Hey all,

I'm going to head out to Watchung NJ on Sunday to race the Horseshoe Scramble. I'm going to do the Cat 4 40+ race at 2:15 then head back in time to get out to the party. Anyone want to join me? Probably leave Brooklyn about 11:30.

Jim

I'm headed out to do the same race as Jim (i.e., Cat IV 40+ at 2:15) BUT on Saturday rather than Sunday. I'll leave Brooklyn around 12:00 and should be able to take up to 2 others (and bikes) with me.

I am tempted to do the B race Saturday, but might end up deciding to take the weekend off. Not sure just yet. Only 50 minutes away. Not sure if holiday traffic will be crazy and all that. Don't remember it being a problem last year.

EDIT: The good weather this week and good weather forecast through the weekend makes it even more tempting.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/Register.asp?EventID=12678

Jim

I'm registered for the same field. My goal is not to let you roll in one spot ahead of me as you have done three times this cx season. It's on!

See you there

Patrick

Posted By: PatrickGJim

I'm registered for the same field. My goal is not to let you roll in one spot ahead of me as you have done three times this cx season. It's on!

See you there

Patrick

Ooooh, battles. I'm going to miss you guys. I'm going up against New England sandbaggers in Rhode Island. Crossresults trolling reveals that while I'm predicted to finish 7th on day one, 6 of the guys in the top 10 (and 4 of the 6 guys in front of me) already have a victory to their name!

Of course, the last time I was predicted to do well in New England, things didn't go so well.

I think I have to sit this one out. I hoped to race the B's, but I dislocated my shoulder in a crash last weekend, and, shockingly, it has not yet healed. I spoke with a physical therapist yesterday. She helped with a number of things, but she also told me to take 2-4 weeks off the bike. And it looks like I'll have to take her advice. My physical therapist is also my brother's wife, and she speaks regularly with both my wife and my mother, so I'm stuck. I actually can still ride the trainer and run, but I'll probably miss the last few CX races. That's not an awesome development, but I'll live. On the bright side, it's almost ski season. That'll help the healing process, right?

Todd

Patrick, how about we just have a battle about how little time we've had to ride lately.

Marc, we'll miss you too but if I had more time I think I might head up north as well. Kick some NE butt.

Todd, the timing could have been worse. You had a great season. Heal up. BTW, when I was marshalling the course crossing at Supercup I met your folks. I told them you were having a good season and they looked mighty proud. Don't giving your mom grief now......

Neil (or anyone else who raced today), got any course recon? I raced there last year so I am generally familiar with the terrain. Any surprises?

Jim-I'd never raced there before so it was all new to me.
My general impressions: a bit muddier than I would have expected given the weather over the past couple of days (three or four mud sections-- fairly ride-able if you have momentum), a bunch of nice tight twisty sections with short steep moguls to navigate, one set of double barriers, one section that was either a run up or a ride up depending on how muddy your line on the approach. One tight slightly rooty 180 degree turn. Not too many long straightaways to develop speed on.

The guys at the front were the same I've been seeing in the NJ series (IV 40+) races for the past few weeks. Unfortunately I don't remember many jerseys cause I lost contact with the front so early on. I think there was Hammer Nutrition and perhaps a Westwood Jersey near the front.

I liked the course. It reminded me of a cross between a non-technical mountain bike course and a miniature golf place--no scaled down windmills though.

Good luck.

Thanks Neil, hope your race went well. Sounds pretty similar to last year. Good to know there could be some muddy bits. Cheers.

Looking forward to the race reports from the Horseshoe Scramble. Since I was the only Kissena at NBX in Warwick RI, I'll post my race report here too. In the tradition of the year-end Kissena awards, my report will take the form of a Hollywood awards show.

Act 1
Cue Timpany drum roll, raise the curtain, enter Hugh Jackman from stage right. Cue music. Song begins.

"Oh my, look at this course, look at this course.
the bay's wicked beach is in the back, the roads are in the front
and to the sides pine covered forests are alive...

with roots, with roots, the roots will mess you up
they are there to ensure that you will crash and die!

No, no, no nooooo! Irony rules the day.
Our hero commands his way,
35lbs of pressure absorbs the blows,
he carves through hard packed turns to start the show

But sinks on long and winding roads,
tires squish and squirm,
Cross winds from the bay blow hard
groups with shelter and draft get a-WAY!!!
Irony for the roadie rules the day!

No, no, no, no NOOOOO!
He's beat in a downhill sprint for 15th.
16 is not so sweet, what will he do for to-morrow?"

Now some awards:

Best Celebrity sighting: Jamie Driscoll at the urinal next to me. (hey-ohhhh!)

Best post-race rationalization for a mediocre performance: According to crossresults, my 16th place finish against this quality of this field was worth 403.71 points, roughly the same as my 5th place in the epically cold, mud and rain festival of pain known as Beacon earlier this year.

Act II

Horns, strings, percussion swell with hope. Song begins.

"Today is Sunday, a to-tal-ly new Sunday.
They've added yet another beach run-today
Because running in sand up hill is they way to play.

At the start, Redemption is on my mind
No time to pre-ride and so 8th or 9th into turn one I take blind
With patience I decide to bide my time.

But who is this, in plain white jersey blocking my line?
Running into tape and falling all the time?


No, no, no nooooo! Irony rules the day!
Gaps open that I can-not close.
Leaders ride away
White jersey, ultimately wins today
No, no, no nooooo! Irony rules the day.

[music change, tempo con molto, key D-minor (the saddest key of them all)]

Depression, depression, depression
Why can't I go? Why can't I go faster!?
Maybe I will quit, this really is no fun.
Oh look another rider passes me by.
His enthusiasm and joy is sky-high

One quarter of a lap drags on my mind...

[music change, up tempo again]

And then a voice rings loud and true
Don’t give up that’s not what you do!
Climbing off would crush her heart
To disappoint my fairest lady is not okay
Because once you stop, you cannot re-start!

Strong and steady I continue to ride
Letting loose of anger and disappointment inside
Short and steep comes a climb to attack
Shut down the inside line and power away
That ECV rider who earlier rubbed me the wrong way
Has nothing to match.

¼ of a lap to go, what do I have left to show?
Take the final turns a little bit slow
No mistakes, no mistakes, I must ride these final roots clean
No, no, no, no!!!

My lady true and fair sees danger from behind
3 riders clawing back to my wheel in anger is on our mind.
Riding my wheel onto pavement, I click my shifter and pray!
Just 2lbs more than Saturday, 37 is the number,
On pavement I could not afford to lumber,
Sprinting with all my might, I shift one click

Not today! Not today!
You will not pass me tooooo-DAY!”

More awards:

Best spectating of the year: Men's elite race on Saturday. The long windy paved stretches, the addition of world cup caliber A elites Jamie Driscoll and Christian Heule, plus the the improving form of the "B" elites like Adam Myerson, Dylan McNicolas, and Luke Keogh ensured that there was a nice group of racers stuck together for 1/2 the race, leaving plenty of room and time for attacks and counters and an exciting final downhill sprint.

Best post-race rationalization for a mediocre performance: 12th place overall, but 5th 35+ master's racer sounds better.

Marc- Nice finishes in what was obviously an elite (even if not technically "elite") field. (I myself will never be an "Elite" racer so I must be satisfied as an "Elitist" competitor.) You were missed last night at the party.

If you haven't discovered cyclingdirt.com, they do a nice job with interviews and videos. Here's one from the elite race. Stay after the credits for some funny heckles:

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/240989-NBX-GP-Of-Cyclocross-2011/video/524706-Mens-Race-NBXCX-Day-One-2011

Nice rides and reports Marc.

Two weeks ago at Supercross I crashed on the 2nd to last lap and landed hard on my shoulder. Adrenaline and excitement carried me through but it hurt pretty bad for a couple days after and continued to be a minor irritation after that. It had started to feel a bit better last week and I was able to ride on the road no problem but during warm up in the grass on Sunday I tested out a couple quick turns and it hurt to pull hard on the bars. I started the race hoping it might not get worse. I had a great hole shot and about 1/2 lap in was riding away from the field with 4 other guys (who eventually finished 1-4 and included Larry, my nemesis from HPCX!). Unfortunately my shoulder was getting worse and worse. I could barely steer the bike and trying to manhandle it through the mud was all the worse. After one particularly rough spot it hurt so bad I had to stop. Those 4 guys road away from me. I tried to get back on after a handful of seconds but no go. I lifted the course tape and stepped off, my only DNF this year. It still hurts a bit, mainly when I lift it my arm over my head. I'll keep an eye on it but likely that's the end of my season.

Ah, Jim...sorry to hear about the shoulder. Good on you for giving it a go--sounds like you had another podium in your sights. A true hard man. Heal up.

Dammit Jim!

Heal up, plenty of wheat soda and rest...

J

Trolling for Kissena pics, I found a couple from the omelet known as the Horseshoe Scramble of Dusan Strika (the dude who's raced more cross races since 2006 than anyone else on the team--71):

http://gtluke.smugmug.com/Biking/2011-Horseshoe-Scramble/2011-Horseshoe-Scramble/20403294_9zrwxz#1615213909_j3PTMvC