In Competition For The Worst Time

It seems that cyclocross is the new fixed gear! I’ve never actually tried my hand at cross but I have done my own version of it where I attempt to ride the singletrack that I normally mountain bike and hop off my bike like a goof to clear obstacles. It’s kinda silly but I have found that riding skinny tires down familiar trails really changes up your awareness of said trail. Basically I hope it helps not to burn me out on riding the same network of trails that I party with all the time.

But less about me..
I came across this photo via cross racer extraordinaire Molly Cameron’s blog the other day.

It’s an amazing photo that teeters that line of being exceptionally poignant and looking like a cross motivational poster. While I do feel it falls more on the poignant side I could also very much see some type of inane caption involving “Determination” or “Inner Strength”..

Molly’s recount of the particular race sounded pretty rough. It made me glad that I don’t get very competitive. I say this with some hesitance in my interior monologue. I’ve often claimed and been told that I am not competitive but perhaps it’s just that I shy away from competition for fear of succumbing to it.

For instance last week on a lunchtime ride I was heading out to ride along the train tracks in order to hop on the usual network of trails I hit up. I spot a dude who appeared to heading out to the same place on a singlespeed. No big deal. I cruised past and head down the road. I was about to make a left hand turn onto a side street when I realized that the dude was right on my ass. While be both navigated the turn he winds up overtaking me..

At this point I’m a bit bemused because his casual roll out to the tracks turned into a semi sprint. Now when I’m on a lunchtime ride my main goal is to fit in as much riding time as I can additionally I know the exact route I’m going to be taking and exactly how much energy I can throw at each section in order to have enough gas to pedal back to my desk. Conversely if I’m giving a larger window then say an hour and a half I to save my legs so I can ride the distance and wander around for awhile.

So we’re riding along the train tracks and he’s wailing on his one gear while I sit on his rear tire enjoying all the comforts of a 27 speed bike. On this route, that we apparently were both on the bullet train to, you ride out on the tracks for a bit and then cross them into a quick drop and then a steep climb. He hopped the tracks while still mounted on his singlesteed(sic) and took off down the decent while I stopped got of my bike and let him buy some time. At this point I figure if this guy really wants it he can have the king of the mountain glory.

Holy shit did I have the audacity to say “enough about me awhile back”…. dang…

So I’m back on his tire in no time.. Not really meaning to be but it’s just how I climb this section. What can I say, I’m a pretty big deal. So we get to about here.

Which takes us to the next singletrack climb. After the second switchback dude jumps off his bike to take a trailside pee. I took this has his waving of the white flag while still combining it with a semi-crude gesture. I climb the remaining mile solo with no one in sight in front or behind. The rest of my ride was as I prefer it… solo and at my pace…

So am I competetive? Should I have have left good enough alone and allowed a bigger gap to form between the two of us? Should this fixed gear hipster jump on the cyclocross bandwagon and start spending Saturday and Sundays worrying about my legs and fine tuning my dismounts? I think the answer to all of the above is still no.

I still ride for me. One of the first things that I knew I needed to do after my beautiful son was born was get back on my bike and carry myself into the hills. Something about being able to ride away from my loved ones and bring myself back to them is what brings me back to to this activity. I’ve always been very picky about who I ride with. If you happen to be one of those few consider yourself equally blessed and cursed…

Wow.. I started this entry out to showcase Molly Cameron’s blog as a site that I often read and look what happened! Well read her blog and check mine out while I try to define my relationship with the bike saddle.