Dallas CX

So we've got three races coming up this weekend in Dallas. That is about the only good reason I can think of to head more than a few miles east of I-35.

Friday night Bryan Fawley (aka - Fort Worth CX Race Weekend Dominator) has an event at the usually TNX location. Heard it is good but never been there. Read all about the flyover in the txbra.org cx forums section. Even have some video links if you want a visual.

Saturday and Sunday are more traditional daytime races. Should be fun, weather looks to be nice Saturday and maybe some rain on Sunday. Imagine that, a muddy Texas CX event.

Speaking of which, I went and got my cross bike nice and dirty this past weekend. The end of the week rain did a nice job soaking everything. The gravel Trinity River Trails were pretty spongy and downright sloppy in spots. Saturday saw me return home looking like a downright proper cyclocrosser, covered head to toe in mud spatters. And that is always so much fun to clean. At least it wasn't cold. I like my misery in smaller doses.

Enough of this, I have a nice bottle of Saint Arnold Amber Ale and a dirty bike that need attention. Both should do just fine prepping me for the holiday weekend.

Whats this?

Is that actually cold air? No, but it certainly is cooler than anything felt in a while. May actually have to wear warmers AND some sort of undergarment/vest tomorrow night. Wow...hard times upon us now.

Back in the college days in the northeast I would be wearing shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt to class in this stuff. Amazing how (de?)acclimated I have become.

So now it is cool and dark. Could be a whole lot worse. If it isn't sleeting/snowing then I won't complain. That stuff is fun a few times a year, then it just is annoying and highly demotivating.

I think this year I get smart and get fenders.

Heard these are supposed to be pretty good. I can easily see them paying for themselves in no time.

November = Cyclocross fun = pain/suffering

Last weekend was the big hootenanny in Fort Worth.

Saturday was the Broken Films Z Boaz race and Sunday brought on the Thinkcash Trinity Park premier race. (premier by txbra.org standards that is)

Both were excellent races, in my somewhat biased and mostly humble opinion.

Both brough a different flavor. Boaz was slower, muddier, and a little more technical. Trinity was fast and flowing, with one fairly technical section and a lot of grass and a dragstrip start/finish.

Both brought beer. Fat Tire and Blue Moon Saturday and local favorite Rahr on Sunday. I made sure to partake of a few.

And both DEFINITELY brought on the pain.

I raced both days and had a blast, as it seems several others did as well.

RTP has a good writeup and some video, so check it out here

Unfortunately I didn't see Steve A for a chance to say howdy, but as is apparent from the above, he had a great time.

The weather was nice and while the wind was strong it was actually nice for Saturday as it kept the circus freakshow mosquitoes at bay.

The only downside is I had a freak mechanical which caused me to crash and burn hard on Saturday, losing a few spots without time to regain. I wasn't in the lead group so I was already out of the money, literally and figuratively, so not a big deal except that I have some pretty sore spots on my body a week later, and a few points seem suspiciously slow to feel at all better. Have to keep an eye on these things and be a little careful not to go down and possibly make matters way worse.

Ah yes, the fun of cross.

Sunday went better, had a solid race, good finish and managed to miss every crash that happened in front, beside and behind me.

If you were there, you saw a good time. If not, you missed a good time and also the domination that was Bryan Fawley on Saturday and ultimately, Sunday. That dude is fast on the cross bike. damn fast.

I think he is a major player in the races next weekend in Dallas.
Three, countem, THREE big days (actually two big days and a big night) of cx joy, pain and happiness in the city east of FtW. check it out here

The only thing missing from the cross season so far is Euro-cross style weather. Personally, I am fine with that. Kills me to be racing in 70 degree weather in November. Now if I can kick this cold that snuck into me promptly after finishing last Sunday...