2024 Cyclocross season

Results

Beach Party at Silver Lake

This one almost wasn't fun. The course was technical, and very hilly. I wasn't quite in the shape I needed to be for this; a 40-minute grind is not at all like a 6 hour endurance ride. I got lapped feet before the finish line, which was great for me because I was dreading another lap.

Starcrossed at Marymoor

It's been dry in Seattle, and Marymoor park was dusty. A fast, not very technical course that was relatively flat. I managed not to get lapped this time, which was good because I was having a great time. I forgot my glasses at home, which I am never letting myself do again.

Barnburner at Fort Steilacoom

This was my best feeling race yet, and I think this is when everything clicked for me. The course design meant that you could hit the climbs hard and then had a chance to rest on the downhills. The downhill sections were twisty and technical enough that you didn't gain a big advantage by pedaling, so it was best to not and just rest.

The big chute down as fun to ride, though in the later races I saw what could happen if you did it wrong.

The back half of the course was fun and twisty. It made me remember that slow is smooth and smooth is fast. There was a tightening chicane that got me ever time. I would be set up for the first turn, but be facing the wrong way to turn around.

Kudos to the organisers for making such a great (classic, even) cyclocross course. I'm hoping that the time of dry cross is behind us as we're set to get rain before and during the race at Magnuson Park.

Magnuson Park Cross

Rain was on the forecast, but no rain appeared. The course was fast and flat and not very technical.

North 40

I was out of town for this one, but it looked fun. Hopefully it comes again next year so I can see what it's about.

Woodland Park Gran Prix

Last year at Woodland Park was my first time racing ever! In the year since, I've started cycling more recreationally, acquired a modern bike, ridden the Seattle to Portland ride, competed in an entire season of MFG cyclocross races, and raced a 100 mile gravel gran fondo.

I went into this race in great form. I'd raced the Powless Gran Fondo two weeks prior, and I was feeling fresh and fit from the 100 mile race.

The morning was cold: nominally 45 degrees, but 38 degrees with wind chill. It had rained the night before, and would later that afternoon, making the course nice and soft.

This was my first wet race of the season, and I'd been waiting since September. Instead of the usual Gravelking SKs that I'd been running all season, I switched out to a pair of 38mm Gravelking EXTs.

My number group was pretty far down in the callup, but I was able to get a good start. The first hairpin was a huge chokepoint, and I lost some time there.

By the fifth lap, I had climbed from 65th to 40th. And was feeling strong to finish my final lap. I was charging past lapped traffic and was getting distance on some folks I'd been chasing the entire race.

Disaster struck on the back straight, passing the grassy bridges over SR99. I made a move to pass a lapped rider at the crest of a knoll before a downhill into a tight turn. The rider moved across my line just a little bit. I made a split-second, reflexive really, action and found myself in the dirt with a deep pain in my shoulder.

I watched riders I had passed only a few seconds before ride away, grabbing back any gains I had dug out. I collected myself for a few seconds, testing my arm. It hurt, but it was able to take my weight. I gingerly rode the rest of the lap, cursing at the barriers and at the runup.

I ultimately finished 45th, with a sprained right shoulder for my trouble. I come away from this season of cyclocross a better rider, and better racer. I'm already looking forward for the 2025 'cross season, and am penciling in some gravel races this coming spring.