What's coming up

Here are a couple shots that Mr. Kisscross took in 2004 when we were at Iron Cross. It's gonna be fun!!!

Drivetrain

Ever have one of those wrenching sessions where it seems you're doing everything twice and the end result isn't 100%? Just had one. Simple enough, set up the CX 9-spd, wide range rear, der. swap. Ended up having to replace both cables from the shifter, cut the chain too short in the event I have a mental lapse and cross chain, shifting just isn't as crisp as I like it. It's just a bit noisy and not quite as quick on the shifts as I like. Okay, so I am spoiled by 10-spd, less to do with that than the short reach/small hand levers on 'em. Dislike making major changes like this the week before a long race but didn't want to mess with a fine running bike before yesterday's race.

Here's to it coming together this week.

Riding Racing Riding Racing

Ah, fall has come. That means it's cyclocross time.
I'm finally out racing again. Very glad to be back at it.

This past month has been a super fun two-day race in the rural burgs outside of Ft. Wayne. A pair of 70 milers. Nice mix of road, gravel and mtb trails. A few water crossings and what seemed like miles of barrier tape strewn through a half dozen county parks. Super fun race.

The other weekend was a local race. We rarely have those so it was a treat to catch the Kisscross race at Adado Park. I did a loop of the local mtb trail, biked into town, did the CX race, more road time and finished up the day with more trail time. Getting ready for the trip to Iron Cross. Danielle and Paula are both going. Get to see some other folks I've not seen for a few years on this trip too.

Yesterday was an eastside USCF CX race, Stony Creek. Insane heat for CX. NOT very CX-like at over 90 degrees.
Danielle came along for the race too. Nice to have company for the trek over to the race and back. Paula stopped by to watch and help drink the Bells Oberon that made this CX race complete. So maybe the heat wasn't so bad after all? Taking third made for a great start.

Borrowed Content & Inspiration

Today's inspiration comes from none other than the author of Frazz

Some people train so they can race; I race so I can train, so the all-important workout doesn't get shoved to the back burner so easily. Nothing inspires like knowing you're going to get your butt kicked in the next race if you don't train. The fact that I get my butt kicked anyway is completely beside the point.

-Jef Mallett, a former bike racer and current triathlete and cartoonist. His strip, "Frazz," appears in 150 newspapers across America.

This inspiration is all the more key right now as training time has gotten run over by work. That which makes the biking possible. At least the work stuff ought to clear out a bit faster than the broken bones of the past two years!

The pic from this CX blogger

Slammed

Been working loads. Trying to get in a bit of riding.
Meanwhile check out what I have been seeing a lot of days on my way to work. Rarely get Sandhill cranes around here. Very cool.

Iron Cross Plus

This remind anyone of a climb in an early edition of Iron Cross?

See more vintage CX history here. Now that's cyclocross! No tame city park riding.