Race Reports 01 Oct 2007 08:32 am
Singlespeed Cyclocross at Willow Beach
I raced the Willow Beach cyclocross race yesterday on my custom True North Cycles steel cross bike with only one gear, and I had a blast. I didn’t race this venue last year, but it was supposed to be much improved this year. The course was a little soft in some sections, but with the dry weather we have been having, no mud. I raced on a 39:19 gear, and had no idea how the race was going to go before I started. I haven’t raced cross in 4-5 years, plus I did a fast paced 140km training ride on Saturday to prepare for the upcoming Iron Cross race in Pennsylvania. I was dropped off the start by everybody, but I’m used to that from racing singlespeed MTB against geared riders. I worked my way up the field, the gear seemed to match the coruse and my fitness well, and my mounts and running went well. By the end of the race I was 7 out of 30 or so in the Master’s 2 men.
on 01 Oct 2007 at 11:43 am 1.drew graham said …
Nicely done! I know I’ve asked you about singlespeed ‘cross gearing before, but in hindsight would you have run a different gear if you were to race it again under those conditions?
on 01 Oct 2007 at 4:53 pm 2.Dave said …
No – gearing was perfect. If there was more gravel or some pavement, but just as flat, I would have run a little harder. If it was wetter or hillier, I think the gear would still have been good, I’d just stand a little more.