Northeast Velo Cross

Not the shadow you want to see in your
helmet cam footage...

Wow. What a race... I'm not sure what came over me, but knowing that there was a BMX track incorporated into the cyclocross course, made me pretty happy.

I took the holeshot, and was actually leading the race for a bit (well, it was a short bit). To be honest, I didn't know what to do when I was up front... do I try to keep my lead, knowing that I was dangerously close to blowing up? Do I slow up a bit to pace myself? Do I alert the media?


Well, ultimately, faster legs prevailed, but I'm psyched to say that I was able to hang on for 4th place. That's the closest I've come to a podium except when no one was looking.

It wasn't a perfect race for me... I bobbled at the bottom of the one "big" climb forcing me to run it one time, and for some unknown reason, I was nearly ejected from my bike on a flat grassy section. I literally have no idea what happened... I hit "something," but miraculously, landed on my stomach and chest on the handlebar, kept the bike upright, and was able to keep going. Booyah!

It took forever to get the results posted, presumably because the officials didn't believe that I had actually come in 4th...

The course was a stark contrast to the beautiful venues in Gloucester and North Hamptom... instead, we were winding in and out of huge piles of old tires. I didn't care... it was technical, and fun. And, did I mention that we also rode on a BMX course? Now, if someone could a skatepark in to the mix, I'd REALLY be happy.

Check out the video to see course for yourself, and of course, look for my near death experience at about minute 37. The camera battery died in the middle of the 5th (6th?) lap, but you'll get the picture. Next up, Sterling...