Cyclocross

Cyclocross season is in full swing. For background, Cyclocross in Portland is more popular than any other type of bike racing. I've done a cross race here and there over the last 20-years, but not until I was rehabbing from the Cadillac Jack Attack did I commit to a full autumn of cyclocross. I find myself on the band-wagon like so many others for the fun factor as well as the ability to fit in training much easier with a family and work than say road or stage racing.

Earlier this fall Gavin and I made some trips to watch a couple of races. He really enjoys cheering on friends and of course the waffles. He can smell them from across the venue as soon as we park the car. His favorite points of interest are the food vendors, play structures and barriers in that order. If he could sit in a swing, or on the top of a slide, eating a waffle and watch racers go over barriers, he'd be fully satisfied.

During the latter part of the summer and through this fall, I have been checking and testing what my hip and arm can handle in terms of stresses that are included in Cyclocross racing. It's been touch and go and has included loads more recovery time than simply being out of shape.

So as October approached, I swayed back and forth on whether I should try a cross race or simply do some rides in Forest Park. Adrienne confronted me, asking what my plan was. I told her I might try a race and see how it goes. Then the day of the first Cross Crusade race at Alpenrose, 2 hours before the start, she persuaded me to give it a shot.

Navigating through huge season opener crowds at Alpenrose to buy a license and register to race, friends I saw all asked where G was. Between registration, peaking at the course, changing and warming up I found myself repeatedly explaining, "he's taking a nap, I'm here solo. Yes, this is my first time to try this since getting messed up."


Last week I felt recovered enough to give it another go for the 4th race of the series. A friend who hasn't raced much at all this year due to work, etc. wanted to give it a try as morale support. Saturday afternoon he dusted off his bike after about of year of neglect and brought it over to borrow and install some needed parts. He had last set it up as a fixed gear and it took us a half hour and a chain link fence post as a lever to get the cog off.


With my good for muddy conditions clincher tires on his bike, I was forced to ride my better for muddy conditions, only used once, tubulars that were last glued in 2007 and have since hung from the basement ceiling. I've never used tape adhesive on tubulars, and after inspecting them, the traditional glue job I did in '07 was still holding the tires just fine.

Ironically, since I've chosen to race the Single Speed division, Gavin misses watching me due to his nap schedule. Sunday also happened to see the first real storm of the season, leaving the course at PIR with an amazing batter of mud to navigate through.


Had he skipped his nap to play in the soup at PIR I don't think he would have cared what Dad was up to. He may have even foregone the waffles for a mud-pie.