NBX GP of Cross - Day 1
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 6:42 am
Preparation is everything for most things in life...probably true for CX racing too??
A summary of my pre-NBX blunders:
1. Should have got gas the night before (-10 mins)
2. Arrived at Goddard SP, went walking in search of registration...got half way and muttered, "Bloody hell this is a long way, I should go back and get my bike!" (-15 mins)
3. Got number, pre-rode, back at car to warm up...tried some un-tested double sided tape on the number (to save the speed suit contortion ritual) but it failed...bugger...now I have to try and pin this thing on. Managed to get 3 pins in, now it's 7:40 (race starts at 8) and I haven't warmed up. Throw bike on trainer and then Robbie Raymond walks by to save me by adding the 4th pin (still -10 mins)!
Had front row on the grid and it's a mixed field with juniors, 40+ and open 4/5. Got a decent start but I'm just not feeling it and 4 or 5 guys pass me before we feed onto the course proper. Lot of roots in the wooded sections and some loose bark chips thrown into the mix in places. During the first lap I'm completely out of sorts and have no real idea what section of the course is coming next...all I know is that I'm dreading the slog through the sand on the beach!
I probably loose another 4-5 places during the first lap. I dislike getting off the bike at the best of times so the 100 yards on the beach felt like an eternity! The second lap begins and I start to piece some flow together for the course...there's the flat power sections, the sandy bit near the pits, the 2 wooded sections, the beach and also the steps near the reg building...all out of order of course! Things settle down a little bit and I make up a few places on the flat power sections only to give these up in droves on the beach. Feels like I'm sitting about 20th as I pass under the finish line and see only 1 lap to go (usually do ok in the shorter races but for some reason this one feels choppy and I haven't found a rhythm).
Bell lap and I'm starting to feel like I'm warmed up...best I can do is keep it clean and try to make up a few places. I glance behind me and see a decent gap but for some reason it seems like people come out of nowhere on this course! I'm able to pass a whipper snapper on the flat section but he then disposes on me on the beach - I never got this right...should have dismounted before hitting the sand rather than trying rolling in to try and save a few steps. Couple of turns before the line some other guy appears out of nowhere and passes me (are they hiding in the woods?!). I'm pretty sure I can reel him in but then I'm on the finish straight and the race is over...quickest 30mins in history!
First year doing this one for me. Great venue and a fun course but hated the sand. Should've arrived 30 mins earlier but...
I ended up 19/103 or 5th in the 40+...why call out a 40+ category if it's not scored separately?!
Put in for my upgrade to cat 3 so that I can have more time next year!
A summary of my pre-NBX blunders:
1. Should have got gas the night before (-10 mins)
2. Arrived at Goddard SP, went walking in search of registration...got half way and muttered, "Bloody hell this is a long way, I should go back and get my bike!" (-15 mins)
3. Got number, pre-rode, back at car to warm up...tried some un-tested double sided tape on the number (to save the speed suit contortion ritual) but it failed...bugger...now I have to try and pin this thing on. Managed to get 3 pins in, now it's 7:40 (race starts at 8) and I haven't warmed up. Throw bike on trainer and then Robbie Raymond walks by to save me by adding the 4th pin (still -10 mins)!
Had front row on the grid and it's a mixed field with juniors, 40+ and open 4/5. Got a decent start but I'm just not feeling it and 4 or 5 guys pass me before we feed onto the course proper. Lot of roots in the wooded sections and some loose bark chips thrown into the mix in places. During the first lap I'm completely out of sorts and have no real idea what section of the course is coming next...all I know is that I'm dreading the slog through the sand on the beach!
I probably loose another 4-5 places during the first lap. I dislike getting off the bike at the best of times so the 100 yards on the beach felt like an eternity! The second lap begins and I start to piece some flow together for the course...there's the flat power sections, the sandy bit near the pits, the 2 wooded sections, the beach and also the steps near the reg building...all out of order of course! Things settle down a little bit and I make up a few places on the flat power sections only to give these up in droves on the beach. Feels like I'm sitting about 20th as I pass under the finish line and see only 1 lap to go (usually do ok in the shorter races but for some reason this one feels choppy and I haven't found a rhythm).
Bell lap and I'm starting to feel like I'm warmed up...best I can do is keep it clean and try to make up a few places. I glance behind me and see a decent gap but for some reason it seems like people come out of nowhere on this course! I'm able to pass a whipper snapper on the flat section but he then disposes on me on the beach - I never got this right...should have dismounted before hitting the sand rather than trying rolling in to try and save a few steps. Couple of turns before the line some other guy appears out of nowhere and passes me (are they hiding in the woods?!). I'm pretty sure I can reel him in but then I'm on the finish straight and the race is over...quickest 30mins in history!
First year doing this one for me. Great venue and a fun course but hated the sand. Should've arrived 30 mins earlier but...
I ended up 19/103 or 5th in the 40+...why call out a 40+ category if it's not scored separately?!
Put in for my upgrade to cat 3 so that I can have more time next year!