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Utah Cyclocross #9 |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Dave Leikam
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Friday, 08 December 2006 |
Utah Cyclocross Series Race #9
Fort Buenaventura State Park
Ogden, UT
 | | Early in the race. |
The series finale was held at Fort Buenaventura State Park in Ogden, about forty miles north of SLC. Before I go into the details of the race, I want to send some thank-yous to the people that brought the Utah Cyclocross Series to life. Thanks to the promoters - Matt Orhan and Jon Gallagher, to the tireless officiating of Ellie Gallagher and the outstanding race commentary of Sandy Perrins and Gardie Jackson. Also, thanks to all of the series sponsors. Look for Jon Gallagher at Nationals racing against Big Al, as well as several other Utah racers competing in the Elite, Collegiate, Masters and Junior categories.
 | | Approaching the barriers. |
The weather had begun to change late last week with the frigid temperatures moving out along with the smog that puddles in the valleys and Saturday broke clean and clear with the temperature in low the 30’s. Much better than the previous week where temps were in the mid teens at race time. The course was frozen at the start of the C race, but as time went on the sections exposed to the sun became muddy and slick.
 | | Staying with my rivals. |
Due to a Mountain Man Rendezvous style shoot ‘em up with muzzle loaders and traditional buckskin outfits, the course was routed around the only run up that there was. Bummer. The barrier section was very cool with two sets of three set up parallel to each other making for a nice two way traffic area or as it is sometimes called, a six pack. Lots of action in a small space.
 | | Mountain Man rendezvous in the background. |
I got the call up to the front line start position along with my main rivals Dave Cole, Seth Bradley, Mike Yount and the rest of the top ten. It looked like there were around 30 starters in the C category including my friends Aaron Smith and Mark Pasternak. I had some trouble getting into my pedal off the start and entered the first turn in about tenth position.
 | | More barrier work. |
I quickly got back in behind Mike and Dave as these were the riders I needed to mark today as I figured Seth had the series wrapped. At about the half way point of lap one, I decided to try to get a lead on the group and tried to get Mike to go with me for some help. I got to the front as we entered a ninety degree off camber left turn and took it faster than I should have. Crash! I quickly regained my feet and jumped on the bike, but I had dropped the chain to the outside. It felt like it took minutes to get the chain back on as riders streamed past.
 | | Icy turn |
This had become a familiar sight for me this year and as I began to panic, I took a deep breath to calm down. It was early in the race and I just needed to get the chain on and get rolling again. I figure I lost thirteen or fourteen places before I got going. I had plenty of time left so I set to work picking off one rider at a time. I decided to push one gear taller than I would normally and do my best to stay upright.
 | | Photo by: Steve Wasmund |
As the race went on, I gained back two or three places per lap and found myself passing Dave Cole to take 3rd position with just under one lap to go. With half a lap to go I caught one more, but I was at the limit. I was closing in on the race leader and with about 300 meters left in the race, I was less than 20 meters back. That was as close as I would get as he put on a quick acceleration just before the barriers and doubled the gap.
My transition through the barriers was smooth and I was gaining on him in the final stretch, but again, I could only close the gap down to about 20 meters and finished 2nd on the day. I mounted a serious comeback and every time through I could hear the race announcers yelling my name and calling out my position. It was great to hear that each lap, and I am happy that I could get Bikeman a ton of mic time throughout the cross series. I ended up 2nd overall in the series points standings for C category, missing first by only six points and edging out Dave by only three. Check out the results at Utahcyclocross.com.
Well, that’s it for another year. It was a long season and most of it was great, but I have to say that cyclocross is the best. I think this is the focus for my season and everything else just goes towards my cross season next year. I will at least double the number of mountain bike races I did last year and do two…or more. I am already excited for the ICUP opener in March down in the low desert of St. George. Other goals for 2007 include LOTOJA in September, so I will be putting in a lot of road miles in preparation for that. Also, I will get the mountain bike out at least once a week. I swear.
Thanks to Bikeman for supporting me through another season and thanks to the team sponsors. These are the ones I had the most experience with: Panaracer - I love the Fire XC for the MTB and the Cinder Cross tires were awesome throughout the cross season. Greyhound Juice - The Original Formula was just the ticket for those early starts during the cross season. Lazer - The Genesis is best looking helmet on the market. Avid - Love the BB7 mechanical disc brakes on the Caballero, never have to fuss with them at all. Last but not least, Salsa - The Campeon is a beauty and has been great for just about 3000 miles this year and the Caballero fits me like no mountain bike ever has. Sadly, I don’t have a Salsa cross bike, but I am hoping to remedy that for next season with the new Chili Con Crosso. Although not an official sponsor they deserve an honorable mention, Hammer Nutrition - Perpetuem is a must for LOTOJA and century rides, and Endurolytes on hot days and as a method of recovery. Thanks to my teammates in the Utah Chapter: Vince Jones, Troy Nye, Casey Nye, Cory Marler, Mike Marler and Tim White.
Good luck to everyone racing Cross Nationals.
Thanks for reading.
Dave
Photos by: Tracee Leikam/Ellie Leikam
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; "Early in the race.")
; "Approaching the barriers.")
; "Staying with my rivals.")
; "Mountain Man rendezvous in the background.")
; "More barrier work.")
; "Icy turn")
; "Photo by: Steve Wasmund")
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