Stephen Cheung Race Report - Sprague Brook Cyclocross Race

Saturday September 15 was the first race for me in nearly two years, unless you count all the time spent visualizing cyclocross while in Belgium last winter! Hopefully all that traipsing around in the mud in Belgium and eating all the frites with mayo will pay off! Despite the heavy rains the day before, the weather was very un-Belgian with mild weather and variable clouds. The course was fast and dry, except for one muddy trench that kept getting bigger ever lap. Not much in the way of climbing, but lots of fun off-camber stretches. The biggest challenge, technically, were a set of off camber twists and turns around a series of trees. Tight line with no room for error, or longer loopier line?

I just managed to be old enough to sneak into the 45+ category this year, so I toed the line with a field of 15 riders for the 40 minute race. Off the line, I settled into my typical 5-10th slot in the first lap, deciding not to go blasting out hard and just get back into race rhythm. All was fine in that mode, then I had some good battles with a few other riders. Culminated in a dude sliding out in a fast downhill corner right in front of me and my somehow managing to stay upright, not lose momentum, and not ride over him. Usually that's ME doing the crashing and sliding out, but not this time for once!

As Jamie wrote, I ended up 7th but very happy with how I rode today, especially for a first race after pretty much 2 years away from competition. The thing I love about cycling and CX is that you really do never stop learning. This time, I experimented with much lower pressures than what the 28/32 psi front/rear combo I've settled on in the past, doing the limbo down to 22/25 this time. It made SUCH a huge difference, as I was slipping and sliding during warmups, but rode really well and clean throughout the race. Also learned to not put so much weight on the front wheel in corners, letting the bike and tires do their job and railing around corners rather than diving in and getting stuck in them. Overall I was lacking some straightaway speed, but the cornering and bike handling was great!

Happy with the start and looking forward to the heavy block of racing coming up! Thanks to our sponsors for making it happen!

Cheers,
Stephen

Sprague Brook Cross Results - Stephen Cheung 7th in 45+

Stephen Cheung finished with a strong top 10 in the 45+ category in Glenwood NY this weekend.

All results posted here. Crossresults

Watch for a race report from Stephen in the near future.

Rohrbach Ellison Park Cyclocross Race Report

Last weekend Jamie traveled to Rochester NY for the 3rd Annual Ellison Park Cyclocross weekend. Here is his report!

Day 1 - Saturday, Sept 8
Race Time = 12:15
Category = Open (including Cat 3) – 50 minutes
Competition = CDN National Masters 30-39 Cyclocross Champion, a bunch of regional fast guys, etc
Weather = 80ish and RAINING like H-E-double spokes (‘cause hockey sticks don’t apply)                  Course Condition = mainly ok, despite the rain, with a few mud sections
Start Position = Called up to front row (right beside above mentioned National Champ!)
Strategy = Go hard first 2 laps and hold on to position

GO TIME

Lap 1 = Good start sitting 5th wheel  and then Niagara Region Cross fanatic Jeff Moote bites it in sweeping left-right corner taking out himself and the guy in 4th. YIKES, that was close! Sitting in 3rd for about half a lap and YIKES, another close call presents an opportunity to grab the lead. Half lap of leader glory!

Laps 2 & 3 = OH Sh*t…Lap 1 effort is setting in and the pain is growing. The relentless switchback climb each lap is not my friend at this point of race and I lose positions fast.

Lap 4 & 5 = Gas back in the tank, feeling good and gaining on my Open Category competition. Move from 10th to 8th in one lap. Lap 5 of 5 and I find myself feeling really good and wishing the race was longer. Cross the line in 8th!

Day 2 (Reverse the course and go again) - Sunday, Sept 9
Race Time = 12:15
Category = Open (including Cat 3) – 50 minutes
Competition = Same as day 1, maybe even a deeper field
Weather = Rain is gone, course is dry, feeling like 70ish
Course Condition = Great for cross, including the RUN UP!
Start Position = Called up to front row
Strategy = Not the same as Day 1. Start medium pace without losing too much ground.

GO TIME

Lap 1 – Tucked in 5th to 7th (I guess that’s 6th) for most of the first half lap. The lead group of 4 quickly made their way up the switch backs and then down. Sticking to my strategy, medium pace!

Lap 2 & 3 – Can still see the lead group but the pace has increased and they are extending their lead. Following a fellow CDN competitor through the fast sections of the course and happy to let him lead me through these areas until ……“THE MOOTE EFFECT”! In a steep short downhill section Mr. Moote misjudges the sharp corner and goes down. Unlike Day 1’s MOOTE EFFECT I was unable to avoid the situation and literally rode over his bike and catapulted over my bars. I quickly regained my composure, picked up my bike, remounted, and left the scene. I later learned that Mr. Moote DNF as a result of the incident. Enough said. BTW, Mr. Moote was fine and only mentally rattled from the weekend events.

Lap 4 & 5 – Once I shook off the MOOTE EFFECT I realized that I was feeling really good despite being about 15th at this point. I recognized that the attrition in the switchback uphill section was going to be my opportunity to regain positions. In each of the last 2 laps I opened up on this section picking off 2 to 3 riders per lap. In the last half lap two other riders were passed.  After it’s all said and done, 7th in the Open category.

Next Up – Sept 22 & 23 - We Need Another Cowbell Cross Weekend Bonanza, St. Catharines, ON