Perfect weather, nearly 300 riders, pretty confident in results, everyone seemed happy, Porcupine for late lunch/early dinner afterwards, now at home and on my ass on the couch.

Thinking about throwing a leg over the top tube of the RSCX tomorrow morning at the Cutthroat Cross in West Valley.

I’m beat. Think I’ll go to bed early tonight.

Back to Wheeler Farm on Saturday … the weather is supposed to be clear and cool, with temps in the low-to-mid 1950s. Should be a perfectly wonderful day for a race.

Categories/Times:

1:30 PM (60 Minutes)

• Men A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters Men A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12:30 PM (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters Men B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:45 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

10:45 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ Open

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

Man, am I tired … and I didn’t even race this weekend!

The double weekend started on Saturday at Rocky Mountain Raceway, and Marek Shon (of Cyclesmith) designed an incredibly difficult course including sections of the motocross course. Steep run up (dubbed The Pride Killer) leading into a hairpin descent under a bridge into a section of whoops (dubbed Biff Hill), before heading out into a long gravel section in the parking lot.

As is typical of the courses at RMR, riders either loved it, or hated it … but I think most loved it; especially since it wasn’t the typical roadie course that RMR has been known for in the past.

Sunday was a long Tour de Wheeler Farm … cold and damp, but not raining, for the first two races; perfect riding conditions, although as is typical of Wheeler races, there were many flat tires. Big props to Mama T for finishing on the same lap as the winner for the first time since she started racing CX last year. She’s getting stronger and faster, and I predict that she’ll be dicing it up with the leaders next season.

The rain started coming down hard after the juniors race, and the passenger window of the Trooper slipped the track, and dropped DEEP inside the door.

The longer laps helped with officiating … I think we only missed one rider yesterday (since corrected), and I don’t think we missed anyone today. I felt good about the results I turned in. The only confusion now may come because some numbers are being recycled after racers are upgrading. Apparently, we had a rider finish in 20th place yesterday … while he was in Denver. Whoops!

Tore down the course; raked out the worst of the ruts on the sweeper downhill leading towards the pits, and headed to Hoppers for late lunch and a beer.

Now home, stiff, sore, and tired … time to head off to bed to get started on this next week.

Our first (and only) double weekend this year … Rocky Mountain Raceway, which will be hosting Saturday’s race, has generally been a fast roadie course due to the amount of pavement, but the past couple of years have seen a big run-up thrown in for good measure.

As of Thursday morning, the forecast is for cooler weather, and overcast conditions, but only a slight chance of rain.

Marek, if you’re reading this, please layout the course to be as long and as difficult as possible, or find me at least 25 assistants to score the first two races.

On Sunday, we return to Wheeler Farm. This seems to be everyone’s favorite course, because there is so much that can be done; pavement, singletrack, stream crossings, run-ups, off-camber 180s, grass … Wheeler Farm seems to have it all; and right now, the forecast is for rain on Sunday with temperatures in the 50s. Prepare accordingly.

Categories/Times:

1:30 PM (60 Minutes)

• Men A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters Men A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12:30 PM (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters Men B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:45 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

10:45 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ Open

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

2008 UTAH CYCLOCROSS SERIES SCHEDULE (revised 9/6/2008)

• 04-Oct — Corner Canyon Equestrian Center, Draper
• 11-Oct — Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City
• 18-Oct — Golden Spike Arena (Weber County Fairgrounds), Ogden
• 25-Oct — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden
• 01-Nov — Rocky Mountain Raceway, West Valley City
• 02-Nov — Wheeler Farm, Murray
• 08-Nov — Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City
• 15-Nov — Wheeler Farm, Murray
• 22-Nov — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden (State Championships)
• 29-Nov — Wheeler Farm, Murray
• 06-Dec — TBD (Final Race, Double Points)
• 03-Jan — Last Call Cyclocross (non-series) and Awards Party. Race at Wheeler Farm. Party venue TBD.

Categories/Times:

1 PM (60 Minutes)

• A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12 Noon (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:30 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

* We found that Junior riders aged 15-18 would rather try and beat up on Mom and Dad!!!

10:30 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ B

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

• C (First Timers, Entry Level Racers, Cat 5, Beginner)
• Master 55+
• Women B ( Beginner, Cat 4, Cat 5)

As you can see, we’re offering a couple new venues, rearranged categories a bit, and added one more (short) race for first-time women and kids. The series just keeps growing every year, and we have all of you to thank for it.

So let’s gear up and make this the best season yet!

So here’s the current schedule for the 2008 Utah Cyclocross Series.

According to JonnyG, however, it is subject to change. But at least now you can start planning … November is going to be a heavy month, with two double weekends. Three double weekends altogether.

26-Sep — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden (Non Series Race)

04-Oct — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden
11-Oct — Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City
18-Oct — Rocky Mountain Raceway, West Valley City
19-Oct — Wheeler Farm, Murray

01-Nov — Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City
02-Nov — Rocky Mountain Raceway, West Valley City
08-Nov — Wheeler Farm, Murray
22-Nov — Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City
23-Nov — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden
29-Nov — Wheeler Farm, Murray

20-Dec — Fort Buenaventura, Ogden

03-Jan — Wheeler Farm, Murray (Non Series Race)

It’s almost time to break out the Belgium knee-warmers …

Update: someone just pointed out that some of these dates are Fridays. I can see 26-Sep being a Friday night twilight, tied in with the Harvest Moon criterium in Ogden the next day, but I’m double-checking to make sure. My guess (and that’s all it is at the moment), is that the two weekends in October with Friday dates just need to be shifted a day later.

Update 2: dates have been corrected. 9/26 is a twilight race in Ogden. All other races should be Saturday, Sunday or Saturday/Sunday.

The Last Call Cyclocross Race (and Utah Cyclocross Series Awards Party) were yesterday …

On a morning that looked like it was going to be another epic snow day in the valley, got up and headed down to Wheeler Farm to work the final Utah cyclocross race of the season. It was a day where almost everyone who showed up to race ended up on the podium … small, small fields, but everyone who did show had a blast slipping around in the mud and slush.

I just wish my pictures turned out, but alas, camera settings were wrong, and everything was underexposed and blurry.

Then on to the Williams Building up in Research Park for the Awards Party last night. 80s theme, and a lot of people turned out decked to the nines.

Me? I don’t do costumes, so I just pegged my jeans (also known as the tight-roll or fold-n-roll), like I did for about 20 years. Yep, I carried that look into the 21st century, and took no end of crap for it, until I finally decided that it was time to admit that I was an adult and started dressing semi-normally again. I’m a cyclist, so I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be accused of ever fully dressing “normal” …

Big props to A-Train; who squeaked out a close win in front of Bart “Slash” Gillespie in the men’s category for best 80s costume … that was some “dance” move there, pal.

More props to Jenn Allen, who ran away with the women’s category after breaking out “The Worm” … but in my book Fastgrrrl’s and the Mistress’s costumes were better. In Marit’s case, I’m sure that winning the Bart Gillespie Team Replica Cannondale X4 cyclocross frame in the raffle makes up for it …

Fox even had a beer … okay, okay, it was a Rare Vos (Flemish for “Sly Fox”), and he didn’t actually drink it, but it’s the closest I’ve seen.

Everyone seemed to have a blast except for one incident that caused a lot of stress for one particular individual. MG … I’m sorry I didn’t step-up a little more quickly … I have a tendency to try to avoid conflict, but I really hope you know that when it comes down to it, I’ve got your back … and I think things worked out in the end.

Thanks to Matt, Jon, Ellie, Gardie and Bruce for helping make this yet another fabulous season.

Thanks to Jennie for securing the facility for party, and dealing with the logistics with the caterer and security. Thanks to Rosie for the decorations.

Major thanks to the Doctor for the clinics at Sugarhouse Park … if any person can take credit for helping to grow the series here in Utah, you definitely deserve it. Enjoy the Ardberg, and if you feel like sharing, I know there are a few of us who’d love a taste.

But most of all, thanks to all the racers for coming out all season … I already can’t wait until next season.