand fine. In fact, I thought I managed the sand great, but once I had a guy stop in front of me, another time I was over geared, and the last time I hit a root straight on that stopped me dead in my tracks. More on that later.

Let me rewind for a moment. On the start of last lap, Marc was leading and we had a local guy (David) and the guy in pink who placed 1st and 2nd at Marty last weekend. Mr Pink attacks and David and I go with him. I am like glue on Pink in the power sections. We hit the sand together and David and Pink are both forced to dismount and run the hill at the end of the sandy stretch. This is my opportunity! All I have to do is ride up the hill and I will establish a good gap on these guys. I start to motor but Mr Pink is on my left and and BAM! I hit that root that I mentioned above. I fall over like a guy standing still on a bicycle (which I was). I get up and run, but by this time Mr. Pink and David have a lead on me. I chase but never catch up.

Here comes the best part. Or maybe the worst part. The finishing straight is preceded by a descent down a set of dirt and log “stairs.” This last time around I take a fall and… wait for it, roll my front tubular. Let me come back to the tubular in a moment. I quickly get up and run with bicycle over shoulder to the finish line for my podium finish only to be picked off at the line by Marc who sprinted by me, later saying “I thought the guy behind me was gonna pass us.” Well, guess what. He didn’t. And I was RUNNING. I don’t hold this against Marc. After all, we are both racing together as well as against each other and bad luck can happen to any of us during a cross race. But don’t tell him that I don’t hold it against him. I want to hold this over his head for a while. Fun.

You may have noticed in my write ut that I mentioned that we only did three laps. Really? What is with that. Not that I was upset about it during the race, but that seemed way too short. Now back to the tubular. You may recall that I rolled my rear tubular at Whirlybird. This is the front from the same wheelset. Maybe I am just horrible at gluing wheels but I followed Stu Thorne’s directions (including belgian tape) to the letter. I hope that the problem is that I did not let each layer of glue dry overnight as some other sites have recommended. I hope this is the reason because this is getting annoying not to mention that I would like to be able to trust my equipment during a race.

Open Cat 4

I had a second row call up in the end of the day Cat 4 race and lined up with Konrad, Nelson, Jules, Joachim, Yoshi and Ryan who was racing his first ever cross race. Konrad had a great start and in the first lap I was at the back of his group of 5-7 for the first lap where I “almost” was able to ride the hill. Having ridden the course this morning gave me more comfort in the sand and turns. All I could think about during the first lap was: “This hurts. Why the HELL am I racing again today?” I could feel the soreness from the earlier race deaden the snap in my legs. I managed the long sand section well but took a fall in the short sand section before the pit. Nelson (who had picked a MUCH better line) blew by me along with 4 other racers. I chased, but felt my legs scream at me when Joachim (wearing his muscle skin suit) and Jules came by me on a climb. My muscles screamed at the climbing and at having seen the muscle skin suit. It was that disturbing. I tagged onto them and  from then on Nelson, Jules and I tended to trade spots. Jules got bogged down in the long sand section and I overtook him. For each remaining laps I was able to ride up the climb following the sandy stretch. This had become my white whale today and felt it was a minor victory. This helped me pick off riders - including Nelson who graciously encouraged me to pass him. I guess I owe him one. Jules was my shadow for the remainder of the race: the opposite of two weeks ago at Whirlybird where I followed him around the course for 40 minutes. Konrad and Joachim were in a group of four that were visible a turn or two up the “road.” On second half of the the last lap, one of their group - a guy who had a striking resemblance to WDC - got gapped and I was closing in on him. He kept looking back so I knew he was nervous and I hoped he would make a mistake. He didn’t. I finished a few bike lengths behind him and rolled in with a strong 7th. I felt pretty good having been just behind Konrad and Joachim and having held off Jules and Nelson given that my legs felt pretty spent. By the way, Konrad and Joachim traded positions a the end of the race similar to Marc and I earlier in the day, but I’ll let them share that story with you. Overall it was a good day of racing. I am looking forward to Northampton.  

You should let each coat of glue dry over night before applying the  next coat. I know it sounds bonkers, but I also lay down three coats BEFORE my tape. Why?? Because narrow road rims are not designed to hold a wide-circumference 'cross tubular. By going with three coats, I build up the rim bed, essentially flattening it out a little. This gives the larger circumference tire more surface area to grab. I also use the broom stick method. After I inflate and seat the tire, I deflate it and roll it across the broom handle. This just gives that base tape another chance to adhere to the tape, and the rim bed along with it. I also don't install the tire until the last coat of glue is dulled over, and just tacky - about 30 minutes after application, I go with two coats on the base tape - one with the first coat on the rim, and another before I apply the last coat, before the Belgian tape. This method seems to work for me. Only problem is, with 24 hours between coat (except the last one), you need to start gluing Monday to use them Saturday. 

I'm going to introduce a new idea to this discussion of rolling tubular tires, which for me very much takes away from the allure of using tubulars in the first place.

I think we need to realize that despite an optimal glue job, any tubular will roll given enough sidewards force. I think we need to take this into account while we are riding the bike. Case in point: when you see a root or a rock, you either avoid it or bunny hop it or sequentially take your weight off the wheels as you traverse it (maybe this is the same as a bunny hop). You don't just smash into it. Likewise, there are certain maneuvers that will increase chances of rolling a tubular. Patrick's last turn at Bubble Springs is one example. I suspect that Ragot's remount style is another: it may be fast, but he rolled two tubulars that way in the last few weeks. You cannot just do anything you want with your bike and expect to survive without a mechanical. Sure, doing a good job will minimize the risk (Ragot claimed he had a defective glob of glue under the tire), but there will always be risk (and perhaps more globs of glue) and altering riding style is a way to minimize it.

I like @Sanosian's observation about rim width. That makes a lot of sense. Thus, the wider 25mm rims seem much more suitable for 'cross.

I also wonder whether the obsession with low tire pressure is counterproductive. I suspect that a slightly higher pressure will do a lot to avoid rolling the tire (which loses a lot of time), with a minimal impact on riding performance. A higher pressure, which someone told me is favored by the newer generation of mountain bikers, will also help prevent pinch flats with clinchers.

dstokes said:

I also wonder whether the obsession with low tire pressure is counterproductive. I suspect that a slightly higher pressure will do a lot to avoid rolling the tire (which loses a lot of time), with a minimal impact on riding performance. A higher pressure, which someone told me is favored by the newer generation of mountain bikers, will also help prevent pinch flats with clinchers.

I ran my tire pressure a bit higher than I usually do at Bubble cross because of the hard, fast turns and bumpy lead in to the finish.

First, 

@Wump the horse paddock in Prospect is a good place to practice sand riding.

Just what happened to Todd? I wasn't there. Is he ok?

Gwynna Smith said:

Jules, I aspire just to claw my way to the top of the shit pile from the whales of suck. But you better believe that if I ever make even a hint of a top ten, I'm gonna be RIDING those damn whales!

Way to pull it out, whatever "it" is, and whatever "out" means.

And Ryan, welcome. *evil grin*

I wrote that with a couple of "consolation" glasses of red wine in me.  All my suckage is relative to *myself* and what I hope to do at any given race.  I didn't mean for that to sound as if it was an absolute measure.

We all have our ups and downs:

Lars van der Haar wins UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Valkenburg

October 20,

DNF Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team

Van der Haar wins second straight 'cross World Cup

October 26.

22

Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team

0:02:28

Vantornout wins opening Superprestige race in Ruddervoorde

October 27,

2

Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team

0:00:07

My own technique in the sand allowed me to ride through it and up the hill every time. Unfortunately, I somehow managed to miss, on the long stretch, the much faster left hand line and basically hit the deep sand full speed and kept churning all the way to the end until solid ground again. One lap I was over-geared hitting the steep single track, but still managed to power up it without "derailing" on any roots or rocks.

I think for me, and others, the sand was probably the most daunting of our challenges, and so in my mind, I went all Jens Voigt and said, "Shut-up legs." Going through the sand pit was extremely draining, followed by the single-track climb? Fuhgettaboutit. Frankly I don't know how I did it. But for me, in my field, I think it was more of a mental challenge. When the going gets tough, in sections like that, sections where it is extremely hard, I believe I'm able to excel against my opponents. Not because I'm stronger or more skilled necessarily, but because I have an easier time getting the maximum out of my body in those situations.

Now, where I tend to struggle, and where the group brought me back from my lap off the front, was on the grassy turns, where I tend to ride a little too conservatively. I call these the "medium hard" sections of a cross course. This year they made the exits of those turns wider and improved the flow of that section, but I remember a couple of times last year where I absolutely killed some of those turns, whereas this year, I was too timid.

It would have helped if I knew that it was just one lap to go, if I'm honest. But whatever, hindsight...

@Marc I feel the same way; those grassy turns are sort of "gimmies" but I felt like I was riding them conservatively because to fall there would be even worse than biting it on a technical bit... strange thinking I know... funny what oxygen debt does to one's thinking.

@mugwump step through was not faster

Jules said:

 and frankly Konrad got a bit robbed with his "nevermind" podium moment.

"Sorry kid, we're taking down a race here..."

I think this is one of the things that frustrates me about the state of "local" cyclocross racing. Kind of dove-tailing off of your Donut Derby frustrations, if you are going to run a race and give out medals and have podium ceremonies, then just do it. And do it in a timely fashion.

Of course New Jersey doesn't have the lock on that problem, at big-time Providence we waited for 3 days and 3 nights for the Hulk Smash podium ceremony. I don't know...it's all frustrating.

But I guess that's the next level. I think some of these smaller promoters don't think as much about "production value" as they should. Obviously a lot of thought went into the production value at Providence, but I have no idea what took them so long to do the podium ceremonies.

dsanos said:

Just what happened to Todd? I wasn't there. Is he ok?

I'm all ok here.  Just a few new cuts and a few old ones re-opened.  On the second lap two guys crashed in front of me.  I couldn't quite avoid it, went down, and smashed my left hand into someone's drive-train.  That tore off some old scabs and opened a few new cuts.  The end result was that I bled a lot.  A lap after the crash I stepped off and headed to the med tent.  I figured it was time to call it a day when my handlebars were too slippery to hold over the bumps.

DNF'ing and crashing aside, I actually felt pretty good.  Although I had a few mishaps, I was going faster than the people around me, and, I would like to imagine, I was faster than some of the people in front of me. 

I'm not sure what this weekend holds for me.  My in-laws are in town so Northampton is out, but I might head out for the next NJ race on Saturday. 

eragot said:

@mugwump step through was not faster

not the way you do it.

mugwump said: eragot said: @mugwump step through was not faster not the way you do it. Old hands joking aside, the fact that @Wump thinks it was faster for him should have zero bearing on new CX'ers.

Sorry Todd - hope you heal up soon.

Have official results posted yet?? USAC does not have them, and I can't find them anywhere else.

Jules. Did you feel the shaking? I agree wholeheartedly.

The funny thing is when I learned on my own the non step through was my natural dismount and I could successfully dismount at stumbling speed and remount. That speed is faster than you can run for more than a few steps so I was slowing after I got off and was quickly remounting.

I learned then to step through because that is what I saw a respected and experienced CX rider I am friends with do for a clinic. So, the step through became my default except for hills where you make it part way up. For those slow dismounts I went step behind.

Last year at Northampton I watched virtually all the elites not step through. While I was comfortable with the step through, I came to realize it was more in step with my more steady speed and cautious approach to CX. I can do both equally well, but I have noticed that when I have a brain fart and whoa I suddenly have to dismount, the dismount is step behind.

So this year I have abandoned 13 years if training in favor of the quicker step behind. Frankly, it works. Now that is how I teach to dismount. My technique is still evolving but I find myself able to come closer to the barriers and still be pedalling. The off and run the barriers.

Now as to other dismount techniques. The pre-release the left foot before the right is unclipped apparently evolved before reliable release pedals were being used. Nowadays, the pedals are reliable and the step behind technique let's you weight the pedal so that unclipping is simply smooth and easy.

So, the current thought and my preffered (even if it takes some thought for the step behind) is to not pre release the left foot and to step behind. Ask harry nelson and Philip how well that technique works. Also, I watched dan Chabanov use the sane technique to destroy a field without the same technique and skills as he.

Jules can you cross post to the CX thread?

Jules said:

mugwump said:

eragot said:

@mugwump step through was not faster

not the way you do it.

Old hands joking aside, the fact that @Wump thinks it was faster for him should have zero bearing on new CX'ers.



True. But I used step through also and found it comfortable and fast. I always feel like my legs are tangled up using the other way. So I would say that the newbies should realize that there are options.

Here are a few shots I took of the 50+ 40+ and B races. I have more (of David, Harry, Todd, Mike, Dan, Eric and JP) if one of you would like some more pics of suffering in the sand.

race report: masters50/60+, 40min., +9:20a start.

spectacular fallDAY!
clear crisp, bright sun, 47dF.
1.5mi course, sloping stone crested grass&wooded northwest Passaic Co. community park, w/drained sandy lake bed&beach.

warm-up/pre-ride (2)laps plus, :18min w/(3)20sec openers on roadway.

course: (2)decisive sand features 1st a short deep section(10m)&a 2nd long section(100m) in (3)parts including: deep(40m)/packed(40m)&deeper(20m)+a rocky wooded hill, a fast 18" double barrier run/lift, short jump&step-climb, shallow switch back hill climbs, descents &long gravely flats.

pre-race:
'Blackie2' &cx-race problems: A) serial front wheel slide-outs & serial clip-in failures;
adjustments for A) shorter stem -25mm, saddle lower&back 15mm, carbon tubulars v alum. clinchers,
&for new pedals &cleats, crank bros 'frog1' v shimano spd.

race: i had a very good start position(9th @call-up), 2nd row inside left for a 1st turn left@100m, still another fumbled clip-in &i managed to be passed by 1/2field@50m mark&remainder by 1st turn...daveS started 3rd row right &moved-up to the lead third of 31racers by turn1; i set a goal to keep dave in sight for the race; ok until 1st long sand section, made it through part 1long deep sand, &part2 packed stretch then bogged down in last 2m of short deep bit, off bike, push/run up(30m)hill, another poor clip-in &lost several more positions, &plenty time; caught-up in descent&short climbs; repeat x2, lost sight of Stokes, at posting of 3laps 2go had a serious conversation w/self, alone, way back in field...'harry,' find the best lines, race the course NOT the racers, honestly, this is/was the best part of my day&race, the feel on the bike of shifting weights &movement around&through turns up&down hills over obstacles, air(5x)@the jump for me was brilliant, if i can only devine the smoothest line& view each lap as an opportunity to discover fluidity the efficient path, then, exploit the section(s) where i excel &perhaps pass another racer; @the long sand/hill section, i tried a new tactic, 1st clear the deep section@pace w/controlled power, weight back over rear wheel using front wheel lightly handed as guide, then move forward in the saddle to TT position over the packed section for momentum into the deep sand &power again as far as possible into the second deep sand section, then off the bike before i bog-down w/a bit of momentum, a short run to the base of hill, set the bike, clip-in, &climb the hill in the saddle! this gave a better net result from start of sand to top of hill; i finished the race w/no major mishaps, held off (1)challenger for 19th/31starters, not quite mid-pack 42:45min, (5)laps, hard race/course...cx-fun!
-harryB

ps. kcc shouts-out 2great results&hard fought races by daveStokes 12th/31, patrickG, marcB, &ericR, ToddMcL, etc...PhillipM&i left @noon during elegant/magnificent performance in elite field by Chabanov!

eragot said:

Jules. Did you feel the shaking? I agree wholeheartedly. 

There is a real lesson here and I think it is this:

If you're new, don't bother learning the step-through until you are a minor Jedi at all your other skills.

eragot said:

Ask harry nelson and Philip how well that technique works. Also, I watched dan Chabanov use the sane technique to destroy a field without the same technique and skills as he. Jules can you cross post to the CX thread?

All i have to say is, Ragot went over the barriers at Bubble...effortlessly, pre-riding or during the race.  Everything just seemed to flow for him, dismount, glide over the barriers, remount.  No stutter, no misstep.  There were a couple of other racers in the 40+ race that did a step through, they were fine too, but for what its worth, they were all behind Eric.  I guess its whatever one is comfortable with.  Me, i never learned the step through, so i dont really get it the advantage.