I'm enjoying, I'm reveling, trust me

Here's a nice little clip of Zach McDonald flicking around some muddy corners. Last year, when it was epicly rainy and muddy, he stayed up front the whole race (instead of this year's hot start and mid race fade to black).

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/251034-2013-Providence-CX-Festival/video/721806-McDonald-Carves-The-Providence-Course

Speaking of which, not sure what happened to Canadian Mike. The fade after killing the hole shot is always to be expected, but he went from chasing 11th place to way, way behind by the last 1/3 of the race. He seemed to be running very gingerly.

And another "pro" note from watching both days. On the "S" shaped x2 section of stairs, the top pro men were dismounting and running up the first two, remounting immediately before the 180 right turn, then riding up the last two before the roller coaster drop section.

@Marc Mike got totally annihilated on the day 1 crash.  Day 2 was a C2 race so he was staying out of trouble, eager to go home and put some ice on his everything.

If my 9th place at Providence is not recorded in crossresults, did it ever happen?

@Patrick I implemented a Vanilla Forum plugin that blocks your CXResults standings until a race report is published.  Just sayin...

Jules pretty well summed it up in his reports, but I'll say this:  hitting our competition with the one-two over and over and making them decide whether to ride their own race or ours was immensely fun.  Podiums aren't bad either.  And HULK SMASH!! is more or less the way to go.

@mperlberg, we can't actually upgrade based on experience, I think.  I checked the guidelines, and it looks like that only applies for the 5 to 4 upgrade.  The addition of the 5's to cross this year seems to have caused quite a bit of confusion on that point.  That's also why, prior to this weekend, neither Jules or I was even eligible to upgrade out of the 4's (our decent rides in seasons past still weren't good enough for any points).  I actually tried to register for the B's at Gloucester, and the organizer wouldn't let me!  After this weekend, that might be a different story.  I suppose we should figure that out at some point.

^immensely fun.

@Joaquin and @jules. You can both be cats 3s in CX now. I am ready for the upgrade request...

Rumor has it there were FISTACUFFS in our field on Sunday.  Two guys crashed out and then came to blows...!

Handups were verbotten this year; grounds for DQ.  Le Sigh.

is anyone going up for this?  I'm going up to visit family in providence.  also plan to watch some races.  I won't have a CX bike though so no racing for me.

Brendan Rigby said:

is anyone going up for this?  I'm going up to visit family in providence.  also plan to watch some races.  I won't have a CX bike though so no racing for me.

FInd a CX bike. Rent one, beg, borrow. Whatevs. Do it now.

You're right.  My nephews would love to watch me fall over again and again.  

Call van dessel and ask about loaners.
Call nycvelo and ask about rentals (or maybe loaners, you never know).

@Brendan Another possibility: I raced Whirlybird on a demo ride (disc brakes!). If you get there early and a brand is offering, you could "bags" it as we say in NZ. You'll just need your own pedals and shoes (SPD's or somesuch and CX shoes). Do enter now so you get a non-DFL call-up.

I'm not racing this weekend as I've reaggravated my rotator cuff. I've already gotten  the ok as far as transferring my registration over to somebody else for any fields the are still open. Dibs to anybody that'll give me(sans bike) a ride up and back to Providence going up Friday and returning Sunday.I'm staying with a friend and will be checking out the racing and some bands too

JohnMalcolmson said:

@Brendan Another possibility: I raced Whirlybird on a demo ride (disc brakes!). If you get there early and a brand is offering, you could "bags" it as we say in NZ. You'll just need your own pedals and shoes (SPD's or somesuch and CX shoes). Do enter now so you get a non-DFL call-up.

I'm a bit lost on "bags." I'm hoping WrongWay can use it in a sentence.

@Brendan - you are welcome to borrow mine. It is the size small of this: http://archive.raleighusa.com/archive/2012-cyclocross/rx-1-0-12/

Providence is a freaking awesome race. Steal a bike, sell your watch, stow away in a fishing scow...do what you have to a but don't miss it.

Is anyone doing the AM 4/5 race and then punking out back to NYC? I'm trying to make it back for a show Saturday evening that I forgot I had bought tickets to mooooonths ago. The bus schedule ins't helpful, unfortunately.

There is another reason to go to Providence...

C1 points mean EVERYONE in the US Pro Peloton is going to be racing their guts out. That shit is mad awesome to watch. Providence's course is a hoot to spectate at too.

Just bring a lock for your bikes...I had my bike stolen off my bike rack last year. As the detective who returned the bike to me said, "you guys come and have a nice day in a park, but you forget, it's Providence."

Scroll back, search for things, but this race weekend, despite my bike getting stolen, is seriously family friendly.

Marc, was it locked onto the rack?

Joaquin said:

Marc, was it locked onto the rack?

No, not locked. After that event, I started using a cable and combination lock that I use whenever the rack comes out. Nothing that would actually foil someone who really wanted to take the bike, but enough to discourage the joy riders probably. Also enough to say, well, at least I tried to secure it. Suffice it to say, I'm pleased that traveling without a big jogging stroller means I have plenty of room for the bike in a trunk.

I like to leave mine with Edwin. 

If you cats are traveling en mass feel free to borrow my 30ft long kryptonite cable cord to keep everything together, BYOLock.

Also have a couple of those nylon folding chairs to sit on while you wait to heckle the next batch of racers.

I saw a tweet...don't know if it was real, claiming 3 flyovers this year. THREE. And if it rains on Saturday as currently predicted. Holy shit.