Gloucester

[trigirlpink]

Voodoo Sally, nice to meet you as well. It would have been nice to try and stay with you for at least a couple of laps but that just wasn't gonna happen! I wish I could have raced both days too. I think it was a plus to know the course well before racing it. It was fun though!
Here's another nice pix of you VS in your pink Jersey! This is at the barriers where I was completely CLUELESS on the first lap on how to approach that funky twisty run up crazy barrier section!

[SheFly]

This is at the barriers where I was completely CLUELESS on the first lap on how to approach that funky twisty run up crazy barrier section!

That run-up was the toughest spot on the course, Trigirlpink! I found that I could ride all the way through the bottom corner and almost up to the barrier without dismounting. I did see others though, like in your pic, dismounting at the top of the first turn and running the entire section. As a non-runner, this would have been way too slow for me - I need to be on the bike as much as possible.

Remember that these skills all take time to learn! I think you did a GREAT job out there. The most important thing is to have fun - if you did that, the race was a success!

SheFly

p.s.
The secret to riding the sand is to do it SLOWLY. Wrap down to a really easy gear, and take your time following the packed down path. I was in my easiest gear and on the brakes through that whole section.

[cycling_sarah]

Congrats everyone on the awesome racing! It's so fun to read your race reports and the pics are great!!

[trigirlpink]

The secret to riding the sand is to do it SLOWLY. Wrap down to a really easy gear, and take your time following the packed down path. I was in my easiest gear and on the brakes through that whole section.
__________________



What I should have done was dragged you down to that sand pit after our race before the next one started to demo your skills for me. NEXT TIME?

[SheFly]

What I should have done was dragged you down to that sand pit after our race before the next one started to demo your skills for me. NEXT TIME?

YES!

[Juligirli]

I just wanted to jump on the bandwagon and put a picture up

[7rider]

Trigirlpink: I just noticed your bike has disc brakes. I thought there was something (rule?) about not using disc brakes at a 'cross race. I'm just curious b/c I think about a 'cross bike as my next commuter, but would want disc brakes and thought that would keep me out of any race (like I could race! Ha!).

My friend in town did race (55+ master's class - gads! the years have gone by since I've been up there!), but mostly worked behind the scenes, which wore him out too much to race as well as he would have liked.

He did point out results and pix here: http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php.../gloucester072
And said if you go to http://video.google.com/ and search on "Gloucester cyclocross 2007" you can get links to a bunch of videos.

[SheFly]

Trigirlpink: I just noticed your bike has disc brakes. I thought there was something (rule?) about not using disc brakes at a 'cross race. I'm just curious b/c I think about a 'cross bike as my next commuter, but would want disc brakes and thought that would keep me out of any race (like I could race! Ha!).

This rule is only in effect for UCI-level races. What that means is, for the Elite men, Elite women, U23 and Junior men (15-19) - no disk brakes. The women's 3/4 field is not a UCI-level race, so the brakes are ok. Of course, the disadvantage is that they are heavier .

Regina - I noticed it too, and had to go ask DH about it before posting.

Oh - and you can too race!

SheFly

[trigirlpink]

So there ya go. Shefly's got the scoop. I had no clue about the whole disc brake thing when I got the bike. Since I will only be an Elite level cross racer in my R.E.M. sleep, I won't need to worry.

[Voodoo Sally]

Nice pic, Trigirl - thanks! I happen to have one of the same place a second earlier, which shows you & your bike nicely (and my rear end - always flattering - thanks, DH )

Like SheFly, I too rode until I practically hit the barrier before dismounting.