At the end of September, in sunny Santa Fe, feeling the oncoming fall mornings and cool air filled with the smells of roasting chile and changing weather.  But as October rolled around, I packed up my car threw my cyclocross bike in the back, and started the long drive north to Oregon.  Since that long 24 hours of driving (1,300 miles), over a month ago I have been living in Bend, Oregon.

   Cyclocross racing has been a weekly routine, with 8 races now in the books.  Where 6 of the races have been over the mountain pass in the Portland area,, which meant Sunday’s involved a 3 hour drive over and back.
I came to Bend hearing the cyclocross scene was big, but never imagined I would watch a race and see the course completely strung with racers.  And not just one race, but every race!  Some of the men’s categories have 100 racers alone, and the women’s A field always has about 40 starters (and that’s just the category A!!).
CX is known up here for its brutal courses and weather, so I expected more rain, mud and yucky weather, but each weekend (except one race in Bend) has turned out with nice weather and even warm sun for some races.  Every course and race has had it’s own obstacles (literally), whether it is barriers, a run-up, tight turns, steep downhill or even wood coffins to jump over (the Bend halloween race).

As a road rider I am reminded every weekend why I love the overall sport so much, and also how passionate about the road I am.  Some of these courses with their muddy and gravel turns make me feel uncertain, skiddish and almost like I’ve never ridden a bike before.  I guess slidding out in my first race and dislocating my shoulder, then a few races later crashing on a gravel downhill and trashing my knee gave me a bit of ptsd.

Funny enough, my best finish so far (11th) was on the day I rode the majority of the race with a bloody and hurting knee.  The technique and confidence needed for cyclocross will give me so many bike handling skills, so I keep telling myself to just have fun with it and all these tough races will benefit me on the road.
While in Bend I’ve also experienced mountain biking for the first time.  Don, from Sunnyside Cycles was nice enough to lend me a mountain bike and take me out towards Mt. Bachelor for some super fun trail riding… definitely the “more fun setting!”

   I’ll be up here for just about 3 more weeks as the last Cross Crusade race is on December 8th, which they put in conjunction with the UCI race that will run the same course.  It should be fun to see, but I must say I’m a bit scared thinking about how cold it’s going to be for that race.  After all this slipping, sliding, crashing, and running I’m about ready to hit the road and get some long climbs and rides going for the new year.  The toughness of cx will have me ready for technical turns and flying descents.  So far, it’s been a great experience up here so I think I can stick out one more cyclocross race before I have to head back down south.
It won’t be any warmer in Santa Fe, but at least I’ll have some good NM chili to warm me up.