Cross ramblings

Raced in Heber two weekends ago.  Ended up winning, but barely made it through the last two laps after I stumbled on the run up and jammed the end of my bar into my quad.  It swelled up like a balloon and I could barely walk.  I went to the ER afterwards to make sure there wasn't more damage.  The Doc said I would live.  Its been almost two weeks now and I still can't sleep good because of the pain/soreness.  I don't typically bruise but this is a doozie.  My Mom was in town so it was nice to have her watch the race and see me win.

So I rode for about 3 hours the entire week hoping the swelling and pain would go down by the Ogden race....the swelling went down a bit but the pain didn't.  

Got a good start at Ogden.  Every barrier/dismount felt like someone was punching me in the quad with every step.  The pain wore me down and I lost some steam near the end of the race.  Bart and I rode together for most of the race.  I have to say, homeboy can ride.  He bunny-hopped the double log section a couple times.  One lap I waved him passed just so I could watch the show.  Impressive.  Bart came around me on the last lap just before the double log section and that was that.  He took the win and fully deserved it.  I took the honorary "2nd place is the first loser" position.  

All in all a good couple races...

Draper Cross

Got to try out my new trailer this weekend at the Draper cross.  Good thing I had it, cause it was classic cross conditions.  Cold, Rain, wind...perfect.  

My take on the race.  

The race started and I think everyone was waiting for someone to take the lead into the uphill/headwind.  Dave "manned-up" and took off.  Somehow I stayed on his wheel and at the top we had a gap.  Dave pulled off and I tried to recover through the first couple dirt sections.  Bart bridged up and we rode together for a bit.  Then I slid out and he got a gap.  It took another lap to get him, but when I made it to him he said he was freezing.  Sounds like he had a mechanical and ceased up from the cold.  Then Mitchel bridged up and started punishing me.  My back was acting up most of the race, and it said it was time to stop about 2 to go.  I had to let up and let my back calm down and Mitchel pulled away.  This is not taking away from Mitchel's win, cause I don't think I would have had it in the end anyhow.  He was the strongest and deserved the win.  Afterword, I didn't realize how cold I was until I got off my bike.  It was then I found out I was in trouble.  A mad dash to the trailer to try to get my wet clothes off.  My feet were numb and I was shaking pretty violently.  Luckily my wife was there to help get me out of my wet stuff and into some dry.  Got to wash off with the hot shower I have in the trailer and that brought me back to thinking somewhat coherently.  

All in all, a good race.  Good venue, great crowd, and I felt relatively good.  Even got a nap when I got home.

Oh yeah.  Tanner Cottle kicked ass and won the B's race straight up.  I think he's 16 and I'm sure he made everyone else in that class feel really good about getting spanked by a kid.  

Michigan Double Cross

Sat.  Sunny 84 deg.  

Let's see.  Silver medalist at worlds, Swiss national champion, Canadian national Champion, some Frenchy, another Swiss guy, Steve Tilford, and a couple other really fast UCI guys.  Page took off like a guy shot out of a cannon.  I think he was 30 sec faster per lap than I was.  Not normal.  I got a decent start and had to stop on lap two or three to fix my shifter as it slid down the drops after hitting a huge bump and tightened the brakes against the rims.  I was able to bridge back up to battle for third with 6 other guys.  Then the Canadian and a couple Euros took off and gapped us on the second to last lap.  I battled unitl the last 1/2 lap but don't have that kind of high end yet.  Rolled in for 9th.  Best placing for me in a UCI race.  Got some UCI points and $$.

Sun.  Partly Sunny 66 deg

Got a call up second row.  Decent start but lagged a bit and was about 15th.  Crashed hard on the end of the first lap and knocked the wind out of me,  plus landed on my barely healed road rash, and ripped that wide open...leg, hip, elbow.  I couldn't get up and literally rolled off the coarse.  Took a couple minutes for me even to move.  Needless to say, visit to the med tent.  Tail between my legs and went home.

That's all I have to say 'bout that....

Slot Canyons

Ar and I went south this last weekend to the Slot canyons near Boulder UT.  Very cool, very few people and we got to do some 4 x 4 driving.  Most extreme I've ever gone off-road in truck before.  I think we pushed it to its limit.  Anyhow, had a great time....here are some of the pics.

Cooper

One for FLY and one for Cooper

Fly ready to herd sheep

This is at the sheep farm during his break from working the sheep.

Riding with Fly

Decided to record part of the nightly ride with FLY on the trails behind our house. You'll need to turn the volume down as the camera audio recording has much to be desired. Just records wind....

He's a great trail dog and gets excited before each ride.