Cyclocross at Hornings Hideout - Hate it
I just got back from a cyclocross race at Hornings Hideout. I had a bad race there last year, and almost as bad this year as well.
Sure, I had troubles. I crashed while trying to pass my b uddy John Wilson on the inside, but there was no bike damage (wish I could say the same about my hip). A little later, I hit a big bump midway through a sharp turn, caught some air, and almost crashed again. I somehow stayed up, but I lost a lot of air in the rear tire from the big hit. I eventually went to the pit and grabbed my spare bike, but I rolled the rear tubular on it after about three minutes. While I could still ride it, I had to ride a lap with it rubbing against my frame. I decided to switch back to the "A" bike with the almost-flat tire for the rest of the race.
Aside from the troubles, I just got hammered by this course. It's so hard. Lots of climbing, lots of bumpy ground, and, most importantly, no fast flat sections. This was a really good Mt. Bike race course, but a horrible cyclocross course. If they were all like this, I doubt I'd race 'cross at all. It's good the promoters give a little something for everyone throughout the season, but I think next year I'll just go on a long training ride instead.
I heard lots of screams again on the race course. Thank you very much for that! You kept me from calling it a day on more than one occasion.
Instead, the little uphill sections were my friend... I passed many people on those because I was riding up them when many M50s were dismounting.
No great result for me. But I kept it upright! I would have like to see you race, Erik. But I was done and home by 11:30.
See y'all at Barton.
At Krugers I rode with a 53 ring the whole time. Recently I upgraded to an Ultegra compact. At Horning's I used both my 34 (uphills) and 46 (downhill and meadow) rings with a 13/23 cogset.