Cyclocross is my favorite bike racing discipline. I like it for a lot of reasons but now that I’m 45 I like it most because the races are short. You don’t have to train 20 hours a week to feel like you can go race and do OK. You don’t have to worry about getting dropped and languishing on the road in solitude and you don’t have to worry about the tent being folded up and gone when you finally make it back to the start/finish. Cross is also very tough.

Your typical cross race is a one hour pain contest. You get dressed in freezing weather (at least in MT you do) or you may race in rain, mud or snow. When you race cross you have to execute run-ups and hurdles which require a dismount and remount onto the bike. These are skills that can really give a person and advantage if they practice their technique. I was never very fast so when I was racing a lot I always tried to make up for my lack of speed and talent with any advantages I could. In road racing it was strategy and decision  making, in cross it was technique and in MTB…well, in MTB I always just sucked.

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the chain of my month-old bike decided it was a good time to. play up and come right off up the first hill. Bannockburn Mountain Bike Classic, which was held in the. stopped to help a lady in need and I was back on the bike. I had time to make up, so I powered on up the road with no. real struggle until the 22km sport turn-off gave me a run for. would give me a nice leisurely ride before returning to. Queenstown for another night of little sleep. Intending to do the full 35km classic ride, I decided 22km. It all started pretty well, until 10 minutes into the race. sleep hours the night before. Preparation is key when showing up for any race this. The hill climb was something I probably should have prepared. myself a little more for, but I did make the top without. rides slightly more.

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