Date:
22 January 2006
Location: Watsonville
Category: Juniors
Distance/Time: 30 min
Field: 7
Conditions: Sunny but wet
Teammates: none, Travis in B's, my Dad, and Brian
Thomas in C's
Place: 1
My track coach, Steven Woo suggested to my dad
that it would be a good idea for me to try cyclecross
last year. This was my 5th race. Team mate Travis
has helped me with what to do, as I never tried
this before. I first raced on my Mom's mountian
bike, which was O.k. but was really heavy. But
my parents just got me a track bike for christmas,
and a road bike in early November - so I was stuck
with my mom's mountian bike. The 1st race was
really hard and I got 4th place. The 2nd race
was fun. It was @ fort ord and I got 4th place
again. I tried to stay with the Bicycle Trip kids,
but they all had cyclecross bikes and I was still
new to this type of racing.
My 3rd race we took my old raod bike and put nobby
tires on it, even though everyone told us not
to. They said it would not work. Not enough clearance
for the nobbies, but we tried it for my 3rd race.
I was able to stay with the lead group for the
1st lap then my chain got stuck and I had to switch
to my moms heavy mountian bike. a lot of people
passed me. On the next lap my dad gave me back
my road bike and I tried really hard to caught
back up and passed a lot of riders. I got 4th
again.
My next race was @ Watsonville fairgrounds. It's
really close to Gilroy so we don't have to wake
up too early. I tried my road bike again, but
this time it had just rained the day before and
it was UGLY. So much mud that we had to run alot.
I couldn't move my wheels some times. I placed
3rd. getting closer to beating the Santa Cruz
kids.
My next race was yesterday @ Watsonville fairgrounds
again. I was glad to see the course was changed
from last week. My dad, and Brian Thomas also
came to race. I was looking forward to beating
my dad, but he had some tire issues and didn't
race in the C group whcih is in my same race.
He used Brian's wheel and raced in the next race
with the B's. The 1st lap I was able to stay with
the Bicycle trip kids. then 2 of us dropped one
of the kids. Then I tried to pick up the pace
so the 3rd place kid would get farer behind. Then
I tried to stay on the first place guy wheel.
On the last last, on the paved part I sprinted
ahead and stay infront of him beofer the mud section
and beat him by 10 seconds for my first cycle
cross victory. They gave me a hat for wining.
Last week I got a water bottle for 3rd place.
Next week is the last cycle cross race. I think
the juniors should
come try this out so they can have fun racing
in the mud.
Andrew Lanier, Jr.
San Jose Bicycle Club
Racing since 1939
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