With the UPSman back on the roster, the Pac NW AllStarz were poised to make a presence for the rest of the Cross Crusade as well as USGP & Cross Natz. Except for the fact that my ongoing battle with a very persistent health condition has me down for the ‘09 cx season indefinitely.

An ambulance ride later, I find out I tore up some of the intercostal muscles on my right flank…you know, the ones that connect your ribs to each other

In the meantime, I’ll be at the races cheering on the rest of my Syndicate brothers and taking some pics of the action! Also, check out the sweet beanie a friend of mine made in the ‘09 Crossniacs colors!

Peace bruddas!

-will cortez aka buddhabelly

On last Saturday the CO Posse traveled to the southern most reaches of Denver to attend Castle Cross.  It was a new course that brought all aspects of cross racing - mud, climbing, nasty run ups, and Old Chub. 

Gerry "the Destroyer" Reynolds

Chad "the Muscle" Meinert

Mike

Check out a video of the Sunday 45+ race at the Boulder Res here.

Lots has been said about how great Green Acres was, and I would throw my two cents behind that opinion too. This race gave me a new personal placement best thanks to the hill, which treated me very well. Like CJ said though, the slick off camber stuff had me on tentative footing which slowed me down. Got to love some of that down the tubing hill fun though. A fantastic and really fun course and a well run race. So the bar is set high for next weekend!

I got some good shots of myself and some of the B’s before I had to run. Here they are:



Green Acres

The race the weekend before was Big Ring Flyers for me, and it was fun but a bit boring. Mostly a technical exercise of how to go round grass corners quickly, and how to re-attach your chain when you are on your last lap! Bummer.

Cyclocross Goes Hawaiian Style

photo © Cyclocross Magazine

Man, I was ready. I spent all last week kicking butt at work, training was going well and I was rested. Matt and I got to the course a few hours early, did a few recon laps and then just hung out until it was time to roll to the staging area…. good mood, no problems and no stress (other than the usual pre-race jitters). I got to the starting chute extra early and was rewarded with a fifth-row spot behind the call-ups.

The start chute wasn’t actually a part of the course loop; it went up the side of the hill and (for the lack of a more descriptive word) injected us into the Northern part of the course and through the finish line chicanes in the parking lot on top, and from there we went over top of the hill to the far side, then back and forth a few more times and through the “Hecklers’ Corner” sand pit. The course was excellent and very technical and I overheard many people describing it as similar to a short track XC course. Skills are usually more important than speed at this venue, and this race was no different.

The ref blew the whistle and we were off. I was good on the asphalt and into the woodchips - I held my spot pretty well, wasn’t getting pinched or pushed by other riders and the speed was low because we were climbing, which made me feel marginally safer. Then…

PPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSssssssssss

Not sure what I ran over, but it must have been sharp as hell because I immediately lost all pressure in the rear tire. I stopped and threw the bike on my shoulder and ran through the chicanes to the neutral pit at the finish line where Zipp Greg threw a new wheel in and I took off again, working my way back up through the pack from DFL and ended up finishing 46th/72.

An honest day’s work, but man…. I had good legs and really wonder how I would have done without that flat. Flats suck, but they build character. I’ve also got to thank all the guys who showed a bit of sympathy as they rode past me - I heard about a dozen “bummer, dude”s as they all went by and another dozen people yelling that the neutral pit was right around the corner… you all rock, seriously.

If this video is any indication, I may be better at carrying my bike than actually riding it. Head on over to the NCNCA Racing blog for more pics and videos.

-Nick in SF

Two very different courses that were tough in their own way. Sat was almost like a dirt time trial where at times being by yourself was not good. I had a good start and a small group formed at the front right away with the exception of Doug Swanson who was gone right away. Every barrier or run-up people were popping off the group and eventually it just spread out and everyone was by themselves. About halfway through the race I looked up and the leaders were right there maybe 10 seconds infront of me. I gave it everything I had plus a little extra to get to them but I just never quite made it. The rest of the race I rode as smooth as I could trying to hold off Smithers who was riding really well. Ended up 5th overall and 2nd in the 35+. Dan Casper was just to strong in the middle part of the race and I lost his wheel. I’m having alot of fun racing against Dan in the 35+ catagory. Every week I get a good start and every week he comes storming up from behind and it’s on. It’s fun as hell.
Sun was a twisty, muddy, hilly slugfest. I was really thinking about riding the 29er, it was 50/50 on which bike had the advantage. Dewey and Jessie were gone right away and no one really even tried to stay with them. I didn’t get a great start and had to work my way through some guys who wern’t to comfortable on the slick off camber stuff. Eventually I ended up with Sam O and Chris F who were both on mtb. We all knew we were racing for 3rd so it was serious battle. Don’t think these guys were at a disadvantage on the mtbs either. They are both incredible on those things and they were abusing me every lap. Even though I was fighting not to puke everytime we went up the hill, I was having an absolute blast duking iy out with those guys. In the end Chris got a gap on me and I got a gap on Sam and that’s how we finished. One of the funnest races I’ve done. Ended up 4th overall and 1st in the 35+.
Wah had an awesome ride Sunday coming home 6th overall and 2nd in the 35+. It was sweet.
cj

Brian aka i_r_beej Johnson

Jim aka Holstein Hendrickson

Guy aka Smitty Smith

Honorary Member: Allen aka DFL Goldbeck

-buddhabelly, Pac NW AllStarz

The Sunday races are getting a bit easier.  Again I was late due to bad directions, rushed to get ready and jump into a pre-ride lap. It looked like it was going to be a technical race with one long climb to separate the field. I had a good start with a clean line on the hill and fell into about 5^th place.

By the end of the first lap I was in 6th but after that I just kept moving forward until I was on Paul K’s wheel which seemed rather surprising as I could hardly see him on the horizon the day before. We went into the bell lap together but I was able to gap him on the hill and keep it to the finish for my second 2nd place finish this season.

Great swag after rather and worth waiting around in the cold for almost 2 hours. Got a beautiful new Lazer helmet that at first I didn’t give much thought to until I put it on my noggin, it snug’s down nicely. I also got a Gore Windstopper jacket in the raffle that is very cool. Rode into work with it today and I was toasty. 

Ladric

Saturday’s race was in the scenic location of the hip housing community of Jackson Meadow. For most of the race I was strung out by myself, Paul and Gregory just over the hill and a few chases yo-yoing behind me.  The course reminded me of a min-chequemegon (paved road, some technical then rolling hills, one run-up hill, back to technical to repeat).

The last lap I just coasted the last section. It was an uneventful race, only having to stop once on my third lap after I noticed that that clunking sound I was hearing was my front wheel not on tight at all. I am so glad it didn’t come off. Finished 3rd

Thanks to Hollywood Cycle with a quick turn around on my new Grifo Challengers. I dropped them off with Jay in the afternoon and was able to pick them up the next day.

Ladric

A picture is worth a thousand acronyms. More MN Crossniacs in this set.