Not much action here at the SRAM Factory Cyclocross blog, but that doesn't mean we haven't been racing, it just means we've been too busy to blather on about it.
Mike, J.P. and I raced the xXx Relay CX on a scorching hot day in August. J.P. and I defended our title for the 3rd year in a row in the Master's 40+ race, and later in the day Mike and I finished 2nd to the very impressive father-son duo of David and Christando Lombardo.
A couple of weeks ago I did the Lake Geneva Cross race in Wisconsin. I missed the inaugural event last year and didn't hear much about it afterwards, but it turns out the venue and course are fantastic. The wet and muddy conditions this year were a not-so-gentle reminder that it's 'cross season again!
This past weekend I did the Trek CX Cup races on the grounds of Trek Bicycle in Waterloo, Wisconsin. We had beautiful weather and a really fun and challenging course. My CX "racing age" is 45 this year so I could have done the masters 45+ race, but I decided to do the masters 35+ race both days so I could get slaughtered by masters world champion Mark Savery. Saturday I had a so-so start and made a lot of mistakes in the first lap, but recovered to finish a respectable 4th. Sunday I had a perfect start, narrowly avoiding the 1st and 2nd placed riders who took each other out in the first 10 seconds of the race and then leading the race for the first two laps, until my body reminded me that I haven't done nearly enough training this year to be able to keep up such a pace. Despite feeling stronger, smoother and luckier than the day before, I finished 4th again. Go figure.
Immediately following Sunday's race I drove 2.5 hours back to my home in Chicago, showered, changed, and immediately headed to the airport for the 24-hour coach-class trip to Taiwan, from where I write these words with severely swollen ankles and an aching back.
Next stop: the ChiCrossCup season opener at Jackson Park on Sunday...just as soon as I make it back from Taiwan. Look for me - I'll be the one with cankles.
