Thanks for a great race ABD; great use of the park. That was a lot of fun.
Just wanted to make a note that if you are getting lapped, please listen to the (hopefully courteous) requests to move left or right so that riders on the lead lap get through a smoothly as possible. It’s not the time to “turn it up a few notches” and see how long you can hold off the rider that’s about to lap you. I’m all for strategic blocking, bumping, etc., but not when riders are on different laps. Let me also say that the VAST majority of riders are great about this.
@ John W, It works both ways. If you are lapping folks – also respect that they are still racing. If you aren’t fighting for position, then picking your place to pass where it won’t impact the lapper is also supporting good racing – just not racing at the front. I know I inadvertently blocked a faster older master in my race, but he also wanted to pass me on the downhill asphalt section. The only way for me to let him by would have been to slow for that whole section (which I would have done had I properly heard him over the 20+mph wind, btw). Passing people is the funnest part of cross! And the leaders get the most of it. 🙂
Great course, and a ton of fun! Thanks to ABD and everyone for making it happen. I love how this series mixes up different course styles over the season, and this one was a great test of technical handling and open water boating skills.
@ Sean, totally agree. I don’t think there should be some expectation of lappers to just get off their bike and clear the course when someone faster comes up. Finding good places to pass is just part of the fun.
Now, it SHOULD be expected of lappers to hold a clean, predictable, stable line, and not do anything unexpected or drastic. IMO, if they do that, anyone fast and experienced enough to be lapping people and contending for a podium should be able to blow by without losing too much momentum. Plus, the people they are competing with are dealing with the same course with the same people.
Sean, I largely agree with you.
Evan, it is true that all riders who are lapping other riders have to deal with lapped traffic, so the race is fair in that sense. But there can be big differences depending on when you happen to run into lapped traffic. Consider, for example, the single track sections of the race on Sunday. One rider might pass a lapped rider right before entering that section, where the rider who she was battling with a few seconds back has to ride behind the lapped rider through that section where you can’t really pass. That ten second difference, say, could effectively end up being the deciding factor between third or fourth place. Ideally, that battle should be decided on the strength/skills of the rider, not when he or she happens to encounter lap traffic. In a case like that, I would try to do a bit more get out of the way so as not to effect the outcome of the race (if I was the one about to be lapped). Those cases are pretty rare, however. In general the lapped/lapping riders situation plays out fine, which is kind of amazing given that most of us are bleeding through our eyeballs at the end of a cross race!
Again I agree. And if someone blazing fast was coming up on me, I’d try to scoot over and let them pass. But again…I think the only action I would really classify in poor taste would be an about to be lapped ride blocking the course like they were the leader trying to fend off the #2 guy.
Other than that..be calm, race your race, share the course without doing anything dumb, and it should work out for everyone. Now…I suppose I should add that I might feel different if I were in the 1/2/3 race. I’d not want to muck up the pointy end for guys looking at series wins/nationals, etc.
Come race a WORS Mtb race – you’ll learn passing very well. Granted I haven’t been in this situation personally in a CX race, but in a WORS it’s extremely commonplace as faster younger groups are starting behind you etc all the time. All inside the same Cat/Class even. We’re much more vocal about it in advance and make way whenever absolutely possible.
That was one thing I noticed about Cross immediately.
I’m going to chime in on the passing etiquette convo and add that I’ve been experiencing some not so great things from the JR racers that are part of the SS time slot. Every week so far I’ve gotten comments like “watch out” and “move” in addition to them not saying what side they are passing on so I get run off the course or am even forced to pull off to the side for them. Now, I’m not winning SS by a long shot but it has cost me a spot or two before and/or it’s just rude. I try to correct them in the moment but it hasn’t seemed to phase them yet.
On another note..thank you to all for another spectacular race!
I’ll add, my perception is the 80% rule is driven by how well the lappers get out of the way of the leaders. So, because I’m slow, I am super motivated to make sure I do not impact the race for someone at the front. If I do, then there is a much greater chance that the 80% rule will be used more aggressively. And it sucks to get pulled with a lap of energy still in the tank – especially when pulling in the people in front of me! I’ll be faster once my kids can entertain themselves, but until then I want as much seat time as I can get – and racing is the most valuable time I get!
This course was a ton of fun. I am glad they decided to switch it up this year. The previous course was full of long power sections (my nemisis) whereas this course was mostly technical with a good mix of fast flowy sections. The bog rode surprisingly well. Hopefully we see some more photos of the action soon.
This is finally the course that is making me go out and buy mud tires. I was OK in the deep mud but not this slick course. I still think it is incredible that the park absorbed so much of the rain from Saturday. I was 100% convinced we’d be at Indian Lakes again. Great job ABD and CCC.
As one who got passed by multiples, all were polite and I did my best to keep it clean. I did have one rider where the only word I heard was “Right” so I moved left. But he wanted me to move right, oops. All other riders call out the side they are passing on. Consistency is key. Please call out the side you are passing on. As lapped riders, our brain is probably more fuzzy than yours.
Awesome course, awesome event, awesome fun. Thanks to ABD, Kenny, and the race officials who helped it all run so smoothly. I really look forward to our race series – and clearly for good reason.
Thanks again. Here’s how to put your contact info on your Garmin start up screen:
To customize startup text:
-Plug device into computer via USB cable
-Open Garmin drive (typically found in [My] Computer on PC or on desktop for Mac)
-Open Garmin folder
-Open file named startup.txt
-Follow on-screen instructions
That course was super fun! Thank you to everybody involved!
A special thank you to the person that found my Garmin and brought it to the ABD tent.
Here’s a 40 second video of what took a bunch of us out at the start of single speed – https://youtu.be/Z-KpS5UoRl0.
See you all next week!
Thanks for a great race ABD; great use of the park. That was a lot of fun.
Just wanted to make a note that if you are getting lapped, please listen to the (hopefully courteous) requests to move left or right so that riders on the lead lap get through a smoothly as possible. It’s not the time to “turn it up a few notches” and see how long you can hold off the rider that’s about to lap you. I’m all for strategic blocking, bumping, etc., but not when riders are on different laps. Let me also say that the VAST majority of riders are great about this.
my bad.. I was trying to pull off to the side soon as I realized i lost my chain and get out of the way =/
Great race everyone. Had a ton of fun!
Here’s video of Men’s Cat 4 midpack. 4/5 will be up later.
https://youtu.be/CbtnDCbJ5Lk
I left my jacket by the start, too tired to remember it after my race. It’s a Nike 2018 Chicago marathon windbreaker.
@ John W, It works both ways. If you are lapping folks – also respect that they are still racing. If you aren’t fighting for position, then picking your place to pass where it won’t impact the lapper is also supporting good racing – just not racing at the front. I know I inadvertently blocked a faster older master in my race, but he also wanted to pass me on the downhill asphalt section. The only way for me to let him by would have been to slow for that whole section (which I would have done had I properly heard him over the 20+mph wind, btw). Passing people is the funnest part of cross! And the leaders get the most of it. 🙂
Great course, and a ton of fun! Thanks to ABD and everyone for making it happen. I love how this series mixes up different course styles over the season, and this one was a great test of technical handling and open water boating skills.
Lawler, you’ve been missing your derailleur for a few years now. Awesome course design!
Here are my highlights from the Cat 4/5 race shot PoV with a chest cam. Good mix of mud, speed, handups, and runs!
https://youtu.be/8U6qLBMaxCI
Another excellent CX course that incorporated all things CX. Thanks to everyone for giving us another fun and dirty Sunday.
@ Sean, totally agree. I don’t think there should be some expectation of lappers to just get off their bike and clear the course when someone faster comes up. Finding good places to pass is just part of the fun.
Now, it SHOULD be expected of lappers to hold a clean, predictable, stable line, and not do anything unexpected or drastic. IMO, if they do that, anyone fast and experienced enough to be lapping people and contending for a podium should be able to blow by without losing too much momentum. Plus, the people they are competing with are dealing with the same course with the same people.
Lost items from CCC#5 were placed in a black bag and stored in the trailer.Next race is Campton Hills and should be there.
great course that had a little bit of everything. thanks to the organizers for a great day of cx racing.
Sean, I largely agree with you.
Evan, it is true that all riders who are lapping other riders have to deal with lapped traffic, so the race is fair in that sense. But there can be big differences depending on when you happen to run into lapped traffic. Consider, for example, the single track sections of the race on Sunday. One rider might pass a lapped rider right before entering that section, where the rider who she was battling with a few seconds back has to ride behind the lapped rider through that section where you can’t really pass. That ten second difference, say, could effectively end up being the deciding factor between third or fourth place. Ideally, that battle should be decided on the strength/skills of the rider, not when he or she happens to encounter lap traffic. In a case like that, I would try to do a bit more get out of the way so as not to effect the outcome of the race (if I was the one about to be lapped). Those cases are pretty rare, however. In general the lapped/lapping riders situation plays out fine, which is kind of amazing given that most of us are bleeding through our eyeballs at the end of a cross race!
@john
Again I agree. And if someone blazing fast was coming up on me, I’d try to scoot over and let them pass. But again…I think the only action I would really classify in poor taste would be an about to be lapped ride blocking the course like they were the leader trying to fend off the #2 guy.
Other than that..be calm, race your race, share the course without doing anything dumb, and it should work out for everyone. Now…I suppose I should add that I might feel different if I were in the 1/2/3 race. I’d not want to muck up the pointy end for guys looking at series wins/nationals, etc.
Come race a WORS Mtb race – you’ll learn passing very well. Granted I haven’t been in this situation personally in a CX race, but in a WORS it’s extremely commonplace as faster younger groups are starting behind you etc all the time. All inside the same Cat/Class even. We’re much more vocal about it in advance and make way whenever absolutely possible.
That was one thing I noticed about Cross immediately.
Here’s my GoPro footage / outtake reel from the men’s SS/Cat 3 races:
Cat 3: https://youtu.be/ii2SYaNIFOU
SS: https://youtu.be/QwwubRppP0s
I’m going to chime in on the passing etiquette convo and add that I’ve been experiencing some not so great things from the JR racers that are part of the SS time slot. Every week so far I’ve gotten comments like “watch out” and “move” in addition to them not saying what side they are passing on so I get run off the course or am even forced to pull off to the side for them. Now, I’m not winning SS by a long shot but it has cost me a spot or two before and/or it’s just rude. I try to correct them in the moment but it hasn’t seemed to phase them yet.
On another note..thank you to all for another spectacular race!
Cat 4 – Carver with the elegant dismount at 7:02 and the recovery at 17:31.
https://youtu.be/KeesMUrgiOg
Cat 4/5
https://youtu.be/B6TGmE7yNQk
You’re welcome Patrick
Now I gotta figure out how to put my info on mine, and turn, and climb, and omg its so much fun
Glad you got it back
DM
Tons of new courses this year keeping things really interesting.
Cat 4: enjoy my endo from Arthur’s video, but first person
https://youtu.be/ChAdGAdmbW8
Cat 4/5: some much enjoyed hand ups… thanks!
https://youtu.be/P0njeQtfVRQ
I’ll add, my perception is the 80% rule is driven by how well the lappers get out of the way of the leaders. So, because I’m slow, I am super motivated to make sure I do not impact the race for someone at the front. If I do, then there is a much greater chance that the 80% rule will be used more aggressively. And it sucks to get pulled with a lap of energy still in the tank – especially when pulling in the people in front of me! I’ll be faster once my kids can entertain themselves, but until then I want as much seat time as I can get – and racing is the most valuable time I get!
This course was a ton of fun. I am glad they decided to switch it up this year. The previous course was full of long power sections (my nemisis) whereas this course was mostly technical with a good mix of fast flowy sections. The bog rode surprisingly well. Hopefully we see some more photos of the action soon.
This is finally the course that is making me go out and buy mud tires. I was OK in the deep mud but not this slick course. I still think it is incredible that the park absorbed so much of the rain from Saturday. I was 100% convinced we’d be at Indian Lakes again. Great job ABD and CCC.
This Supercut of my 5 falls in the 45+ is short and sweet: https://youtu.be/zhZPZ1VbkBY
Here is the full and painful video: https://youtu.be/NO8kSlESQgk
As one who got passed by multiples, all were polite and I did my best to keep it clean. I did have one rider where the only word I heard was “Right” so I moved left. But he wanted me to move right, oops. All other riders call out the side they are passing on. Consistency is key. Please call out the side you are passing on. As lapped riders, our brain is probably more fuzzy than yours.
Photos from Sunday. Photos from the “water feature” were a lot of fun to shoot.
If sharing any photos, please credit @mikenauman.cc
https://mikenauman.shootproof.com/gallery/racegalleries/album/7954492
Cheers,
Mike
instagram – @mikenauman.cc
Awesome course, awesome event, awesome fun. Thanks to ABD, Kenny, and the race officials who helped it all run so smoothly. I really look forward to our race series – and clearly for good reason.
Best ABD Sunrise course I’ve ever ridden!! Well balanced and very challenging! Thanks Brad Dash and the ABD crew! 🙌🙌🙌
Here is my footage from the Men’s Single Speed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPzsGAJi1ps
Darran,
Thanks again. Here’s how to put your contact info on your Garmin start up screen:
To customize startup text:
-Plug device into computer via USB cable
-Open Garmin drive (typically found in [My] Computer on PC or on desktop for Mac)
-Open Garmin folder
-Open file named startup.txt
-Follow on-screen instructions