I had always wanted a Rock Lobster bike. I remember catching a glimpse of one in the late 80's. Custom bike? What is that? And green too? Way cool. So last year I approached Paul about joining one of the most prolific cross teams in the nation. Paul's sole focus is on cross and he produces. So yeah, I was going to Santa Cruz last weekend to race and re-live old memories of college (well not all of those memories), but the real reason was to pay my homage to the Godfather.
I raced an occasional Surf City race before, but never at Aptos High School. After taking a warm-up lap I determined that this course was the hardest I had ever been on. Now I haven't been doing this for 20 years, but I have ridden my fair share of race courses around the country. I heard someone say there was 200 feet of climbing on each lap. Not a ton for a roadie, but it is quite a bit for this linebacker.
I started in the back, then made my way further back on the first climb. There were some great winding turns on the way down the mountain, a few crashes, lots of sand (which I love) and then turn around and go back uphill. Boooo. On the way down and up, there was a telephone pole across the road. My mountain bike skills are Beanie Wells, not Todd Wells. I couldn't jump on the way down and when I tried to jump it on the way up....over the handlebars. What! I jumped it in warm-ups. More uphill and I was just cruising to survive. Then, some more uphill. Okay I've had enough. Tried to ride this stair section and crashed. Then, for some strange reason or twist, there was more uphill. Are you seeing a theme here? And then it ended, thankfully. Oh the agony!
Hey, look at me. I'm actually going downhill.
Wow. Nice write up Brian. Surf City was actually my first CX race, and I remember thinking during the warm up laps "Wow, this is a really intense course. Are they ALL like this?" So, I've got to say, I'm relieved to hear your "veteran" perspective!
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