Cross Ocalypse: A Ride to Remember
Upon arriving at this weekend’s Cross Ocalypse course, I was certain that the apocalypse had taken place in Valley Park. At first, I felt a little guilty for talking Nicole into coming out with me. The vast amber field in front of me was strewn with the concrete mounds, a burned out car, and other remnants of it’s industrial past. It was the kind of place the cops chased you out of when you were a kid; the kind of place you’d expect to see a 5 legged squirrel; the kind of place where legendary weird people hung out; and the kind of place that would be ideal for storing depleted uranium. It was the perfect place to hold a cross race!
The first leg of the course took us along a pond/puddle. This “pondle” was a body of water that not even the brave, urban-adapted Canadian goose would dare swim. After passing the pondle we ascended up a short, steep asphalt grade and onto a crumbling asphalt plateau. Our descent down the other side of the plateau took us down a mocha swirl of asphalt, limestone rocks, and mud. Our descent ended rather abruptly at the base of a 30 foot high levee. The really good riders rode up. Myself not being in this category, went up on foot. Once on top of the levee, there was a 500 yard straight away that ended in a “keep your butt on the back of the saddle” ride back down the levee.
Our arrival back to the flatlands was greeted with a trip through a boggy marsh. This boggy march gave way to seemingly innocent prairie grass. This relief quickly gave way to horror as we looked ahead and saw the riders going through the circle of doom. They were shaking as if they had Tourett’s( credit Nicole for this analogy). Moments later we hit the first of the filling-loosening ruts hiding beneath the prairie grass. We too shook like those who had gone before us. It was at that moment we heard the cheers from Alice and Quiz. Let me tell you, Team Rev cannot be beaten in the cheering department.
Waiting for us beyond the circle of doom was a small hurdle and a trip up a small dirt ramp. The dirt ramp ended at a set of crumbling steps which we ran up and then rode across the eroded floor of something. Not sure what the something was. A short drop down a grassy hill and a trip around the corner brought me back to the finish line. Two more trips around the aforementioned course and the urban adventure was over. Time for a couple beers with Alice and Quiz. The best fans ever!
What a course.
I want to do it again.
Category: Big Ring
In that bottom picture I was surprised to see Kate barely getting her bike over that barrier. Kate, pick up your bike next time!!
“The Princess Warrior”
My form has always been a little unorthodox.
[...] night Team Rev rides, Highway 40 Time Trial/Family Fun Ride, the whole freakin cyclocross series, Cross Ocalypse, Moonlight Ramble, Monday night Mueller Rd…oh heck I could elaborate for pages. I guess the point [...]