I

Escape Velocity Grand Prix, Giant Cyclox Series #2, Vancouver, BC

September 24, 2006

'Cross to the max! Despite the fact that I did a couple of cyclocross races back in the day (like late '90s), I consider this my first true 'cross race because I did it on a REAL 'cross bike. I'm pretty happy with my fourth-place finish in the Women's A Category, considering I touched the bike for the first time about half and hour before the start.


My beautiful new Felt F1X Cyclocross bike!

I still had pretty sore legs on Sunday morning, after trying to sleep off the post-Cheakamus ouch. I have to admit, as I was standing in the parking lot at West Point Grey Acadamy where race #2 of the Giant Cyclocross Series was being held, I was kind of hoping Steve wouldn't show up with my new bike, because then I'd have an excuse not to race. However, the second I saw my matte black beautiful Felt F1X on the roof of his car, I got butterflies in my stomach, a stupid grin on my face and I couldn't stop jumping up and down. And the beauty of 'cross is that it's only 40 minutes of pain, albeit those 40 minutes can end up feeling like 40 hours.

The course was a fun mix of fast, grassy descents and steep, grassy climbs with off-camber switchbacks that were difficult to ride. I hadn't had much practise with the cyclocross dismount, but I muddled my way through. There's something to work on! There were three dismount sections: the first was a pea-gravel section which bogged down anyone trying to ride through, the second was a set of barriers and the third was a stair run-up, which hurt a lot, especially on the final few laps. I had a blast careening down the grassy slopes and a little less of a blast on the climbs, but it was a good time.

On the final lap, I lapped my good friend, Lisa, who is truly a 'cross newbie. She had fun too, despite her result: DFL. The hero of the day award goes to Jeanine, who did her FIRST RACE EVER. She placed fifth in the Women's C category on a sweet little Rocky that Will built for her. Thanks to Will for the tech support and cookies. Congrats to Steve for his fifth-place in the Men's B race -- he was flying!

Women A
1. Kelly Jones (BC, Sugoi-Giant)
2. Lisa Ludwig (BC, Oak Bay Bikes)
3. Sarah Stewart (BC, Wedgewood)
4. Sandra Walter (BC, X.O-Felt)

For more results, go to the Escape Velocity web site.