Field of Riches CX

Once again it was time to head north of the border and race in Wisconsin.  Just outside of Milwaukee, George and I carpooled on Saturday morning to the Field of Riches CX race.  The better half was out of town so what better to do than race.

We signed up for the 50+ Cat 4/5.  It was a 30 minute race in a park amongst some beautifully changing leaves.

Based on the name of the race I didn't expect too much more than riding around in a grassy field.  I was very wrong.  The course included three hills, 2 sketchy downhills and two sections of forest.

Ours was the first race of the morning and even though the temp was about 39 there wasn't the frost on the grass we saw at Trek day 2.  The course was in good shape even though there was some rain Saturday.  The woods had some dampness but was very ridable. 

We had 42 racers and I had a front row start with George in the second row.  When the whistle blows you need to be ready.  At Trek I was not ready for either race.  They don't actually count down the start but give you the "Anytime in the next 30 seconds".  So, I made sure this time to watch the official with the whistle and focus as best as possible.

It worked out perfectly as I not only jumped right at the whistle but I clipped into my other pedal instantly and was off.  In cyclocross there's this thing called "The Holeshot".  Basically, the first one to the first turn wins the holeshot.  And today that was me!  You don't get anything for it.  No medal or gels.  But wow was it fun.  I don't think it counts as an out of body experience but in my head as I made the first turn I was thinking to myself - "I won the holeshot!"  Such a novice.

Right after the holeshot a couple guys passed me but I was ok with that.  I was not going to blowup early and felt right in rhythm.  We did start in a grassy field but a few turns in we took a left down a fairly steep hill with a little shimmy at the end.  It wasn't enough that needed to slow down for the shimmy but did have to give the bars a little push to the side.  

Of course what goes down must come up.  We started the first hill in a zig zag fashion but the last half was straight with a log in the middle.  During pre-ride we did a couple tests to see if we could bunny hop it.  I tried left at first but the back wheel didn't make it.  One of the course marshals said to stick left and try it again.  I wasn't buying it because the ground behind the log seemed a bit higher to the right.  I tried the right side and it worked.  So, during the race I stuck right and gained a ton of distance over other racers who were dismounting and running it.  

I was still in third at the top but the rest of the race was getting strung out behind.  We took a left and headed into the woods down some single track.  The entry you could take with speed but then there was a right-left-right combo you had to brake for.  It got more slick with the subsequent laps.  [In the race after ours one racer crashed and messed up her leg/ankle.  Took a while to get her up the trail and to the ambulance.]  I ended up deciding to unclip with my left foot and hand it out for balance on the tight left and slid the back tire a little.  It worked for me.

George and I had done our pre-ride together and we talked about the next hill and not blowing up.  It was a slow drag where you could easily go too hard and over heat (so-to-speak; remember it was 39 degrees).  So that hill led to the second sketchy downhill.  This one was a crushed limestone path with a u-turn at the bottom.  When your heart rate is up there (average was 166) the brain doesn't always work as planned.  So at the bottom of the gravel I had to slam on the brakes because I forgot it turned left.  No harm no foul.

The last main feature on the course was a combo of an even bigger tree across the pass right after a u-turn which then led to a straight, but rooty, single track through the woods.  The first lap I dismounted fine and got over the log.  But the second of 3 laps I took the u-turn with some speed and unclipped the inside foot to help with balance.  But that is normally the foot I keep clipped in when dismounting so now I was stuck with no feet clipped and my butt stuck in the saddle and came to a full stop.  Ugh!

At this point in the second lap the chance for the second step on the podium had been lost so my fumble wasn't costing my progression, but maybe my hold onto 3rd.  Turns out after owning a GoPro for a number of years I still can't figure out how to turn it on.  In the middle of the second lap on a straightaway I took a peek to see if the red light was on and it wasn't.  So I clicked the button again and got the blinky red light I needed.  This distraction didn't make me lose my balance or ride me directly into a hedge but it didn't keep my focus sharp.  The second place racer was about 2 seconds in front of me and when I took the next left turn I took it too hot and slid out.  Usually, I fall because I brake too much and the back wheel loses traction.  This time I should have tapped the brakes.

I was able to pop up quickly and the other racer was still only 10 seconds away but it took a while to regather my mojo.  I think I ended up about 30 seconds back from second in the end.  [For some reason the GoPro turned off right after the crash so this is all I have].

Now my focus was looking back instead of forwards. I knew I was still in third place and was excited about being on a podium.  Another rookie move was thinking about my position in the group as opposed to focusing on the course.  Luckily I didn't fall again but I kept checking over my shoulder.  The 4th place racer was a guy with a long goatee.  He was about 10 seconds back and even though he might make some progress in the corners (everyone corners better than me) he was thicker than me and I thought I could make up some time on the hills (As you all know I am a mountain goat).

At some point in the last lap I peeked back and there was someone who had passed the goatee guy.  Uh oh.  I was talking to the 2nd place guy after the race and he said this guy doesn't start fast but makes progress throughout the race and was strong.  That put a little more pressure on but I was able to hold him off.  

The 35+ race started 30 second before ours and we were catching the back half of that race (Actually I think I finished around 6th in that race too lol).  As I came to the hill with the log I had two racers from the 35+ group in front of me.  I yelled ahead that I was going to the right.  I wanted to have a clean line to bunny hop the log.  They both moved to the left as they dismounted for the log which was great.  I hoped the guy behind me was going to dismount and then I would gain some more time.  It is fun to have a feature you know you can nail where others might not.  

This was actually the place on the course I was hoping to pass the 2nd place guy (before I fell).  I was feeling good and I wasn't worried about being just behind him.  He was dismounting for the log.  I could get past him here and then push it hard in the last lap.  Oh well.

I went with a little higher pressure since it was mostly dry which probably contributed to the fall.  But it was good everywhere else.  In the last corner I had pulled past another racer from the 35+ (he was nice enough to move over) but he decided he wanted to sprint.  His pressure must have also been high because as he tried to come around the outside of me he slide out.  That corner took out more than one person that day.

So I made the podium and was super excited.  I made the podium at regionals last year but there were only 11 guys.  What made it even better is Erik Hagen let me use his Tower jacket which looked awesome on the podium!

The winner got some local beer.  The 2nd place guy got a bag of coffee.  Me, I got a box of Clif Bars.  They pay out big up in Wisc.  Actually, it worked out perfect as I don't really drink much and I don't like coffee.

So, this was really a field of riches for me.  Hoping to build on this keep moving forward.
Thanks for reading!
>>> Bonus pictures I just found from the Trek races courtesy Focal Flame Photography.