Battle at Barlow

So this weekend was my first inaugural actual for real Portland cyclocross race. Last weekend was Hood river, and I had done one cross race in Seattle last year. I've decided I like this thing called cyclocross. I'm not sure if it's my fancy new bike, or my awesome Cheerleaders, or my cute pink and blue kit, or the fact that it's in Portland so there is no traveling, or the fact that I still haven't felt like my breakfast is going to be all over my jersey by lap two, maybe it's all of these factors. Anyway...big fan. This race was the Battle at Barlow. Super fun course at a Highschool out in Troutdale/Gresham area. The majority of the course was pretty flat, starting in the baseball field, through the parking lot, into the soccer field, down to a creek, up some GINORMOUS railroad tie stairs, through an orchard, back into the forest for some more fast, twisty single track and then back into the baseball field. I raced the Women's B class again because I knew there would be a bunch more women at this race than there were at the Hood River race. I ended up getting 1st place. I was the only B to do 6 laps, all the rest did 5 or less. I am officially an A now. Sweet!! Although, I have a feeling that at the next race I'm going to have my breakfast all over my jersey. ;) Next weekend is the first cross crusade race. I'll be in Central Washington riding my dirtbike all weekend, but I'll be at the cross crusade #2 the following weekend. Cross crusade is the biggest cross series in the US. This should be interesting......

Hood River Double Cross

Well, first cross race of the season. Really, only the second cross race ever for me. Super FUN! Called up my sister Saturday night and conned her into being my cheering section. She and two of her friends and their furry friends showed up. I had the best cheering section of anybody! By the end of the race, everyone was cheering for me because my cheering section was having so much fun!
This was the debut of my brand new cross bike. I have the Kona Queen Anne, Velobella team bike. Size extra-super duper small, PERFECT! The bike has the best parts available! EA90 carbon fork, carbon bars, carbon seat post, Easton stem, and the SRAM Rival component kit. The bike practically floats it's so light. And...it has pink bar tape!
About the race: The course was pretty fun. Had some single track, which is always a plus in my book. I had a pretty good start, I was #4 in the line of girls. By the end of the first lap, I was #3. Second lap, I came to the single track and saw the girl in front of me hesitating, and I took full advantage. I passed her and took off. I felt very strong in the run-ups, I guess all the trail running at Powell Butte paid off. By the last lap I had passed all 4 girls I started with. I didn't even know that the race was over, I was getting ready to do another round when they yelled and told me the race was over. Good stuff!! I remember the one race I did last year, I wanted to puke the whole time. This time, I felt strong and good the whole time! Must be the new bike! My goal is to race, and place in the USGP in Portland in December. The rest of the Velobella team will be up here, so there will be tons of great energy surrounding that race. Well, now to run/ride/yoga for the week until the Battle at Barlow this weekend!