Grote Prijs Shawnee

So I raced cyclocross last Sunday...final cross race of the year in the KC area...it went alright, I was on a fixie. I finished in 6th...5 people ahead of me, 5 people behind me. Seems that middle of the single speed pack is where I live in cx right now...better aerobic fitness would put me in the top 3 I'm pretty sure.

So it was stupid cold outside and gearing yourself was of utmost importance...I went with thermal tights, leg warmers, arm warmers, a thermal long sleeve shirt and my summer colavita kit. It turned out to be a good choice, not hot, not cold...good.

So we were on the line and BK and I were the only ones who went on the whistle...it was weird. We hit the holeshot probably 20 feet in front of anyone else and bk started to just put it down hard the first lap...halfway through the first lap and I ate shit on one of the slick off-camber corners (not being able to coast really sucks in cx) so I got passed by 3-4 guys there and was sitting back in 4-5th...After one lap BK was way ahead of everyone so I just decided to try and maintain my spot and get top 5.



Chris Hudson eating it on the same corner I did.

I had my mid-race blow up and dropped back to 8th with 9th and 10th right behind me. Suddenly there were only 2 laps to go and I was hurting...but fought through. I started to pull away from 9th and started bridging 6th and 7th...on the final lap I caught 6th and 7th about 3/4 of the way through the course and pulled some sneaky fixie trix on an inside corner before the last barriers to pass 7th and then used magical barrier skills and the maddest spinning sprint I've ever had to beat out the other guy for 6th at the line (I clipped him by about 3 inches DanO said).

I then immediately skid stopped and puked along the side of the finishing area. It was a good final cx race.

So, cross this year was hella fun...I always knocked it for the $:time ratio, but you definitely get your monies worth, plus some at most races. I'll be back next year with the pake ripping some more ss action, maybe here, maybe alburquerque...to be determined still...

and I know this race report is kind of late and pointless, but I had so many great photos from the gravel grinder the day before that I wanted you to baste in those for a few days.

peace and riding!!!