Race Report: No Good Double Cross

Saturday, September 18th, 2010



This past weekend’s No Good Double Cross race marked three important milestones for me.

First, it was my return to cross racing since 2008 when I won the 50+ cat 4 series and state title. The injuries I sustained in my TT bike accident prevented me from racing the entire 2009 cross season. On Saturday, despite no warm up and getting to the start line after the 5+ cat 4 category race started, I ended up with a 3rd place finish. Starting behind the pack actually helped me focus on whether or not I was able and up to the challenge. Thankfully my body and mind responded positively to all that there is to love and hate about a challenging and wet cross race. In my opinion, time trialing is the most challenging cycling event while cyclocross is the most fun to be had on a bike! And being a TTer, I consider CX to be a TT on bad roads. Anyway I am very happy with being able to do my favorite two events on a bike again.

Now the second milestone is the most important and rewarding of the three. It is helping coach the JR Dropouts which includes my son Sam. Sam raced his first race as a licensed rider. And we were very happy to join up with Jim Pingel and his son Charlie. Sam and Charlie worked together the entire race. Helping each other out as good team mates should. It was especially awesome since they had never met before Saturday. They even ride the identical Redline cross bikes. I give those kids all the credit in the world. The course was challenging and wet. However neither one of them fell which pleased Jim and I since we asked them no matter what – do not fall in the horse manure sections. They took turns leading each other and used their strengths to help each other throughout the entire race. Sam finished 3rd with Charlie right behind him in 4th. Congrats to both of them. I know they look forward to racing with other JR Dropouts this season. Also congrats to JR Dropout John McGovern who finished a very respectable 5th in the competitive 15 to 18 year old race. John - was this your first XC race? Way to go.

The third milestone is that it was my last race as a Cat 4. I just got my upgrade request to a Cat 3 approved. No one can accuse me of sand bagging. So if you are eligible – upgrade. I’m looking forward to raising my game to a new level and getting spanked in the process.


All you JRs, please let me know if you have any interest in CX racing or which races you will be racing. Since I will now be racing early afternoon, I will have time to help out any JR with pre-race preparations and race support.


The attached picture sums up Saturday’s race.



Dave Sieloff Here is a link to the results: http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2010-2551