CX Marymoor Park

The race at Marymoor Park was under ideal conditions and the number of riders in each category made it even better. Most of the course was relatively smooth, but after entering the Velodrome it felt like you were riding a jackhammer and the two seats I saw laying on the course proved it. After exiting the Velodrome you had to climb a short off camber hill and then make a right turn back down it and turn again on the flat. I pretty much locked my back end up near the bottom until the bike straightened itself out and then I stood up on the pedals to try to get my speed back up for the chicane ahead. Then it was off to the back side of the drome where it was a long slow off camber turn which I wasn’t too fond of and my lack of speed sent up the caution flag to everyone around me. The hill after first set of barriers proved more challenging after my race because it too was off camber and slicker than snot after 180 bike passed over it 5 times each.  The track condition definitely made you give your tire pressure a second check. Mid twenties in the rear and a little higher in the front kept the GreerMeister upright for 40 minutes and my kit mud free. My inspiring moment was on the last lap. No one past me and I blew by the rider in front of me just before the finish for 28^th place out of 60’ish riders. Yea Me! I have a week off before the best race of the season at Woodland Park in Seattle. This one is always a blast.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAuilukAqNs

Spooner Farms

Every year for the past 7'ish years we've been going to Spooner Farms just before Halloween to take part in the festivities. Up first is the pumpkin sling slot challenge. The goal is to hit a target about 75 yards away with a small pumpkin purchased at two for a buck and walk away with a very large pumpkin. Our ten bucks didn't pay off, so we walked away with another memory of spending time together as a family.

Here's our annual family picture. 

Can't visit without having some freshly roasted corn on the cob, 

or a caramel apple.

Susan, trying her luck with the sling shot

and again making new friends. 

Magnuson Park CX

Today's weather conditions were near perfect and the course was very fast. Especially if you were a roadie because it had two long runs where you could put it in the big ring and crank away. I'm not one. I had two camera's prepped for the race. Bekah's small camera for some still shot's and the Go Pro mounted on my handle bars. We had a very good turnout for riders, but unfortunately we were all in the first race so I didn't have anyone to man Bek's camera. I was at the start shooting the S with other riders and at the whistle I forgot one very important detail about the Go Pro. It doesn't work unless you turn it on! So I raced with it sitting there looking good. If I spent more time with it, I could have tried to turn it on during the race, but I couldn't remember which buttons did what? It's all good.

Here's our latest team sponsor. Can you have a better sponsor than a beer company? 

Our rack of bikes. 

A beginner racing a bike with 20" wheels. He was scooting right along too.

This dude won by a nose. 

 

CX Tall Chief Golf Course

We had a bit of a home emergency earlier in the week (see earlier post), so my cx report is a bit late. Last weeks race was in new territory and it was a pretty decent course considering. I think we counted at least 15 broken rear derailleurs throughout the day and multiple other mechanical issues that stopped riders in their tracks but no serious injuries reported. The course was laid out with tall grass cut and pushed to the sides of the track in most areas and cutting the corner to the right didn't always pay off. The grass would get bound up in your cassette/rear derailleur and snap it off at the hanger if you're lucky. For some, it broke on the D side, then fell into the spokes. We all know what happens after that. Ka-Ching! Yep, go to your local bike shop and shell out a few bucks for parts and labor.SCX should try to use this course earlier in the season to avoid the mud and make for a faster course. I know it rains a lot here, so I guess its a crap shoot anyway you look at it. I'm still batting a thousand on my goal however, but just barely this time. I'm hoping Magnuson Park will go a little better. Here's a short video of the race. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsrIhCBWVCg&feature=em-upload_owner

 

Greermeister in champion form. 

Scott Moore's bike looking not so good. 

Brian Volkert, our team president suffering the mud and barriers.