After 5 years, I decided to award this race its own thread. Not because it's any more or less awesome a race weekend this year, but because I think we've got a few other Kissena's including Jeff White heading north to contest this weekend.

There are lots of great things about this weekend, and a quick search for "NBX" on the forum will reveal plenty of me going on and on about it. But, for the sake of trying to generate a little enthusiasm NOW, here are some highlights:

• Varied interesting course that combines elements from classic New England courses. Longer pavement, zippy single track, challenging roots, stairs, giant log barriers. And it adds great sand bits. I mean, not "Bubble Cross great," but really solid.
• Great kids course. Other kids course have recently gotten better, but this is one that always been interesting for all. They even had off cambers.
• Fire pits. Keep warm while watching elites.
• Great parking. Like Supercross in terms of volume available, but nicer, because it's all grassy and bucolic and shit.
• Heated bathrooms. That are open. In December. Imagine. Dare to dream. #SupercrossCX
• Food trucks. Actually, Supercross food trucks I think kind of rocked it this year. So tasty. But expect the usual trucks from New England to appear.
• Great viewing. Lots of elevation change, which means lots of "high spots" to watch the races unfold.
• Closer than Providence, but close enough that you can stay at your same hotel, plus rates are MUCH cheaper this weekend.
• Great local eats for brunch/breakfast. Including my second favorite donuts of all time.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the weekend. If you aren't busy fixing the Supercross course (thank you to all who are putting in that extra effort!), I highly recommend this race weekend.

Also, here's a map to further entice?

http://nbxbikes.com/merchant/131/files/2015_NBXGP_Map_Sunday-ilovepdf-compressed.pdf

Unfortunately for 4s and 5s, reg is all filled up for Saturday (8 people on wait list) with just 9 spots left for Sunday. No other options exist eg no 3/4, no 4s in masters races

Rick Perner said:

Unfortunately for 4s and 5s, reg is all filled up for Saturday (8 people on wait list) with just 9 spots left for Sunday. No other options exist eg no 3/4, no 4s in masters races

Yeah, this is definitely one of the races that will have some sold out fields. And for this time of year? That is a testament to how folks--not just me--feel about this race.

It's probably very telling that a race is selling out such big fields this late in the year. I'm definitely looking forward to it! Last two races of the year for me.

While this was in my schedule, unfortunately, doesn't look I'll be able to make it. Go forth and race your bikes my friends!

(Kiln last Mac still will be my next and last)

So just Jeff and I. Bummer. Well, that's 2/3rds of the KCC CX championship podium/field going anyway!

Jeff, hole shot critical at this race. Since they moved it to the grassy loop, you just don't have much time until you are funneled into what looks wide, but is effectively a rooty single track section. But you have always been a strong starter, just keep this in mind.

It looks like the stretches of tarmac are fewer and not as lengthy as in previous years

Rick Perner said:

It looks like the stretches of tarmac are fewer and not as lengthy as in previous years

I don't know about that...looks like they just looped them in slightly different directions. There might be a difference of 50 meters out by that stretch they took out in the middle of the parking lot. Everything else is there though. Hard to know for sure.

I'm mostly just pondering how I'm going to get myself off the 4/5th row before the single track...

Here's last year's http://nbxbikes.com/about/gran-prix-of-cyclocross-course-maps-2014-pg681.htm

Woah, just noticed that Rick and Jeff are going to be slugging it out with 160 racers! In about 11 minutes. Good luck gents, crush it out there!

Last I heard Jeff got top 10 in his field!

Results bro:

http://www.crossresults.com/race/5837#cat78056

Weird that 35+ results not separated out, or even noted.

My own race was basically a bust. 5 rows of starters, I was on the 4th. Bad start and that was probably the best part of my race. Not exactly, but sort of.

Revised course much less balanced than in years past. What pavement there was, for example, was broken up by passing over 3 medians with curbs on both sides and sunken grass/soil inbetween. There was some woodwork in place to help ease the required leaps, but it was still all about pulling up your front wheel twice very quickly, then on pavement, then twice up again. You could only go as fast as however fast you could pull up your front wheel in succession.

Very technical. Roots, roots, roots everywhere. I did my best to "ride light" and let the bike flow, but still managed to bottom out my rear wheel jam packed with 32psi like 3 or 5 times a lap. I Just don't have the skills and couldn't do much. And was frustrated. I came pretty close to pulling myself. 

But, with the help of my family cheering and the nagging question, "what lame excuse will I have to make up to tell Peter?" I doubled down and tried to race my bike. And that mean laying down the watts when I could and trying to take good lines when I couldn't.

I blasted the beach run pretty good. I couldn't completely shake a couple of riders including the 16-year old national girls champion until I got to the beach and just sprinted the distance like it was my only chance to do anything. And it sort of was.

In the end, I got P&P after completing just 4/5 laps for 31st place out of 39 starters. Interestingly, Chandler Delinks, a 267-pt cat 2, who scored 9th place at this race last year, clearly day-of reg'd and started on the back row. I thought, interesting, when he comes by, I'm going to try and follow his wheel. Well, that plan was a bust, I got stuck in traffic, he charged through like he had control of the force. However, looking at the results, even with his Jedi skills, the best he could do from one row behind me at the start was 27th place and he too was P&P.

Also, it is worth noting that after the early morning races, they rerouted some of the sections near the log barriers, and added a whole section of climbing single track at the far end of the course.

Results bro:
http://www.crossresults.com/race/5839

Day 2 35+/Juniors report. Fuck those huge barrels of water we had at Supercross for the pit. FUCK THEM. Every time I remounted, with my arms extended, it felt like a giant battle axe crushing the shoulder that I injured trying to tip over one of those ridiculous barrels to refill buckets to dump into our power washer trash-can.

Course run in reverse and shortened. Better warm-up today and more hot-laps. I was focused and determined.

And yet there I was again racing for "not last." I managed to finish in front of just a few 14 and 15 year old boys and girls.

I was fast on the beach run, because it was literally the only place on the course where it was possible to go anaerobic for more than 10 seconds at a time before confronted with another root-and-rock infested turn.

The kids at the front of the field were turning laps that were 1 to 1-1/2 minutes faster than me. Holy crap. Oh, and the first actual master? Matt Timmerman (Dan's brother, works for Cannondale) finished in 5th place. And then did the UCI elite race and finished in 10th place. And Al Donahue? Another 35+ Master "regular?" Well, he finished 9th in the Elite race. So there you have it. These are the guys driving the front of the Master's 35+ field in New England. Guys who score UCI C2 points.

54+ minutes of racing today for me. Similar saddle time yesterday.

we gotta get out there next year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlGczfjzac8

eloy said:

we gotta get out there next year.

who's heading out this year?

Let me know too

I've reserved a car and room in case, but will know for sure tonight if I'll be going.
Else will do Solstice.

Following, altho chances are high I'll do Soltice. 

NBX GP of 'Cross. Definitely coming back.

Did the 8am 4/5 races both days, 70-rider fields.

That infamous sand run was ridable, at least at 8 am when frozen solid. Then a deep rut got worn in as the day progressed. Would have liked more climbing overall, but the course was very technical, lots of sandy soil, some of it frozen, and roots, barriers, two sets of stone steps… a log that Lane Maher hopped like it wasn't even there. Later in the day, some corners got super slippery as the ground thawed a bit.

30 min was a little to short to really warm up or find flow, and day one was frustrating because of that. But very satisfying to find I can move up through the technical stuff and the few hills on the course. My remounts are still ugly but at least able to maintain forward momentum now. Rode file treads (clinchers) - bad choice for the leafy little hills and power sections, but ok in the corners.

Day two, 20 degrees at the start, did some hot laps in the pre-ride to warm up which helped a lot. Also switched to Fango tubulars - amazing feel and grippy everywhere, felt like floating even on the hills. (I only have the Challenge tires because my cx bike came with them.) The course was mostly the reverse of day one, and it was Fast, Flowy, and Awesome.

Considering Twining Valley next weekend to close out the season, if anyone wants to go.

awesome, James!! #bigtimefomo

I agree with Eloy. Super envious. Glad you got to go