Cyclocross Season 2006

Marisa Peacock
10.02.06

Ah! Cyclo-cross season! A time when I trade my road cycling-induced farmer’s tan for a bruised and battered carcass in the pursuit for mud, blood and if all goes well, some old fashioned glory.

My season officially began last weekend in Baltimore at Charm City Cross. The only MABRA venue I have not previously raced. I arrived hungry, as my pleas to stop at a Dunkin Donuts on the way up to Baltimore were ignored by Nate, who just thought I enjoyed calling out the names of local attractions from the passenger seat. (“Look! A Wendy’s! A BP gas station!”) Upon arriving, Nate and I, In a matter of minutes had argued about my lack of food, his failure to use my wheel rack for his front wheel, and whether or not I really should be racing in the A category, among others. We lost track at how many arguments we had going and agreed to call a truce.

On the way to registration, we ran into a pack of PVC racers and Jim was gracious enough to offer me two Cliff bars. He must have recognized defeat in Nate’s eyes and a ravenous hunger in mine. Thanks, Jim---you saved our relationship!

While Nate raced, I warmed up. I got an abbreviated pre-ride in, but enough to alert me to the various off-camber sections that awaited me. The field was large and included Georgia Gould. While on the line, she held up the start briefly to fix her bike. When it was clear that it could not be fixed in a few minutes, she yelled to her pit man to get her Surly single speed from the car. We all rolled our eyes. We expected to for her to beat us—we just hadn’t anticipated that it would be done on a single speed.

It was a fast start and I hung on for a bit. I maneuvered around successfully, if only slowly. But that’s okay. For a first race of the season, I was only looking to build confidence by not being laughed off the course or crashing. Both were accomplished.

On the third lap, I miscalculated the angle at which I needed to climb up and around a tree. I crashed into the ground. A bystander on the course said, “It’s okay, I didn’t see that happen.” I replied, “That’s okay, because it didn’t happen.”

On my fourth (and final lap) Diedre Winfield and Georgia Gould closed in on me. I cheered for both and they cheered for me when they passed me. The thought of a National Champion cheering for me carried me to the finish. A last place finish for me (but with two DNFs), but it took 4 laps for only 2 riders to catch me. Not too bad.

Overall Finish: 16th (0 points)