Holy Week - Part I

Craig chasing Gewilli...

Prologue:
If you are crosser- if this is the season you think about all year. If you love cross. You owe it to get yourself to Gloucester. I've been to nationals, I've been out west, I have lots of favorite races. Gloucester is the best. Everything that everyone says about Gloucester is true, and more. I have been to lot of great races, and we have some awesome ones here in the Mid Atlantic  And I'll admit, there's times when I'm in New England and I think: we are on par. But Gloucester, the venue, the crowds. It's amazing. There's an extra gear there that no one else has. I think it's crowd sourced from the racers and fans.. but man, it's awesome.  If you go, hope that you  are lucky, really lucky you get some weather conditions. These are the courses and conditions are what make cross great. I won't lie I love racing in this stuff...

monk with one to go...

Chapter 1: A Place to Lay Our Heads
About a month ago, Kelly and Diane were wrangling around where to stay for Gloucester. Kelly found a place and emailed us. "two doubles- here's the information" A double room for Diane and I is way more than enough, and with Craig and Beth and the kids coming down accommodations would be perfect.

Other than a tsunami coming across the George Washington Bridge the drive was a pretty easy one. When we get to the Sea Lion Motel, I give Kelly a call and ask if both rooms were in his name. He said, "there's only one room, two double beds!" I start to hyperventilate a little and then tell Kelly, "I thought we had two rooms!" Clearly, Chris, Kelly, Diane, Me, Craig, Beth, Fartecus and Taylor are all not fitting into one room. Diane and I laughed, we took 2 doubles to mean two rooms two double beds... A swing and a miss...  A couple of quick phone calls and Jeffy and Brian Bahnson were happy to provide us with a little floor space to crash in... No stress, Lots of laughs, and a change of plan... This is going to be a good weekend...

Chapter 2: Race Day 1

Monk got off to a good start battled in huge groups and raced hard all day. With one to go she had finally worked to the front of a  big group. As they headed into the off camber slip in slide, I commented to myself,    "diane just worked another late lap magic run" as she was one of the stronger riders technically in the group, but could be out gunned in the power sections. Then she yard saled it. Full on Pete Rose slide. Diane one side, bike the other. Group gone. Diane finished up strongly, but was a little disappointed with her last lap. BUT she had fun and the racing was rad.

fartecus and I.

I was stoked to have Craig line up right behind me, and we chatted about our strategy for the start, starting in row 8-9 respectively. The gun went off and it was on. I got a rock star start and moved up pretty well. Ended up in a group with Benny da Jewlar... We battled forward, battled back. Some very physical racing, it is after all called  "that New England Shit"  I got put into a tree at one point, but blew by the guy on the run up. Going into the last lap Ben came to the front and got a small gap. I would chase, but he'd come in a couple spots ahead of me.  I have to be honest, I was really stoked. It was my best ride of the year, and I did everything thing that I wanted to. I raced my race, and I was stoked.

Craig got balled up a couple of places, but still put in a rock solid race. For his first NEPCX Elite masters race I was super proud of him. He's just gonna keep getting better...

scratching Craig's nose

proper hydration is important

Interview here.

Chapter 3: The Hanson Brothers

Lots of questions about racing with my brother. I love it. I am so excited he's racing, and I love racing in groups with him. Someone asked if there was a lot of competition between us. I said I gotta be honest it's less like trying to beat each other, and more like us versus our group. I like to think of us as a little bit like the Hanson boys from SlapShot.  Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but how could I pass up this reference.

Craig railing the corner ...

Chapter 4: Day Two

Day two greeted us with steady rain showers. The course that was muddy and slick Saturday had been changed up a bit, and conditions now would be extra awesome. Monkey got a solid start and fought hard for the first 2 laps of her race. The final lap she found herself dangling off of a really nice group. She would get so close to attaching on, and the just get gapped off a bit. Through the final slip and slide spot, the same where she yard saled yesterday.. Diane made a move and caught the final woman in the group. As they hit the road Monk stalked her a bit, and just as the finish line came into sight, she attacked and took the spot on the line... Always a great way to finish a race...

I kinda really like this shot

Let me be clear, I love racing in slick, wet, mud. While warming up was not as fun, let me say, these conditions were perfect to race in. My start wasn't as rock-star as the day before, but I stayed aggressive in the corners, and moved up where ever I could. I dude from JRA cycles was trying to pimp me in the tape. He was subtle like a bull in a china shop, I dove to the other side and passed him into the beer garden. Up the beer garden stairs, Craig and I ran next to each other as the crowd was going insane. That was an all time awesome racing moment for me. Craig and I would ride in a group for the rest of the lap until he got caught up in a crash on the beach. I was happy with my ride, and I was sticking to my plan, the race was unfolding as I had pictured. With one to go I was dangling off of a group of 3, I kept creeping up on the final guy, in the mean time my buddy Matt had come across to my wheel. I felt like if I could get to the beach, I'd hold him off. But I spun out and Matt got around me... I chased hard, which caused me to bobble on the technical section losing another spot... As we hit the concrete I was gapped off the group and sprinted for them, but the damage was done... Mistakes aside at the end, I was pleased with my ride. Great stuff...

Benjamin Stephens shot

Epilogue
I can't say enough what a great experience this weekend was and how fun the racing was... Without a doubt I love the Mid Atlantic Scene and the various flavors you get more than any. That being said, the NECX is always so kind to Diane and I. There really is something special there. In club row next to the GEEK HOUSE guys, seeing Chip and the Hupsters, Victoria and Tony... MEGA! and JD! Just too many people to try and mention all... Such a great time... Top that with what was clearly my best weekend of racing, and I was super stoked this weekend...

thanks for reading...

respect
vanderbacon