Sucker BROKE

One family, two mechanicals and yes, two withdrawals (ie DNFs). Sucks.

But we did it all together. Lucy too.

What a race. Bone dry, dusty. Worse than Bedford. I should pull the photos out before writing but I'm not going to...

Team Cyclocrossracing.com had the lock on THE parking location at SBX. And I'm not saying what it is because it is our spot. Much like PVD's race. All of us together.

But first up was the Junior 10-14 race. My oldest is old enough to race it now and so we headed up early enough for her to race. Got her number, pinned on and warmed up (she pedaled on the trainer for a while). We even headed out to pre-ride a bit, I ran in front of her leading through the first section until the straight. Got her lined up and off she went and I high tailed it to the car, grabbed the bike, put the shoes on, helmet and took off to find her on the course. At first I was going to ride along side but heading to the woods, well... I asked the official if I could follow her as we passed the pit and he said it was okay. She was doing great through the double track, then there was the left turn. And she stacked it up pretty good (front wheel plowed and went perpendicular tossing her). We got up, straightened it out and she walked it off for a bit, then there was the right turn to the log and we kept walking, then she started running a bit. And some more running and then she hit her knee on the big sharp platform pedals and lost it. She was thirsty, dust was awful, she had crashed bloodied her knee and we had a moment that was tough... but we worked on just relaxing the breathing and she was ready to start riding again. Then Emily C. came FLYING through with Cathy R hot on her heels and a long string of the leaders, so we walked slowly for a bit then we had a chance to ride. And she hopped on and started riding again, and then the right turn chicane and K said "I CAN'T STOP"? "Put the brakes on" "THEY DON'T WORK" sure enough... the pins holding the pads in (re-used her mechanic is an idiot) had bounced out on the right side and in the crash with the bars wrapped around nearly completely backwards and then extracting the bike from the crash must have rolled the wheels back and slip. No brake pads. Drive side, both front and rear, missing pads. Brakes didn't work. Period.

So we finished the walk. And were met with the official asking what we were doing. Parke R had come with a bottle of water for her and was waiting w/o a bike for her to come through. The official was acceptable stern but softened when it was explained I had asked for permission first to follow her. And then we withdrew.

Mechanical #1.

We wound up passing Kerry L as we walked back to the car. K fits on Kerry's fancy new bike. But no, I'm not ordering her a custom Primus Mootry. Not yet. Maybe if she's ready to go to nationals or something.

Time to get me ready to go. Got my extra cassette from G-ride but no backing spacer, fine for a trainer, not for spare wheels. So no big deal for today. Mark W was working the pits with spare wheels. Thanks Mark for being there (Thanks Jack and Justin for hiring him). Got warmed up a bit. Steven Lehman was warming up behind and with the whole squad in Planet Bike were were buzzing those trainers away. Skinny White Dude was working on making his Planet Bike Podium hat emulate the race winner's style (that being Kurt P). I had Metallica Death Magnetic blasting on the iPod. And well, it was going to be a great first race on the new Blue.

Yeah. Racing the new Blue.

Saturday I was up at 5:30am building it. I got the bearings in the bottom bracket installed (James Scott, you left w/o your bearings) Friday night and started with the build. But it got late, I was exhausted and packed it in and hit the hay somewhat early. I stopped working on the bike when it was dark, and started working on it again... in the dark. Fall is here, Eh?!

Got it together. No issues other than I guess you can't stuff a non-new cable through these new Shimano 10sp under the bar cable shifters, even if the ends are pristine. Ugh.

Well I got it ride-able, then out for a test ride. First run, okay. Couple bugs (bar angle, hoods too low, front der, crank settled a bit). Came back sorted it out. Got ready for a second ride (bars not taped yet), and headed to the sand circuit, into the park, then BANG SSSSSSSSSs shit. I nailed a sharp rock that I couldn't see in the leaves pinch flatted front. Shit. At least I wasn't so far from home. So i tried out a few shouldering styles on the way home. Got home and found the rear was completely flat too. DOUBLE? FCKING PINCH FLAT? Yup. Damn it. Where are my SV17s. Only could find my SV16s. Then, at last i found two of them.

Hey it is getting close to time to meet up with the guys for CX practice this morning, bars aren't taped? Shit. Time to make it work. Got it done and was ready to roll when everyone rolled up. Nice.

So with tires at about 75psi we hit the sand track. Sand and clinchers at 75 sucks if you didn't already know. But no real problems with the bike. It drove predictably which was a relieve and a good feeling.

Then we did a few starts. About the second or third one I heard a buzzing of the tire on the frame. WTF? Shit. QR was loose, clear coat is wicked thin and not there anymore. Fixed that. And hey I thought maybe I had gotten rid of the bad luck, i'd blemmed the frame already ready to go race. Sprints, remounts, single track, sand. It survived and felt pretty fast.

Ready to race.

K was going to do the 10-14 race so we needed to leave at 6:30, means for me to get the minivan loaded, breakfast sandwiches made, and all things ready meant waking up at 5:30, but no. I didn't sleep that long. 5am I was up. Hey it is still super dark at 5am. Not any lighter than 5:30am.

Things were going well.

Then it was time to race.

Headed to the start and it was already 3 rows deep, what? I guess everyone didn't get the memo that we were starting 20 minutes late.

And we raced. It was dusty. Wicked Dusty. Hard core brown out down the double track. The bike felt good. Riding well. staying at the end of the conga line.

and now

i have to continue later

cliff notes?
The rear der got ripped off. Busted hanger (i have spare chains, i have extra rear ders, i don't have extra rear hangers - and that online hanger place charges as much either one). I didn't finish.

There is video of hanger busting off with 3 to go.

Race over.

No hanger.

Planned to ride the Blue all week to really get comfortable and familiar with it before Gloucester.

Now, I'm waiting on getting something else shipped to me.

Two weeks ago I was waiting on the cranks... they showed up Friday night.

Then I was waiting for the new bearings... they showed up the next Friday night.

Now? PLEASE have a hanger show up before Friday night. Please?!?!

Oh and yeah, I don't have a working bike right now. Seat and seatpost were taken out of the Klein. Giant doesn't have any brakes on it and the brakes i ordered for it have long post bolts and the Giant is allergic to them, so that bike doesn't have any way to stop. Awesome.

Oh and the Blue doesn't have a hanger - and neither do any local shops IN NEW ENGLAND.

And well time to take the seat post back off the blue and commute on the Klein. Oh well.

At least it feels like I raced today. I'll actually try and write about the race, we'll see... maybe once I get the photos uploaded.

What a way to start the season... here's to hoping the fly reel sells on Ebay for enough to cover the cost of the parts on the bike... because that's hanging over my head way more than it should. And then yeah. It hasn't exactly been the best week.

Maybe this week will be better? I hope so.

-G