Wessex Cyclocross League - Oxford 4th November 2012
Mon 05 Nov 2012
Steve James and Dave, Abi and Joe Kiely, aquaplaned most of the way to Oxford to race in the Oxonian CC event as part of the Wessex Cyclocross league.
For the vets race the course went around some playing fields, over a small brook and through a lightly wooded section. With two sections of deep pedal-hard-and-let-your-bike do-the-steering mud, the usual assortment of tight corners and multiple waterlogged sections, including a prolonged submerged stretch in the woods that sapped all energy; an unrelenting 45 mins of lactate accumulation lay ahead. Throw in some cold heavy rain and all you needed was “insert appropriate Belgian food/beverage here” for a classic cross race.
Steve and Dave lining up for the vets race at the back of the grid, and riding alongside each other found themselves taking evasive action when a rider went over his handle bars in the first few corners. Both riders did well to remain upright for the entire race. The biting cold meant neural impulses to Steve’s hands went off line some time after the first lap, leaving him unable to change gear and merely steer. Manfully Steve resisted the urge to quit and finished the race in 38th place.
Dave’s main dilemma was whether to run or ride the waterlogged woodland section as the going was so slow. Pushing hard to unsuccessfully try and catch a North Hants rider on the last lap left him a dribbly incoherent mess (as usual) as he crossed the finish line in 27th place.
In the U12’s Joe managed 10th overall (second U10 boy) Abi came in at 36th on her mountain bike. Many of the kids were in tears, their little hands and general substandard physiology unable to cope with the nasty cold and rain. They all finished though. Every one of them. Tough little critters.
Many thanks to Oxonian CC and the Wessex cyclocross league for putting on such a great event.
Report by Dave Kiely with additional reporting here;
http://www.wessexcx.co.uk/2012/11/04/report-rnd-8-oxonian-cc-4th-nov-2012/
and here