The 2011 Cyclocross Season: a retrospective.

Tonight marks a bitter sweet end to a cyclocross season in the lower mainland of BC. Although the season officially ended last Saturday, I have put it to rest tonight. A season that came in like a lion and went out stuttering and out of rhythm. Tonight, I reluctantly unpacked my race bag.

Left unused for the last race of the season, the BC CUP finals in my neck of the woods, I replaced all clothing and accessories to their proper place in the house. It is something I have avoided doing. I became quite good at packing all the things I needed for each weekend race throughout the season as the weather turned, cleaning and replenishing all used items well before race day. Race bag prep is a skill in itself. Before I let on to why it was unused, let me give a quick race report on my last race of the season, one that I actually raced in, the BC Provincial Championships.

The BC CX Championships, held at Mahon Park in North Van came at the end of a very miserably rainy week here on the coast, setting up for a slippy and muddy riding course. Driving to the course on Grey Cup Sunday, I was convinced that we would get soaked by a torrent of rain. However, something beautiful happened that day, as the skies opened up and voila! Beautiful Sunlight at 12:00 PM Sharp.

Dirty!! Doug Brons Photo Credit.

Managing another front row call up (I only started outside of the front row for one race this year--and that was at Aldor Acres--BC Cup #1), I thought my chances were pretty good for the day looking at the field. Spotting James Cameron in the start grid, I pegged him as the favourite for the race, and I hoped for a top 5 or 6 finish on the day. That would have made me happy.

From the gun, I slipped a pedal, and took an extra second to get clipped in. This is something that I have not had problems with for the majority of races this season. If it happens, I usually just pedal until it clicks. But on this day, I did not pedal at all, electing to try to get my cleat to interface with the pedal properly. That had 15 guys pass me before I even started. So much for the call up.

My effort for this race was huge, which is good considering the lack of training I had been putting in leading up to the race. I saw Niels get out to a good lead in the race, as everyone fought hard for the first lap to shake all pretenders. I clearly was a pretender in this race, realizing this after lap 1. The race went like this: some dudes passed me, I passed them, then they passed me. Those were namely Niels and Alex Cojacaru. Jeff was on my tail, he passed me, then I dropped him. We had a bit of a battle going on. By lap 3, the fastest masters 40-49 men, followed a little while later by the fast M40-49 men, Tyler Dumont being one of them. Those guys passed me too as I was having a rough day on the bike.

The mud pit was a mother of all mud pits. Something to behold as it sapped the energy out of my legs if I tried to run or ride it, which I tried on every lap to do. I was unsuccessful to clean the mud pit, and the ride up after it became a run up. After every time out of the run up, I was cooked, and slowed to recover from the effort. I lost scads of time every lap on that thing. I never kept track of my laps, riding to just finish and stop the bleeding. I think all CX technique from Aaron Schooler's School of Cross went out the window on this race for me, costing me a top ten finish. I felt like I was inefficient and slow on all the key features of this course.

I finished the race in 12th place, holding off Ryan Newsome, an M40-49 rider, whom I thought was in my category. All told, this race gives me a bit of motivation for next year to challenge for a higher placing, because I know I can beat some of the guys that came ahead of me on most days. I could not do that for this race. This day, I was content to enjoy the race, and not force myself to barf in my mouth.

I had a tough time when the courses got slow or wet. Pumpkin Cross and Mahon Park seemed to be the toughest for me, followed by the DE-Mighty Race at the South Surrey Bike Park.

I had tough time when my bike and I did not see eye to eye, ending in my having to run to the pits in two races--New Brighton and Lions Park.

I had a great time when the skies were open and beautiful--a win at Aldor Acres, and a third at Vanier--the biggest race field of the season for the Masters 30-39 category. These two races are absolutely my highlights of the year, with my win taking it by a bunch. I thought to myself back at the start of September "Is this a sign of things to come, or the peak of my season, and after this it is all downhill from here". It seems I was right, and as the races became more competitive, I seemed to slow down. Late days at work, fleeting summer fitness, daylight savings time, getting fat on carbs

The BC Cup finals was supposed to be my last race of the season. As our team was putting it on, members were saddled with course set up dark and early. Arriving at 6:30 am, Peter Holzhuter, me and my brother Aaron, grabbed our wheelbarrow full of fun and started to tape out the course. This took us just until 8:30, at which point I began to set up the announcers tent and sound system. by 9:30 we had music and announcements, thanks to Mike Dolling and his extension cord from home.

Race announcing for the citizen class races was fun, but I do not know many of the racers, unlike the BC Cup series racers, Cat. 3/4 riders, and masters. Seeing many of the same folks week after week helps to build a cool community of people, something that is happening surely and slowly. Those riders who show up each and every weekend make it easy for me when I am announcing. Many of them I have raced against for years, so I have some memories of their efforts, crashes, wins, etc.

I enjoy race announcing, just a bit less than racing itself. I would describe myself as one part cheerleader, one part stand-up comic, yet another part as a knowledgeable local cycling fan to be able to make things interesting for the racers and spectators. Perhaps my theatre background and drama teaching experience lends itself to race announcing. I have a long way to go to get good at this, but I think of guys like Phil Liggett--one of the best around, or Dave Towle on our side of the pond--(the latter has announced the Tour de Delta  back in 2009) who know the racers, can slip in anecdotes about them and their successes and career highlights, and can paint a picture of the race for the average spectator. Towle is particularly good at this, as he also has an awesomely distinctive voice.

I just go out and have fun, and hope that it is fun for the races. I heard that James Cameron, BC CUP #6 winner at the South Surrey Athletic Park asked Jeff if  "the guy from last year was announcing this year". I hope I didn't piss him off with calls of "Get this guy and upgrade." I stopped short of saying "He is filling bags, one at a time, with sand." I thought about saying it. Better to leave well enough alone. He will have his work cut out for himself next year as he faces the likes of Bob Welbourne and Kim Steed. Oh wait, those are the same guys I will be racing against. There is the bitter in my bittersweet.

One highlight for me was meeting Andrew Pinfold at the end of the day, and chatting with him over a bowl of chili. What a great guy. Winner of the Tour de Delta, Gastown, White Rock, Ouch team member, Symmetrics, and United Healthcare, this was a treat for me. Down to earth, willing to talk about anything cycle racing related--I really soaked up the bits of banter that we had about his experiences. That was a pretty cool end to the day for me.

My season went like this:

Aldor Acres: 1st-----A great win after my injuries and surgeries

New Brighton: 22nd-----A crash and flat 500m into the race push me to last place

Vanier: 3rd-----I fought for 2nd. Simon Pulfrey wins on a 29er

Lions Park: 6th-----A crash and flat and I drop from 3rd to 6th

Pumpkin Cross: 13th-----A poor warmup, late to the race, and slug like conditions = Hard

South Surrey DE/Mighty: 7th----- Coldest race ever. A killer course. True CX.

BC CX Champs: 12th-----Lack of fitness and warm up, I lacked a killer instinct I had in Sept.

DE BC Cup Finals: DNS-----Announcing is fun. I hope I don't have to give up racing to do it. (If I do, I had better be getting paid to do it.)

So. I unpacked my bag tonight. For the last time for a while. Even though I feel that I lacked consistency this season, each week I went into races with the mentality that I had the chance to win, my confidence bolstered by the first race of the season. That is huge--the ability to believe in yourself, to positively self talk yourself into fighting for every inch of the course. This is something that I have taught myself over the last few years. A bike crash and time in the hospital, with 12 month recovery, helped me believe that I can return to an even higher level than where I was when I went into the hospital in August 2010.

Racing with Tyler Dumont, Tony Bachler, Ryan Newsome, Niels Steiner, Alex Cojacaru, Simon Pulfrey, Mike Murphey, Jeff Hanninen, John Irvine, Ted Matson, Dave Neubeck, Mike Dolling, Matt Hornland, Stacy Hutton, Jean-Ann and Mike Berkenpas, Glen Reitsma, Jason Fluckiger, Scott Sportsman, Jason Bond, Paul Craig, Sven Sturm, Bob Welbourne, Matt Drown, Brian Gunn, Tobin Copely, Aaron Schooler, and many others made this year fun. Having Doug Brons shoot amazing pics on course, and them my scavenger hunting on the Internet for them was a big highlight.

The biggest of thanks goes out to Daryl Evans Mechanical and Daryl Evans Racing for the sponsorship of our team and riders. It helps to have a solid sponsor behind us to help put on some of if not the best cyclocross races around. Jeff and Kari Hanninen do a fantastic job of managing our team, taking care of much of the logistics that we as races know nothing about. Clothing orders, parties, permits, meeting, Jeff does it all. He has a very good wife in Kari for understanding the time he needs away to get it all done. Rocky Mountain Bicycles have been great race and bike sponsors for us over the last few years as the team has evolved, grown, and matured. Hopefully these relationships continue.

We have a good thing going here in Vancouver. Our races are getting there, our courses are more CX like than in previous years, and the vibe is a chilled out, friendly one. I look forward to next year, and to seeing all the cool folks that I had a chance to share some time with this time around. I finish this season tired, ready for fried food, beers, and ice cream, and excited about running the trails through the winter as I hang up my wheels for a while. I look forward to new team clothes, perhaps a new bike or two....Who knows? I might cross the border in January 2012 to race some more CX..... I hope to see you out on the CX bike.

I love CX.

Ride Everything

CX Provincial Championships this weekend. This video pumps up the jam. 

South Surrey Cyclocross Race Report: CX at it's most difficult



Side hill Mudslide. Photo: Doug Brons.

As the cyclocross season wears on, the races get more and more draining and difficult, week in week out. Fast races in September and October change like the autumn leaves into ugly, cold, slower races in November and December. November 12th was no exception.

Raceday Saturday felt like the longest day ever without any sunlight. It started dark and early for me at 5:00 am, when the CBC announcer blared into my bedroom. I put my contacts in, grabbed my gear and headed downstairs. This was just the beginning of a day that made me feel happy to be alive, grateful for warmth, good food, and beer.

Arriving at the bike park in South Surrey at 6:10 am, Brian Gunn, Ken Leggatt, and myself quickly picked up our wheelbarrow full of goodies, and headed out to mark our part of the course. This years course was easily the best cyclocross course we have had in the lower mainland, and it had everything: stairs, a FLY OVER (awesome) taking riders over a cedar fence, side hill /off camber grass, false flats, a little bit of a pump track, a run up, pavement, a huge mud puddle, and grass. We were in charge of the barriers/ stairs/ dirt jumps area.

One awesome flyover. 

4 hours worth of taping the course, and the DE crew had brought Jeff Hanninen's vision to reality. This was a huge effort by our team to make this course happen, a course similar to previous iterations. By 10 am, everything was in place. I took 60 minutes to get dressed and get warm at my in-law's house close by. Getting back to the park at 11 am, I started my warm-up only to have the rain begin to tease us. Warm-up is a misnomer, as there was nothing warm about riding around the course before the race.  The weatherman got it right today. Nailed it down exactly. The forecast called for rain beginning at noon. The day started 3 degrees and dry. You can imagine what 3 degrees and soaked to the bone felt like...

In the Masters 3/4 race, there were upwards of 31 starters, a really good sized group. I had a cherry call up position, again called first due to my 42 points. Taking the line, I talked to Simon Pulfrey, who was off of his full suspension from Vanier CX, and riding a borrowed CX bike from Kim Steed.

If I were new to cyclocross racing, the race today would have been my first and last race ever. Mud, water, muddy water, rain, cold, and cold. Did I mention it was wet? So wet that my hands stopped working. I could not feel the shifters or brakes, and had to look to see what I was doing. Water logged shoes, water heavy clothes, mud everywhere-- this race was a proverbial war of attrition. Just staying upright on the bike was effort enough. Going fast was difficult due to the bitter, brittle cold wind and rain pelting the riders and course.

Cold, cold, cold. My shoulders tell the story.

I had planned to follow John Irvine and Simon, then Tyler. I did not see or hear the super fast James Cameron called to the line, but he was there. Settling into fifth wheel as the gun went off, I was happy with the position I was in. But after lap one, it was clear just how big the gap was forming at the head of the race.

All tactics went out the window once I managed to crash on the off camber-mud-side hill, get up, and crash immediately after that. On the second crash I injured my left calf, hobbling my run along the muddy side hill. The most spectacular crash I witnessed was at the north end of the course. Coming off of the curb into the 180 turn around/road section, Alex Cojacaru went over the bars, slid along the ground face and chest first while still clipped in, and had the bike come over his head and land on his back. It looked horribly painful, but as I passed him, he told me he was okay. He finished a lap down--I bet it was due to some serious pain he suffered in that spill.

James Cameron, director of Avatar and Titanic and eventual winner of the race, had no problems with the sidehill. He, Irvine, and Pulfrey laid down a a serious tear on the first 3 laps to make everyone chase. After my crash, it was all about staving off the racers behind, and trying to chase wheels in front. My fall pushed me out of the top 5, and into the top 15. Over the next 4 laps, I listened to my good friend Nick Gill on the sidelines give me little challenges to pull me back up in the race.

On the straights, uphills, and descents, I managed to gap riders behind, and pull up to those in front. But I was slow in the corners--something I need to work on in wet conditions. Pushing hard on the straights allowed me to get back some positions, eventually catching Ryan Newsome (who was having brake problems), and finally the clean-leg-shaven Ian Hoffman right before the finish line. He must have been using an embrocation on his legs. That is the only explanation there is to be able to wear shorts on this day. I ended up in 7th place, well back from winner Cameron by about 2 minutes. I am happy with this hard fought result, especially because I had no mechanicals, and I fought back from 15th to 7th. Satisfied to finish this one safely, without too much hypothermia.

Not my hardest effort this season, but the conditions dictated the day.

To say that this race was hard is an understatement. Punishing, torturous, painful, character building, debilitating, crappy, awful, bone-chilling, and horrible are just a few words I would use to describe what we all shared as racers on the 12th. My hands were so wet and cold that 10 minutes in, I could hardly feel the shifters to downshift and brake. One of the hardest races I have ever done.

On a tire note, my Maxxis front Raze and rear Mud Wrestler gave me no troubles this time at 42 psi. A bit high for the mucky conditions in part, but I had no problems. I swapped out my Vitorria's CX Pros for Mud Wrestler's all around on my pit wheelset that I didn't have to use this week, thank goodness. I really can't wait for hydraulic disc brakes to come stock on CX bikes. This race took some major life out of my rims.

Special thanks to Jeff Hanninen for all his work on getting this thing up and running. the Daryl Evans Racing Crew, Matt Hornland and the Mighty Crew for taking over the running of the race, Nick Berry for the food--chili and smokies--these were very much welcomed, and Nick Gill for cheering and helping me out of my shoes after the race. And to anyone else who braved the conditions. This was a day that we will all remember--hardcore european cyclocross at its best.

Sorry to the old bitty in the parking lot who caught me in my knickers, post race, as she drove past.

Official Race Report at South Surrey CX
Report at Cyclocross Magazine

Photos are at:

Doug Brons' Flickr site
Daryl Evans Racing Flickr site

Points, practice, and injuries.

Yesterday on my morning run, I was dealt a blow: a turned ankle on a 5:55 am trail run in the Shed. With head lamps in full effect due to the morning darkness, the left ankle rolled over--the same ankle as always--at the same place on the same trail that I usually have this mishap happen. I caught it in time before I did any major damage, and managed to finish the run, but today, the whole foot is tender. Add to that, some acute tendonitis in my my left achilles, and I have a recipe for pain.

The last time I rolled it badly was in a staff boot camp in June. That time, the bruising was all over the foot, and stepping on it was painful for days until it healed. I took two weeks off of running after that injury. The thing healed fine in time for the Chuckanut Footrace in July.

A few months later, some time off of running after the footrace due to the start of CX season and vacations, and an attempt to get back into regular trail running, and my achilles is starting to wear with pain. It was fine for the marathon this May, and after the injury in June. But it seems that taking time off of running can do more harm that good. Even a morning CX ride today in place of the Cross Border Clash in Washington State that I (regretfully) did not attend, and the bottle of gel caps is looking pretty good right now.

That leaves me with two weeks off of racing since the Pumpkin Cross. I didn't make it to Kamloops last week due to the LAPS gala, and this week the grandparents are visiting the grandchildren at our home, so that leaves me rested and ready for next week. Looking back to Pumpkin Cross, I now realize that I was exhausted from the training that I put in before that race. Coupled with mental fatigue, and poor race prep, and I was out of it before it began. I blame a lack of sleep/rest on that one. Something to remember for the next race. GET MORE SLEEP!

This week Cycling BC released the upgrade points totals for the Cat.3/4 and Masters 3/4. As it turns out, I am tied for first with 42 points. This is great because that means for the weekend, I will be the first to be called up for the Mighty/Daryl Evans BC CUP Race. A win, third place finish, and 13th place finish has helped to keep me in the M 3/4 category. Once riders accumulate 50 points, they are automatically upgraded. It looks entirely possible that I will be moved up after this race, which means that I have to give everything to a good finish for November 12th. Only 8 points an I am in the Masters 1/2 catagory. If I finish in 11th, I will move up. I had better finish higher than 11th. Make that better than 5th.

Last weekend, Tyler Dumont and I toured the two South Surrey CX courses. Solid ride with the man, he and I pushed each other pretty good on a few hot laps of the Nov. 12th Course. He has the ability to ride hard and push himself to the limit, as we lead each other on alternating laps.

Along with the CX practice, I have had a bit of fun winning the race home from work everyday. Although it is a solo race over about two kilometers, I always end up winning. This gives me a great reason to practice my victory celebration. Sometimes I practice the cliches: El Pistelero (which feels corny, plagiarized, and just wrong). the sharpshooter (a bit too violent), paddling my bike across the finish (that one works), the "point to the heavens" (I dig this one).

It may be presumptuous to do this, but you never know when it will come in handy. I have seen many finish line celebrations in the local cross scene that are kinda wasted, riders who do not do much when they cross the line a la Cadel Evans winning the 2010 World Championships. Although modesty does have its place, we in Canada can celebrate and be excited about winning races that we in an expressive, energetic way. I am all about that, letting out a war cry at the end of my battle. Yes, it is only the Master's 3/4 catagory. But how many riders win the bike race you are in? I will tell you: one. And only one. And if that is me, darn rights I am going to let out a little sumpin' sumpin' at the end of the race. I just raced my b'donki-donk off, and a little hard fought release is well earned. I expect whomever wins the race in South Surrey this weekend to do the same....