VillainCX

The Villain crew represented up in Kansas City this weekend. Day 1 of racing Craig Staley came in 5th and Tony Steward at 7th. Day two Craig nailed the podium with a killer race and Tony held down 7th once again. Kudos to Okie Jason Pratt with two podium days as well. Good job guys!

joetoprocycling:

The Physician’s Optical River Cross was this past Sunday and it was awesome. Of course I am biased it was put on by the CX team I’m on and everyone pitched into make it a killer event. Course makes or breaks and event and over half of our team focused on making it have a little bit of everything you are looking for in American cross - ride up 4x4 hills, sand, mud, switch backs, climbs and barriers. Very proud of everyone that pitched into make it awesome - definitely the Bike One folks helping us with tents, running registration and more.

This cyclocross season has been a pleasant surprise so far. After a rough first road season a Cat 3 after June I went into an extended transition/base training phase - honestly just riding my bike and not focusing on “intensity” “intervals” or anything like that. I just tried to ride as much as possible. I was hoping for a fun cross season but I didn’t know if any results would come of it.

I think this easily happens in Oklahoma when the summer gets hot and it’s fatiguing just to keep getting on the bike. I’ve also been trying to “get my act together” with nutrition and losing a pound a week to drop weight - that I know is my biggest limiter competitively right now. So when the temperature starts cooling down everything perks up and motivation comes back. It’s also been nice to turn in some decent results this year.

This past sunday I bettered my first effort of the year coming in 6th! I had a bad position at the start of the race so I wasn’t sure where I would end up. But most people in my race seam to jump a little at the start but not stay on the gas to get into a good position. I just kept in on the floor the first half of the first lap until I got around 4th. Luckily avoiding a crash first time through the barriers I was in 4th for almost another lap going back and forth with my team mate Tommy and Bike One rider Troy Cowin. There were a couple technical sections that I didn’t have the confidence to keep speed in though - and they could start to gap me there.

From there it was a battle with two friends Kaleb Nimz and Rob Bell - both excellent CXers - and a rider from Tulsa Pete Ridilla. Me and Kaleb kept passing each other at different sections - me able to pound through the rough flat sections faster and Kaleb able to fly through the technical sections better. Unfortunately Kaleb broke a buckle on the run/ride up section with 4 4x4 logs in it. That gave me and Rob a good gap on him from that point on.

Rob is a strong Cat 2 roadie, so I had to stay on the rivet any time I could to stay try and keep a gap. I think with two laps to go I had just at 7 seconds on him and that’s when Pete came around and attacked pretty solid. He put in two hard laps and got about 10 seconds on me and it seemed Rob had disappeared (i learned later he had flatted on the last lap and battled it out for 9th). I thought I was fine for an easy roll in but then out of no where heading into the technical section Kaleb was charging hard, making up a couple seconds on each technical section. I had to jump back on it to make sure I kept a few seconds ahead of him and seal 6th.

As with most CX races you always think back and try to determine when you could have been going harder, and when you should had tried to make a move. I don’t know anytime I tried to “attack” at all, I just focused on trying to keep as much speed through corners and barriers/technical sections as possible and pushing a big gear through the rougher sections. I find pushing a big gear at 75 cadence in bumpy/rough sections helps you to keep a rhythm that doesn’t bounce your feet off the pedals.

As a perspective I didn’t really come close to a respectable top 10 in any of my races last year - especially after I upgraded to a CX 3. Two races in a row and it’s just a nice boost of motivation to stay on the bike and keep fighting to improve, gain in discipline, and race hard every time.

This weekend I’m going to the crown jewel cross race of Oklahoma - 3 days of Cyclocross in Tulsa at Ruts and Guts. I’m Pumped!

How you know it was a great day of cyclocross.

Chris Barnes

• 5’8”
• 150 lbs
• Category 4 CX

Chris is our lone cat 4 racer this year. He often tries to give the field an advantage by starting half-way across the course still warming up while the race is beginning… Chris has been racing and riding bikes for years and has gotten back into cross big time the last three. We are excited to see Chris get stronger and show up strong in the cat 4 races this year!

Devon Fox

• 5’5”
• kidding right?
• 1980 something
• Category 3 CX

Devon is the only lady on VillainCX this year proving her high tolerance for pain and patience - ha! Devon has been racing cyclocross for a couple of years, and also races Mountain Bikes and Road. She this years Cat 4 Women’s Oklahoma Criterium State Champion and has plenty more victories in her for this year of cross!

Carter Johnston

• real tall - like Ryan Trebon tall…
• 175 lbs
• Category 2 / Masters

Carter is a new member of the team being known around the community for kicking butt on the bike during cross races. He rides year round - road and cross - going up to Colorado a couple times a year. We are thrilled to have Carter join the team because he makes us look pro. :)