The Bloody WhirlyBird Cross

So the second race of my fixed cross season is complete. The WhirlyBird Cross in Philly had some good and some bad. The course changed quite a bit from the video I saw from last year. It went from a fast race course to a technical course. Due to fact I am riding fixed, the technical stuff was good for me. My gear ratio gamble (42x18) paid off in some sections and hurt me in others. I managed to get a good starting position and was rolling in the top 10 when a guy blew past me into a tight downhill corner with roots and rocks and watched him crash. I went by and heard him yell in pain "Somethings Broken" A few seconds later a guy when over his bars in front of me and my hand jammed right into his front chainring. I yelled at him for being a shitty rider and rode on. I looked down at my hand and it didn't look very good at all. I just grabbed the bar as tight as I could to help stop the bleeding. At first the bar was really slippery because I was bleeding so heavily but eventually it slowed down, dried a little and got sticky enough to still hold on to the bars. I ended up finishing 22nd out of 80 and was first singlespeed and first fixed. (Of course) No racing for me next weekend but in two weeks I will be back. Tire pressure was 60psi and gear ratio 42x18.

WhirlyBird Cross Tomorrow!

I am taking a big gamble with gearing for this race. I saw this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZDNZySp940&fmt=18

After seeing that video, it looks like I'm going to need a lot of speed for this course. I dropped one in the back so I am riding 42x18. We will see if I get any speed or diesel and die.

Action Shot!

Season starts with the Nitty Lion Cross @ T-Town

So the first fixed cross race is over and it was a blast. I picked up Nick, a fellow single speed cross racer, and we drove 2 hours to T-Town and raced the Cat 4 race at 9:00am. I was a little nervous because the field of 80 riders were looking strong. I positioned myself in the middle at the start and we were off. The course was on the grounds of the T-Town Velodrome in PA. It was almost all grass with lots and lots of turns. You could ride the whole course without dismounting except for the barriers. This was by far the funnest cross race I have ever done. The announcer said as I crossed the finish line with 2 laps to go " Chad Selberg from NYC Velo is on a singlespeed" I yelled FIXED! He then said over the intercom "Why would you do that? But he's riding really strong with just one brake and his legs never stop moving" I finished 30th out of 80 riders and was riding 42x19. The gear ratio was perfect for this course and to do better next year I need to start closer to the front.