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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by C. McDowell
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Tuesday, 20 November 2007 |
Munson Park CX
Monroe, MI
November 18, 2007
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I had a unique experience for last Sunday’s race owing to my mom and I planning on attending together. Last season, I bemoaned the loss of my best cheering section/snack provider/chauffeur to a friend as we watched a younger athlete in our race being comfortably ferried away in the back of the family station wagon, post-race sustenance in hand. Well, I found myself with just such the royal treatment on Sunday as Deb and I drove south to Tailwind’s Munson ‘cross race.
We arrived in the mini with plenty of time to survey the scene: wind city. We had been so busy chatting on the ride down (through scenic Detroit, no less) that we failed to notice the mounting breeze sweeping across the flatlands south of the city. Fearlessly, I made the commitment to don an athletic accessory I had promised a friend to debut the evening before. Whoever scoffs and believes that colorful, cotton garments have no place in inclement cyclocross weather has never experienced the joys of Rainbow Brite legwarmers. I knew that even if my finish were not strong, my fashion statement would be.
We roared through the call-ups and vanity pass in front of a dwindling pack of shivering spectators with my mom at the forefront, noisemaker at the ready. From the start, I attempted to intertwine myself with the masters 45+ men, with some success for the first two laps. After I lost my male windshield, things turned a bit sour with each turn into the wind seeming more exposed and long-lived than the last. After leading for nearly half the race and even picking up the Jittery Joe’s coffee prime, my determination flagged, and I was passed by two up-and-coming ‘crossers, capitalizing on my (unfortunately) predictable 30 minute slump.
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We three continued to create gaps on one another where we could, but it was Marne who finally dropped the hammer in the last lap to secure her victory. To my mom’s credit, all of this suffering was gratefully mediated by her cheering from the top of the run-up yelling, “Righteous! RIGHTEOUS!” in the gnarly surfer dude voice of “Finding Nemo’s” sea turtle. Not surprisingly, laughing in between gasping for breaths proved a good tonic for my attitude. I finished with the best smile I could manage through chattering teeth in third, maintaining my second place overall ranking in the Michigan series.
Thanks to team clothing outfitter Champion Systems for designing a fantastic ‘cross skinsuit, to Greyhound Juice for the small but significant comfort of warm calves underneath those snazzy stripes, and especially to Salsa for their keen eye for ‘cross-specific comfort in designing this year’s Chili Con Crosso top tube— who knew shouldering a bike could feel so right? Best of all, Thanks Mom! 
Until the next round,
Callie
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