8dec13
race report: horseshoe - cx
8am, cat4 40+

30dF, dry, overcast, snow in forcast

front row start, left side, 6th @1st turn, then crashed in turn (4)off a rear wheel of slowing rider in the tight rooty schacanes, popped-up, w/a broken right pedal (no more clip-in for this racer)...(3)more falls in next 32minutes, traded places w/JimN as we lost contact w/lead group...race stretched out; managed to hop log obstacle all(5) laps (which was a big advantage&kept me in the race, as the remount area was very slow), remaining(3) crashes were due to over-aggressive lines in icy conditions, enjoyed the Horseshoe -CX Announcer who managed to mention our names each time we pulled past start/finish; rode woods&hill sections fairly well; enjoyed cold air temp once i changed to warmer gloves; could have used 2-3more warm-up laps to better set preferred lines @pace, determine hazards&sections at which to capitalize, finished (1)spot better than Hotlist predictions (10th/22) &10sec back of next rider, 55sec back of group of(3);...room for improvement!

...especially, in traffic front/rear wheel encounters& BiG elbows in turns.

really enjoyed the course! good marriage of power to technical areas. Total blast running course, encouraging teammates, glazed doughnut hand-ups&ride; KaytM a champ riding steady&strong w/big girls(1,2,3's)

out&back w/teammates thanks JimN, KaytM&John...

btw, ToddMcL was killing it for 2.5 of 5 lap race holding 3rd by 6seconds, 45sec back of (2)leaders! kid deserves points for killing it for 1/2race v. v. exciting racer(graceful gazelle! @every barrier dismount/mount...does, however, need to be taken mtBiking & practice bunny/log hops and spin up slippery climbs!

BravO! Nelson said it &did it thats an AWESOME! +sirPatrick excellent finish.

-harryB;-)

Congratulations to all.
@Patrick Grehan- Apologies for the premature victory celebration

Garrigan shares his double secret special SECRET HOLESHOT RECIPE... http://dirtwire.tv/2013/12/nbx-gp-cx-day-2-mike-garrigan-the-secret-of-the-holeshot/

Sigh. Canadian politeness face palm. "Nice move!" Yeesh. Brooklyn isn't rubbing off on him yet... http://dirtwire.tv/2013/12/mike-garrigan/

Lots of good stuff on dirtwire.

http://dirtwire.tv/2013/12/nbx-gp-cx-day-2-richard-fries-whats-going-on-in-necx/

I'm going to take FULL CREDIT for pointing out to Richard Fries that NBX was like a combo of Gloucester, Northampton and Providence. This happened in between the times he was heckling me both while racing and after the race walking back to my car (it made Sarah laugh, so I guess it's okay).

Lots to say about this weekend...not sure I have time/energy to do it though. In the meantime...

I will say, with all of the super-top pros out in Bend, the men's Elite racing was some of the most exciting I've seen all year. Garrigan was absolutely on fire all weekend. I don't know what kind of power numbers he generates, but I have NEVER, EVER seen anyone close a 15 second gap by himself, in less than 1/2 a lap like he did at one point on Saturday. It was kind of insane. And Sunday, I thought he might take the win even.

Lots of good stuff on dirtwire.

http://dirtwire.tv/2013/12/nbx-gp-cx-day-2-richard-fries-whats-going-on-in-necx/

I'm going to take ..

I will say, with all of the super-top pros out in Bend, the men's Elite racing was some of the most exciting I've seen all year. Garrigan was absolutely on fire all weekend. I don't know what kind of power numbers he generates, but I have NEVER, EVER seen anyone close a 15 second gap by himself, in less than 1/2 a lap like he did at one point on Saturday. It was kind of insane. And Sunday, I thought he might take the win even.

The dude can roll, when he's in shape and his bike isn't exploding out from under him...

Harry, 40+ Cat 4 vs 40+ Open? I know what the differences are, obviously, but I'm curious to hear what you think about your experiences racing both this season. Which will you do next season? How would you advise a new crosser "of a certain age" who is trying to figure out in which category to race?

Cat 4 race report 

Pics from NBX

https://www.facebook.com/marc.bertucco/media_set?set=a.10201347731750017.1073741829.1075176960&type=1

Thanks guys, super excited I was able to take the win for KCC at the cat 4 race. I did this race in 2010 and 2012 and got my butt kicked so it was defiantly a proud moment in my "racing carrier" to do be able to win it.

I arrived to the race around 9 and saw Jim, Kayt, Harry, our mysterious new member Jeff and later on Pat and Tod. After shooting the breeze with the KCC crew I hoped on my bike and away I went onto the frozen/muddy course. my first lap I did on Limus tires and they sure did have a lot of bite on some of those gnarly muddy turns. The first section of the race, near the parking behind the house, was the same as I remember from last years. but the back section near the woods was completely changed. No more steep frozen ruts going down hill with a hair pin turn and back up a muddy/ frozen incline like previous years but it did have 3 fairly straight sections on squishy grass that you could try and make ground if you weren't good on the technical stuff. It also had a tricky off camber turn that was frozen at first but later on thawed and would prove to be a slippery one for people running the wrong tires or in the wrong gear. Followed by a "get rad if you can" ride over a log and some what steep climb and back down into the small wooded section that had about 3 muddy and rutted switchbacks. The last switchback was tricky due to it being on a incline and then exiting out on some slippery rocks which I practiced a lot riding and running. After leaving that dreaded wooded section I passed the pit a few slippery turns here and there, did the barriers and then crossed the finish line. I preroad the coarse another 4 times, with my pit wheels and single speed cx pit bike (thanks to my boss) and each time trying to figure out the best lines and getting comfortable with the ever changing conditions of this course.

During the race I has a hard time clipping in at the hole shot but I manifest to get 5 maybe 6 wheel by the time we got onto the grass the start was a but hairy with a lot of all bunched together but once we hit some mud the field started to split a bit and I think it was Pat in first or second and me in 5. By the time we got to the switchback wooded section I believe Patrick was in first and I was in third at this section and for the first two laps I ran that iffy turn in the switchback area just to be on the safe side. Still holding on 3rd and Pat on 1st we passed the announcer who defiantly called us a Kissena sandwich. We kept doing our thing with a nice gap between us and the rest of the group. by the time we hit the back section a second time the rider in 2nd I ended up passing Pat and was able to grab second place, the rest of the race was a battle between me and the 1st place rider. I would catch him in some sections and then lose him at others. The last lap I kicked on the afterburners and was able to catch up to him in the fun pump track section followed by a gravely climb and I had him on my tail for awhile luckily by the time we got to the sketchy off camber muddy turn I gained about 10 seconds on him and held it until we got to some turns before the barriers and I ended up whipping out. As I fell, the feeling you get when your about to drop a glass cup or something else expensive on the ground rushed threw me and all I could think of was F**k why now!!!, but luckily my my quick Spider-man Ike reflexes that I have acquired over this season got me right back up, over the barriers and a "two hands up" salute to the finish line and me yelling in excitement.

Congrats and Thank you KCCers who where at HSCX for the tips especially Todd who did a lap with me and gave me some good advice. Hope some of you KCCXers don't hang up does cross suits up yet I'll be at limestone, maybe Long Island and hopefully be able to finish my season up with Newton and I hope to see y'all out there. I got 4 more points left until I can upgrade so right now I'm in it to win it and hopefully next year I'll be able to race as a 3

Sadly they didn't have a podium for the c race but Yan who I met at sccx who is Marks dad (that really good jr who is 15yo and will be a cat 3 by the end of today) took some nice photos of me and Patrick. I'll share them later once I DL them and my boss got a phot of me next to the shop Van holding my awesome horseshoe medal

Harry, 40+ Cat 4 vs 40+ Open? I know what the differences are, obviously, but I'm curious to hear what you think about your experiences racing both this season. Which will you do next season? How would you advise a new crosser "of a certain age" who is trying to figure out in which category to race?

9dec2013
marc &co re: bertucco query?
cat4 40+ vs cat4 masters

marc re: your query, not sure i am as yet well qualified to fairly answer the question given that i raced one cat4 40+ race; however, there are some basic facts: (5-15places) are taken ahead of me in the Masters races before the start as the difference in strength/skill &performance is such that in the sprint to turn 1 and subsequent 4turns seems to creat (3)distinct groups/gaps, where in the cat4 race, i'd like to believe, i could have, w/good fortune, stayed with the 2nd group even w/current skills&fitness; in either case my finishes have been between 1-3minutes back of winner(s).

Power is a BiG part of these races, power on the flats to extend/create gaps and psychological holes in ones opponents...and power to accelerate out of the technical bits, i do not generate big power rather retain momentum, when in good form.

...without the Power of a masters cat1,2,3 racer it will be a challenge to compete for top (3) (5) (10); in a cat3/4 field age group i can, likely, compete for top 5-10. it is fun to be in the mix...

if you are a true cat4/5 cx racer of a certain age40+ i'd advise to race race race (northEast&newEngland); practice skills&fitness &stick to your chosen field for season(ie. cat5 or 4), learn your opponents, self&who are best in that field then step-up &see where you place in another category(ie. masters). if i had (10)more races in the next two weeks i'd reg early&race cat5 to see how i stack-up against equally novice cx-racers.

would love to see kissena compete @masters cx-nationals (BendOR) &win!

(3) images from horseshoe scramble c2013

note: plenty more@this site!;-)

Harry, we have found your true calling - look at that smile!  
#CXisBoss

^PS I meant CX, not Donut heckling, even though that is a PRIME heckle, good man...

thx jules...abagail (the pjotographer mentioed thaylt she had a couple nice images of 'hand-up') f u n! -h;-)

harry edmund bolick
hbolick@gmail.com
+1 718 640 8680 m

sent from iPhone

You should frame that one Harry!

Never a dull moment at CX races when Harry is around. He puts the same effort racing and heckling/encouraging/handing up donuts. Fun!

Mike that is crazy; I just found these today myself.  Can't believe how good this series is.

Warning. Svenness is a black hole that robs you of all your time.

tooooooo laaaaaate......

KCCers I present to you the Kissena Sandwich 

a few more 

I'm jealous. ^ ^

Rare Keith siting at 3:40...check out highlights from the Elite fields at one of my favorite races of the year:

http://dirtwire.tv/2013/12/nbx-gran-prix-of-cross-day-two-elite-mens-and-womens-highlights/

Over the last couple of months, I've been having some pretty severe bronchitis(post viral cough) lung issues which have kept me from racing and training at any intensity above low tempo. I raced Cheshire Cross a month ago and that hurt/sucked.

It's a nice location @Kayt.  And much less pressure than the other races you've done.  It gets pretty windy behind the buildings, since it's by the water.