Bobber's Cross Race Weekend

I participated in three races during the Bobber's Cross series that happened over a beautiful weekend amidst the picturesque backdrop of Lake McBride, near Iowa City.  Ultimately, I took home three envelopes, so the weekend was a success with respect to my results. 

MASTER'S 35+
On Saturday, I decided to enter the first race of the day day, the Master's event, which would give me the opportunity to potentially race twice, should I feel so inclined. 

The first consideration is the course... It still amazes me how much influence the course has on the results, based on how it plays to individual strengths and weaknesses.  Saturday's course was described as a mountain-biker's course.  Essentially, you were always twisting and turning, never really getting a chance to "open it up".  There were a few sections that weaved around trees in such a tight fashion, that it would have probably been faster to simply pick the bike up and run through.  Hidden tree roots added to the challenge. 

Finishing the barricades racing along Lee Venteicher early in the Master's 35+ event.
 I seem to be giggling, as I find it hard to take jumping over hurdles too seriously.

The main obstacle was the dreaded sand pit... This was easily the longest sand trap I have ever tried to navigate by bike.  I watched as people had various degrees of success as they attempted to cross the sand without dismounting.

Good shot of the Dreaded Sand Trap

The single speed riders took off first, then they launched the 15 Master's 35+ racers in my category, followed by the 45+, then 55+ groups.  As we waited, someone mentioned that this course didn't seem to suit me... I was eager to find out if they were right, because it was very technical, without any hills or lengthy straight sections.

I tried to hit it hard from the start, but ended up in about 7th position, which seems to be my Method of Operation.  I have got to say, this course ended up being genuinely "fun".  You never could get bored because you were always contesting an obstacle.  The sand trap and subsequent barriers, were the only areas that I felt winded, it just wasn't one of those redline heart rate type courses.  The rest of the time was devoted to trying to race as smoothly as possible, and avoid making mistakes. 

Early on, I actually got my right leg caught between my rear tire and frame, as I inadvertently kicked someone during a dismount obstacle.  I lost several places, as the group was very tight for the first couple of laps, but gained an intricate scarring pattern on my shin... weird.

Eventually, I found the places on the course where I could advance, and did so accordingly.  In fact, I was in first place with only two laps to go.  There was only one guy still contesting my victory, but I had a nice gap.  He was an Italian who resided in Colorado (hmm, that is a very bike friendly demographic)... One of his buddies shouted something at him in Italian... Not sure what he said, but it must have been inspirational, because he soon found the strength to pass me.  I kept him in my sights but he had established about a 5 second gap.  I knew leading a race with someone right on your back is anxiety provoking and hoped he would crack. 

Yes! Right after the sand trap he lost control and dropped his bike.  I entered the barricades at about the same time, with only about 150 meters left to race.  He was quicker through them, unfortunately, and used that gap to beat me by about 1 second.  Dang...

RESULTS: Place Points Name City, State Time License Bib Team
1 420.10 Lucas Llado Boulder, CO 161592 132 Unattached
2 436.16 Chad Bishop Muscatine, IA 223776 130 American Equity
3 452.22 Andy Breitsprecher Ely, IA 243670 126 DICE
4 468.28 Steve Meek Davenport, IA 53946 128 Team Hammer
5 484.34 Greg Aronson Bettendorf, IA 192337 116 DICE
6 500.40 Lee Venteicher Waukon, IA 74475 3 Bikes To You/World of Bikes
7 516.46 Geoff Perrill Iowa City, IA 223955 ICCC
8 532.52 Karl Thomas Iowa City, IA 316082 119 ICCC
9 548.58 Jason Forbes Iowa City, IA 334140 103 Cross Test Dummies
10 564.64 Thaddeus Paisar North Liberty, IA 90345 129 ICCC
11 580.70 Jon Yetley Coralville, IA 160912 100 Unattached
DNF John Burkle Iowacity, IA 301651 125 Atlas Cycling
DNF Gary McNabb Iowa City, IA 212464 122 Atlas Cycling
DNF Inigo Ibarra Johnston, IA 320274 133 Scheels
DNF Michael Edwards Iowa City, IA 200222 121 Atlas Cycling

I still hadn't decided to enter the Open race yet, and waited for inspiration... There was birthday cake on the table (Happy Birthday Mark), and I thought that was the sign I needed.  I devoured a piece, yet found my desire to take a nap overwhelming.  I drove home, promising myself to return Sunday.

The calm before the storm, as riders anticipate the start of their race.

MASTER'S 35+


Fifteen riders lined up with me to contest the Master's 35+ race on Sunday.  The course had basically been reversed, however the main obstacles had been eliminated (namely the sand trap), so the course was going to have a faster feel to it than Saturday. 

I recognized Ryan Jacobsen (Atlas Cycling) in the field, noting that he has been winning nearly every Master's event he enters.  Having a fast start seems to be crucial to success in cyclocross.  Understanding this, I attempted to pop up to the front, right from the gun, but the first corner was loose with gravel, so I ended up assuming my usual position in about the 7th place.  I was in a position where I could count ahead to see where I needed to be to get an envelope, so I wasn't too panicky.

Ryan started fast and navigated the course with relative ease.  He dropped his bike during a loose gravel section where the course crosses the road, gashing open his ankle, but quickly rebounded.  Unfortunately, Louis DeWild dropped his bike there as well, giving Ryan the start of a gap that he never gave up.

Louis quickly recovered the places he lost, and gradually placed himself in a gap between the race leader and Steve Robinson... It took awhile but I clawed my way up to fourth place (yeah, the start of the envelope pay-outs), and felt content with the situation.  Steve (Zealous Racing) had an insurmountable gap on me, and I had the same gap on Greg Aronson (DICE).  I soft pedalled the last lap, as I had pre-registered for a second race that day, and was content to get 4th place against a very respectable field....

RESULTS: Place Points Name City, State Time License Bib Team

1 380.80 Ryan Jacobsen Iowa City, IA 197021 20 Atlas Cycling
2 395.74 Louis DeWild Des Moines, IA 264102 147 Rasmussens
3 410.68 Steven Robinson Des Moines, IA 213399 10 Zealous Racing
4 425.62 Chad Bishop Muscatine, IA 223776 151 American Equity
5 440.56 Greg Aronson Bettendorf, IA 192337 139 DICE
6 455.50 Anthony Thaller Marquette Heights, IL 298505 341 Little Ades
7 470.44 Steve Reynolds Pella, IA 244044 313 Zealous Racing
8 485.38 Rob Thompson Iowa City, IA 192645 135 Atlas Cycling
9 500.32 Nick Martin Iowa City, IA 213033 142 Atlas Cycling
10 515.26 Russell Buri Iowa City, IA 350374 152 Unattached
11 530.20 Jon Yetley Coralville, IA 160912 100 Unattached
12 545.14 Jason Forbes Iowa City, IA 334140 103 Cross Test Dummies
13 560.08 John Burkle Iowacity, IA 301651 125 Atlas Cycling
14 575.02 Steve Fry Des Moines, IA 225422 145 Unattached
15 589.96 Jack Piper Burlington, IA 130591 146 Atlas Cycling
 
CAT 3/4
 
Steve Robinson started giving me crap right off the bat for sand-bagging by entering the Cat 3/4 race.  His taunts may have been justified, however, as I technically am a Cat 2 on the road, and could have requested an upgrade based on this. However, I only raced one Cross event last year, so really didn't feel like I had earned a Category 2 Cross license. I also reminded myself of all the other Cat 2 roadies I have seen enter the Cat 3/4 races this year.  Additionally, the Open event that day seemed to be loaded with heavy hitting Cyclo Cross all stars from Iowa City, so wasn't feeling all that inspired to try and hang onto some of those wheels... at least not today...  I think more people would enter the Open events if they paid back a little deeper than 5 spots...

View of the some of the twisting sections.

Regardless,  I lined up with a rather large field of 30 experienced cyclo-cross racers all motivated to earn a favorable result.  The race started fast and I was further back in the field than I was comfortable with.  After the first lap, I was still lingering in about the 7th place with not many places on the course where I could advance my position.  There was a lot of single-track type racing throughout the course.  In fact, there were only 2 or 3 sections that I could pass people.  I found a rhythm, and basically passed one person per lap, as I had to bide my time while I waited for the course to present an opportunity to pass. 
 
Eventually I made it up to the second position, and could see the leader within striking distance.  He was wearing a zoom performance kit (Alex Libin), and some of the hecklers questioned the situation "Are you going to let a triathlete beat you?"  I love hecklers because they make the event more engaging.  The things they say get stuck in your head sometimes.  Unfortunately, I couldn't gain any ground on Alex,  he seemed to be racing at exactly the same rate as I was...  Jesse Leonard  (DICE/Iowa State University)was right on my tail, creating a very intense racing experience... I had to keep very focused.
 
Alex did wipe out, however, at that same loose gravel spot that had been giving people problems all day.  It wasn't enough, as I ended up finishing second, about 10 or 15 seconds back...
 
I vow not to enter another Cat 3/4 event, as I now feel confident that I am approximately a Cat 2 level Cyclo-cross rider.  I will upgrade accordingly in 2012, as not to be tempted...

Hmm, I have finished 2nd or 4th in all but one of the 7 races I have entered so far this year.  Though I have got a hole stack of envelopes spilling over with my winnings, this is still a bit disappointing... Why can't I finish 3rd? I really want to finish 3rd at least once before I call it a season. 


RESULTS: Place Points Name City, State Time License Bib Team

1 393.52 Alex Libin (1 - Cat3) Clive, IA 228194 331 Zoom Performance
2 401.08 Chad Bishop (2 - Cat3) Muscatine, IA 223776 346 American Equity
3 408.64 Jesse Leonard (3 - Cat3) Bettendorf, IA 261951 323 Iowa State University
4 416.20 Jory Conor (4 - Cat3) Burlington, IA 308766 347 Unattached
5 423.76 Marius Czarnomski (5 - Cat3) Cedar Rapids, IA 272490 314 ICCC
6 431.32 Keith Snoop (6 - Cat3) Marion, IA 83127 309 HBA Racing
7 438.88 Eric Waldron (7 - Cat3) Iowa City, IA 180909 315 Unattached
8 446.44 Thomas Behne (8 - Cat3) Iowa City, IA 319828 317 Q7 Cycling
9 454.00 Kyle Williams (9 - Cat3) Iowa City, IA 239639 343 ICCC
10 461.56 Seth Long (1 - Cat4) Ames, IA 361324 246 Iowa State University
11 469.12 Matt Kleinmeyer (10 - Cat3) Iowa City, IA 187416 350 Unattached
12 476.68 Zachary Kreifels (2 - Cat4) Ames, IA 295230 353 Unattached
13 484.24 Jared Morford (3 - Cat4) Ames, IA 327682 332 Skunk River Cycles
14 491.80 John Peters (11 - Cat3) Cedar Rapids, IA 125358 340 HBA Racing
15 499.36 Andrew Peterson (12 - Cat3) Iowa City, IA 207441 303 Unattached
16 506.92 Anthony Thaller (4 - Cat4) Marquette Heights, IL 298505 341 Little Ades
17 514.48 Jon Sulzberger (13 - Cat3) Muscatine, IA 72351 349 Harpers Cycling
18 522.04 Jeff Dullard (14 - Cat3) North Liberty, IA 235468 305 ICCC
19 529.60 Brian Kingsbury (5 - Cat4) Davenport, IA 311642 304 Unattached
20 537.16 Mike Frasier (6 - Cat4) Iowa City, IA 189761 345 New Pi/Goosetown
21 544.72 Nick Sobocinski (7 - Cat4) Iowacity, IA 302511 352 New Pi/Goosetown
22 Mike Howard 342 Buschwhackers
23 559.84 Shawn Baker (8 - Cat4) Norwalk, IA 109908 351 Team Emu
24 567.40 Paul Jensen (15 - Cat3) Altoona, IA 67364 328 Zealous Racing
25 574.96 David Parrott Coralville, IA 282124 255 ICCC
26 582.52 Russell Buri Iowa City, IA 350374 354 Unattached
27 590.08 Mark Guthart (9 - Cat4) Iowa City, IA 110666 333 ICCC
DNF Nathan Hicks Des Moines, IA 281712 324 Zealous Racing
DNF Dustin Salter Hiawatha, IA 296487 348 HBA Racing
DNF Damon Salter Hiawatha, IA 293859 344 HBA Racing