Sep 12, 2022 at 12:52 AM
Looking forward to hearing reports from Sunday’s Pineapple race…
Cyclocross!
Sep 12, 2022 at 01:55 PM
Welp, cross is officially here. After the clinic on saturday, I was playing outside with my dog and saw clouds rolling in and thought hmmm I should check the forecast for tomorrow and it was going to be rain all morning so I prepared for mud, cold and wet, which is exactly what we got.
James and I raced the 4/5 field. I was third row for the start and had a great start. The beginning stretch was straight and not overly muddy so I made up a bunch of places and was 2 wheels behind James. Hitting the off camber section before the barriers I tried for the higher line, but it was mud and I immediately lost my back wheel and hopped off and ran through it. The rest of the first 2 laps were relatively uneventful. I settled into my race, navigated the mud and kept it upright.
Lap 3 was where things started to go sideways. There was a muddy climb that it was easier to run up. Somehow in running up it, the boa on my shoe opened so my left shoe was basically held up by my toe velcro. I quickly tighten it enough to get back to the start finish straight. At this point I'm a few seconds behind the guy in front of me who I've been slowly closing the gap to for the last lap and a half so I hammer away and make it back to his wheel. I ended up neck and neck with him coming into the up and down switch backs and know that I had been corning better than he had. BUT I gave it too many beans on too tight of a line on the 2nd one and went sliding sideways. I got back up pretty quickly but he was gone. I lost one more place as I settled back and tried to ride it back down but couldn't close the gap.
It was a good first race of the season. Cornering felt good, probably the best start I have ever had, and dismounting for the barriers and stairs felt pretty natural. My remounts were absolute garbage and I know I can (1) improve and (2) save tons of time there.
Onto bubblecross (if I can finagle a ride)!
James and I raced the 4/5 field. I was third row for the start and had a great start. The beginning stretch was straight and not overly muddy so I made up a bunch of places and was 2 wheels behind James. Hitting the off camber section before the barriers I tried for the higher line, but it was mud and I immediately lost my back wheel and hopped off and ran through it. The rest of the first 2 laps were relatively uneventful. I settled into my race, navigated the mud and kept it upright.
Lap 3 was where things started to go sideways. There was a muddy climb that it was easier to run up. Somehow in running up it, the boa on my shoe opened so my left shoe was basically held up by my toe velcro. I quickly tighten it enough to get back to the start finish straight. At this point I'm a few seconds behind the guy in front of me who I've been slowly closing the gap to for the last lap and a half so I hammer away and make it back to his wheel. I ended up neck and neck with him coming into the up and down switch backs and know that I had been corning better than he had. BUT I gave it too many beans on too tight of a line on the 2nd one and went sliding sideways. I got back up pretty quickly but he was gone. I lost one more place as I settled back and tried to ride it back down but couldn't close the gap.
It was a good first race of the season. Cornering felt good, probably the best start I have ever had, and dismounting for the barriers and stairs felt pretty natural. My remounts were absolute garbage and I know I can (1) improve and (2) save tons of time there.
Onto bubblecross (if I can finagle a ride)!
Sep 12, 2022 at 02:55 PM
Looks like my cross comeback is off before it began
tried to register for cat 4 / master fields and bikereg is telling me i'm a novice, i would be ok doing the cat 5 field in principle , but i'm not keen on racing a 3-4 pm
tried to register for cat 4 / master fields and bikereg is telling me i'm a novice, i would be ok doing the cat 5 field in principle , but i'm not keen on racing a 3-4 pm
Sep 12, 2022 at 03:11 PM
Sorry could not be there, I was busy getting my ass handed to me officiating at the Track...
Sep 12, 2022 at 05:23 PM
Go to the USAC website and upgrade!Mark Taylor said:Looks like my cross comeback is off before it began
tried to register for cat 4 / master fields and bikereg is telling me i'm a novice, i would be ok doing the cat 5 field in principle , but i'm not keen on racing a 3-4 pm
Sep 12, 2022 at 08:41 PM
My license already shows as a 4 ,
I contacted bike reg and they fixed it
so I'm at least doing 2 races this year !
I contacted bike reg and they fixed it
so I'm at least doing 2 races this year !
Sep 14, 2022 at 01:24 PM
For bubble cross this Sunday, would I be able to get a ride from anyone?
My race is unfortunately the last one of the day at 3:15. Happy to meet at GWB or somewhere convenient for you on the NJ side (and chip in for gas)
My race is unfortunately the last one of the day at 3:15. Happy to meet at GWB or somewhere convenient for you on the NJ side (and chip in for gas)
Sep 14, 2022 at 09:56 PM
I just registered. I'm in the 1pm race, aka Masters 4/5 40+. I am going there with my partner, I will ask her if she's okay staying that late. I think my projected path is Brooklyn to the GWB. On the way I have to drop some bike parts off in the area near the GWB Manhattan side.Matt Budofsky said:For bubble cross this Sunday, would I be able to get a ride from anyone?
My race is unfortunately the last one of the day at 3:15. Happy to meet at GWB or somewhere convenient for you on the NJ side (and chip in for gas)
I'll chat with Amy tonight and see if she's okay with that and get back to you.
Sep 14, 2022 at 10:06 PM
Awesome thanks! I can ride into Manhattan and meet you on the NY or NJ side (whichever is easier for you)
Sep 15, 2022 at 01:03 AM
It took me a minute to post. I didn't if Cedric was racing or not and what time I would have to be at the race. He's not. I'll leave around 8. I can take 2. 917 797 7292.
Sep 16, 2022 at 12:15 AM
The following is from the CXHAIRS Bulletin. Official announcement about the end of Adam Myerson’s New England CX series here.
TLDR Northampton is STILL running and Really Rad is part of USCX
——
——
Before there was the USCX, the US Cup-CX, and the USGP, there was the New England Cyclocross Series. Started in the 1980s and hosting only UCI racing since 2003, the NECXS has been a staple of American cyclocross for literal decades.
As the scene in cyclocross has changed in recent years, the series has not been immune to the challenges races everywhere face. After the UCI mandated its series consist of no more than eight races, the NECXS established a four-weekend series of GP of Gloucester, Northampton, Baystate Cyclocross in Sterling, MA, and the NBX Grand Prix in Warwick, Rhode Island. Supercross in New York then replaced Baystate in the 2016 season.
The first domino to fall for the series occurred in 2019 when organizers had to cancel the iconic GP of Gloucester. For American cyclocross, it was probably akin to the Koppenbergcross or Koksijde just going away. Then following the pandemic, Supercross and NBX folded, leaving just Northampton and the new Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross on the NECXS calendar.
With the Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross joining the USCX series this year on November 5 and 6, only Northampton was left among the series races. Last week, series organizer Adam Myerson made the decision to postpone the NECXS for 2022 and for the indefinite future. He published the following statement on the series website.
The New England Cyclocross Series is postponed for 2022, and indefinitely.
While the Series originally included every race in New England starting in the 1980s, it evolved to only include the top events starting in 2000. By 2003, all events in the Series were sanctioned by the UCI, and it eventually grew to 14 rounds and seven race weekends. When the UCI mandated a UCI series could only consist of eight events, the prime era of the Series began, with all the classics: Gloucester, Northampton, Sterling, and Warwick.
Today, there are only four UCI races in New England, and two race weekends. With Falmouth joining the USCX Series, that leaves only Northampton. While I considered running a series based around just two races, I decided it was best to put the Series on hold instead.
When more New England events are ready to step back up to UCI status, and match the format and categories we’ve focused on, the Series will return. Until then, I hope we’ll see you at Northampton.
- Adam Myerson
September, 2022
Sep 18, 2022 at 06:51 PM
super quick report from bubblecross
Sep 19, 2022 at 01:23 AM
My cousin was there today and he got some low res video of me going SPLAT on the last lap of the race... Goes to show I'm a washed up old rabbit....
https://youtu.be/tVjSU7hK--4
https://youtu.be/tVjSU7hK--4
Sep 19, 2022 at 01:29 AM
Also have some more videos that I'll edit together into a single reel..
Sep 19, 2022 at 03:19 PM
Registration for NoHo is open. This is a great race. I may go up to support/spectate/heckle.
Be there!
https://www.nohocx.com/registration
Be there!
https://www.nohocx.com/registration
Sep 19, 2022 at 03:40 PM
I updated the travel sharing google sheet to include Noho through Nats!
I included all Nats days (e.g. non championship, masters, single speed, collegiate, entities, etc.) as the ride sharing may be valuable regardless of whether you are racing. It is fun to race Nats, but its most fun to go and cheer on all the other racers.
By the way, last time that Nats were in Hartford, Kissena organized a team tent. It was a godsend as it was cold and icy that year. Just saying...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r7fzXmO8bc7e7bCTLUqWvUXw3VN-uXRvulGXCExfzDw/edit#gid=1667795558
I included all Nats days (e.g. non championship, masters, single speed, collegiate, entities, etc.) as the ride sharing may be valuable regardless of whether you are racing. It is fun to race Nats, but its most fun to go and cheer on all the other racers.
By the way, last time that Nats were in Hartford, Kissena organized a team tent. It was a godsend as it was cold and icy that year. Just saying...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r7fzXmO8bc7e7bCTLUqWvUXw3VN-uXRvulGXCExfzDw/edit#gid=1667795558
Sep 19, 2022 at 04:52 PM
I just signed up for Newtown. My race is at 8am so I'll be headed up early and can give rides (I can fit 1 more bike on my rack and one in the car). Unfortunately I can't hang out afterwards (need to get home and cleaned up in time to get back on the road for the holiday) so may not be able to give rides home if you're racing afterwards
Sep 20, 2022 at 12:18 AM
As much as I'd love to get to Carpenter Cross on Saturday, I think I'm overextending myself. I have a very important officiating gig on Sunday evening then need to book home. I am then up at 4:30am to get to JFK for my trip, and adding a race in as much as I'd love to do it, doesn't make sense to me on a logical perspective. Sigh...
Sep 21, 2022 at 10:20 AM
https://youtu.be/A5Ck8JMcQck
Sep 26, 2022 at 02:06 AM
Raced Newtown today. Had high hopes coming into the race after reconning it in YouTube; seemed like a power heavy, smash fest kind of course and I have a shiny new 40 tooth chainring (downsized from the 42 I had on there). But you know things being what they are, I woke up this morning and felt not wonderful. Hey, let’s roll the dice anyway and see what happens.
Prerides ride were okay. The grass was very thick and a bit wet so lots of slipping and sliding but it was about what I expected; hammer as hard as possible on the short sharp kickers, keep it tight in the cornering. I knew once it was ridden in a bit more the grass would be matted down and much faster.
Prerides ride were okay. The grass was very thick and a bit wet so lots of slipping and sliding but it was about what I expected; hammer as hard as possible on the short sharp kickers, keep it tight in the cornering. I knew once it was ridden in a bit more the grass would be matted down and much faster.
Had a front row start and woooof. Missed my pedal, then had mud in the shoe/pedal and couldn’t clip in. Easily the worst start I’ve had in a race. I started chasing hard and on the first off camber switch back, the wheel in front of me jumped off the bike and I lost all momentum on the climb back up and failing to clip back in ensued. Eventually I got back into the pedals and found a rhythm and went back to the chase. By the end of the first lap I ended up catching 4 or 5 people.
2nd and 3rd laps were more of the chase. Didn’t catch anyone but closed some gaps and was getting within striking distance of another 2 riders. Last lap I made my move and got in front of one rider but that was pretty much the end of my day. I stayed in front for a bit but went way too far into the red and exploded into a million little pieces. Luckily I had built up a sizeable lead to the guy behind me so I was able to just maintain for the rest of it. Coming into the final uphill drag there was one rider who blew up more than I did. I felt kind of bad passing him so close to the finish line but I guess that’s racing for you?
2nd and 3rd laps were more of the chase. Didn’t catch anyone but closed some gaps and was getting within striking distance of another 2 riders. Last lap I made my move and got in front of one rider but that was pretty much the end of my day. I stayed in front for a bit but went way too far into the red and exploded into a million little pieces. Luckily I had built up a sizeable lead to the guy behind me so I was able to just maintain for the rest of it. Coming into the final uphill drag there was one rider who blew up more than I did. I felt kind of bad passing him so close to the finish line but I guess that’s racing for you?
Ended up finishing 7th, so not a shabby day out.
Sep 26, 2022 at 04:24 PM
Didn't race Carpenter as planned - I crashed myself out during one last pre-ride where I was about to commit to running a set of four approximately 5 to 6 inch high cement curbs, but wanted to try one more time to clear them. (We'll not think about where race predictor placed me.)
For me, hopping obstacles is a combination of 3 moves, and I'm finally past the overthinking part and putting it together.. There is a fourth and unnecessary move that involves the face, which I nailed on Saturday. Was shook up and a bit dazed for awhile, but everything seems just fine now aside from a swollen upper lip. Hopping stuff is fun and I will have it down before end of season.
Here is Eloy in the mens 3/4 field at Carpenter:
And here are some pics from muddy Pineapple Crush Cross on Sept 11 where I placed 13th in the mens 4/5 field, and Bubblecross on Sept 18, where I placed 2nd in the mens 40+ 4/5 field:
For me, hopping obstacles is a combination of 3 moves, and I'm finally past the overthinking part and putting it together.. There is a fourth and unnecessary move that involves the face, which I nailed on Saturday. Was shook up and a bit dazed for awhile, but everything seems just fine now aside from a swollen upper lip. Hopping stuff is fun and I will have it down before end of season.
Here is Eloy in the mens 3/4 field at Carpenter:
And here are some pics from muddy Pineapple Crush Cross on Sept 11 where I placed 13th in the mens 4/5 field, and Bubblecross on Sept 18, where I placed 2nd in the mens 40+ 4/5 field:
Sep 26, 2022 at 09:23 PM
For all you cyclocross slaves out there - I found this meme hilarious and came to this discussion for the first time in months to share
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ci-0kheAv04/?igshid=NzNkNDdiOGI=
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ci-0kheAv04/?igshid=NzNkNDdiOGI=
Sep 28, 2022 at 06:43 PM
Baltimore Charm City, pre race report:
Shane Ferro writes some notes:
https://www.tobedetermined.cc/journal/weekend-forecast-charm-city-cx-2021-cxhy8
Maryland weather: Hurricane Ian expected to bring rain to Baltimore area this weekend
https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/bs-md-hurricane-ian-maryland-20220928-pka27zdrhzarnmxzkzmh5kstle-story.htmlShane Ferro writes some notes:
https://www.tobedetermined.cc/journal/weekend-forecast-charm-city-cx-2021-cxhy8
Sep 28, 2022 at 07:57 PM
So a report on cyclocross season, 3 races so far
Race #1 Pineapple Crush Cross
Photos by James, Rob, Nate, and Willow
Race #1 Pineapple Crush Cross
- Get a text the night before from James: Dude, have you seen the forecast?
- WUT?? was expecting summer weather, but we are getting wet downpour rain
- Usually my first race of the season is often an explosion of disasters and rude awakening, so goal is simple, let's not do that and put it together this time
- Since 2019 I had been using tubulars for fastish days, and tubeless for mud days
- As I was expecting summer and not mud, only my fast tubulars are ready
- Race what you got. Unsurprisingly at low pressure, these work well
- Have an amazing start and find myself in Edwin Bull's wheel, LFG!!
- Do a lot better than expected, and find myself in a definite battle for 12ish in the masters race
- Altho at some point, I end up a bit behind that crew
- Driving was good, and generally kept it under control.
- Awesome considering the conditions
- I am on the course a total of 57 minutes!! Muddy days FTW!
- Cyclocross is here. Let's go race bikes!
- James and Matt look like fire in the 4/5 race
- Another weekend, another masters race
- The night before, discover a broken nipple in my rear tubular -- only way to fix is to remove the tire, omfg
- So tubeless mud tires it is
- Best start I had in years, get to the holeshot in 3rd wheel
- I'm 4th wheel by the time I get to the Kissenista spectators, even 4th wheel the first time thru the finish line
- I tell myself "Just do this, stay here"
- But the race is 45 minutes
- Thomas Feehan is chasing and getting a bit closer every lap
- I am slowly but surely exploding and after 20 minutes of top 5 I have completely exploded!
- Slip in a silly easy uphill corner
- This expedites the inevitable catch by Thomas
- By the last lap my body has completely fallen apart, my arms do not function
- Once I cross the line, I need to sit down for a long time before I can move and list excuses to anyone that will or not listen
- James would later finish 2nd place fire
- Let's go race bikes!
- Category 3 race, rather than masters
- Former Kissenistas Rob and Nate are in the field, default goal is to finish ahead of them
- Summer conditions, still on the Mud tubeless wheels
- Terrible start omg
- Try to recover, but not gonna happen
- There are four artificial dismount/ride obstacles:
- A set of 4 cement barrierish things, not very tall, but if you mess up you are done. So I ran these
- There is a set of 3 little logs in a kinda corner, rideable, which I do every lap
- On lap one, however some dude mega crashes here, as I avoid him, go a bit of course, I'll slip as I try to turn back into the course --- fuuuuuu
- There is a normal set of barriers - ran them
- A set of belgian stairs - ran them
- Eventually will slip a second time as I hit my pedal on an off camber corner -- fuuuuufuffffffffuuuuu
- 20 minutes in, did explode again, this is my typical early season no fitness why am I even here
- Got excuses lmk if you need them
- Rob and Nate will finish ahead of me
- I take some comfort that their teammate Lawrence finished behind me -- altho these peeps are half my age
Photos by James, Rob, Nate, and Willow
Sep 29, 2022 at 03:38 PM
Ian who? Eloy and I are bringing the hurricane to Baltimore this weekend.eloy said:Baltimore Charm City, pre race report:Maryland weather: Hurricane Ian expected to bring rain to Baltimore area this weekend
https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/bs-md-hurricane-ian-maryland-20220928-pka27zdrhzarnmxzkzmh5kstle-story.html
Shane Ferro writes some notes:
https://www.tobedetermined.cc/journal/weekend-forecast-charm-city-cx-2021-cxhy8
Sep 29, 2022 at 10:38 PM
Bring your mud tires!
Sep 29, 2022 at 10:52 PM
Bring your toe spikes!
Oct 03, 2022 at 02:00 PM
So eager to hear how this race went!
Oct 05, 2022 at 02:44 PM
My likely Cyclocross schedule for the rest of the season:
Ice Weasels and Governor's are not related but about 20 miles from each other, guessing most people will race both.
Let's go race bikes!
- Sun Oct 16 HPCX
- Sun Oct 23 Cooper River
- Sat Oct 29 Croton Cross
- Sun Oct 30 Croton Cross
- Sun Nov 6 NYC Marathon spectating
- Sat Nov 12 Northampton International
- Sun Nov 13 Northampton International
- Sat Nov 19 Rainey Park World Cup
- Thu Nov 24 PPTC Turkey Trot 5-Miler (Run race)
- Sat Nov 26 Crossburg (Tentative, might skip for rest/training)
- Sun Nov 27 Bishops Orchards (Tentative, might skip)
- Sat Dec 3 The Ice Weasels Cometh
- Sun Dec 4 The Governor's Guard Rodeo
- Thu Dec 8 Cyclocross Nationals Championships
Ice Weasels and Governor's are not related but about 20 miles from each other, guessing most people will race both.
Let's go race bikes!
Oct 05, 2022 at 04:32 PM