Eric,

After 20 years of master's racing, I have come to understand that there are all kinds of reasons why more "mature" racers call time on their seasons and I'm sure you have yours. However, as we talked about last weekend, I would urge you to reconsider early hibernation.

A quick look at the MAC results shows you in 8th place with only one race to go. Assuming everyone around you in standings shows up for Cross at the Kiln, you are likely to forfeit position if you don't go. Would be a shame to give up an entire season's work in that way. Most importantly, it will cost you front row spot for next years Nittany Cross openers (both days), on a course notorious for first lap pile ups, as 100 plus racers, jacked up to start their season well, charge off the line.

Thing about a series, which I'm sure isn't news to you, is that points at end of season count just as much as those in the beginning. Everyone is tired and it's hard to commit to another month of training since final race isn't until 12/14 but if you do it you won't have a winter of second guessing yourself and the warm glow of a front row start next year to keep you warm till spring.

mugwump said:

Third, better wrist position.  I find it easier to pull the bike up from the drops.  I also am more centered over the bike,which I find better for control.  

Jim Feehan said:

Eric,

After 20 years of master's racing, I have come to understand that there are all kinds of reasons why more "mature" racers call time on their seasons and I'm sure you have yours. However, as we talked about last weekend, I would urge you to reconsider early hibernation.

A quick look at the MAC results shows you in 8th place with only one race to go. Assuming everyone around you in standings shows up for Cross at the Kiln, you are likely to forfeit position if you don't go. Would be a shame to give up an entire season's work in that way. Most importantly, it will cost you front row spot for next years Nittany Cross openers (both days), on a course notorious for first lap pile ups, as 100 plus racers, jacked up to start their season well, charge off the line.

Thing about a series, which I'm sure isn't news to you, is that points at end of season count just as much as those in the beginning. Everyone is tired and it's hard to commit to another month of training since final race isn't until 12/14 but if you do it you won't have a winter of second guessing yourself and the warm glow of a front row start next year to keep you warm till spring.

Marc Bertucco said:

mugwump said:

Third, better wrist position.  I find it easier to pull the bike up from the drops.  I also am more centered over the bike,which I find better for control.  

I can't/don't ride stairs, but the idea of being centered over the bike on a feature like stairs seems incorrect to me. At CX camp, when working on sand riding, Myerson talked about getting your weight back over the rear wheel and literally lifting the front wheel, helping it float over the sand. More weight, in that case, over the front wheel leads to, as Peter says, "crash-boom-bang."

I know it's not exactly the same, but it seems to me, that when riding a feature like stairs, where you have to lift the front wheel up and over, you don't want balanced weight front and rear.

mugwump said:

Marc Bertucco said:

mugwump said:

Third, better wrist position.  I find it easier to pull the bike up from the drops.  I also am more centered over the bike,which I find better for control.  

I can't/don't ride stairs, but the idea of being centered over the bike on a feature like stairs seems incorrect to me. At CX camp, when working on sand riding, Myerson talked about getting your weight back over the rear wheel and literally lifting the front wheel, helping it float over the sand. More weight, in that case, over the front wheel leads to, as Peter says, "crash-boom-bang."

I know it's not exactly the same, but it seems to me, that when riding a feature like stairs, where you have to lift the front wheel up and over, you don't want balanced weight front and rear.

One problem with your theory.  At the pressure I was riding, I wanted to unweight the rear wheel when it rolls over the stair.  there isnt' much room to do so, but there is room.  And even though the Tufo's I'm riding are tubeless, I still don't want to ding the rim.  

I've been lifting my front wheel over curbs for years.  I've found that I feel more comfortable doing it on the drops the bigger the curb.  I feel I can "lift" better in the drops.

As for sand, I agree that moving weight back is better, particularly when first touching the sand.  I think to myself that I'm going to lift the front wheel over the first few feet and then I shift my weight back, trying to pretend that I'm doing a wheelie.

If it gets warm enough soon enough I bet we could coax Canadian Mike out for a clinic on the topic

Hotlist No.11 2014

Once upon a time, there lived a Hotlist, and he was diligent and timely and on target week after week. And then the mountain started to crumble around him. Fortunately, the rocks didn’t quite kill Hotlist this time and he’s back to serve up this year’s special team championship edition. Before we get to the list lets review the rule. Hotlist covers who is hot, not, who is not. Hot is participating in the championship race.

Hotlist obviously understands that life gets in the way; and expects that some of you might have good excuses for not lining up in the battle to crown this year’s CX champion. But he also thinks that some of you have just found yourself at a Pity Party in the Dive Bar of Life, sucking on a baby-bottle filled with extra-mild, watered-down Weaksauce. Or something. Okay end rant.

On to the good. Let’s celebrate the KCC ELITE EIGHT who elected to race the championship event on beautiful Sunday morning.

1.   Todd McLoughlin. Starting the race as the prohibitive favorite, Todd didn’t disappoint. Riding like a combo of Nys and Aspholm, McLoughlin let the podium contenders flame out hot and fast before taking over the lead with 2 laps to go, focusing on the skill sections and easily taking the win.

2.   JP Partland. Despite having signed up for the “all-day” race passes again in 2014, Partland competed in just one race on Saturday, and was observed pre-riding the course long before anyone else from KCC on Sunday. One thing was clear. He wanted the win. But with just 3 races leading up to the big weekend this year, he was an underdog to take the title. Frankly, Hotlist is more impressed that he beat rock-solid crosser Patrick Grehan and rising star Nelson Martins than losing to McLoughlin.

3.   Patrick Grehan. Having recently notched one of his best results of the season at SCCX (4th in the Cat 4s), looking around at the riders at staging, he definitely was one to watch. And he quickly let the field know that he was there to RACE. The pace he set going through the prologue loop was blistering and absolutely shredded the field immediately. He continued to ride well enough to hold onto the bronze medal position.

4.   Nelson Martins. The young gun of KCC Cross has been on a tear of late, racking up result after result after result. A step or two off his best form resulting in a 6th place in a Cat 3 race in early November, he found himself battling Bertucco for much of the race before eventually leaving the other long-hair pondering the meaning of crater-like divots in the grass situated perfectly after the second barrier to create an extra-concussive, and extra fun, remount.

5.   Marc Bertucco. There was one thing that worked exceptionally well during Marc’s race. His headset. Newly installed by master mechanic Nelson Martins the very night before, Bertucco hopes that one day his broken down body will work a fraction as well as the silky smooth sealed cartridge bearings in his Cane Creek 40 series.

6.   Kayt Mathers. Introducing our new KCC women’s champion! Clearly after owning the Stylish Solutions Cat 4 Women’s Leader Jersey on the road this year, she was drunk with success and looking for more. Hotlist wonders if, and hopes she is, now inspired to race CX more in 2015!

7.   Joshua Caeser. The 2014 cross season has been quiet for Josh. After starting the season with a bang at the Cycle-Smart CX camp in mid-August, Josh dialed it back, focused on other things, and arrived to the KCC championships with perhaps the freshest legs! And for it he was rewarded with 7th place.

8.   Gwynna Smith. After spending much of the summer tearing around the woods on tires in the neighborhood of 2 INCHES wide, Gwynna took out the bike with the skinny tires, saddled up and crossed the line in eighth. Hotlist imagines sometimes how awesome it would be to have a season where Gwynna and Kayt, Erika, Julie and KCC’s other excellent women take on more cross racing.

So there you have it. The Great Eight! Congratulations to all who lined up for their chance at gold-medal glory. Heading into these final few weeks, Hotlist is morally obligated to remind you that the season did not end with Whirlybird, or HPCX or even Supercross. No indeed. The next three weekends are packed with high caliber cross racing for all.

(Pay no attention to the discussion forum calendar which is inappropriately absent of any cross racing listings past Supercross.)

For example, in just a few hours, Bertucco will be literally sliding on his ass and face as he attempts to go around an off-camber nirvana made even more impossible by inches of snow and ice in Sterling, MA. According to a tweet by the Bay State CX organizer, the fastest bike out there during Friday pre-ride was a fat bike with 4psi in the tires.

After this weekend is the Shimano/Verge Series final in nearby Warwick, RI (south of Providence) on Dec 6/7. NBX offers an exceptional course that combines the best of Gloucester, Providence and Northampton into one glorious course.

If you need to get your fix closer to home, Long Island Cyclocross at the Asylum Dec 6/7 might do the trick.

The following weekend is the MAC series finale that is a “must race” for anyone looking to pad their point total for next year’s Nittany call-ups. Plus, it’s kind of a hoot of a race that is frequently sloppy and cold.

You know, a lot of folks spent all September complaining about how this wasn’t real cross weather. Well, here ya go, folks. Cross weather is here, suit up!

jim_nelson said:

A friend of mine is Tom's brother in law. I'll ask him.

Marc Bertucco said:

jim_nelson said:

A friend of mine is Tom's brother in law. I'll ask him.

I actually talked to Tom on Sunday. He said that he was priced out by USA Cycling's new permit fees. Basically another $1000 got tagged onto his permit fees alone. And then the general expenses of running a UCI race got out of control with the kind of sponosorship he could get to support the race. He pointed to the big races, Vegas, Gloucester and Providence eating up all the sponsorship dollars.

He'll probably return to doing a local race or two.

I think dropping the UCI designation might be something we could consider for Supercross. Sounds like it adds a lot of expense and pain in the assness to everything. I guess that's up to Myles though.

Phillip Maronilla said:

Paying Pros to come race makes no sense to me. I thought they would race a UCI race for the points itself, no? How much would attendance on a CX race, in terms of amateurs signing up, suffer because of the lack of Pros?

Phillip Maronilla said:

So having Pros race cost a promoter two ways, in actual cost, as well as revenue lost. That's stupid.