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Seattle Cyclocross Series #8 |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Joel Liefke
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Saturday, 02 December 2006 |
Seattle Cyclocross Series - Race #8
Fort Flagler, Port Townsend, WA
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Well it’s been about a month since my last race, the Seattle Cyclocross guys need to make the schedule a little less gapped next year, a month is pretty darn long. Oh well, we were in Fort Flagler this weekend which is now my new favorite course, but first a little history lesson on Fort Flagler.
Fort Flagler, along with the heavy batteries of Fort Worden and Fort Casey, once guarded nautical entrance to Puget Sound. These posts, established in the late 1890's, became the first line of a fortification system designed to prevent a hostile fleet from reaching such targets as the Bremerton Naval Yard and the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. Construction began in 1897 and continued in one form or another until the fort was closed in 1953. The property was purchased as a state park in 1955. Fort Flagler is named after Brigadier General Daniel Webster Flagler.
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So the cool part about this race is that we actually got to race through the fort barracks and the fort itself, pretty wild. This isn’t my class, but to get an idea of what it was like you can view pictures on Cyclingnews.com. There was snow, mud, hills, cement walls, etc. what else could you ask for?
Well as I mentioned it had been about a month since I’d raced, so I was a little nervous/anxious getting up to the start line. There were only 45 or so people in the race, and looking at the crew it was the cream of the crop (Fort Flagler is about 90-100 mins from Seattle, so not too many made the journey), so I knew I had to fight to get top 25 which was my goal for the week.
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First lap, got a decent start and was about in 15th or so, a little too excited as it turns out, but nonetheless a great start. The first part of the course winded through a field next to the barracks before going up a small hill, then down into the first set of barrack run-ups. The first run-up had a barrier in front of it to an immediate 90 degree right turn up a very steep 30 foot embankment. I passed another couple of people up the hill and was rolling along great to the next set of barracks and run-ups. There were three sections in here where there were short 10 foot run-ups followed by very steep downhills in and out of the barracks.
After bobbing and weaving and watching people smash into the barracks and roll down the hills, we were off on a long straight away into some tight turns, through some housing barracks and then back to the start/finish.
Lap 2 = Bad Lap, legs got heavy and ended up being in 30th place or so….we’ll skip to the end.
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Laps 3,4,5 went a lot better. I ended up picking up a couple places on each lap in the run-ups and ended up 25th. I’ve also attached some photos, which my lovely wife beared the elements to take. Will give you some idea of the terrain as well as get you a look at my flashy new beard (which by the way is now gone, due to high itchiness factors). Also, Rich ended up beating me again, damn you, although he was only 2 places ahead and roughly 15 seconds, you’re mine next week!
Having missed Saturday’s SCC #7, due to illness, I missed out on some points and now sit 41st out of 127 people in my class. This weekend is the final race which means I’ll have my two worst results wiped clean and it’s a double points weekend, so hoping to move up quite a bit, as well as finish the season strong…looking at top 20. The race is at Kelley Creek which kicked off the season, man cross season has flown.
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Also, we stayed at a haunted castle the night before the race, pretty darn sweet, although I always felt like someone was watching me. Here’s the website for Manresa Castle. If you’re ever in the area, I’d strongly suggest staying here, great bar, ghosts and accommodations!
Until next week…..
Joel Liefke
Photos by: The Lovely Lisa
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