Last ‘Cross Report of the Season



USGP of Cyclocross, Portland, OR – Dec 4, 2010
Submitted by Dave Bergart

Well with the snowpocalipse upon us I did what every jacksonite does, I went skiing biking. (head scratching noise). For months I’ve been dreaming of checking out the hupla of a US Grand Prix Cross Race. I convinced Amanda Riley Carey to let me tag along as co-pilot and we pointed it west to the axis mundi of cyclocross racing. Portland.

The weather was fairly balmy (40-50′s) and there was green grass. Not as much mud as I was expecting, but enough that bike washes were mandatory if you wanted to use your bike ever again. Actually at the races they even have a bike washing service. $3 a wash. You can even buy a seasons bike wash pass. Kick down some cash and feel like a pro.

I was blown away with the race. The course was perhaps the best I’ve ridden. Deep mud, hard run-ups, good flow. Amazing organization. A loud marching band of drums. Plus tons of vendors hawking their wares, pro-team trailers with mechanics obsessing over lots of bikes, and my favorite, free oatmeal from Bobs with an assortment of toppings ranging from fresh fruit to bacon. Mmmm bacon.

Tim and Chellie were there as well as Murph and Deb. So cool to see those guys. Saturday’s race went okay. I felt a touch flat and clumsy. I mean who gets stuck in course tape? At one point I moved into 4th, but after a few bobbles and crashes I crossed the line in 8th. Sunday, I decided was going to be my day. They added a run up which I like and I knew the precise moment the oatmeal would be ready in the morning. I was dialed.
20 mins. before my race, Murph and I headed out to do a last interval. A hundred meters out and I hear a shotgun blast. My tubeless rear tire explodes. I look back and can’t figure out what happened. I look back and 3 guys are yelling at each other. Turns out one of them let their son use a remote controlled car and from 100 meters out, like a heat seeking missile, he rear ended me ripping a gash in my tire sidewall. As the men were yelling at each other “what the @$#% were you doing letting your son do that” “don’t tell me what I can and can’t do” I looked at my watch. T-minus 10 min to my call up. In order to save space in the truck I didn’t bring an extra wheel set. Now I was kicking myself.

A few pro-team mechanics saw the fiasco and offered their assistance. The guy from canondale brought me into the truck and put a tire on (tubless) I didn’t even have time to ride it before the start. Long story short I burped all my air by lap 2 and had to stop and get a neutral wheel at the pit. I still managed to salvage a 12th on the day, but not the result I felt I was capable of, but still psyched I was able to take part. And, I guess in the end that was what the whole trip was about. An experience to see what big time cross is about. To participate in something larger then just a bike race, but rather a gathering of fellow cross enthusiasts, hang out with good friends who also love riding their bikes, and say goodbye to fall cross season. As TK says, “What other sport can you race in the morning and then a few hours later watch the best in the country ride the same line you did (only faster)”. I can only equate it to playing an IM game of softball with your buddys at Fenway park before going into the stands to watch the Sox crush the Yankees. I must say that I totally nailed the mud decent that I saw national champ Tim Johnson bobble…Ha, take that pro-racer. I owned him on .01% of the course. Next year I’m gunning for .02%.

With my chin up I went back to the Cannondale trailer to thank them for helping and return their tire. He saw what happened to me from the toy car, to the flat, to my battle back and let me keep the new tire, which I was thankful about. As I was about to leave he also handed me two wheel bags and said I should train on these next season. I was in shock and said that’s really nice of you, but you don’t’ have to do that. An on-looker said,”if I were you I’d run before he changes his mind.” Back at the car inside I found a pair of ksyriums SL’s.

-Bergy