Cyclocross is cool because the race course has such varied terrain – grass, pavement, sometimes mud and usually a little sand. This was not the case at yesterday’s race. The second race in the SoCalCross Prestige Series was held at a motorcross park way out east in the desert.

This is an example of what normally goes on at the MX park. You could see motorcycles flying into the air in the distance as we raced.

As we lined up, the race official announced, “Course conditions are sand, sand and more sand with a little wet sand thrown in just to mix it up.” He was unfortunately not joking.

He blew his whistle to start the race and took off with 14 other Cat 4 racers. I counted myself in 9th place going around the first turn and felt pretty good. I settled into my rhythm for the first lap, trying to focus on my dismount/remount form. I wanted to be smooth which was really hard in the sand.

I learned pretty quickly that a good Cross racer can push himself right up to the razor’s edge of his Red Zone without going 1 millimeter over – unless he really needs to, of course. My average heart rate for the race was 92% of max – that’s average! I hit max HR several times, probably in the running sections.

Can you see me? Carmichael kit and not looking at the camera – doh!

My only crash happened right away. Entering the first section of barriers I didn’t unclip my back foot before I stepped down which resulted in me face planting just short of the first barrier. I think I made some sort of sound and a clear “Oh!” was heard from the small crowd. I never stopped moving though, just picked up the bike and ran through the barriers.

Completing the first lap, I passed through the finish area where a race official was waving a cowbell at us. In my oxygen-depraved mind, I translated this to mean we were starting the bell lap – this would be the final lap. I was still feeling pretty good so I hammered the second lap, passing several racers. I even shouted encouragements to some guys who seemed to be going a lot slower that they should, especially for being on the final lap. Boy was I surprised when I completed the second lap and saw the official holding a sign saying “2 laps to go!” Turns out she had just been encouraging us along; I was dangerously close to my Red Zone and only halfway done! Zoinks!

I settled down and focused on recovering a little, which means I probably slowed down to 88% of max or so. I got passed by two or three racers and as soon as I got my breathing under control, I cranked it back up again, intent on catching them.

There are a lot of technical skills for racing Cross like how to smoothly dismount and remount your bike so you can jump over barriers, for example. I passed one guy who stopped to clip in while I just rolled on, clipping and rolling at the same time. That felt good. With the sand, it was really hard to focus on form though because the bike would stop rolling as soon as you stopped pedaling.

Racing Cross is very exciting. There’s always some near-disaster to attend to. Here’s how a section of the course might have gone:

Back on the bike, clip in and roll down this super steep section – sharp left turn at the bottom in deep sand, don’t crash! Ok, max power! Here comes a steep moto-jump, I can make it, lowest gear… Bike slipping in the sand – over the top! Pick up speed, into that hairpin, more deep sand – screw it, let’s just run – off the bike, carry, run, run, running is hard! Put the bike down, swing on – clip and full speed! Someone is right behind me! Here come the barriers, coast in… Off the bike, over the barriers – one, two! Bike down, swing on, clip and accelerate!

I focused on catching the guy in front of me, trying to make every action smooth and carry as much momentum as possible. If I caught the guy, I’d pick the next guy. Sometimes I got passed and at some point I realized I was catching guys in the single-speed group who were racing on the course at the same time as us. Poor bastards, at least I could shift down.

Racers struggle for traction on a deep course.

The final lap went very smooth, but I was very ready for the race to be over. I crossed the line in 9th place – solidly in the middle of the pack. For my first race, in a sandlot – I’ll take it.

Next Sunday’s race is in Irvine and lots of other racers commented on what a great course it is. I can’t wait.

I couldn’t stop staring at the cover of Velonews. The February 2009 edition had just been tossed in front of my while I sat munching a sandwich in my kitchen. The cover depicted a wet, slimy, muddy and yet intensely focused cyclist – I was completely captivated. What crazy sport was this? Cyclocross – what’s that? Road bikes in the mud? That’s just crazy.

February 2009 cover of Velonews – it started everything. Courtesy VeloNews

Although… That guy is really having a good time. I wonder what it would be like to race cyclocross…

So, after the glow of Leadville was fading and Coach Colin suggested I look into the cyclocross scene, I said, “Hey, that’s a great idea.” Only, I didn’t have a CX bike, people to ride with or the faintest idea of how the sport really works. But still, I thought about that guy in the Velonews cover.

Why are all thos guys running with their bikes? CC amanaplanacanalpanama on Flickr

My two closest riding partners both have road, mountain and track bikes. I tried in vain to piqué their interest in giving CX a try. Nope. I can’t get the Descenders to get on their mountain bikes, much less give Cross a second thought. I signed up for a local cyclocross clinic and made myself go even though I didn’t want to after my buddy bailed on me.

I hope my bike gets this muddy someday. CC gzahnd on Flickr

The clinic (put on by SoCalCross) was perfect. I was able to borrow a Cross bike and spent some time learning how to get on and off the bike – yeah, I thought I knew that already too. Getting on and off fluidly is important as you run up stairs, jump barriers, etc. It’s key to keep your momentum going and not actually stop.

Cyclocross loves lots of sharp corners. CC coda2 on Flickr

We practiced carrying our bikes and running up hills with a bike on our backs – then it was time for a few practice laps. They had set up a micro-course around the soccer field and we toured it twice to get a feel for the barriers, sharp turns, run-ups, etc. My favorite feature was a 90-degree turn at the bottom of a steep hill.

Mud, snow and look at that face – what more could you want? CC static-photo on Flickr

After the second practice lap, we re-grouped for a mini-race. We lined up, someone yelled go and we were off. I was immediately “Game On!” – completely electric as we hit the first turns. I’m familiar with criterium racing so I tried to stay in the lead group. We got to my favorite turn and I became convinced it would be impossible to make the 90-degree turn at speed. I had to decide whether to overcook the corner and roll off the course or just go for it. I decided that crashing wouldn’t be so bad on grass so I just turned as hard as I could, in a pack of 6 or 7 guys (and a few gals). I made the turn, but fell back a little.

This guy is about to win, can’t you tell? Courtesy Ben Ross Photography.

The second race lap was more fluid although I really screwed the barriers up and had to hammer like hell to get back to the leaders. It all got strung out in the last bits, but I finished somewhere in the top third, I’m sure.

I really wish it rained more in Southern California. CC rcousine on Flickr

Can you tell I had fun? It was a BLAST! Cyclocross is the sport you’d pick if you were nine years old. It would go something like, “Road races makes baseball look fun and forget about the track – please, round and round all day? Mountain biking sounds kinda cool, but what about those guys over there playing in the mud and jumping fences with their bikes? I wanna do that!”

ONly a 9-year-old mind would want to race like this. CC spicybear on Flickr

While joining by buddies on the track would be practical, I just had no passion for it – I had to make cyclocross happen. And I did. In short order, I got a great deal on a Cross bike, connected with several local CX racers and got invited to a weekly local Cross workout. And now I have 6 CX races on my calendar between here and December.

My brand new Fuji Cross Pro. Let the races begin!

My first cyclocross race is Sunday, wish me luck!