Shedd Park and Whitmore’s CX

Though we were warned by the cycling internet personalities that it was inappropriate for us, owners of heart rate monitors and bicycles designed for cyclocross events, to enter category 4 races, Mover and I saddled up and beat our goal of top 15 with a couple 8th place finishes.

Anyone have pictures from this weekend?!

First came Saturday in Lowell

I took one slow warm up lap and decided I was going to like the course. Dry and well swept, so I headed to the parking lot to make some noise on the trainer (my first time using a trainer in cx). Lined up early enough for 1st row but ended up row 2.5 as the officials moved us around off the line for the gun. I wasn’t worried because we had a full lap on the track before the holeshot so I took a smooth approach but made sure I was top 5 by the tree. Got gaped into 4th after the runup until Will from Cambridge went down hard on a root. Took over 2nd behind HUP who was all over the place in the switch backs, but I couldn’t get by him. Went out hard and was in top 3 through the first lap. Davis from Cambridge and HUP guy were with me (no looking back in cx so I don’t know if we had a gap on others). Burned a match for the second lap holeshot which put me in a hole for the false flat grass section. Hung tough but was forced to recover.

By the third lap the “runup” was more of a ‘power walk up’ for me. Was passed by Brier here, eventual 4th place finisher, and continued to slide back to 8th with help from a few bobbles and my ever so commom front derailluer issues (I’m either stuck in the small ring or having the chain fall off high side). I rode the steep hill each time except when I came in hot last lap and my rear tire got loose. The corner after this hill got me twice as I could not keep the front tire off the leaves. Lost spots both times. But because there is no faking it and no excuses in cross, I’ll stop there.

Overall I really like this course and thought Cambridge and BRC did an excellent job organizing, parking and announcing this race. And this was probably my favorite non-Verge course so far. Gloucester being my favorite. I was happy for the dry weekend too.

Sunday from Mover on the single speed at

2009 Whitmore’s Landscaping Super Cross Cup Day 2

The announcer said my name on the first few laps! Total victory there.

Yeah, chain broke on warmup and SRAM took care of me.

Front row callup (bikereg sniping), flew out of the gates in 1st, then I hit top speed and had to scoot in somewhere in the top 10. On the first two laps I was running in a strong group of five. UVM kid from Green Mountain blew away everyone and won by like two minutes. He even beat the B Masters who started 30 seconds down on us.

Course was nice. Not too technical, some off camber downhill – into
barriers. Some sand. A loose dirt run up which clogged my cleats
every time (this was a struggle during the race). A ride/runup that I
had to run and, unfortunately, riding was faster. Another hill which
I was able to ride no problem. Long road section to the finish.
Clean race, no crashes, some bobbles.

Duked it out with mostly college kids all day long. Ended up holding
off a Penn rider for 8th (SS Sprint! 150rpm!!), which I felt was a
major triumph.

Great to race well in front of my Mom. And thanks to Jeff for the
encouragement!! Awesome to hear a familiar voice.

On the drive out, stopped for the Blue Fit with Four Bike Racks and
purchased my very own Crossresults.com shirt. In Medium no less
(Reuter said they were running low on that size)