The first week of November has given ...

The first week of November has given us spectacular weather. It's almost as if we are getting paid back for the equally awful October that left us waterlogged and had the majority of the population grumbling.

 

Yesterday was sunny and reached 78 degrees. I'm not going to complain about the nice weather but I prefer 'cross races that are a little bit cooler. Yesterday's race was the last of the Pride Inc series up in Alton and located at Gordon Moore Park. I know little about Alton other than the River Road, the Casino and the Alton Giant, Robert Wadlow. Now I know about Gordon Moore Park and it is a terrific location for cross. Rolling to hilly terrain provided more than enough challenges to wear you out by the end of the race. Plus, spectators could see virtually entire course in front of them as the sat on the hillside by the start/finish line. I thought the course designers laid out a very nice course that had a little bit of everything. There were a few flat sections, a couple off-camber turns, some 180 turns snaking up a hillside and one reasonably steep and long hill that really was a grind to get up. Folks with a double chainring setup may have had it easier but my single ring left me debating at times whether it would be quicker to just run the hill. Thats good though. In my view a course should have at least one spot where the rider has to decide whether they will one thing or another. Should I ride the hill or run it? Should I take this line through the turn or that other line?

 

If there was any weakspot with the course, it was the placement of the barrier. The barrier, which is taller than the UCI limit, was placed at the top of the tough hill I mentioned earlier. It seems it would have served a better purpose elsewhere on the course. The hill was plenty tough already and basically served as a natural barrier. A rider was already creeping up the hill and, in some cases, running at that point. The barrier did little at that point. Putting the barrier in another location would have provided a little more variety. Regardless, it was a great, warm day of racing.