Surf City #2!!! First race of a double race weekend.

Surf City, back from the near-dead, but just as good as ever. And Halloween, to boot!
Well, Surf City has used the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds as a race venue many a time over the years, and it's always a good course. This year was no different. I was excited to see another great course laid out in a way I hadn't yet seen at this location, especially as a follow up to the BASP #2 that was so much fun to ride. The cats and kittens at SCCCC put together a great course with some flat power sections, some fast straights, some tricky turns and a fun ride/run-up! I love these NorCal CX events! The organizers do a great job of laying out courses that combine speed, technique, and handling ability perfect for cross.

This weekend I had my girlfriend with me to help do race support, which is always awesome because it makes it easier to get ready for and focus on racing. So she helped me port my newly built B bike and spare wheels to the pit, while I headed out to warm up on my freshly glued carbon wheels.

Let me take a moment to just say a couple things about carbon wheels. First, Cane Creek made some badass wheels, and still do, only they have limited themselves to track wheels only, much to my sadness. Second, if you haven't ever used a set of nice carbon tubies, do it. They are amazing. Light, stiff, aero. VERY FAST. Unfortunately, it's the rider, not the bike, that determines the placing.

So I warmed up, having paid much better attention to my hydration and eating this Saturday than I had the previous Sunday, and got to the line feeling pretty good, and very happy to be racing. I started about third row (top 18) and had a decent first 1/4 lap, staying around 17th. After about a half lap I started to drift back. I slid back two spots or so before the end of lap one. I found myself continuing to slide back for about three laps when I realized I just wasn't making my legs hurt. So I started to visualize how I rode on my last hard training day and started pedaling harder. It felt kinda good, so I kept pedaling hard.

Well, it was a good call, because not only did I stop drifting back, but I started moving forward! I managed to move myself up around four places over the last half of the race to 23rd. I was pretty happy with that and was looking forward to the next days race. Me and my gal packed up my 'Yota wagon and headed home.