What happened to November ?

My November was consumed with all things related to Cyclocross racing. Training, racing, working on my race bike as well as just sorta thinking about it....

If you are not sure what cyclocross is please google it before going any further !!!!

In my last update I filled you in on the Aldergrove race. It was to be the last time the sun shone for a cross race this year. As it turns out this lead to way better racing conditions for myself. I was able to use the bad weather to my advantage and win the next race in what can only be described as epic conditions to win the White Rock BC cup. The short version of this is it was Raining REALY hard and VERY windy. I was nervous at the start not because of the usual pre-race jitters but because everything was so wet and slippery I really did not want someones mistake to take me down. I decided the only safe place to be was alone off the front. Easier said then done but I was able to take the holeshot into the first corner and never really looked back. I just kept pushing and was able to grow my lead over the duration of the race and win solo with a sizable margin. It felt so good to pull it all together for an entire race rather than just saying "well I had one good lap!" It was extra special because Jada was there to see it ! So fun.

The following weekend was the Escape Velocity cx in Burnaby. I raced here last year and had my first win so I was stoked to be back. No rain really but it had been raining for at least two weeks straight to again nice and slick. Unlike the last race were there was lots of room for the start this time it was very very tight. They lined us up four across and in the forth row I think. With little to no room to work with I knew I would be hard pressed to get to the front right away. When the race started I started moving up as fast as I could. I gave myself a lap to get to the leader, and hoped I would be able to get up there at all! I got tangled up in a crash early on and did have some heavy traffic to deal with but made it to the front of the race in only a half lap! I was stoked to have gotten there and decided that I should just keep it rolling. It stuck! I managed to again grow my gap every lap and won with a larger margin than the week prior. What a great feeling to go back to back and prove to my self it was not a fluke!

After my wins I decided to ask about upgrading to a higher category. For those of you unfamiliar with the cycling world, I had been racing without a race licence which meant I could only race in the "C" category. This is for unlicensed racers and those new to the sport of Cyclocross. To race up a category a race licence is needed. I e-mailed Cycling BC and asked if there was a way for me to race up a category for the final race weekend of the year. We were able to figure out the details and make it happen! I was stoked to be able to take a swing at the next category up and see what happens!

What happened ?

Well the rain kept falling all week and I was excited to get back to some racing! This was going to be a 2 race weekend. The first race was in White Rock and was my first race in the "B" category. The racers should be faster and the race was for sure to be longer. The course was different from the the one a couple weeks earlier and was in great shape after having a race run on it before my race start. I figured I would just get to the front and have a real go at it. I made it to the front after about 2 or 3 mins of racing and held it for a little over a lap before I fell apart. I was having a hard time with the flat, windy and bumpy sections of the course. These sections required "power" riding, not my specialty. I much prefer speed, climbing and technical. I did my best and battled through finishing 6th. I truly had no expectations going in besides wanting to feel good and strong for the whole race. That did not happen but I did spend some time at the front of the race and I know not everyone gets to see the front. The highlight of Saturday was being thanked buy my fellow racers for moving up a category ! Usually I stick around and check out the rest of the racing but this time out it was so cold I bolted for home as soon as I could. The bike needed some serious love after the super muddy race. I spent a couple hours at the shop getting the bike back to race ready condition for Sundays Provincial Championships.

The Provincials are run on age category only unlike the other races in the year that are based on ability or experience. So for the second time in the weekend I was racing against a new bunch of guys. Only 40mins from my door to the course in North Vancouver was a nice change from driving to all over the freakin place chasing these races. I liked the course and hoped for a better day than the day before. We lined up grid style and I went as hard as I could from the gun. I didn't make it to the front of the group but was in the lead group for about a lap before they pulled away from me. I settled in to the pain cave and hoped that O would see a couple of the guys in front of me again when they blew up. That didn't happen. I wasn't feeling my usual self and at the mid point of the race while trying to pass a lapped rider I crashed heavily on my right side. The rider behind me passed me and got a gap I wasn't able to close. I spent the remainder of the race chasing my good friend Niels. (<--that's him in action) I didn't catch him. I finished 8th. Sitting there after the finish taking it all in I was initially disappointed, but as time passed and riders kept finishing I couldn't help but notice that a had handily beaten at least a couple guys that got me the day before. So all things considered not a bad way to finish the season. Just enough of a beatdown to let me know I have work to do but signs I can take these guys. The next 10 months will be spent getting faster and meaner to make it happen.

I am hoping I can put a race on in Squamish so I can introduce this awesome sport to all the bike nuts up here.....more on that when I know more.


Check out some Pro Photos from provincials here:

http://www.johnirvinephotography.com/MahonCX2009/

I think John did a good job of capturing the mood of not just the day but of cross in general !


Thanks for reading !!!!

Armand