"The Elm City"

New Haven had the first public tree planting program in America, producing a canopy of mature trees (including some large elms) that gave New Haven the nickname "The Elm City".

Have I mentioned how cyclocross is starting to feel like a family sport? Four of us started together: Tommy, Dan, Scott and me. All friends, all competing at a comparable level – for now. I can visualize Tommy and Scott leaving the old farts, me and Dan, in the dust very soon. It just so happens Tommy and I had the field cover in age. I was the oldest at 59 and Tommy was the youngest at 14.

All four of us had a fabulous start. I dare venture to say we made up four of the top twenty at the end of the first lap (based on photographic evidence). I'll never know for sure though, as lap times are not posted.

Lap two was a different story for me. I had sneaked by Tommy at the top of the lap's long uphill grind by taking an inside line on the 180 turn at the grind's top.  Attempting to put some distance between Tommy and me by taking the accompanying long down grade a bit too aggressively, I pinched my front tube on a root. Loosing tire pressure in my front wheel, I lost control and went down on one of the several ball bearing turns. Ball bearing turn is the term used for the many course redirects located under the several Oak trees that seam to have had a bumper crop of acorns this year (maybe they should have called it “The Oak City”). Sliding on the ground covered with acorns may qualify as an in-situ sports message but that wasn't my primary interest at the time. Tommy was bearing down on me and I needed to roll out of his way. It was the family thing. Though I was trying to finish ahead of Tommy, I felt a family obligation to not impede his standing relative to all other racers on the course (nor did I want to get run over). I actually apologized for crashing in front of him as he safely passed by.

As bad as a fall in a roll bearing turn may sound, it had it's up-side. This particular turn was

GG - Stunningly Gorgeous

right before the pit – a few bike lengths in front of the pit. My back-up bike was right in front of me – right where Jen had put it before my race. I grabbed GG and headed out of the pit after Tommy. GG is the name of my pit bike which happens to be Jen's stunningly gorgeous (modifier added by Jen) gravel grinder bike that she let's me use as a pit bike. It's that family thing again. It took me a full lap to get the feel of GG – I ride in a much more aggressive race position than Jen and my center of gravity is located differently than Jen's – add the two together and I've got a situation where I really need to concentrate on keeping weight on the front wheel.

Over the next three laps I clawed my way back to Tommy's wheel. My plan was to once again pass him at the top of the long uphill grind. It didn't happen. I started up the hill right behind Tommy. I put my head down and attacked the hill. When I lifted my head at the top, Tommy was no where in sight. Evidently Tommy had shot up the hill – he obviously had the same plan as me and everyone else. The problem for me was that Tommy executed the plan better than everyone else. What a great season closer race! All four of us, the family, finished within seconds of each other – high fives and congrats all the way around.

Postscript: I got pulled over on the way home – 45 in a 20. Twenty, what's a twenty? Is that construction on blind curves into a school zone? I'd be passed by Tommy riding his cross bike with a flat tire at that speed. Anyway, as I was looking for my registration and insurance card I mentioned that Jen had won her race that afternoon. The officer, bless his heart, stated that he was passing on Jen's good fortune and gave me a warning. This added significantly to the day's cash payout. This race season just keeps getting better.

See more at: http://www.pbase.com/j_harvey/2015_elm_city_cx