Suckerbrook Cross

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This was my third year racing at Suckerbrook, and I like the course a lot, since it suits me well (I don’t have to get off the bike too often, which at this point in the season is a good thing ;)). The week prior to the race, Mike took me out to practice riding in the sand, and I was ECSTATIC to be able to nail the sand section every time through during the race, making up time on the racers ahead. Unfortunately, I seemed to lose that time shortly thereafter trying to make the hard 180 degree right turn onto the embankment…

The positives for me at this race included a great start up the pavement, nailing the corners and the sand section, and being able to quickly take the turn from the singletrack, through the loose sand in the woods without washing out. I still need to work on my barrier technique – I kind of look like a duck trying to get over them. That means one night of nothing but barrier work for me!

My good start put me onto the gravel and grass in a good position, but I was soon passed by Alex J (IBC – one of my major cross nemisis’) and Michele K (Joe’s Garage – she had beat me the previous day as well). Going into the stair run-up, I had to pass Anna M. who couldn’t get unclipped from her pedal. She passed me back on the grass, and then yard sailed in the downhill left turn – I never saw her after that. I kept Alex, Michele and Callie M. in my sights for a couple of laps, and tried to hop on Meg B’s wheel as she went by, but she had the jet fuel packs going, and there wasn’t a chance. Each lap, I would inch closer to the 3 ahead, especially in the sand section. In the 5th lap, I finally caught and passed Callie, and then in the final lap, saw Alex just ahead as she had trouble getting over the barriers. “You can catch her,” I thought, but there just wasn’t enough room, and Alex is terrific in the sand as well. I was happy with my result, although I finished just one place out of the money…