Gunnison CX

I've been sick for the past couple of weeks and have been taking it easy on the CX racing. My big race weekend for the month was the UCI race in Boulder. Unfortunately I didn't start the first day and had to take it easy in the second day's race. Last weekend I got back to it at the RMCCC collegiate cyclocross championships in Gunnison. Here's my report from the Mafia blog:
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One of the best programs for showing people how incredibly fun bike racing can be is collegiate cycling. It’s how I got into riding bikes, and I know many other riders (including some super-talented pro racers!) who have their roots in collegiate cycling. Most college cyclists have the right kind of attitude for attracting people to the sport. It’s not about how much your gear costs or who your coach is; it’s about having fun, bonding with your teammates, and racing your heart out.

Unfortunately my academic days have ended, but I still try to support collegiate cycling events when I can. They are usually organized by a small group of Red-Bull-fueled kids on a shoestring budget, who are simultaneously studying for their organic chemistry finals and working a part-time job washing dishes in the cafeteria. This makes it even more impressive when college teams pull off great events, like Western State’s cyclocross race in Gunnison this past weekend.

The course in Gunnison was one of the best I’ve raced all season. It had a sweet flow with lots of grassy, off-camber turns that you could just carve. Despite the small fields, the racing was a blast. I got to battle with local Gunnison powerhouse Jenny Smith. I barely held her off for the win—if we had another 15 minutes, she probably would have caught me.

The race day ended with a killer afterparty at the Gunnison Brewery. There were tons of prizes and a keg just for the racers. I came home with more than my fair share of prize money and a bunch of yummy ride food. Like I said, college kids know how to get it done! Be sure to support your local collegiate team by racing their races, even if they seem dinky. You might be surprised at what they can pull off!

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On Sunday Spencer and I went to ride mountain bikes in Fruita. I meant to take a bunch of pictures but only managed these two: