Seattle Cyclocross Series #4 Donida Farms
Hi all - I wanted to give some space for the Seattle CC Series. We just finished race number 4 of the series and it just keeps getting better. Donida Farms is a picture perfect horse farm just an hour outside of Seattle and it couldn’t have been a nicer day for a race. Admittedly if it had been as cold and rainy as last week I might have done an “Basso” and complained that my tummy was hurting or something...kidding
The start was fast and compact on a dirt strip that led us right into the bumpy grass field where the horses hang during normal hours. There was a 'crash' at the start of my race that broke the field in two straight out of the gate..lucky break #1 for me. The one and only run up lay not far from the start so on that first lap everyone is hitting it at the same time causing a major traffic jam. This really disrupts your flow! At the top the hill continues a little bit then you hit an off camber turn that if you miss you go flying down the side of the hill you just ran up. There was quite a bit of carnage at this corner throughout the day. Lucky break #2 for me....
One more little roll up and then you go flying down into the fields again right into a 90 degree turn and the climbing begins this time seatted on the bike. Another wild descent into bumpy grass more turns and then the barriers. First, you jump a single barrier and then a triple a few yards a way. Finally, you hit the dirt gravel road again and roll into the horse track which is filled with really sticky sand and mud. I sucked wheel on this section so I guess this is my lucky break #3. A few more turns behind the horse track on the grass bring you back to the start/finish line …then you get to do it all over again, fun!
I believe next week we head to the mountains with rain / snow on the forecast...keep you posted!!
