Oakley Nightcap and Joules Cross

Fun filled (and driving filled) weekend of 'cross as I took in the Oakley Night Cap in Des Moines, IA Saturday evening and then hit day two of Joules Cross in Lawrence, KS.  Ended up around 12.5 of windshield time, but that's why invented NPR and PRI, right?

 

First and foremost Deb is awesome!  From Sept thru Dec she pretty much lets me set my own race schedule and typically gives me a smooch goodbye either Friday afternoon (or Saturday morning) and has some kind of baked goods waiting late Sunday afternoons when I pull back into home.  The boys have pretty much grown up with this as a way of life so it's just kind of what happens in the Fall.  That being said it provides an opportunity to take in several different races in various locations within a 7 to 8 state region and that's a great thing as it would drive me nuts to week after week line up against the same guys and do the same 'dance' typically knowing who is finishing where and so on and so on.  I know most don't have this flexibility but have no idea how that could be fun.  So...

 

Take in Darion's soccer game early Saturday morning then off to KC to snag my weekend companion (will remain nameless) en route to Des Moines for the Oakley Night Cap race.  The event has always been on my radar and it just worked out that I could make it.  Pull in to pick up un-named person and he tells me he is bailing and that I am on my own.  HUH???  Ok, so since he was the one hooking us up with a place to stay in DM I know need to re-think racing the Open (after the masters) which starts at 10pm... Hmmm.  Drive passes easy and arrived to find a pretty cool venue and a turny (really turny) course. 

 

Snag my number, change up, warm up and before you know it we are on the start line.  Pretty solid turnout in the masters fields as the grouped the 35+ in the front, 45+ (my group) second with a slight gap, and 55+ behind us.  I get a kick out of not knowing a single person on the start line as it makes it much more interesting then 'ok, follow so and so'.  Did snag front row in my group and looking over the  35+  who probably had 30+ racers of varying ability it's then the official tells us we are all going off together without any gaps.  Lots of traffic from the gun...

 

Solid start as a hole opened up on the right and myself and two others quickly move though most of the 35+.  Before you know it an Atlas rider in my class jumps away and I am not able to cover it.  Spent the rest of the race battling with a Trek Midwest guy from Omaha as we moved through the fields.  Came down to a sprint at the line and I came up short to get 3rd (and actually 4th in all masters classes).   Fun racing to say the least.

 

Photo snagged from the one and only Eric Burch (pictured above)

Barrier sequence

 

 

 

 

Hard to sprint for a line with a bike throw when the officials don't
have an actual LINE for a finish - pretty weak stuff

 

 

 

Snagged the swag (Oakley and Primal gear, an eatery gift card which I gave to a local, and 6 of beer) and decided to book it back to KC instead of being homeless for the night.  Snagged a warm bed with the nameless (which was great) and the next morning on a whim decided to take in Joules Cross over in Lawrence, KS.  After a short drive with coffee and I'm warming up on a grass crit course with a couple of deceptively tough climbs, but nothing at all technical with only 1 set of double barriers. 

Some of the regular KC crew is on the line along with Bill Marshall (just got faster) and a guy who, for the lack of better description, just looked fast as he was drilling it in warm ups. 
 

Whistle goes and Bill takes it out fast, but not lung popping fast.  Shortly after I move to the front and keep the pressure for the first lap just to see who is who.  Small gaps but shortly after lap 1 Bill is glued to me and the 'other guy' is not far off.  Three of us get together while Bill and I pull and eventually Bill lets the guy know he's got to contribute so he does and the pace immediately goes up (crap, I am in trouble here as the climbs have been giving me fits)...  With two to go a small gap opens and I am dangling, but 1/2 way though close it back up just in time to see Bill and the other guy fly away to start the last lap.  Finished the last lap steady and ended up 3rd (theme for the weekend) while Bill was gaped at the finish to get 2nd.  Fastest I've ever seen Joules but that's good as STL next weekend is another grass crit.
 

Chatted with the winner, John Nelson from Sioux City, IA after the race and hopefully will see him again at Jingle Cross; nice guy and strong on the uphills.  Collected swag (socks and beer) and headed home.
 

Roger Harrison pics below:

 

 

 

I have no idea what my stance is all about here?!?!?!  Photo fom B Marshall

Pulled in to see the crew out back picking up walnuts (we have two huge w trees) in the backyard so before I unpacked I jumped in the work.  Afterwards it was backyard football with the neighbor kids jumping in, basketball with Ian at the gym, Deb's homemade Taco soup (which was great) and topped it off with Sunday night football while folding laundry (and sampling some of my winnings).  Not exactly Lake Woebegone, but it does just fine by me...

Next weekend is Gateway Cup on Saturday and Sunday.  Looks like a fast and decent sized masters field on another grass crit course (at least this on has you on and off the bike more which is good for me).  Will be nice catching up with a couple of the MWI 'yanks' who are heading south.