KSU CX

Lake Effect hosted a great race on Saturday, and the weather really cooperated (very uncharateristic for Ohio in November). The course was laid out great. I particularly liked the out and back section after the sketchy gravel to pavement transition. You were able to hammer the slightly curvy lines up until the next gravel section right at the 180 turn. I think that turn cost lots of people time and possibly some skin/bruises. You then were able to hammer the crushed limestone trail, which also had nice curved and minor undulations.

The 1st hill in the singletrack was perfect. Rideable but it took good skills to make sure you didn't lose traction. The 2nd hill? Well never cleaned that one...

I raced with the 'A's and started at the back. I wanted to find a group at my pace and battle it out there. After 1 lap it looked like Bob Martin, Chernosky, Vanucci, and Tom Humphrey were near me. I think all these guys had more power than me, but I felt very good on technical turns and had some good lines. Bob and I were close on lap 2, he was able to gap me on the straights, but I managed to close down some gaps on the turns. This lasted a short while before he eventually went off on his own and I could not hang. Next I think it was Dave that powered past me out of the single track and I lost touch. Tom and Mike then caught up to me and we traded leads a few times. I needed recovery and rode Mike's wheel for a while. Tom then came around and I grabbed his wheel, still recovering from earlier red zone efforts. Tom would gap me, and I closed it down in the turns.

I ended up opening a gap on those guys, but we were within 5-10 seconds of each other. I felt them clawing me back in on lap 5 maybe. I hammered the out and back section mentioned earlier, and heard someone go down on the 180 gravel turn. By the pits I was able to see that Mike was still a bit behind me, and Tom lost ground (he hit the ground at the 180).

Thats how the race went on. I think I was gaining on Bob who was 25 seconds ahead of me, and I know Mike and Tom both kept gaining on me. I finished 23rd, good battle at the back of the pack! Mike Tom and I rolled for 1/2 a lap after the race just to cool down and chat.

Loved the course and the race...I am not at the fitness level I wanted to be at, but October weather and early Nov sickness derailed some training plans. Otherwise, it couldn't have been a better day. Thanks Lake Effect and all those that put this one on!