Saturday CACX, and Tips o' the Trade

December 01, 2019

Saturday CACX, and Tips o' the Trade

"Would you put air in my tires," she asked as I prepared to head out on a little gravel loop, "I want to ride up San Dimas Canyon," she finished up. Being in the other room I could roll my eyes without any feed back. Then things took a little turn: "Did you know that when it is muddy and slippery like it was yesterday, that you should let a little air out of your tires." I was kind of taken aback for a second, but was curious about where she picked up that bit of knowledge, so followed up her statement with a question of my own: Where did you hear that? Her three word reply kind of said it all, "Dorothy said it."

Over the years I have become used to her ignoring my words of wisdom, yet retain knowledge that someone else passes along. I have given up on the, Oh for Pete's sake, I just told you that same thing last week! It is what it is.

Anyway... This weekend's CACX (California Cyclocross) Championship races took place at the Baja Beach Club at Irvine Lake, with the NABRA Championships taking place on Saturday, and the SCNCA Championships on Sunday. The only mis-step on the day, seemed to be a mis-start (for which the mrs. apologizes). There is another tip o' the trade, don't blow any whistles before the official starter does. Pressed into service after arriving at the venue in the morning, she soon enough found herself reassigned to the podium. Well, there is always a learning curve.

Anyway... I think we went through all four seasons within a single day. A fine Spring morning with light, high clouds in the sky, gave way to clear, blue sky, warm enough that I had to take my jacket off. Then came the Autumn, and the clouds slowly moving back in, more full this time; windbreakers coming out, and followed by the winter, with dark, ominous-looking sky, threatening more rain. The mud, or at least the patches that had stuck around following the rain of two days earlier, didn't seem to cause much undue problem. Unfortunately (sorry but as challenging as it is when trying to go fast, it does make for some good photo ops.)

Anyway... How 'bout the actual races: The Women's A race has been quite a duel all season between Diana Sjol (SWAT) and Christina Probert-Turner. Christina was absent from Saturday's race which, might have worked out well for Diana who came in to the weekend with a ten-point series lead (and teammate Adrienne Allegretti, series 3rd place). "Getting in the way," though was Maddy Ward, of the San Diego Bicycle Club (SDBC); before this weekend, Maddy had only entered three Prestige Series races, leaving her a way's down in the series standings - all three of those races, though, resulted in wins, with a fourth picked up on Saturday, and in pretty dominant fashion. It is interesting to consider what might have been, if Maddy had entered another two or three.

Like the Women's A category, the Men's A has been a pretty tight battle throughout the season with ten-points separating 1st Place Brody McDonald (Celo Pacific) and 2nd Place Kent Hammond (PAA Cycling), and with Greg Goodwine (SC Velo) sitting in a solid 3rd position. Saturday's racing appeared as though Kent might pull an upset, which might sound strange considering only one rider is ahead of him in the standings. However, of the eight series races "that one person" had entered before this weekend, six of them resulted in wins. Saturday afternoon Kent worked hard to build an early lead; it was for naught, though as it, like any last puddles of standing water, gradually evaporated, with Brody picking up yet another commanding win.

The photo album for the CACX Championship weekend, Saturday contains a selection of 220 photos.

One final weekend for this year's Prestige Series - I heard a hint that the Santa Cross finale would return to Riverside. Where ever it turns out to be, see you there.