Round 4 of the Ottawa series would take us to Brockville, about an hour south of the city, on Lake Ontario. A hot (yes hot) sunny day would be the case, with temps peaking around 23c (I told you hot!), and clear blue skies, with a bit of a wind out of the south.
Not to sure how this one was going to go, as I'd finished fighting off my cold, but stomach still not quite settled down, but will have a go and hope for the best, it's only an hour.. so they say...
The course would be mainly flat, save for a big 'hump' in the middle of the park we'd ride/run up on a few occasions a lap. Not real technical, so wide open and no where to hide from the wind. We'd start down near the soccerfield, big open area, as everyone was chatting, the race started, and to most of us, this was a bit of a surprise! I was poorly placed as a result, about 20th in the 'line'. I'd see a couple of riders in front of me, who I know are super fast, so I felt a bit better, I could wait for them to move up and tag along. Very quickly Aaron Fillion worked his way up to the front, I was glued to his back wheel, so he'd pull me up into the front of the group.
When we hit the hill for the first time, I was in second, with 3 chasing me, and Aaron in front. After going up, then down halfway, back up and down all the way, around the side, back up, down halfway, up throught the finish line, and back down the hill... confusing yes, hard on the body, even more.. We'd head around the parking lot to a paved walking path, the three chasers tagged on to me, and we'd work into the headwind, down the path, before heading back up on the grass. By the end of lap two we were down to three, and soon after down to just two!
At the end of lap three (halfway through the race) the two of us were about a minute or so behind Aaron, and had a bit of time on the two behind us, we decided we needed to keep working togeher, as the two back were on the same team, and chasing hard. A good hard lap, put a buch of time into them and would leave us comfortably in second/third. I was starting to feel the effects of my stomach being unhappy, and with lap and a half to go, I would let a bit of a gap go on my companion, I chased back up over the hill(s) almost caught back on, but would conceit and decided to maintain my position in third.
I put in a good time on the last lap, not letting the trailing riders gain on me, Jon would manage to put 20 seconds into me for second place.
So I would capture a third place in the overall, but would round out my podium over the past few weeks, as I was second in the senior cat!!!
A very good day indeed!
Kelly was feeling the effects of the day too, but the course suited her well as it was longer, and less technical, she would finish a strong third in the women's race!
Next week, we pack up the Accord and head off to southern Ontario, to battle it out with those guys for the first time this season. We'll be in Milton at Kelso Conservations area for the Speed River Halloween classic, racing both sat and sun, double weekend, nice!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Almonte is Alright! Cyclocross race #3
Time for the next race in the Ottawa series, this time in Almonte, a small town west of the big O, round 3 of the series!
My first time to Almonte, and subsequently first time racing there... not too sure what to expect, but I should know better at this point. Almonte was resembling most other (eastern) Ontario towns, nice. The venue wasn't too bad, a small park next to the local rink, next to a big church, so needless to say a small buzz about the town.
Racing went on with two starts, as the numbers have been huge! this was good, as it made a bit more room on the course, and no doubt way easier to keep track of what was going on. Weather was great, overcast, it had rained all week, so dry conditions were a bit of a relief, temps hovered around 7-10ish, so cool, but not cold (I did however get heckled on the line for not having arm or leg warmers). The race started on a dirt 'track' one and three-quarter laps, then exiting onto the course. This was a good one, tough, and for the amount of rain we've had over the past week, I wasn't expecting the grass to be so rough. Lots of turns, ups and downs, any rest points were into the headwind, therfore, no rest...
I got a decent start, and worked my way into the top 5, with 3 of us chasing the lead two. Nearing the end of the second (of seven) laps, we were down to 2 chasers, I was about to overtake, move into third position, when both my tires came off the rims! Tubulars*!! bike came to a halt, and I was lucky to be able to pop them back on, as they'd just jumped in one spot each... I was now down around in eighth position, so a 'careful' chase ensued. Careful, as I was not 100% sure about the tires staying on my wheels.. I would eventually work my way back up to third place, and two of us would push on.
Knowing full well third place was at stake, and I was working more than my compainion, I would have to make him work harder on the final lap, I never did manage to get a big gap, but he was definitely working hard to stay with.. on the final climb, I put in a push, maybe too much, when 75m from the line, my front tire decided to jump again, and I was immediately overtaken, and would run across the line for 4th.
Not terribly unhappy though, I was third in my category, I pushed really hard, and impressed myself to be able to come from behind to regain position!!
Kelly was also there, and had a great race, I think the (rough) grass got to her, but she did manage to finish second in the women's A race! stellar for sure!
All-in-all, it was a really good day!! Looking forward to some rides this week, and to see if I can keep the momentum rolling into the next month!!
*note on tubulars, in case you didn't know... these are tires that are literally glued to the rim, not your standard tire and tube... the key is on the road, they're really high pressure, 100-140psi, so glue is for 'insurance', however with 'cross racing, pressures are much lower 25-35psi, so the glue is key, and does most of the work holding the tire to the rim. Needless to say, I will be spending the next few days, prepping and gluing tires...
My first time to Almonte, and subsequently first time racing there... not too sure what to expect, but I should know better at this point. Almonte was resembling most other (eastern) Ontario towns, nice. The venue wasn't too bad, a small park next to the local rink, next to a big church, so needless to say a small buzz about the town.
Racing went on with two starts, as the numbers have been huge! this was good, as it made a bit more room on the course, and no doubt way easier to keep track of what was going on. Weather was great, overcast, it had rained all week, so dry conditions were a bit of a relief, temps hovered around 7-10ish, so cool, but not cold (I did however get heckled on the line for not having arm or leg warmers). The race started on a dirt 'track' one and three-quarter laps, then exiting onto the course. This was a good one, tough, and for the amount of rain we've had over the past week, I wasn't expecting the grass to be so rough. Lots of turns, ups and downs, any rest points were into the headwind, therfore, no rest...
I got a decent start, and worked my way into the top 5, with 3 of us chasing the lead two. Nearing the end of the second (of seven) laps, we were down to 2 chasers, I was about to overtake, move into third position, when both my tires came off the rims! Tubulars*!! bike came to a halt, and I was lucky to be able to pop them back on, as they'd just jumped in one spot each... I was now down around in eighth position, so a 'careful' chase ensued. Careful, as I was not 100% sure about the tires staying on my wheels.. I would eventually work my way back up to third place, and two of us would push on.
Knowing full well third place was at stake, and I was working more than my compainion, I would have to make him work harder on the final lap, I never did manage to get a big gap, but he was definitely working hard to stay with.. on the final climb, I put in a push, maybe too much, when 75m from the line, my front tire decided to jump again, and I was immediately overtaken, and would run across the line for 4th.
Not terribly unhappy though, I was third in my category, I pushed really hard, and impressed myself to be able to come from behind to regain position!!
Kelly was also there, and had a great race, I think the (rough) grass got to her, but she did manage to finish second in the women's A race! stellar for sure!
All-in-all, it was a really good day!! Looking forward to some rides this week, and to see if I can keep the momentum rolling into the next month!!
*note on tubulars, in case you didn't know... these are tires that are literally glued to the rim, not your standard tire and tube... the key is on the road, they're really high pressure, 100-140psi, so glue is for 'insurance', however with 'cross racing, pressures are much lower 25-35psi, so the glue is key, and does most of the work holding the tire to the rim. Needless to say, I will be spending the next few days, prepping and gluing tires...
Monday, October 8, 2007
Rochester, NY Cobbs Hill Park - WIN!!!
Well, two weeks into the season, and things are going well!!Travelled with Kelly and Darren down to Rochester NY to contest the Cobbs Hill Cyclocross. Small (first time) race in the heart of the city. Great venue with lots of different terrain, as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, I said, going to be a tough course, lots of climbing! I wasn't too far off, there was anything from fast flat sections, a big climb and decent, some good technical, and twists, to wide open and hammer down!
We had between 35-40 starters, so a pretty big field, managed to get a great start, I was on the front line and got to the front to lead the group right away, wanted to avoid a couple of early bottlenecks, and coming out of the first bit of singletrack I had a gap! By the end of the first lap I had about 12 seconds, and would continue to add to it.
Lead the race from start to finish for a big win. Definately a boost, as it was my first carreer 'cross win, (and first race win in about 4 years)!Darren had not fared as well, breaking his chain on the second lap, unfotunately cutting his day short.
Kelly did well in the women's race in the morning, pulling off a strong 3rd place! The women put up a strong field too, with Natalie Stroll (Boston Scientific) taking the win.It was a great event, and hard to believe it was their first time running it, it went really smoothly and was well operated!! Would love to go back down in the future for sure!!!
2007 Cyclocross season underway!
The final Sunday of September mark the begging of my 2007 campaign, should likely be as any other, packed full of fun and cold, wet, mud!
Looking forward to being in a new area this year, and will be contesting many of the Ottawa (eastern Ontario) series events, along with a few trips down to Southern Ontario, New York, and Eastern Seaboard.
Brittania Park in Ottawa was the first race, great venue, in the city, nice park with some good terrain! The course was super fast, and with 200 people on the line (mass start) mayhem would certainly ensue!
The orginizers should sort out a multiple start race in the future, which from what I hear is long overdue here in Ottawa, I don't know how they can keep track, but its been a week, and still no results so that should give you some idea!!
Otherwise the race went well, got a good start, and held position well! There were many fast people there, as Ottawa is known for, so that kept me going, just trying to keep up!
Resulte are now in... 14th overall, (11th senior)
Looking forward to being in a new area this year, and will be contesting many of the Ottawa (eastern Ontario) series events, along with a few trips down to Southern Ontario, New York, and Eastern Seaboard.
Brittania Park in Ottawa was the first race, great venue, in the city, nice park with some good terrain! The course was super fast, and with 200 people on the line (mass start) mayhem would certainly ensue!
The orginizers should sort out a multiple start race in the future, which from what I hear is long overdue here in Ottawa, I don't know how they can keep track, but its been a week, and still no results so that should give you some idea!!
Otherwise the race went well, got a good start, and held position well! There were many fast people there, as Ottawa is known for, so that kept me going, just trying to keep up!
Resulte are now in... 14th overall, (11th senior)
New space!!
Well I have decided to move myself, as previous blog location is well, slow. SO! I am now here, I will still be available at my previous location, as I'll keep all my pictures (from past events) there, with some new pics, here there and likely elsewhere for now..
I will have much more posted very soon!
I will have much more posted very soon!
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