The Saturday before Halloween brings Syracross, the first year event by the Mello Velo team. Syracross promotor Brian Nilsson promised a fun time and a challenging course. He delivered on both counts. With several unique features such as the tree maze that made me feel like I was in a hall of mirrors and some tough climbs this race will be a classic.
(Dan Timmerman slicing through the Hall of Mirrors)
Saturday morning brought out some very cold weather. Snow was flying only a day earlier in higher elevations across Central New York which includes Highland Forest. The temperature reading in my car never left the 30s. Temps reached up to about 39 before sinking down to around 30 as I arrived at the chilly parking lot for the start of Syracross.
I love the name that they chose for the race. In fact I am tempted to write it in all caps each time and say it loudly in a frat boy like scream.
This week I decided to race in the Master’s 35+ race. Brian opened up the race to cat 1-4 allowing me to enter. My motivation to race the Masters was to get 45 mins vs 30 mins of racing. However, the Cat 4 race time was extended to 45 mins and the Masters field is stacked with some very fast and competent racers. This was going to be a tough race.
Getting used to the much colder conditions at Highland was tough. I packed on extra layers to stay warm during the warm up laps. I wore tights under my bib shorts, a long sleeve jersey, arm warmers, a De Marchi jacket under my jersey and a hat under my helmet. With all these clothes I felt like a stuffed sausage rolling on my bike.
Once the race started I had a poor start. No real excuse on this one, but it was a disappointment after having an awesome chance at the holeshot at the Syracuse GP. I settled into the big group and eventually found some space as the fast guys ahead made some gaps on me.
The course at Highland was mostly through the forest. The start has a section that went through snow covered grass that eventually gave way to mud leading up to some grassy areas to a hairpin section then back down to some barriers that had flames painted in them.
Then some singletrack like trails with a very muddy climb. After that it leveled off to a fire road then another climb followed by a fast descent back to the fire road and into the Hall of Mirrors. Then back to the fire road to another fast descent to the paved road that was the start/finish area.
The course was a blast and I had my fastest race speed at about 24 mph. Most races have been much slower and I never really went above 20 since there was not a fast descent at many of the races.
My overall race performance was much worse, or felt much worse than recent races. Not sure if it was the lack of recent miles, the cold or just the end of a long season. Perhaps it was racing against some really fast people in the Masters. All of those factors came together to make this race feel very tough.
(It was close to Halloween. This was the best costume by far)
Each cross race that I completed this year seemed to be the toughest race yet. They each have a specific challenge that makes the race. Kirkland has loads of mud, and so did Ommegang with a slick climb too. Swandrome was fast with a long course. Syracuse GP was fast and very muddy in some places. This year will be remembered for the mud. Lots of it, all over my bike and clothes. The feeling of having mud everywhere is somewhat cathartic. Roadies can spend an entire year and never get much dirt. In fact if you don’t ride in the rain you and your bike can be sparkly clean for the entire year. In cross you are down in the elements bringing out this primal feeling. You and the earth are one during the race. You are fully in the elements and they are not forgiving. Then when you are done you get beer and some waffles.
Once the race ended there were Belgian waffles and beer on tap to help ease the pain. A makeshift fire was burning and racers were huddled around it for warmth. It was a fun low-key setting. Too bad it was so cold that I was shivering just drinking beer. I had to switch to coffee to get warmed up.
Overall this was a great inaugural race hosted by the Mello Velo team. Brian Nilsson and his crew did a fantastic job hosting the race in tough conditions. I can’t wait to be back a Highland next year.
More pics from the race courtesy of Jamie Young.
