BASP #1 Cross Race

First cross race down!

35 minutes, 6 laps of about 1.2 miles at 177 avg HR. Course was dusty with lots of loose gravel and sharp, shale like rocks. There was a lot of carnage out there but I managed to keep the rubber side down and not flat.



One set of three barriers.
Two run ups.
Two longish straight aways.
Lots of sharp turns.

GPS: http://www.strava.com/rides/204934




Need to work on my remounts!

Portola Low-Key Hill Climb

Did a 5 mile, 1760 ft hill climb today. Plus, 60 miles of riding to and from the race.

9.3 mph
175 hr
271 watts
30:34
http://www.strava.com/rides/204401#2928979

Probably could have pushed it a little harder at the end and done 280 avg watts/180 avg hr and gotten closer to 30 minutes even. Though, at the end, it was nice to not feel like I was going to throw up.

Few photos of riding to the start:





Racers coming down to the start of the hill climb:



Tomorrow, my first cross race.

UPDATE; photo of me suffering during the TT.

New Cross Bike: '09 Ridley Crossbow

2009 Ridley Crossbow with SRAM Rival. Looking forward to using it as a commuter bike and to dabble in cyclocross racing.

In fact, did my first practice race last Wednesday:



gps: http://www.strava.com/rides/197850

As per Strava:
Baylands CX Practice Lap, 0.9 miles, 31 ft gain
warmup - 10.4 mph, 00:05:02
lap 1 - 12.6 mph, 00:04:10
lap 2 - 12.9 mph, 00:04:04
lap 3 - 13.2 mph, 00:03:59
lap 4 - 13.2 mph, 00:03:59

Unfortunately my HR monitor freaked out so I don't have those numbers. I'm sure I hit my max a few times. Dismounts and remounts felt fast. Corners, not so much.

Already looking forward to next Wednesday. First real race is in Oakland on the 17th. Also have a hill climb the day before, on the 16th.