Dan Action

Rustic Connecticut Racing October 22, 2007

Finance-wise right now, things are tough. It was with a good bit of disappointment that I had to bow out of the trip to the MAC opening races, especially after my suck-fest at Gloucester. I was looking forward to getting to spend some time with Molly C. down there. But money is tight as I am on the new pay schedule of every-other-week.

Down but not out, the races in Connecticut over the weekend seemed pretty inviting, if for no other reason, so many folks were going to race further south that there’d be more money spots open to a schlup like myself.

-Mansfield Hollow: What a course. Do you like to get on and off your bike? If you answered yes, This was the race for you. Two sand runs, one sharp run up, and two single barriers. For you non-bunny-hoppers, there was also a telephone pole across the course right before a descent. Also thrown into the mix was a fair amount of quick elevation changes, and a steep drop-in onto some single-track. Woof. It is no secret that by the time the race was a little over half done, I was tired. I made a couple of stupid mistakes like taking a turn way too hot and going through the tape, and mis-stepping the run-up and tripping over my bike subsequently landing on it in the process. Just things I might do when I get exhausted. I sure was. At the finish, I was, as usual, all alone, and maybe a little unsure of where I was actually finishing. I finished ninth, which I was more or less happy about, but I was one place out of the money. I had previously believed it was paying out ten deep, so my hopes were lit, then cruelly dashed. Finished one place back from John Bold. Free food all day long, and apple cider, a magic racing elixir. Nice job, Y’all.

- Southington ‘cross: If I planned better, by that I mean, had I looked at a map, I would have noticed that the two races last weekend were extremely close together. Both were just a little ways away from my Mom’s house in Farmington. I would have planned on staying there, thus eliminating a lot of time sitting in a car while at the same time, getting some Q.T. in with Moms. Anyway, I had raced this race the year previous and really liked it. It seemed to favor a lot of what I got on the bike. Some interesting course changes, lots of turns, some sand, a super slide, stuff like that. This race marks the first time I actually worked with someone else for an extended time in a ‘cross race. It started as a foursome, but me and Adam Sullivan took turns pulling and shed that down to only the two of us for the rest of the race. I was feeling good, but not overly competitive, it was hot, and you may or may not know that the only kit I have is mostly wool. My only solace the entire race was to ride in the water a little bit at the first sand section to cool off. Adam eventually took me at the finish for sixth and left me to seventh place for the day. Not too bad since I was still in the money, which I dearly needed ’cause I broke the bank a little to pay for the race. Not to mention that I learned a lot from the whole experience. Payout for seventh was $15. Kind of insulting, if you ask me. No payout should be less than your entrance fee. I’m not directing this at the promoters per se, just at racing in general. The cost of racing only increases as your ambition in the sport grows. Payouts should reflect that. Nowhere is it more prevalent than in the women’s field. Regardless of field size, an Elite race is an Elite race. The folks who come out to compete and aspire to race at the top level of the sport deserve a purse larger, or at least equal to that of any amateur race. Men’s or women’s, it dosen’t matter. At the very least, it will give a bit more incentive for people to cat. up. The gumption women racers who trudged through the ranks have makes my ass look downright pampered comparatively. They’ve been stuck, almost as an afterthought, racing along with juniors or B masters, which brings about smaller fields given the limits are the same for a combined race as they are with any individual race. Then if one makes it through to the next level, the sheer discrepancy in purse per race would be enough to enrage Katha Pollitt. It’s truly crazy. Here’s to the Ladies.

Weekend Highlights: Apple Cider, excellent courses with a ton of thought and a little bit of cruelty in them, enthusiastic fans holding out dollar primes, foliage. Nice Job.    Photo by Paul Weiss.  PauWeiss.bz.com