6 days after returning from
Haute Route Pyrenees (780 km, 18300m elevation gain in 7 days)… I jumped into a local cyclocross race abit pensive with going from loping mountain climbs to a fast intense pace. It was the first time I was on my cross bike this season.
School of Cross - Heritage Park, Edmonton Sep 13, 2014
Late for the starting line call-ups, I squeezed in the 2nd line. At the start, I was laissez-faire with positioning. Realized not a good thing as I was bottlenecked on the technical sections. On any open sections, I zipped by a few riders when I could. The lead pack was way in front.
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| Laughing at my surprising come-from-behind race - photo Bill Quinney |
With no prep time on the cross bike, I was cornering well. The wicked twisty descents in Europe likely helped with that.
The course was mostly flat with one huge hill climb that was just rideable… both Shantel and young Sidney both powered by me while I was still in Pyrenees mountain-mode.
I slowly reeled in rider after rider on the open section. I was pushing a big gear while standing - definitely Pyrenees fitness coming through. Clawed my way up to 2nd place.
Redbike Red Cross - Heritage Park, Edmonton Sep 14, 2014
Next day, similar course with more twisty turns making it harder to pass. Played safe, and yes, braked down the bumpy descent. 105 lbs gets flinged easily hitting any compression too hard. I made my way to 5th.
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Shantel Chantell Pepper Sidney Marg
16-year-old Sidney was exactly my height last season! |
Crave Cupcake Cross - Airdrie Sep 20, 2014
Course was tamer than last year on the farm fields around the Airdrie Rodeo grounds, a little more flowy.
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| Dusty start - photo R Haskell |
Reduced my air pressure for the bumpiness which gave a nice plush ride on the pre-ride. Into the 1st loop, my front tire slammed me down when I went around a tight corner… a little too plush! I blamed the tire tread. During the race I was pensive around any corners as I almost went down a few more times with the tire knobs catching.
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| Gotta be speedy with the strong field. That's the arrrgh grimace! - photo R Haskell |
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| Lead riders Kate Aardal and Sidney McGill (& Shantel Koenig) riding the stairs which few Elite men did - photo R Haskell |
Very battling kind of race with trade offs in lead through out. Squeaked in 3rd.
Bici Rodeo Cross - Airdrie Sep 21, 2014
The course was the reverse direction of the Cupcake course. A super strong headwind made for an even tighter race. I kept air pressure low, a little more than I had the previous day - and the tires were fine!
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Bumper to bumper from the start, I sprinted for the
lead as the front riders could all ride over the stairs and I would have to
dismount and run up - photo Masa Higuchi
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climbing out of steep pitch - photo Masa Higuchi |
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Stuck like glue into the last lap - Alana leading Marg
& Sidney
- photo Masa Higuchi
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Sprint for the finish - photo Masa Higuchi |
Jim Horner Cross - Velodrome, Edmonton Sep 27, 2014
Lost contact early at the start. Heavy grass riding. My 50 cog dragged me down.
Hop 'n Hurl Cross - Velodrome, Edmonton Sep 28, 2014
Swapped to the 44 cog. Reverse course of previous day, now a speedier course despite the headwind. Had a group of 4 into the first lap. Kept in contact.
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Order of Marg, Shantel, Pepper and Sidney
switched up
a few times on the course
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| Shifting to the front chain ring bogged a little slowing me down a few times. I caught up to the 3 riders on the stretch in the tailwind. Shifting bogged at the worst time preventing a challenge for 3rd. Fun action between the 4-some. |
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Tight squeeze of 4 racers on the steep climb
- Sidney, Marg, Pepper, Shantel |
The Dark Knight Cross
Skipped
the Dark Knight race due to bad night vision. Missed the wicked flaming barriers!
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Pepper - Ken Anderson Photography |
Bow Cycle Cadence Cross - COP, Calgary Oct 5, 2014
Gotta remember I love this course as it has a lot of climbing from the base of the bobsled track going up. Awesome fast stretches on pavement. Found it a flowy course with enough turning room on the twisty sections.
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Cool photo up the steepest pitch -
photo R. Haskill |
Provincial Champs - Drie Zussen Superprestige, Canmore Oct 11, 2014
Course was at the bumpy disc golf area, much more flow and long in distance. After chatting to Shantel about practicing pedal clip-in before the start, I did a few when I was warming up.
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Shantel leading Marg & Sidney -
photo R. Haskill |
At the start, I was ultra-surprised when my foot
landed exactly on the pedal… so quickly dashed off in the lead for the
hole-shot! First corner was on pavement, then Kate came by. Eventually Sidney
and Chantell zipped by before the off-camber upward turn.
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Marcy Kimpton & Christina Hirota with the amazing
mountain backdrop - photo R. Haskill
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Into the 3rd loop, I got by Chantel and Sidney on the
pavement, slowly bridging up to Kate. I was super focused though on a sharp
corner, my front brake lever caught the darn white plastic stake. I was slammed
down like a wrestler.
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| Ha, ha, I got the hole-shot beer!! |
Got up quickly though lost critical few metres to
regain. Last lap, I was leery of the same stake so overshot the turn and fell,
doh. Shantel and Alana were in sight behind me. Made it into the finish with no
more mishaps.
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Provincial Podium - cool scenery -
photo R. Haskill |
Pumphouse Cross, Calgary Oct 12, 2014
New
course, pre-ride felt boring with open stretches with a few fun off-camber
hills at the beginning.
McGill sisters took the lead with Sidney getting
the hole-shot, then skidding out on the off-camber corner along with Abby. I
managed to squeak by them.
On any straight-away, I sprinted. Coasted on any
turns being cautious. It was a tough course to pass on. Abby started out strong
and ran by me like a gazelle in the first sandpit section. I zipped by her on
the next short power climb.
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Gasping for air the whole race -
photo R. Haskill
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Sidney had bike issues to start. Worked her way back
to me and challenged for the lead a few times. It was a full-out tongue hanging
kind of race.
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Marg only one step ahead of Sidney -
photo R. Haskill |
Sid has nice over shoulder technique. I think I
carried over the shoulder all other loops though went with just grabbing the bike
for the last dash - photo R. Haskill
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1st win of the season! |
Nice way to end my 2014 cross season!!
