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Time for an overdue report on the Masters 65-69 Cyclocross Nationals in Louisville KY. Our race was on Dec. 12, 2024.

As previously reported, my season started out in WA, racing a few events in Bellingham, and near Tacoma. Things went fairly well, but you never really know... My goal for years has been to get top 10 at CX Nationals; the nearest I'd been is 15th when the Nats were held in Chicago.

The final buildup to Nats were some of the New England classic CX events: Really Rad Fest. of Cross in Falmouth MA, Cycle-Smart in Northampton MA, Shedd Park in Lowell MA, then finally The Ice Weasels Cometh in Southwick MA. I was consistent, although sometimes when I thought I was pulling off a really good result, something would go wrong.

For instance, in the Masters race at Ice Weasels, which was very icy & bumpy, my seat fell off of my main race bike! I'd been adjusting the seat angle beforehand and apparently didn't cinch it down tight enough. Oops. Fortunately I was near the pits, so grabbed my singlespeed and did a lap on that. Miraculously, Rosalea was watching, found the seat on the course, took it to the pits where the heroic neutral pit crew remounted it. So they flagged me down and got my geared bike back in time to finish the race....

The last race was the singlespeed event at Ice Weasels, and I was having a GREAT race until I crashed on an icy section. I wasn't the only one. Then I crashed again, into a tree and cut my left ear, which didn't hurt but the blood apparently looked scary to spectators!

Anyhow, on to Nationals. It was a real adventure, flights with the boxed bike, hotel, scouting the course, etc. I had a set of file tread tubulars overnighted to the hotel, as it looked like race day might be frozen. I'd brought a 2nd wheelset so glued the new tires on in the hotel room the day before the race. Now I was set with both ice wheels, and mud wheels, only needing to choose the right ones before lining up!

In the early morning the file treads seemed to be the way to go. However as the day went on (our race was around 11) things were thawing up. I switched back to my mud wheels (Challenge Limus 38mm tubulars) which turned out to be the ticket. It was a good course for me in general, with several short steep slippery climbs, off camber corners, etc. that seemed to tire out the bigger riders who would usually grind me down on the flatter stuff. I wasn't sure where I was, but knew it was top 10. Just had to hang on..

Top New England CX'er Kevin Callahan caught (he'd dropped his chain early on) and it was the two of us duking it out with Jay Trojan, another guy who usually places far ahead of me. I was running out of gas, and on the last lap my right shoe ratcheting strap somehow broke off. After losing a few seconds messing with it, I realized that the remaining Velcro would keep my foot in so I just had to keep pedaling. I'd lost the chance to sprint vs Kevin and Jay, however there were other not far behind so I gave it all I had left, to the line.

Turned out I was 8th. Goal achieved! Perhaps my goal next year (or in 5yrs when I can race 70+) I'll shoot for top 5...:-)

Thanks again to the Team Bikeman crew, especially Zach, for dialing in my race Hakka MX. With the 38mm Limus tires, the Vecnum suspension stem (great for again hands), etc. my race machine is a real weapon.

There ya go.

Bruce Schwab

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