I have to admit, I had some pre-race butterflies on Sunday. My shiny new cross bike had less than 100 miles on it and the six pack I downed with my Uncle Bob at his lake place the night before was still rattling around in my head. Erik Paulsen and I rolled a couple of warm up laps at an easy pace and got to deal with actual barriers for the first time. Off the bike…jump…run….jump…back on the bike. Cool.  It isn’t pretty… but it works. What’s that gonna be like at race pace? 

We checked in with our cheering squad/pit crew (a.k.a. - wife and kids)  and lined up rather unceremoniously for our first cross start. Sweeeeeeet. Off we go! The pace was pretty hot off the line and I was fine letting the front of the pack walk away. My goal was simply to ride strong and steady and try to figure this whole wacky cross thing out. Erik dropped his chain less than two minutes in. Bummer.  One lap down…survived the barriers and run up’s. Two laps down…figured out how to shoulder the bike. Three laps down…now I’m racing. Nice. I started picking people off and pushed it hard to the end. It was an awesome first day crossin’.  19th overall, 16th Mens 4 - I’m hooked.

 Mike C.

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