Yearly Archives: 2015

Cross Nationals Technical Guide – Ouch

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

I just happened upon the USAC Cyclocross Nationals Technical Guide yesterday.  Here is a link to it.  I can say that I am not that thrilled.  I like the fact that the race is being held on the Biltmore Estates.  I’ve had good experiences there over my lifetime.  But, the way the technical guide makes it appear, it might turn into a mess.  Here’s my favorite section –

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I know that everyone involved in the sport understands how equipment heavy the sport of cyclocross is.  The underlined sentence is very worrisome.  Limited parking and shuttling bikes and equipment to the venue is really just about the worst possible scenario for cyclocross.  A high priority at cross races needs to be easy access to the venue by all riders and support. There is nothing like a bunch of adrenaline jacked bike racers getting directed away from the course when they are trying to get to their race.

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The guide can’t say how much the wristbands are, even though it is just 2 weeks from the event when it was revised.  I called the number and couldn’t get ahold of a person to ask.  Whatever the number, it is too much.  This sport isn’t about milking the competitors out of every penny they can.  This is a National Championship and that is all.Entrance fees to competitors or for your family/support to enter is total BS.

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And finally, the prize list.  I don’t remember there ever being a prize list, but I could be wrong. So, is this a good thing?   Not really.  Giving this amount of money out is an insult to the Elite riders.  So, if you get 5th, you get your entry back?  So, there are really only 4 places, because 5th is a push.  I won more than this for winning a Master’s cross race in Oklahoma this year.  I’m thinking I won $1000 for the first MTB Nationals back in 1983.  I’ll leave it at that.

I’m hoping the best for the race.  I’m sure the promoters know their responsibilities and a up to speed with most of the issues.  But when there are these disclaimers in the technical guide, it worries me. I think that the USAC should have maybe checked out the venue more if the limited parking and shuttling warnings turn out to be true.   This could turn the event into a cluster.

Just received the following email tonight  —

Parking and biking at The Biltmore Estate 

With Biltmore Estate being very large, please allow at least 45 minutes to get through the gate, into parking lots and shuttle to the event. Upon arrival, you will pass through the first Lodge Gate, then up to the second admissions gate to show your access wristband.

Vehicles with equipment to drop off near the course, will be directed to the Antler Hill Village (AHV) drop off location. You will then be directed to shuttle lots and receive shuttle service to get back to the race venue. The shuttle lots are not within walking distance. There is limited first come first serve parking at the race venue in AHV lot. Once AHV is full, vehicles will be directed to shuttles lots and transported to the course. Drop off and pick up locations will have the shuttle times, please take note of shuttle end times each day. Shuttles will not be equipped to carry bikes or other large items.

Hotel parking lots are reserved for hotel guests only.

Parking along the shoulder of roads or other non-parking areas are subject to towing and fines.

If you have a trailer/RV or other large vehicle you will be directed to a trailer overflow lot. Please note there is no overnight RV parking permitted. Trucks, trailers, vendors and expo attendees with pre-authorized AHV parking passes, will be director to AHV for designated parking.

If you wish to ride your bike to the race venue, the Biltmore is allowing bicycles on the roads specifically for our event. Road rules will apply to all bicycle traffic. There are three options for you to bike to the race venue. The Farm Trail is a weather dependent biking trail and we will send updates if this trail closes during the event to direct you to the other biking options. There will be bike valet at AHV near the expo. Please be aware there is no biking on any trails marked, private, do not enter, wrong direction, equestrian or hiking trails. Please take caution in heavy pedestrian traffic areas.

Please plan to take your time upon arrival and enjoy the beauty that Biltmore has to offer.

If you have questions please contact the Biltmore at 866-851-4661 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Best Regards,

Trail Riding in the Snow

This entry was posted in Fun Stuff on by .

Yesterday I called Bill and we decided to go over to the Governor’s Mansion and ride MTB on trails.  The problem was getting there.  The roads were pretty sloppy from salt and sun.  Bill had ridden there the day before and he said after he got to the trails, they were pretty good.

I was running late and just decided to take the main roads the 5 miles to the trails.  My butt was getting pretty much soaked from road spray.  Plus, whereever there was ice, I was sketched out some.

Bill had been there 5 minutes and was getting cold.  It was my fault.  You can’t be late meeting up with someone when it is below 30 out.  That is a major rule breaker.  We started riding on the trails and I was following Bill and riding horribly.

The trails are on the side of a hill, with the Kansas River at the base.  So, there is a lot of climbing and descending.  I was all over the place.  Ever since I broke my hip last year, I can’t say that I ever feel that comfortable riding on ice.  And there was a lot of ice under the snow.  Places that had melted the day before and then hardened up were really slick.

Bill led the first lap and I kept dabbing, mainly climbing.  But I got better.  That is one of the coolest things about the sport, you can always get better.  I’m not sure where my ability level is on ice now, but it is a lot better than it was yesterday.  And if you have no experience riding in those conditions, let me tell you, it is amazing how fast you can ride on singletrack with ice and snow.  But, you need to follow someone experienced to realize your potential.

So, we rode two laps and by the end of the 2nd, I was going way faster and felt way more comfortable, which allows you to even go faster.  I didn’t hit any trees, but did fall once.  I flipped over my bars going through a dip and landed face first into a brittle bush.  It was a flesh wound.

The roads cleared a bunch on the way back.  It is amazing what a little sun will do.  We thought we would road ride today, but it snowed just a tad again last night.  Just enough to make the roads messy again.  Plus, it is going to be hovering just below freezing, so it is the perfect storm for slop.  I might skip riding trails.  I might have pushed my luck yesterday, only a week before cross nationals.  Looks like it might be an indoor day.  Boo.

Trudi showed up, but didn't want to ride trails on the ice.

Trudi showed up, but didn’t want to ride trails on the ice.

The cats have all gotten chubby and are laying around all day instead of being outside hunting.

The cats have all gotten chubby and are laying around all day instead of being outside hunting.