Woot! i can finally contribute to this thread..
I signed up for my first ever bike race, a local cyclocross event . I'd gone last time to check it out and take photos, and figured it looked like a bit of fun so i grabbed a 3 race permit and signed up in the open/mtb category
Showers were predicted, but held off, which is probably fortunate since the course was already slippery and muddy in places from rain during the week. I was under no illusions of victory, so i was out there to make up the numbers and have a bit of fun and possibly get covered in mud
lined up about 3 rows back on the start line and was stunned at the speed straight out of the box from some of the guys.. immediate thought was wtf had i got myself into? I settled into a bit of a groove and had tried not to overcook it in the first lap. Nearly got involved in 2 peoples crashes in the first lap which woke me up and had me on my toes
The course had a decent mix of bitumen, gravel, sand and mud.. including a a detour into the Forest of Broken CX Dreams
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
One aspect i very soon realised i need improvement on is bike dismount, carry and remount with me easily losing 20-30 metres on the guy in front on that one section of course. I spent most of the race catching the guy in front, only to lose all that time over these obstacles.. frustrating! trying to lug a 14kg MTB uphill and lifting it over a barrier isn't the easiest thing to do at speed!
I decided that i only had 3 realistic goals:
1) Beat the unicycle guy
2) not crash
3) don't get lapped
fortunately i achieved the first 2, and almost managed the 3rd.. so, pleased overall. Final position was 17th
Final lap i sprinted over the line to make up a place on the guy that was ahead of me all race, so i hopefully redeemed myself on all the time i lost over the obstacles
Race results
race data
Photo of me on course courtesy of Miss V
IMGP3099_0800.jpg
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