Crystal Palace CX race report (Sun 16th Sep)
Sept 18, 2018 23:14:35 GMT
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Nigel Wood, Joe R Booth, and 6 more like this
Post by jonathanmaher on Sept 18, 2018 23:14:35 GMT
1/ Crystal Palace
2/ Cyclocross
3/ IPA
Three of the most emotive words in the vocabulary of a South London cyclist came together in one place on Sunday, in an occasion as rare as alignment of the planets. “Cross is coming home” they said. All that was missing was mud and miserable weather.
A few hardy souls from our club even rocked up at the crack of dawn to help out Max and Caroline from London Phoenix set a fiendish course, but mainly to appreciate sunrise over the tower.
The racers, meanwhile, put the finishing touches on what for many was months of training and preparation leading up to the big day. My own preparation consisted of digging the cross bike out from under various items of camping sh**t in the shed the evening before the race (having put it in there during the “beast from the east”) , throwing the mud covered and seized up wheels in the “recycle” pile, and replacing them with my turbo wheel and a front wheel I’d written off as unsafe about 3 years ago. A quick hose down and chain lube and then all was “race ready”.
23 degrees, sunshine, a few Palace midges, and lots of Dulwich CX riders – Winter has begun.
First race up was the Junior Men & 40+ Men. These categories are always run together just so the Veteran men can tell bad dad jokes on the grid whilst the juniors are present, to practise essential eye rolling skills. According to the results there were no representatives of the Dulwich Fortnite division in the Junior race.
In the Vet 40 race, Dulwich Dads repping were Dax Rosetti, Michael Vance, Phillip May (NOT the PM’s husband), with “Housewives Favourite” Dylan Bexley coming in best at 13th. I occasionally stayed upright to finish a solid whatever.
I should mention at this point that, as in all Cross races, there was a well patronised Dulwich corner (located strategically at the spot on the course where riders were most likely to fall on their face) full of enthusiastic team mates with cow bells and full-throated heckling. Cyclocross heckling is a fine art, much different to the kind of encouraging supportive yells of “move up” and “keep going” that you hear in road and track events. The perfect Cross heckle is one that makes the fellow supporters laugh but is almost nasty enough to make the rider cry. Just insulting enough to stir the anger and bring down the red mist enough to make them say “I’ll show you all” – and then try so hard out of anger that they ride into a tree. Given that I achieved just that – kudos on the quality heckling guys!
Vet 50 Men and Women were up next. These categories are always run together so the Women get to practice essential eye rolling and tutting skills when the Super Vets continually interrupt the race briefing with cries of “What did she say?” “Speak up, we can’t hear you” and “Has it started yet?”. As always the Dulwich V50 Archers squad was well represented, with another strong ride by Andy Pollintine, Simon Clawson, and a brilliant but gentlemanly battle between Mark Hindley and Joel Brassington.
In the Women’s race there was a bumper number of new Dulwich faces competing, specifically Julia Van Campen and Sara Barman, who are starting their first season in cross. Some great results from the club’s stalwart crossers as well with Olivia (*cough* 2nd Claim *cough*) Campbell in 6th place, and Dalila “Blue Steel” Lecky in 7th.
The Senior Men’s race had a huge field of riders, but only one of them won a special prize for being awesome before the race even started – Well done to our own Eddie Davies for officially being recognised for services to awesomeness. That pair of tyres you won is as good as it gets now until you turn pro. He also managed to finish 6th(?) as well in the actual race.
Dulwich wise: Dave Rees rocked the top 10, James Corlett won the press award for best Arabesque, Some very strong midfield performances from Stuart Lynn, Chris Mellor, Stan Nutter, Alex Windett (2nd best beard award), Luke Levett, Sam Judd, and for the second time on Sunday I provided essential motivational support to the lead riders as they lapped me.
Canopy provided beer in the sun to finish, bringing a satisfying end to a great new local cross race.
And just when we thought it couldn’t get any more perfect – came this post by a bewildered local after the race to seal it’s place in conspiracy history:-
Roll on next Sunday and our own race at Leeds Castle!
2/ Cyclocross
3/ IPA
Three of the most emotive words in the vocabulary of a South London cyclist came together in one place on Sunday, in an occasion as rare as alignment of the planets. “Cross is coming home” they said. All that was missing was mud and miserable weather.
A few hardy souls from our club even rocked up at the crack of dawn to help out Max and Caroline from London Phoenix set a fiendish course, but mainly to appreciate sunrise over the tower.
The racers, meanwhile, put the finishing touches on what for many was months of training and preparation leading up to the big day. My own preparation consisted of digging the cross bike out from under various items of camping sh**t in the shed the evening before the race (having put it in there during the “beast from the east”) , throwing the mud covered and seized up wheels in the “recycle” pile, and replacing them with my turbo wheel and a front wheel I’d written off as unsafe about 3 years ago. A quick hose down and chain lube and then all was “race ready”.
23 degrees, sunshine, a few Palace midges, and lots of Dulwich CX riders – Winter has begun.
First race up was the Junior Men & 40+ Men. These categories are always run together just so the Veteran men can tell bad dad jokes on the grid whilst the juniors are present, to practise essential eye rolling skills. According to the results there were no representatives of the Dulwich Fortnite division in the Junior race.
In the Vet 40 race, Dulwich Dads repping were Dax Rosetti, Michael Vance, Phillip May (NOT the PM’s husband), with “Housewives Favourite” Dylan Bexley coming in best at 13th. I occasionally stayed upright to finish a solid whatever.
I should mention at this point that, as in all Cross races, there was a well patronised Dulwich corner (located strategically at the spot on the course where riders were most likely to fall on their face) full of enthusiastic team mates with cow bells and full-throated heckling. Cyclocross heckling is a fine art, much different to the kind of encouraging supportive yells of “move up” and “keep going” that you hear in road and track events. The perfect Cross heckle is one that makes the fellow supporters laugh but is almost nasty enough to make the rider cry. Just insulting enough to stir the anger and bring down the red mist enough to make them say “I’ll show you all” – and then try so hard out of anger that they ride into a tree. Given that I achieved just that – kudos on the quality heckling guys!
Vet 50 Men and Women were up next. These categories are always run together so the Women get to practice essential eye rolling and tutting skills when the Super Vets continually interrupt the race briefing with cries of “What did she say?” “Speak up, we can’t hear you” and “Has it started yet?”. As always the Dulwich V50 Archers squad was well represented, with another strong ride by Andy Pollintine, Simon Clawson, and a brilliant but gentlemanly battle between Mark Hindley and Joel Brassington.
In the Women’s race there was a bumper number of new Dulwich faces competing, specifically Julia Van Campen and Sara Barman, who are starting their first season in cross. Some great results from the club’s stalwart crossers as well with Olivia (*cough* 2nd Claim *cough*) Campbell in 6th place, and Dalila “Blue Steel” Lecky in 7th.
The Senior Men’s race had a huge field of riders, but only one of them won a special prize for being awesome before the race even started – Well done to our own Eddie Davies for officially being recognised for services to awesomeness. That pair of tyres you won is as good as it gets now until you turn pro. He also managed to finish 6th(?) as well in the actual race.
Dulwich wise: Dave Rees rocked the top 10, James Corlett won the press award for best Arabesque, Some very strong midfield performances from Stuart Lynn, Chris Mellor, Stan Nutter, Alex Windett (2nd best beard award), Luke Levett, Sam Judd, and for the second time on Sunday I provided essential motivational support to the lead riders as they lapped me.
Canopy provided beer in the sun to finish, bringing a satisfying end to a great new local cross race.
And just when we thought it couldn’t get any more perfect – came this post by a bewildered local after the race to seal it’s place in conspiracy history:-
Roll on next Sunday and our own race at Leeds Castle!