NorCal CX Series #3 - Stafford Lake

[Jim Hewett]

Today was the third race of the NorCal CX Series, and the only cyclocross race of the year in Marin County.  The action happened at Stafford Lake in Novato, so it was just a thirty minute drive for me from Fairfax.  I had high hopes for a win in my home county, as I am reaching a bit of a training peak, but I have also been dealing with a lingering cold-like illness for a couple of weeks. 

Simon and I made the trip over early enough to set up the Summit Bicycles EZ Up and for him to race the kids' race at 12:10.  His mom and grandmother came to see him race.  About 12:07, I realized I had left my Osmo racing kit at home.  They were there to take care of him as I sped home to pick up my kit and back to the venue, with just enough time left to ride the course once and not really enough time to warm up properly.

My recon of the course showed that it was very similar to the course I raced here a couple of years ago.  We started on a straight gravel road before crossing a couple of bridges to get to the bumpy dirt roads on the backside.  There was a decent length stair run-up, after which we traversed a bumpy and dusty off-camber hillside to a couple of big loose turns.  A couple of whoop-de-dos put us back on a long and flat bumpy dirt road with a bit of wind that wound around to the bumpy grass loop around the finish area.  There was a three barrier section that was spaced enough to jump and then some fast pavement to the barrier before the farmwall, a 3 foot high behemoth that had straw bales on each side and required stepping up and over or a healthy leap.  The finish line was just past this and then we were on course through a few turns and the "mystery straw bale" section, where people were moving the bales around each lap to mix up the best line.  After this we were back on the starting gravel road for another lap.

I chose to race my 'cross bike and I put my rigid 29er in the pit section.

There were more people racing Open A than I expected.  Tobin Ortenblad and Scott Chapin were up from Santa Cruz.  Walt Brush, Justin Abbot, Kyle Murphy, Don Myrah and Brian Finnerty were there, as well.  I could tell this was going to be hard, but glad for them to be supporting the NorCal Series.  I am currently leading the series after two races, so I got a first row call-up.  I lost a second or so at the start, and was only able to work my way back to 7th or so by the end of the first straight section.  There was a lot of traffic up the run-up and over the traverse, but I was sticking to the back of the lead group.  I slid out on a turn and Scott Chapin came around me before we motored back to the finish area.  My lack of a warmup was apparent and I was not feeling solid on my 'cross bike, which I had not ridden much for the week before.  After jumping the 3 successive barriers, I landed too hard on my front wheel and burped 9 psi from the tire, which caused me to endo.  I was unhurt and back on the bike in a flash, but my shifting was not right.  I had bent my rear deraileur hanger and only had about 4 gears.  I hurried around and over the farmwall to the pit section and switched to my rigid Highball, neglecting to transfer my Garmin.  All of this had cost me some time and I had lost contact with the lead group.  I became tangled in the "moving bales" section and started the second lap a little out of sorts.

From here the field spread out a little.  I slowly made up time, picking off stragglers each lap.  There were definitely some long stretches pedaling into the wind where I would have preferred my 'cross bike, but the mountain bike was a little smoother on the bumps.  I passed Tobin, who was out with a flat, and eventually worked my way up to fourth with a couple of laps to go.  Chapin was about 20 seconds ahead and I pushed hard to try to catch him.  As I finished the traverse, I passed Walt Brush, who had apparently flatted and was getting a wheel switch from a lapped rider far from the pit (is this even legal?).  Walt surged back to catch me and we were back and forth until I rolled my rear tubeless tire a little and some grass wedged into the bead.  This left me with about 5 psi in the rear tire.  I came through the finish area and reluctantly grabbed the 'cross bike I had discarded on the first lap - 22psi in the front tire and a bent deraileur hanger were better than a rear flat!  Walt was getting away and Don Myrah had closed the gap to me as we started the last lap.  I was limited in my gear range and I had no confidence in the front tire, but I put in a decent push to pull ahead.  Don stuck to me and passed me on the traverse.  I chased hard for a few minutes, but Myrah was fighting for the place he had gained and I was not able to retake 4th.

With all of the problems I had, I am actually happy to have at least gotten 5th and some series points.  Could have easily been a DNF.  Next week will be a double for me:  BASP night race on Saturday and the NorCal Vallejo race on Sunday.  Should be fun!