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QuadCross 2014, Maynard MA

TUNE-UP NEEDED:
German-engineered '65 vehicle,
handles well but lacks power,
limited time, limited budget
Ride Photos: click here for ride photos (lap 1 video below)

One minute after the Cat 4/5 start, the whistle sounded for the 4/5 35+ start. Lined up in the back row next to fellow Mac Troy K, I had nowhere to go but up. Unknowingly channeling Brad W, I had aligned myself in the gap between the two riders a row ahead. I quickly found myself filling that gap ... and then braking as the inevitable bottleneck once again demonstrated the value of the hole shot.

At the left 180 taking us back (close!) along the pond, I took the outside line and avoided a 3-bike pile-up (while also avoiding the pond). And at the left bend taking us away from the pond, my far-right line again kept me clear of another tangle. A crash-induced gap behind me, I hooked on with a small group as we navigated the shooting range of race host Maynard Rod and Gun Club (shots being audible throughout the day--talk about an incentive to hold one's line).

With thanks to the Wellesley-Weston 'cross crew (Matt, Brad, Jon, Patrick, Jason, et.al.), Robert the J, and countless Svenness videos, I'm finding my technical skills to be significantly better than the average back-half-of-the-pack rider. Entering the woods, I'd soon be reunited with my deficiency that levels that particular playing field.

The first short uphill climb? No problem.
The bombing descents? Ditto--I'd gain ground on these all day.
The steep upward pitch? Nailed it.
The lengthy, slightly uphill power-demanding dirt and gravel straightaways?
Uh, yeah, that deficiency, again channeling (by his own admission) (early season) Brad.

"Handles well but lacks power" indeed.

On my first lap (video below), I probably lost 6-8 riders on the dirt and gravel straightaways. Sure, some of these were likely stronger riders who'd gone down in early crashes. And sure, I'd catch some of them in the twists and turns ahead, but overall, maybe I need a different summer workout program than burgers and margaritas.

Does Bill Black have a July/August discount?

Popping out of the woods, we circled the parking lot and hit the sand pit chicane (right u-turn, left u-turn, right-left s-bend). I had decided in advance that I'd run the full stretch, and each lap, that choice gained me a rider or two.

Some ups and downs, some rights and lefts, then it was a hard left onto gravel on the front side of the viewing stand. The transition looked worse that it was. Up the hill, around the pavillion to the right, then left and down for the u-turn leading to the barriers. Remount, then straightaway-u-straightaway to head back to the start finish line.

By this point in the race, I typically have an idea that a majority of riders are ahead and some are back, but I generally have no clue whether I'm 70%, 80%, or 90% back.

Who cares, I'm working too hard and having a blast!

By lap 2, things are much more settled, with much less passing going on. That leaves more time to think. So I started thinking about the horrible sound that emanated from my cassette/derailleur on the steep low-gear climb back in the woods. Was a mechanical in my cards? Would I at least be left with a singlespeed?

Into the woods, down, around, second time up the climb. Horrible grinding. But nothing fell off.

I settled in for the rest of lap 2 and laps 3 and 4. As I approached the starting line for what I thought would be my final lap, I saw the placard reading "2". Okay, final two laps.

Lap 4 was uneventful. Especially at the turns at top of the climb going into the woods. On lap 3, I had failed to navigate the turns and found myself on the ground. I was up quickly enough ... and pleased to find on the steep climb that the cassette/derailleur racket was gone. Who needs a pit crew?!

Midway through lap 4, I found a rider ahead to focus on (gray jersey), with two (red jersey and black jersey) not all that far off my back wheel. We held position through the beginning of lap 5 (minor victory: not getting lapped) and into the woods. On the first descent, I caught and passed Gray to gain a spot. On the dirt double-track straightaway, Black caught me--back to "neutral."

Gray was nowhere in sight. Black hung tantalizingly just out of reach ahead. But Red was gaining. As I exited the sand, I took a peek--it might end up being close.

Entering the pavillion gravel, I looked again--the gap hadn't shrunk. Seeing Black ahead, I turned it up to 11. I wouldn't catch him, but it was the motivation I needed to hold off Red. Rounding the tree u-turn, I saw what I wanted to see--no way was Red going to catch me now. I finished the straightaway, made the final right, and eased across the line.

A few minutes later, I found first-timer Troy wearing a smile that said it all. A smile that mirrored my own--when do I get to do this again? Next up on my schedule is the Midnight Ride on Sep 24, but I'm thinking now that I might try Sucker Brook 'Cross in Auburn NH on the 21st ...

The Numbers: click here for Strava
  • 57 of 67 riders: 85% back
  • Distance: 9.0mi
  • Speed: avg 10.6mph, max 16.6mph
  • Heart rate: avg 158bpm, max 170bpm
  • Cadence: avg 75rpm
  • Elevation gain: 446'
My lap 1 video:



Patrick G's awesome QuadCross "trailer" (on-bike footage courtesy Brad W)