Bedford Springs Cyclocross

[SheFly]

I hope that Voodoo Sally and trigirlpink will chime into this thread with their race experiences from the Beginner Women's race - they looked awesome, and I'm pretty sure they had a good time
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Back-to-back races this weekend! Fun, fun, fun, but a little on the warm side for 'cross racing...

This race was literally in our backyard, so the commute was pretty easy. So nice not to have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to a race. Quad Cycles hosted this new event, and did a great job. Lots of parking, great access to registration and a very spectator-friendly venue. The course was good as well - less technical than Saturday's race, but still a challenge with lots of bumpy grass, tight 180 degree turns, a set of barriers and a BRUTAL run-up with a technical descent.

Again, we arrived early so that we could see some of our teammates and friends in the Beginner races. The NEBC women's team ended up taking 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 8th, with two more teammates in the field as well! It was so much fun cheering them all on, and seeing the smiles when they were finished.

After DH's race (where he finished 7th in the A Masters!), I headed back to the car to get ready for my own. Warmed up on the trainer and did a bit of socializing, but never had the opportunity to pre-ride the course. That is something that I need to make sure happens moving forward, so I know what to expect and when.

Our start was delayed due a course change. With the dry, soft, fresh cut course, the conditions had deteriorated badly in some sections - particularly right before the run-up. The officials and promoters decided after a couple of very badly rolled ankles in the men's race, to remove the barrier at the bottom of the run-up. As the start official said, it didn't really serve any purpose anyway - it wasn't like anyone was going to be able to ride up that slope!

I had another not great start that got worse as we entered the first turn, and I got caught behind the chaos of the field trying to all get around a 180 degree turn at once. I managed to hang on for the next section of the course, where we again piled up headed up the run-up. Think of 20 women with bikes on their shoulders, running up a steep slope covered in black silty soil, about 4 inches deep. It was a slog-fest, and anything but pretty. At the top, there was literally no remount room, before treacherously heading back DOWN the steep slope, now with exposed rock and about two steps in it.

I could see the leaders coming out of the barriers as I was headed in, and coming out of there, I managed to pick up a spot or two. Throughout the first couple of laps, I picked off about three riders. Unfortunately, after that the gas ran out. I wasn't able to hold my position, and started going backwards. Two of the women I had worked to get around passed me back, and now I was on my own, getting lapped by Lyne Bessette (that seems to be a common theme for me this year!). I ended up lapped by a few more of the leaders, and finished at the back of the pack.

The course was good, but I just didn't have the snap. This was the first of our double-header weekends - hopefully I am just getting used to the back-to-back racing.

Here are a couple of pics:

[Sheesh]

Now that looks like a difficult course. I don't think I've seen any run ups like that in the Chicago cross scene (it must help that Chicago-land is relatively flat anyways!).

Shefly - you're a true inspiration!

[trigirlpink]

Oh.. I am very impressed with those pictures. Did you know there were ah humm.. men rolling their bikes down that run up? Nice!

Here's my view:
It was not a very technical course at all. ( Good for me) but lots of hay-like grassy open field sections that seemed to wear me down by lap 3. The course loop seemed long and usually when the first male catches me at other races, I know I'm on my last lap. Not Sunday. He passed me, along with a couple of other guys before the finish area but we still had another lap to go. I think they (the men) did 5 laps and we did 4. On the first lap,I looked over through the trees and saw the other women rolling their bikes down that steep section so I decided, me too!!!
I let 2 women pass me on the run up at the top on the second or 3rd lap thinking I should go ahead and give it a try and ride down that hill. I wasted too much time trying to reclip and get enough nerve to go down it! This is a limiter for me. As a triathlete, I'm hardwired to go AROUND sticks and rocks, not go over them! Cross is so different and challenging I just enjoy that part. Forcing myself to do something that scares me a bit and forces me out of my comfort zone.

[SheFly]

Oh.. I am very impressed with those pictures. Did you know there were ah humm.. men rolling their bikes down that run up? Nice!

But I used to be a downhiller, so I have no excuse NOT to ride....

Good for you, on a great race! You looked strong out there racing. Most important, it looked like you were having FUN, and that's what it is really all about.

I'll keep you posted if I am running rides, etc, where we can help you with some of your skills. Do you have lights to be able to ride after work????

SheFly

[Voodoo Sally]

Hey SheFly, good job anyway, and thank you for cheering for me. I hope I didn't look too casual this time . 'Cross is just too much fun to not smile and look around . I'm sorry we didn't catch your race. DH & I had to get to a BMX race right after DH's "B" Masters race, which he did OK in.

And trigirlpink, nice work. I think I saw you. You had the socks! I had the pink shirt. It was you, I think, who I passed at the top of the run-up that time.

I thought the course was too grassy (a slog). More hot weather and dusty condiditons. I liked the woods run up & ride down. I saw a lady eat it pretty hard in the barriers on an early lap. I kept it steady and I don't know what place I got, probably the back half or last quarter.

[trigirlpink]

Yes! I remember you! You got me at the top! I just got all flustered and didn't like how there was only about a inch of flat space at the top to try and clip back in and go down! Nice race! Are you doing Amesbury?

..and yes Shefly, I would love any help so keep me in the loop! We must cure my Wussitis!

[Voodoo Sally]

Yep, looks like I'll be doing Amesbury. C ya there.

[trigirlpink]

Bedford results are up. Boy.. took 'em all week. I am an alias in the beginner women line up! Must be because they let me sign up on a waitlist and they just gave me someone's number that preregistered but didn't show.
Sorry, Courtney Waal. I'll try and move "us" up the ranks next race!

[cwodiva]

Great race report Shefly! I love how detailed they are. You looked great in the pictures. Congratulations!

[RoadRaven]

Woohoo Shefly!!!

Just as well you didn't check out the course before hand since they went and changed it on you anyways!!!

As always, and interesting and fun report - good to hear from all three of you and how much fun you had

The pix are giving me insight into cyclocross - I thought it was kind've rough road racing - you know tracks, unsealed roads, but not actual mountain bike terrain!!!

You are braver girls than me to race this stuff. I would just want to finish it!

Kia kaha!!!