by admin | September 24th, 2009
Patricia Dowd traveled to Seattle for her first Cyclocross races of the 2009 season last weekend. Here is her report…
Star-struck at Starcrossed
Starcrossed is dubbed the biggest cx race in the northwest and it was my season opener race. I went to Seattle with an open mind, not knowing what to expect from my body or from the competition.
The pre-race scene was incredible. Starcrossed was amped by Redline and Marymoor Park was hopping. I had the privilege of witnessing masters in action: Kona mechanics parked across the parking lot from me. I watched as they built bikes for Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks and tuned bikes for the women—from Helen Wyman to Sue Butler. I was a bit star-struck.
Ryan Trebon's fleet
The women’s B race began at 2:15 PM. We got called up for random start placement. As the race organizer called numbers, I hoped my number (136) would be called sooner rather than later. However, when I was called up I was placed in the last row, of 80 women.
The gun went off and my race was off to a slow start. I passed some women before we hit the grass and the first turn onto the course, but I didn’t get the quick start I wanted. My motto for the race: pass as many women as possible, move up, move up, move up.
The course was fast with a run up over four logs and one set of barriers. I learned where the best places were on the course to pass people, where to make up some time, where I needed to focus.
With one lap to go I was somewhere toward the front; top 20 maybe. I kept passing women and ended up finishing 9th in the women’s 3/4 field.
Rad Racing Grand Prix
Sunday was a perfect example of how not to do a bike race. Alarm clock did not go off. I jumped in the Blue Mistress and got to the race 20 minutes before race time. Pinned on my number, kitted up, rode around a bit, got to the start line.
I had a great start position; first row. So I took off and got the hole shot. Not really knowing the course I sat in with two other women. I was in the first group of three on the first hill; one woman crashed in front of me, so 2 of us took off.
As I was riding along on the woman’s wheel in front me, I decided to take a flyer off the front. I pulled through, led us around for 1.5 laps, then took a wrong turn on the course (this is why one should get to a race ahead of time and pre-ride the course!). So there went the gal I was riding with, and a group of four behind us.
By the time I jumped off my bike, turned around and got back on the course five women were in front of me. I lost quite a bit of time and spent the last lap trying to catch this group of five fast women. No luck. 6th place at Rad Racing Grand Prix in the women’s B field.
Both Seattle races were top notch and well worth the drive. I’m looking forward to racing Montana cx and a few other regional races. Cross season has begun!
–Patricia Dowd