In The Crosshairs

Dogs love 'cross.

Rockburn Cross, day two of the Howard County Double Cross, took place November 21. Yes, that was a month ago and we are playing a little bit of catchup here at CXHairs HQ, but this way the video has a tinge of nostalgia to it.

If you have watched the preview commentaries we have been posting throughout the season, there are several themes that come up in almost every episode. One of the most important is to know what you are going to do, before you do it. This is especially true for mud and sand sections. If you are going to run, commit to it early. Don’t decide at the last second.

As you will see, early in lap one, this rule is not followed. And the result is some really nice close-up footage of the grass before the entrance to the sand pit. Lesson learned. Maybe.

Soundtrack is by Nine Inch Nails. When Trent Reznor released the Ghosts albums a couple years back he allowed people to use the tracks in personal film projects. The soundscapes give some nice atmosphere to film projects and as long as you’re not selling the finished product, anybody can use them. Pretty cool on the part of Reznor.

Video from the MABRAcross champs race is still waiting to be posted and the CXHairs action team is out this weekend filming races in Pennsylvania. So it looks like the mothballs are going to have to wait a couple more weeks before we put the lid on the CX season.

Thanks for watching.

The Cheat At Schooley Mill

Schooley Mill Cross, day one of the Howard County Double Cross, took place November 20. The course set up dry and fast with a couple more twists and turns than last year. The mud wasn’t there this year, which made this race a bit faster, but the added technical features seemed to keep everything in check.

For our soundtrack today we sliced and diced some beats in the CXHairs lab. Boy, it’s amazing what you can do with today’s technology. My apologies in advance to Bad Brains, Noir, Queen Latifah and Warren Zevon.

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Tille churns Rockburn sand

Rockburn Cross, day 2 of the Howard County Double Cross and race #9 in the BikeReg.com MABRAcross series, takes place Sunday, November 21. Twists, turns, ups and downs make Rockburn a favorite for many cyclocrossers in the Mid-Atlantic. Although there may be a different turn here and there, the word I get from the race organizers is that the course will not undergo any major changes for 2010.

Back with us again for course commentary are the dynamic duo of Dan Tille (fulcrumcoaching.com) and Chris Mayhew (JBVcoaching.com). If you like the work these guys have done on the previews, let them know this weekend. Maybe even buy them a slice of pie. Mmmm pie. Chris will be a sporting a blue JBV Coaching kit and rocking the mic on Saturday at Schooley Mill. Dan will be decked out in the black and orange of Fulcrum Coaching and piloting the XXXL Guru cyclocross machine.

Thanks for watching.

Rockburn Cross

Julie Cool at Schooley Mill

Schooley Mill, the first race in the Howard County Double Cross weekend,  takes place Saturday November 20 in Highland, Md. In its second year, the Schooley Mill “Steeple Chase” is an opportunity for the diesels to get their groove on.

Last year’s course had nice long power sections but also a good deal of ridable mud bog that favored racers that can churn out the watts. With a good drenching in the Mid-Atlantic region this week, the mud should return for an encore performance.

According to the HoCo2xCx blog, the course is undergoing a couple changes, but I have it on good authority it will still be wide open. The barriers are now located near the pits and the climbing sections have been broken up a bit. There is also the “disembowled death spiral” that  I reckon we are all going to have to just experience for ourselves on race day. From what I understand, it’s a lot of swoopy turns at speed.

For this course preview we are pleased to have back in the studio Dan Tille from Fulcrum Coaching and Chris Mayhew from JBV Coaching. They not only give you the low down on getting through the course fast and efficiently, but they also throw in their normal dose of riding tips that are applicable to this race and any other race you may enter. These guys know their stuff. If you are looking for a coach to get to that next level, click on their names above and give Chris or Dan a shout.

Thanks for watching. We will be back tomorrow with the Rockburn Cross preview.

2010 Schooley Mill Course (disembowled death spiral not shown)

The CXHairs Team Bike At Schooley Mill

The Howard County Double Cross weekend took place November 21 and 22. Schooley Mill Cross, a new race, featured long power sections and some muddy climbs. Rockburn Cross featured the same exciting single-track sections, punchy climbs and technical turns as it has the past three years.

For these interviews, I tracked down podium finishers that have yet to grace the cyber-pages of In The Crosshairs for their racing prowess. This way we get a couple more voices in the mix, with different takes on some of the same old questions. I also included sixth place finishers at Rockburn because those folks won pie. And if you win pie, you deserve to be recognized.

I think the highlight of these interviews is the great discussion on race starts and the hole shot. Pay attention to what these folks are saying and see if their successful strategy matches up with what you are doing.

Thanks for reading.

What is your pre-race routine?

Rusty Williford (Fulcrum Coaching/WWVC Racing, Rockburn Cat 3/4, 4th place): Same thing every week: Get to the course by 8:30, recon the course until 9, kit-up and hit the trainer by 10, off-the trainer by 10:35 and head to the course for either 1 hot lap or a few starts.

Andreas Gutzeit (HPC List, Schooley Mill Masters 3/4, 4th place): I do about two laps of the course, mainly looking for good lines. Then I do 30 minute warm-up. Jeff Anderson describes cross racing as a reverse crit. Very helpful for a novice roadie. So now I have taken to practice the start on the course a couple of times and it really served me well at Schooley Mill. I was fourth into the dirt and ended up fourth 40 minutes later.

Brach hits the climbs at Rockburn (Nystrom not pictured)

Chris Nystrom (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes, Elite Masters, Schooley Mill 8th, Rockburn 6th): Arrive early enough to preview the course before the start of the race two slots before my race. Really getting to know and understand the track is key. Pin up the number and get dressed during the race (two prior) and ride the course with a bit more speed before the next race. Ride the trainer and b.s. with teammates during the race just before mine. Red Bull 45 minutes before my start. Get to the line, relax and visualize the start. Remember to have fun.

John Cutler (CycleLife DC, 1st place Schooley Mill Men’s 3/4, 19th place Rockburn Elite Masters): Coffee and a Starbucks egg sandwich (kind of disgusting, yes, but fast). Drive. Listen to NPR or that weird show about parenting. A moment of sheer terror trying to find a gas station with a restroom. Arrive in the middle of one of the races. 20 minutes to get number and get ready to pre-ride. Ride a couple laps. Pretend that I’m actually remembering the corners and lines. Hop on the trainer for 40 minutes. I used to never bring a trainer, but I’ve come around. You can listen to music and zone out. Then Race.

When a race throws a kink in my plans—like a really long walk to registration, one port-potty, a line at registration, a line for the hose, etc.—it really throws me for a loop. I said this last year, but I’ll say it again. NEXT YEAR I’m going all out with the tent, the easy chairs, that little mat for taking of your shoes, the cooler, etc. For two days of racing your post race routine is really important as well. Instead of jumping back into the car while slamming recovery shakes, it can pay to relax, socialize, put your feet up, and commune with fellow racers.

Jeff Trinh (Georgetown University, 1st place at Schooley Mill Men’s Cat 4, 6th place at Rockburn Men’s Cat 4): Coffee and oatmeal for breakfast. When I get to the race site I get dressed and pre-ride the course, making sure to drink plenty of water in between laps. One of the advantages of doing the 9am race is that you have plenty of time to pre-ride, so I like take my time and make mental notes about which lines I’ll pick.

Elizabeth Harlow (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes, Women’s 1,2,3 Schooley Mill 4th and Rockburn 6th): Ride the course a couple of times before the Master Men’s Elite race. Paying attention to anything that may give me trouble. Ride around easy while the men race and then ride the course again close to race pace after the men finish.

Jon Hicks (Winchester Wheelemen, Rockburn Cat 4 5th place): The first lap to get a feel for the flow and the second much slower, looking for objects to avoid. A gel and FRS 30 minutes before the start.

Andrew Welch (Squadra Coppi, Mens 3/4, 3rd at Schooley Mill, 1st at Rockburn): I don’t like to have a lot of down time before my race, so I usually show up just in time to get a couple laps in before the previous race goes out … nothing too fast, just some course recon and easy warm-up. Then I get my number, change kit, and finish warming up … on the road. I have a trainer in my car, but it hasn’t come out all season.  Continue reading »

Ryan Douglas (R1V/Arrow Bicycle) working the off-camber. Photo: Joel Steen

Day two of the Howard County Double Cross took place November 22 in Elkridge, Maryland. In its third year, Rockburn Cross is a Mid-Atlantic favorite that features greasy corners, fast single-track and quick hard climbs.

With the sunny open sections and wooded single-track, this course works well on video. It may be paradoxical to say that you can move forwards and backwards at the same time, but this clip shows the possibilities as the camera quickly works its way from the front to the back of the pack.

Music is again by our friend, Caleb Stine. It may be a little slower and a little quieter than other tunes featured on CXhairs.com, but music doesn’t have to be hard and fast to be punk. I guess that’s the second paradox of the day. Check out Caleb at www.calebstine.com.

Thanks for watching.

Day one of the Howard County Double Cross (HoCo2xCx) weekend was Schooley Mill ‘Cross that took place November 21 in Highland, Maryland. Racers were faced with long power stretches for half of the course and a hilly, grassy bog for the other half. As you will see in the video, the field gets strung out but stays more or less together for the first lap. A rarity in the MABRA series.

I am psyched to have a second soundtrack appearance by Exotic Fever Records. They first appeared on the Granogue Video and added some great atmosphere to the day. I beleive the same effect is accomplished here. Tracks are by Pash and The Sinister Quarter. Check out those artists and the others in the Exotic Fever stable at www.exoticfever.com.

Thanks for watching.