Sunday was the second race in the "Cross on the Rock" series. This time it was at Juan de Fuca recreation grounds in Colwood (West Victoria).
The track was great: gravel path, hurdles, hill, BMX track, grass, BMX track, more BMX track, a boggy corner, into the woods (the non-beginners had a sleeper hill to run up, and ride down), down a loamy hill, along some bark path, across some grass, dismount over a big cub-stone-like thing to the finish line. It had rained over night, and a bit on the way, so the ground was wet. It wasn't too bad for Amy and I, as beginners ride first, but it started everything started to get very sticky and slidey for us, so it must have been fun for the pros ho raced last!
Amy came crashed on a practise lap. Apparently (I didn't see it), she grabbed the front brake too hard and endo-ed. She thinks she may have broken a rib, but she rode the race anyway.
I had some pedal/cleat issues. Everytime I'd put my foot down in the mud, the sole of my shoe (including cleat) would get covered in sticky mud, thatwouldn't budge to let me clip in, no matter how much I'd kick the pedals. Don't buy cheap SPDs. Apparently (thanks for the info, Brian) they don't have the holes in the pedals for the mud to get through. So, I need new pedals. What kind? Should I just get better Shimanos, or try Crank Brothers, Time, Look, PowerPlay, Ritchey? Too many choices.
One guy in the beginner class snapped a carbon seat post, and carried on riding. Apparently it wasn't even his bike, as he broke his derailleur on a practise lap. Another guy sheared his stearer tube off at the head tube. FigBug's got pictures on his blog: BustedCarbon
Pictures on Flikr.
(and thanks for the ride again Brian - I owe you some gas money)
1 comment:
I use crank bros, which are apparently good with mud, but I was having a lot of problem clipping in as well. I usually don't have problems with them -- it might be that I bought new shoes the day before the race, or maybe it was the weird mud.
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