Guerilla Cross... hyde park

Hey Gang,

So it's 8:15 pm and it's about 70 degrees outside... amazing.

Music

• Tears for Fears 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World'

Did some guerilla cross tonight. Hyde Park. I'm discovering that there are a lot of fun parks in KC.

Enjoy the weather, everybody.

Ciao

More Cross racing... Joules and Veterans cross

Hey Everybody,

So this weekend we had two cross race's in lawrence, KS.

Music

• Seapony 'Dreaming'

I love Lawrence. Both race's were in the same location. For the second day they changed about 1/2 of the course.

The beautiful weather continued in our little corner of the midwest and each day was sunny and pleasant, but with plenty of wind thrown in for good measure. The course(s) was kind of like a mini Manions. More so the first day than the second. Flowing and hilly but this time with a bumpier / rockier surface.

Lately it's been so dry here so i think everything is bumpy.

I did the 3/4 race both days and both day's went well.

For day number one i warmed up on the ultra handy and convenient warm up oval. it was very handy and convenient, seriously. the field for the 3/4 race was about 21 strong and i had a good start. Around half way thru the race i had ridden up to 4th place. the hill's helped. Lately i've discovered that my 145lb frame is making it easier to go up hill, so i try to use that to my advantage. Ultimately two folks caught me and i ended up in 6th. I was very happy with that. i battled with 5th place for a while but in the end he was stronger.

As usual, the 4's race was the most exciting to watch but the open race also had it moments.

Day two was more of the same. Same Venue, similar corse, same cast of characters... plus about 5 more.

My start wasn't quite as good but about halfway thru the race i began to feel better as it became easier to turn a bigger gear. i felt good. A quick word on the mud section... initially i bitched out and ran around it, but then i came to my senses and ran thru it. I saw more than a few folk's run around it, and whose to say they were in the wrong (there was no course tape or cones to make clear you couldn't run the grass instead of the mud) but it became obvious to me what the deal was. The mud was good, so i ran it every-time after the first two laps. i have to give thanks to teammate aw for this, from what i saw in the open race he was the only one who ran thru it. I guess he inspired me.

When it was all said and done i finished somewhere, i think top 10. Both day's were lot's of fun. The team had a good showing and people seem to be getting into the flow of cross.

Two more races next weekend... i'm addicted!

Ciao

Critical Mass Halloween Photos

Hey everybody,

These photos are a little late, but better late than never.

Music

• Atlas Sound 'Sheila'

I'm not sure if Critical mass is a good thing when it comes to cyclists and drivers living together peacefully... yet i always seem to find my self riding in it.

Enjoy the photos

Ciao

Boss Cross #3... it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a slightly below average cat 3 cross racer!

Hey Gang,

The third round of Boss Cross was today. The course was lots of fun, my performance was so so.

Music

• My Morning Jacket 'Maghetta'

I was disappointed with my performance today. But that's okay... i have to keep the big picture in mind. Last year was my first year racing and i got dropped at the first corner of a spring fling road race. Now here i am, racing a 60 + minutes cross race... and beating a few people. Things are okay.

Plus i got some free Chili today... Bam!

Plus i'm doing this for fun... Bam!

The course was great. One tough off camber turn (see the carnage below), one tough but ridable steep hill, 2 set's of barriers. lots of sand (okay, that actually sucked). Good people. Good vibe.

My race started with a front row call up due to my totally and completely bad ass Clark Kent costume. I was a little nervous about this since i usually race from the back, but the start went fine. I got in the pedal immediately, stayed strait, and was off. It was a good learning experience. Sure, i was quickly passed by everyone who always finishes ahead of me, plus a few other folks, but that was to be expected.

I settled in and ended up having a great battle with two guys in Grey Trek kit's. They both beat me in the end but only just barely. Im sure they had their bobbles too but it didn't help when i missed a turn and plowed head first into the tape. i didn't fall, but it took me a sec to untangle and get back on the right track. It was pretty funny really, i had just attacked Grey Trek man so i looked back to see if i had a gap, then looked forward to see tape right in front of me. Whoops.

Despite all this it was still a good day. The team came out in big numbers and Colavita Corner was rocking, a big portion of that is due to our teammate who owns an entire orchestra's worth of musical instruments, we got jiggy with it. There were lot's of great costumes out there and the course was way fun. But maybe... can we cut the sand in half next year? That sh*t is leg zapping!

Ciao

Swayze Cross... gone but not forgotten

Hey Everybody,

Another year of Swayze Cross is in the books.

Music

• Miami Nights 1984 'Sunset Cruise'
  

Sure the Russians didn't invade, nobody fondled Demi Moore while sitting at a pottery wheel, we didn't do the tango in the catskills, there was no epic throw-down between bouncers and townies or Greasers and Soc's, and we never caught the ultimate wave.

But there was some white hot cross racin!

I loved seeing all the faces, old and new, who appreciated the Swayze and were down with some guerilla style, not necessarily well organized but certainly full of heart, cross racing. Thanks to everyone who made it out. We will never forget you Patrick Swayze!

See y'all next year.

Ciao