Howard County #2/ Rockburn Recap

Well alittle recap from the #2 version of the Howard County cross weekend in Maryland. Was the infamous Rockburn Cross, third version (year) of this race I have frequented. Love this race, never have done really well here, but just like the course(except for the long hill always on the backside of the course). Well girlfriend and doggies come along with me, start out on time(0615) and making great time down the road, probably get there @ 0745 or so. Get on 95 see signs saying accident on 95 south at same exit, I need to get off. It give alternate exit on sign, so figure be ok, but pull out GPS just to be sure. Well get further down the road and Blam! Standstill in traffic on 95. I see another unfortunate biker with bike on roof caught in same dilemma. folks are turning around, yeah turning around on 95 and going back down an entrance ramp to get off of 95, and go another direction. These freakin Marylanders are crazy!!! Saw almost 4 other accidents from this abuse of stupidity! HONESTLY FOLKS IS THERE ANYWAY ON EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THAT YOU NEED TO GO, THAT ENDANGERING OTHERS WILL ACCOMPLISH? Come on now!

Well did see three other actual fender benders besides actual wreckage that caused the closed down originally. Fine finally through the muck and rumble, 45 mins later and arrive at rockburn @ 2025. Just enough time to run(warm-up now) and register and visit por-pot(if you dont know what this is well you are missing out! : ). Get back , don my gear and get bike ready, got time for quick warm up ride up. Luckily parked in overflow right near race start, so can be there in flash. Getting close to time, and see noone lining up, HMMMM did i miss something? check with UCI judge and they kicked start back 30 mins because of accident. cool! But now ready way to early. I go back to car, relay info to better half and dog kisses await, then put on vest and go out and check out newer course this year. They made some changes, and i even like the changes: lots of turns and twists, short hills, stroll the woods remains, and few barriers, actually like this course even better. See my cross nemesis, Adam, and few others. Get chatting well soon time to go now.

Mass start of race, but position is decent for once! 2-3 rows back form adam, but not bad. Fast road start, no problem, bunch up a little at off camber entrance, but rolls quickly. Actually had good start and decent pace going. Love all the quick turns and flowing corners, nice combinations and yeah, NO long climb on backside of course. already reallyl liking this race now. See adam up ahead as usual(Mr early pre register always gets better starts!!!) Through one lap no problem, ending second lap and hear bell, well because they started late they decided to shorten race as well by one lap. Snap! time to put the heat on now. Wasnt even close to tanking yet, so speed up and flowed through corners that a lot of riders were getting sloppier at becuase of being tired. Come around a corner and adam right in front of me, we do another right 120 degree corner and then Adam goes down on slick corner, i go to outside and keep riding through it. He recovers and pulls in behind me, well i gunned it and started taking corners close and flying up short hills, he never comes back at me and i pick up 2 more riders along the way and trample them. Come in with gusto, and ready for sprint but noone takes the charge. Adam comes in few places behind, so the cross results margin is narrowing now- AHA! Come to find out he went down 2 more tiems and i finished strong with no wipeouts or any other problems.

Found out got 26th out of 66 , not too shabby still feelign pretty good, not wiped out like last season. have at least 2 more races to shine, so no holds bar- gotta go! did 2 more road rides in sloshy rain post race Tuesday and Wednesday, felt great and rode strong. Definitely feeling it for this weekend at Taneytown! See you there all and beware adam, I am gunning for you partner!