David's blog

Do you like Paris to Ancaster but are looking for a little bit more?

With my experiences at Verge I cannot help but wonder what the elements are that could bring something like the east coast series to Ontario. Is it prize money? Is it major sponsorship dollars? Is it UCI rankings. Is it a local ground swell that brought the sponsorship? Is it plain old rah rah rah. I wish that I had picked someones brains while I was down there. One thing is certain, the senior elite racers wre amazing to watch. The best part was seeing kids on tiny cross bikes riding the same course as the pros. They stayed all day to watch the big race. I certainly believe that a forum like this one will make the cross community come closer together.

December 10, verge #8, Greenwich. I was pumped by yesterdays finish. This race was in a stand of pine trees with two sandy beach runs. The commissaire warned us that the trees were winning the battle this day ( someone was taken away by ambulance). A local that I had befriended told me to expect a lot more speed. This time I looked over the heads of 60 people. The course consisted of really tight corners on hard pack sand. The finish was down a huge sweeping paved road. This pavement extended into a parking lot with two 180 degree turns. This was at the start of the lap and it was brutally fast. In a flash I found myself in the back at the first beach runnup.

December 9 , Verge #7 Warwick RI. The drive down was an escape from -20c weather to a balmy 4c. This was my first glimpse of the New England Scene.Darko and Rod convinced me to race the B men's (senior 2/3) euphemistically called the killer bees. Win this category and you go to the big show (pro men). I found a tight knit group, fun, approachable and serious all at the same time. After they staged the points contenders, we were placed according to our registration date. Looking over the heads of 50 some riders I knew that there was some work to be done (neglecting to research the details has always been a weakness of mine) The course was very flat and consisted of grass and pavement. Some corners were muddy with off camber exits. It was very evident that these corners were too technical for many as there was a pileup on almost every one on the first lap