2018 SCPS Finals / Santa Cross Weekend

The difference is being able to ride aggressively, attacking the course, or at least at those places along the circuit where your competition rides with caution. There is no revelation in those words, you don't even need to have spent time racing to realize the truth to them. Speed, strength, sure, you need some of each, but agility, the ability to attack those loose tight turns, off-camber descents, as well as the man-made obstacles tends to be what separates those in front from those behind.

I had to look back through the pages of the log to confirm that I had not spun the wheels of the old Hakkalugi in any kind of dirt, or mulch, leaf-litter, sand since mid-October. Arriving at old March Field on Saturday morning for the final weekend of the SoCal Cross Prestige Series cyclocross, keeping the camera stowed away and instead saddling up, for a change, it didn't take long to realize that two months was far too big a gap of time. Those turns in particular! The ground might as well have been covered in ice - temerity is not a word I would use to characterize the way I rode around them.

Anyway... with one decision made, and lame excuses given to the Ordinary's, it was time to break out the camera.

Snow may have covered the mountains up by Big Bear, but it could have been a trick of the eye for all the sun, warm temperatures, and autumn colors down below. Excepting subtle differences the trick might have extended to the racing action as well. But then at this point of the season racers were intent upon holding their positions in the series standings or, with points and a half on the line Sunday, perhaps making final hour attempts at jumping a spot or two. Subtle differences, yeah... hmmm, I don't recall hearing a single heckle on Saturday, and the only hand-ups I noticed took place on the steps of the podium.

On the other hand there was little, if any let up in the racing, the competition was just as real, just as intense... of course I wouldn't expect anything less:






John Holderness (Ordinary Cyclists Racing) leading this trio in the Master Mens B 45+ race

whoops


'round the trees


down the drops


looking where he wants to go Pete Figueredo (Ordinary Cyclists Racing) shows how to do it


Jonathan Livesay (Team MBS) went into the finale with a sizable lead in the Men A 65+/70+ category




fun and informative to be able to listen to riders as they circle the course during warm-up. Greg was pointing out this and that, making suggestions about the best line down that big dirt pile...

when it came time to race Diana Sjol (SWAT) took it just as they discussed - outside to inside

exhausted when finished, giving it your all




Garnet Vertican (ODI Grips / Giant) racing full out




looking back on her years in the game, Dot got all choked up at this point - hope she knows how much her work and time-consuming efforts are appreciated!








Christina Probert (Turner / The Team) racing to solidify her lead in the Women's A


colors of autumn








"f--- this." Maybe for the moment, but she'll be back


Men's A race on the course





Was hoping to make it back for more on Sunday, and think I even made some sort of semi-hopeful pseudo promise about racing, but that other life, the one outside of racing, got in the way and it wasn't to be. Luckily, once we get through the holidays and into January, it sounds as if there will be at least one Cross Fever race. Thats a good thing because December to September is an awfully long time to go between cyclocross races.

Comments