“Cross is coming” “Cross is coming”.

All year, we wait for cross reason. Truthfully, it’s the only racing I actively seek out. Sure, if there’s a MTB race nearby, I’m not going to say no, but cross is the only form of racing I truly love.

That said, I’m not really good at it. Not in the B’s anyway. Like most racers, you have your lucky days, your good days and your bad days. The latter can be the unfortunate by-product of mechanicals or just plain dead legs.

My weekend began as a continuation of the last. A run-in with a group of cacti (opuntia ficus-indica) left me with multiple flats last weekend – hey, those thorns get everywhere and are impossible to see. Yesterday, I pulled out of the race after a 1″ thorn from the Jerusalem Thorn Tree (Parkinsonia aculeata) – aptly named after the crown of thorns made for Christ – found my tire.

Here’s the part where everyone says I need to be racing tubulars, or tubeless, or whatever, I got it all worked out, don’t worry!

One day down and only three photos I’m stoked on. As both a cyclist and a photographer, you tell yourself if you do well with one, it’s ok to have a lackluster day with the other. Yesterday was a bust across both fronts…

This morning, the weather was the same. Rainy, dreary, mid 30’s. Perfect cross weather. After taking a spin, my legs felt fresh, the bike was riding great, despite the sealant in my inner tubes, and the barriers were hop-able. Things were looking up. My race went well – actually better considering the past few week’s endeavors were soiled.

Top 10 is ok with me in the B’s… Not to mention, I got some photos I’m cool with.

We wait all year for this, to turn ourselves out for two hours a weekend and it’s worth it. Also, post-race food in Texas ain’t bad either – next time I’ll bring my camera for that.