Technically, It's Hard

“We all can’t be winners, but each of you can be a loser.”
- Ricky van de Bobke

After previewing the course the night before, I sat in the back of an open hatch back, enjoying a Leffe Blonde and talking strategy with Nora Pants and DS van de Bobke. “It’s going to be technical,” van de Bobke said.
“And hard,” Nora Pants added.

True to the expert’s predictions, BASP No. 1, McLaren Park, provided a technically hard race sporting the biggest run up in all of NorCal, a snaking steep downhill, and two long climbs up the backside. Despite the challenge the course would provide, VP fielded the largest group of athletes and supporters to date, all of whom ensured a successful day at the cross course, regardless of placing.

But it is a race, so placing is important. The good news is that VP enjoyed high placements in a number of categories. First up, women’s C saw Fox shoot off the line and charge to second up the run up. She looked strong and could contest the overall lead until a handlebar, pole, tape incident held her up. Despite losing over a minute untangling her bike, Fox motored upward and onward to a solid top 10 finish.

Men’s C saw cross rookie Gillis take to the line for the first time, making good on earlier promises. Solid placing, 81st out of a huge field of 107. Dave Sams, VP friend finished 40th and also provided VP with some early pics.
Men’s master Bs saw confusion and chaos, both on and off the course. What we do know is that Shaw rode an extra lap and Jeremiah can glue tubular tyres. What is still pending: who finished where? (not literally, of course we all know that we finished at the line, but what place?). According to eye witness accounts, both Mark and Chris finished in the top 10 and Jeremiah did not get lapped, and Shwe proved extremely photogenic.
Despite the uncertainty of the outcome of the men’s master Bs, the women’s Bs lined up with another cross rookie, Cheryl, taking her place in VP black. Piper and I encouraged the field with leg swinging dance moves to the techo pop, “Let the music move you!” And move them it did, with Cheryl taking an official 9th place (though she may have ridden an extra lap as well?)

Finally, young Stephen took the line, men’s B. Not quite yet a master, Stephen raced to 9th place.

If a panda races in the woods, but no one is around to watch, does the panda make a noise? Fortunately you may never need to know the answer to that because of the huge turn out of vertical fandas. The beer, sweets and sandwiches took second place to the friends out enjoying the autumn morning. Technically McLaren Park is hard, but as a member of Team Beer said to me “That’s cross.”

Per Strava –

http://strava.com/rides/40231