With frost still hanging from the trees I left with my devoted cowbell ringing fans, Katie and Garrett, for a golf course on a mountain overlooking Binghamton, NY. The last race in the Central New york Cyclocross series would be my best finish. OK there were less people racing, so of course I did better. You won't see my name in the masters final standings, that's next years goal. This years goal was to race, have fun and get stronger. Those goals were achieved! I finished five of the seven races.Each race has been different and this one saw us tearing up a public golf course on cold, crisp Sunday morning. Spectators could stand on a hill side and see the entire course as we raced around a mostly grass track. Great pictures are here http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.danvers/DPanellaCrossRaceNov2007
The course included a dirt pile, slippery downhill grass track, sewer pipes that most riders hopped ( I couldn't), a set of barriers in the wettest part of the course, the spiral of confusion, watch out for the pond, and climb the hill, scream at the announcer. Lather rinse repeat 7 times. I only fell once on a left hand turn in the grass track, still can't do those well and oh yeah once during the warmup I fell unclipping before the barriers. That's how my socks got wet!
Like every cross race the race is won or lost in the first five minutes during the hole shot. I actually did well and passed people heading into the dirt pile. The chokepoint of the dirt pile spread out the field. Say goodbye to the greybeards Bobby. Next year I may not catch Glenn Swann or Ernie Bayles ( may have to Cinzano those two) but Mark Shenstone and Billl Erickson I have your number. Emanual, Jack, and Dave rest in peace. Yes I will admit I was bested by skinny grey bearded professor types from that 6 square mile city surrounded by reality. If eating Tofu makes you faster I don't want to be fast!
My kids thought I finished fifth and gave me a big cheer. It was hard to admit them to them that the four guys who finished ahead of me had just lapped me on the final uphill. At least they didn't lap me twice like they did in the Swandrome race. I ended up 19th my best finish to date.
Lessons learned from the cross series.
1. Dry socks are your friends
2. Mall food tastes better after one hour of pain.
3. Yes I really needed a new cross bike!
4. I am not just slow because I didn't adequately warm up.
5. Cross is addicting
Next week is the New York State championships in Delamr NY. No I didn't qualify and I don't even live in NY, but maybe I need one more cross race to get this out of my system.........
And next year I expect some teammates to help me drink a beer when I get some points in this series. Congrats to Glenn Swann and Ernie Bayles for their one two finish in the masters series. Ad Stabel from Holland finished fifth is a true a Flahute.
