Valley Park Cyclocross

Post from John Roden
September 23, 2007
Hamilton, Ontario

As the leaves outside have started to change a bit, the time for some cyclocross plotting and planning has finally come to my little basement workshop in the cupboard under the stairs. After the little children are safely ahead and given their special requests for just the right blend of water in the sippy cup, the serious work of mixing up draft of special potion in my sticky tubular glue cauldron has arrived. Working slowly, and with the aid of a J.W. Dundees pale ale, I smeared up a sticky mess and stuck another set of sketchy tires onto some fairly deplorable rims for another season on the cross pitch. Unsticking a pencil from my forehead, I emerged with all of my equipment in top form for another season on the circled square, marveling yet again at all the abuse a Mavic rim can withstand while still remaining sort of round.

Sunday was a perfect day for a road race, with bright skies and wall to wall sunshine. Dismal,grey and snow flecked trails were but a memory from seasons gone by. The course was dusty and fast with a few odd barriers and a lot of turns. On the starter's whistle we were off for another season, everything going smoothly for the first hundred feet until a rider went over the bars right next to me, taking out the center of the pack. No mind, I was safely ensconced right toward the front and all was well. After a few more turns, some hapless rider tried passing to the inside and slid out, taking my wheels out from under me, pushing me back a couple places. I sat in what was turning into a group of sorts until I followed suit and crashed on one of the turns, sliding out my front wheel. I was to crash once more during the race (sliding out my back wheel to keep symetrical-like) and make a slew of mistakes to lose dribs and drabs of time to end up 7th. for the day. Kevin Mahoney also flew the flag for an excellent master 1 race. All considered, not a great opening day but good to get all those mistakes out of the way, hopefully. After a welcome back into the U.S. at the Peace Bridge, we were back home safe and sound with a few new bumps and bruises to start the new season off right.

For all photos go HERE.