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Jon Schaer: 3rd, Cat 4-5 | ||||
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'Cross weather is here. Wet, chilly, and grey sets the mood. Airborne deserves a few nods, not only for getting on with a decent race, but serving a real cause. Ohio governmental changes apparently divert funds from the park services, so Airborne was donating some of the race fees to State Park causes, and also sold home-baked goods to raise more $$$. The course was honestly not what makes an ideal 'cross challenge, but we deal with what venues are available. This would be a power rider's course. Three barrier sections (2, 4, and 3 respectively), and probably only 100 meters of pavement. One short stretch of non-technical but swervy singletrack provided a slight speed burp. There were no run-ups to send the bpm's ballistic, though. The farside of the lap switchbacked up a gentile incline, which muddied with use. Maybe 90% of the ride was on grass. Some parts felt super fast, but the mud grew sticker each lap. I managed a clean start and hit the first stretch in the lead. Larry was immediately on my wheel, and a soon-to-be main challenger right behind on a rigid mtb. The first barriers were 2 on a straight, fast run. Larry biffed his first dismount, nearly head-butting my rear wheel, but managed to recover fantastically, and was around me in 50 meters. The mtb guy was obviously smooth enough in technique, and had also passed me after that first set. We rode tightly through the next 1/4 lap and some slippery culvert, but on the uprise section I already had started fading. I held a close gap to the next barrier set, a double set of two within a 180 degree turnaround, but could feel more space growing. This open field postion looked flat and fast, but was pretty bumpy and just sapped effort. Another few squiggles around some trees and park benches, and through another set-of-3 barriers, and one quick section of pavement. Run the perimeter of another grassy field, and a gravely run to the finish. I gained some ground through the faster first section, but the rest of the race just ended up being a rerun of successively slower laps. Twice I passed Larry as he relaced wheels and overhauled BB's or something, but my escalated position was always short-lived. By 1/2 way through the first lap we already had enough of a gap that it looked like a race for the top three spots, and I was quickly seeing 3rd my only option. Larry rode strong, but stopped to pet Sonny one too many times and conceeded the possible sprint finish drama. To his credit, the mtb guy rode consistantly and smoothly for a deserved win. Larry did great for a first race and a week on the technique. Where else can one suffer to such a fun degree? Thanks to Lisa for sideline encouragement. |
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