VillainCX

Ok doing this one pic at a time is not even working. So a new flicker site is being loaded with 50 to 60 pictures of the super cool stuff here at NAHBS. will post the link later today. So please no one pass out from holding your breath. I know you will want to….

On the way to NAHBS lots-o-pictures to come!

Ok so cross season is over and it makes me a little bit sad. But in this sadness comes a little bit of fun. Long base rides, chocolate and cakes!!!!! And lots of other small things that are fun. One of those fires were recently re stoked- bunt cakes……… Here in Oklahoma city on memorial on the south side of the road by may ave. Nothing Bunt Cakes. Everything from bite size to wedding cake size of awesomeness. Highly recommended for post ride ,pick one up on the way home and you will thank me for the heads up on this spot….. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Ok. The Oklahoma state cyclocross championships are in Tulsa this sunday . So which is it.. PR or ER.. ?

My new bike rack is going to be in this week. Kuat NV ! this rack is awesome can’t wait to use it! After it arrives going to post pictures their web site does not do it justice!

Villain Racer Chris Drummond recapping a great weekend of racing.

Tulsa CX Race Recap

This past weekend was a double header of cyclocross action in Tulsa, Ok. With a combined purse of $13,000 for the two days, you could expect some of the heavy hitters would be coming. This was an “A” race weekend for me as I wanted to put in a good showing against some of the top racers in our region, and a little extra $$ wouldn’t be all that bad either.

First up was Showdown at Sundown Friday night. I was not looking for my best result of the weekend here. The course is very flat and fast and the technical slower courses are usually better for me. As I watched the expected racers show up for the P,1,2 race my expectations for a top 10 finish both days started to dwindle.  I got called up near the end of the list, and on the second row.  This was not great, but I just lined up behind two of the faster guys and actually ended up top 5 through the first few corners.  Due to the extreme headwind/tailwind conditions, this turned into a somewhat tactical race. I quickly broke down into a group of 7 and stayed that way for most of the race. I was hesitant to do too much work on the front. As I looked at the group of racers I was in, I knew I would be lucky to just hang on their wheels much less pull them! I did my fair share and there were times I thought I just could not hang, but I would not let go of the wheel in front of me for anything. It came down to a group of 5 with one to go and here come the attacks! Jake Lasley (Soundpony) went first followed by Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy) and Bryan Fawley (Orbea). I couldn’t latch on and got left alone with Mat Ankeny (KCCX Fuji Elite CX Team) right on my wheel. Fawley fell off a bit and I pulled through and we got back to the front two. The pace had lifted quite a bit through the last half lap and we started to string out a bit. Mat pulled around me so I let him work with hopes of getting him in the sprint. Lasley, Fawley, and Tilford gapped us about 100ft and had their sprint for the finish with Fawley taking the W. Then it was down to Ankney and myself, I rolled the last corner and went as hard as I could with what was left, but Mat was just too strong of a sprinter and got the 4^th position.  I was very surprised with my finish! Much better than the top 10 I was hoping for. I knew Saturday’s course would be much more suited to my strengths, if I had anything left from Friday’s huge effort….

I went out to Ruts and Guts for the early race on Saturday to check out the course. As I expected, much more to my liking. More technical corners, some singletrack, and a very steep technical climb.  After grabbing some lunch with teammate B$, we headed back to get ready and start warming up. I was still unsure of my condition after warming up, but had high hopes. I got first row call up due to Friday’s finish so that was a plus! Fawley jumped out quick on the start so I grabbed his wheel and sat in up the long uphill start.  Lasley popped around just before entering the course and the pace settled a bit. Within a couple of laps the same top 5 from Friday night were all that was left up front with the addition of Joseph Schmalz (KCCX Fuji Elite CX Team). He was fresh and quickly made a break that was never answered and continued to grow throughout the race.  Soon after Lasley did the same and it was down to Fawley, Tilford, Ankney, and myself to duke it out. After some lead exchanges in our group, Ankney fell back, and then Fawley did the same.  This was a surreal race for me as I was battling with Tilford, you can’t help but notice the Rainbow Stripes(World Champ) on his jersey sleeve!  I was very nervous in a way as I knew he had several tricks up his sleeve from his many years of racing. I was careful not to overwork myself in the closing laps because I could tell we were staying together until the finish. We got the bell for 1 lap to go and it was on! I had the lead coming onto the road section, and carefully watched for him as I knew whoever was leading when we left the road had the upper hand.  Just as I thought he was not going to make a move he did, but luckily left me a hole a corner later and I took it back. At this point there were only two short straights where we could change positions and I felt very confident in holding him off. Then it happened…..as I rolled out of one of the last few corners just as I had every other lap, I applied the power coming out, but nothing….my chain had dropped off! That was it, I hopped off and threw it on as he rode away, I cruised it in for a lonely 4^th.  Much higher than any expectations I had for myself going into the weekend, but it still hurt pretty badly to lose it like that.  This weekend by far tops any races I have ever done thus far in my five years of bike racing.  The energy of the crowd when you are locked in a battle that intense with those caliber of riders for an hour is amazing, and a feeling I will never forget.