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Cyclocross Race 5, October 26
Big Cottonwood Park
(Also includes results for race 6, Sunday October 27)
The 5th race of the 2013 UtCX season was at Big Cottonwood Park (5300
South 13th East) on Saturday October 26. This was the "Halloween
Cross" ride where riders were encouraged to wear costumes. Costume
prizes were awarded after the event.
The idea was to find a costume that didn't slow you
down too much. |
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There was still frost on the grass as riders checked out
the course. For the first race, the frost was melting and making the
grass slick. The race started southbound at the west side of the parking
area.
Jason Sparks leads a group through the starting zone
as he completes lap 4. |
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After the initial sprint, the course made two 90s and two
180s. But on the first lap, riders were still bunched up as they hit the
barriers as the course came back northbound past the start-finish area.
Dallin Hatch hits the 180 just before the barriers on
lap 1. |
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This was the only "scheduled dismount" of the
race. I saw one rider clear these barriers with a double bunny hop.
Kudos!
Dallin hops the first barrier. |
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Following the barriers, the course looped back south and
did a descending off-camber 180 around a big tree. Then a right-90 put
you into the world's toughest sand pit.
Racers in the Men B mob hit the sand pit and fishtail
into each other. You can't steer around a rider in the sand, so a chain
reaction results in large numbers of sand-runners. |
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This sand pit was long and deep. But because the line was
straight, it WAS possible to ride through. I was 4 for 5 on the passage.
How'd you do?
Cruel sand. |
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Grunting the last 10 feet to the grass became a matter of
honor, even though it would have used less energy to run it.
In a shower of sand, Mike Engberson approaches the far
end of the sand pit. |
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After the sand, the trail turned and climbed a hill,
zipped down and around a tree, then climbed an even bigger steeper hill.
Heading up the hill, with the legs still not recovered
from fighting through the sand. |
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The ground beneath the pine was muddy and the nearby grass
was still wet with melted frost. It was a challenging climb.
Shane Horton gets up the last bit of mud to turn
around the pine at the top. |
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The trail now zipped through the trees and descended onto
the playing-field area.
Mike zips away through the trees southbound. |
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After skirting a game of team frisbee football, the path
climbed up and around a right corner, then descended to a swooping
high-speed corner. Now it's time to climb the hill again.
Jason corners hard at the far southeast corner of the
racing area. |
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After zipping west along the fence, the zoomed north.
Shane heads northbound on the west side of the lap. |
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Two high-speed straight-aways were interrupted by meanders
through the trees before the course turned back east. Climb a hill, drop
a hill, and head for the finish line to start your next lap.
There are a few tight turns in the trees yet to go. |
