'Cross Thoughts

After trying 'cross occaisionally the last few years, I am finally hooked.  My first 'cross race was in 2004, and on a mountain bike.  It was fun, but the mountain bike definitely tempered my enthusiam for this unusual cycling discipline.

Fast forward three years to 2007.  I traded in my mountain bike for a true 'cross bike, a Surly practicially given away by Pat.  I intended to commute on it, which I have, but also raced the Boulevard Cup.  Again, the race was fun, but the Surly just didn't quite do it either.  The bar end shifters drove me nuts, accidentally shifting on bumpy parts and requiring that I let go of the bar to shift.

Well, this year I shed all that superfluous shifting stuff and entered the singlespeed category.  The bike is lighter, the chain doesn't flop around thanks to the Crosscheck's horizontal dropouts, and there's no bailing out with slow gears when you get tired.  Sometimes your legs turn to butter spinning as fast as possible, and going uphill the single gear almost taunts you into going faster - c'mon, weenie, ride HARDER!  Pass the rider in front of you!

So, now I am addicted.  Several years of road riding have left me looking for a new challenge and I think cyclocross, and possibly the occaisional mountain bike race, may be the antidote.  Not that I'm going to give up road events, because TT's are just too much fun.  But I've had my share of crits and need something new to look forward to.

Nationals are coming up next month, and I'm sure I'd be last in line since I haven't registered, but I think I have to experience it.  On the plus side, starting last will provide lots of people to pass!  There's nothing like a carrot in front of you to provide motivation.  See you out on the grass!