Today was the first race of a brand new CX series here in the Seattle area, an offshoot of the old Seattle CX series. Located at the beach of Silver Lake, this course was very similar to the MFG course from last year. Temperatures were again high (mid-80s) to continue our string of summer-cross races. I was feeling great after the rough race last weekend and was ready to stretch my legs in the new series.
As I mentioned, the course was similar to last year's MFG event. Starting on the asphalt near the beach, we went south before a a sweeping asphalt corner left into an immediate 180 on grass. The next few sweeping corners and 180s worked through some bouncy grass before we climbed up the hillside. A left around the barn at the top of the hill sent you into a singletrack wooded section. Next a tight s-curve took us into a straightaway past the pits before a series of off-camber downhill corners.
At the base of the hill we shot into the beach for the first section of sand. Along this route of sand there were 3 drainage channels that interrupted the flow. After the sand we worked our way up the hill on the north edge of the park. A log along the course forced a dismount before an asphalt climb to the top. Once the summit was reached, the course transitioned into a flowing singletrack section that wound its way back down to the beach for a longer stretch back to the southern end of the park. The entry to this section was very loose and required keeping a flow and working through the sand. After the loose start the sand firmed up and it was easier to power through. From here the course worked back up the southern hill and into a barrier/run-up before another series of winding off-camber switchbacks rolled the race back to the asphalt start-finish.
I started the race with a second-row position and managed to stay toward the front into the first corner. As we worked through the first section of the course I moved up a few spots, which was helpful heading into the single-track section. I continued to power through the first lap and moved into 8th place for the start of lap 2. I continued to chase toward the leaders as we tore up the course. A rider up ahead bumbled in the north-end of the course and I squeezed past him to move into 7th place. I held this position for the entire 3rd lap and was building a decent gap on the riders behind me, chasing the rabbit of the rider who was just up the road.
Lap 4 was the start of trouble. Heading toward the north section through the sand I accidentally caught the sharp edge of one of the drainage lines. The sharp impact burped out some of the air from my front tire, but luckily it sealed up again and I was able to continue racing along. I was careful to be a bit more cautious as I worked through the singletrack and back to the beach. I worked past the loose initial section but ended up on the wrong side of the course tape (due to another rider crashing in the sand earlier). As I made my way back to the correct section, the rider who was behind me came racing past. I was immediately energized to chase him down. As we worked through the southern hill section I was gaining back the lost ground. I was breathing down the racer's back as we made the last few corners toward the start-finish. As we made the last corner I caught a root and it was enough to end the hold of my tire to the rim - burp!
Since I didn't have a pit-bike or spare wheels at the race, my race was over. I was definitely disappointed, especially because I was in 8th place and was getting so close to being in 7th again. The next racer was seconds behind, so I was almost guaranteed to top-10 - even better since Silverlake is a race I usually don't do well. So, a mixed blessing of doing well and the disappointment of the mechanical DNF. Next weekend will be the second race of the MFG series and will be at Steilacoom (a race that I do well at), so I will be amped to perform there. Check back for the result
