That’s a wrap on 2016’s cyclocross season!
December 3rd was the Rocky Mountain Regional Championships. Super cold weather, I think maybe about 28 degrees or so for my 10:30am single speed race. I decided to race both single speed and then women’s open to give my geared bike some love.
Needless to say, single speed went well and I won! And for the first time I ever I did a proper post up! I love the course at this venue, even though it’s not super technical and just involves a lot of power riding. This venue is where I had my first ever USAC cross podium back in January 2014, so I’ve just always been very fond of it.
In SW Open I realized that riding a geared bike is a lot of hard work. On the single speed I would be spun out on some parts, and it would be a bit of recovery. With gears there’s always a harder gear to grab and keep pushing. My average heart rate was around 190 for the 40+ minute race! I went back and forth with a couple of other gals for a few laps, but the previous race was felt in my legs, and I hung on for 14th, which wasn’t last. It was one of the first times I’ve really felt comfortable racing in the open category.
Next up was states. This would be the last chance for me to earn points for the Colorado Cross Cup, which I had set up to win, but I knew it would be hard with the depth of talented women in the single speed category. My SSW race was at 3:30 on Saturday. I actually didn’t feel like I had a good start, and I crashed hard on a grass corner that I took a little too hot. I lost two positions, but was able to regain one of them on one of the (too) many cement/pavement sections. I took beer hand ups on the final 3 laps, and enjoyed the beating of a really physically draining course. I would finish 5th, which I’m happy about.
The next day on Sunday I awoke to snow, which was exciting! My 8am race was the inaugural fat bike race, a non-championshp category. I figured this would be just a fun race and a chance to ride around on my Dirt Components Thumper carbon wheelset. Unfortunately I would have another very nasty crash on the first lap, and my left arm yanked around behind me and tweaked my shoulder which I had just completed two months of physical therapy on for the split bicep tendon I have. I came through the start finish, and Larry (the announcer) called the medics over. I was crying and felt like a hot mess, and so mad that I had wrecked and re-injured my shoulder. But I pulled on my big girl skinsuit panties, and got back on my bike for another couple of laps! Turns out my rear tire would also go flat, so I had to run maybe the last half mile of the final lap. Man, it just wasn’t my race!
Heidi Rides Bikes 