Learning Cross

Participated in my second cross race tonight. Made several small technical mistakes (stairs suck) and one large tactical mistake and wound up 3rd to a couple of wily Masters. Hats off to Stack, I didn't think he would be able to hold my wheel on that last attack. Still, no regrets. I raced hard and with great vitality, animating the race with attack after attack. Victory is not far away.

Race Report

Despite having very good sensations in the legs and riding with a beautiful and dazzling panache, I was foiled in my first foray into the world of cyclocross by the simple fact that I am neither a mountain-biker nor a bum. Translation: I got lost on the hike-n-bike trail.

Sometimes a truly romantic racer has to sacrifice precious moments that might be better spent memorizing the race bible when the tifosi and podium girls are calling his name. I am without regrets.

It Begins...For Real...

So, after possibly going a little overboard on the consumption of vices (very very important in the life of a truly romantic European racer), I'm going to test out the legs tonight in a brief local cross race. In order to give the local Freddies a sporting chance and also maximize my own style, I'll be riding a vintage road bike instead of the usual clumsy, knobby-tired, cantilever-equipped (basically flat-out ugly) cyclocross bike. A true racer doesn't need anything wider than a 23c tyre to cushion any bumps the parcours might throw his way.