Trans Iowa V12

The Interim

I'm struggling here. I know the post "big event" dip all too well. In the days following, you feel a sense of loss and depression. That "what do I do now?" feeling. You second guess your training leading up to the big event. You question nearly everything you do and have done. Maybe you're less than pleasant to be around. 

As I write this, I'm nearing two weeks after my finish at Trans Iowa. I've been battling all of the above. My left hand is still numb, specifically at the finger tips. I've been dealing with a virus for the last 2 weeks. My compromised immune system allowed this beast to settle in, afflicting me with headaches, cough, fever, and lethargy.

Jim Phillips and I at The Cedar Cross - May 7th, 2016

On a bright note, I'm recovering and feeling much better. This coming weekend (May 7th) I'm heading to Jefferson City MO to enjoy 110 miles of The Cedar Cross. This race is a mash-up of gravel racing, mountain biking, and self flagellation. Racing Cedar Cross was a motivational tool to get me back on the bike. June 4th I will be in Emporia KS for 200 miles of the Flint Hills. Regardless of the conditions, The Dirty Kanza is never easy. 

Cedar Cross

Heading to Iowa - L-R Myself, Collin Little, Jim Phillips, Jamie Wynne

Trans Iowa v12 - Prologue

Sunday morning, shortly after sunrise #2, Jamie, JT and I have been riding for 27 hours and we're approaching the City of Baxter Iowa. In the distance I notice what appears to be the city limits sign. Jamie and I are side by side, enjoying a rare glassy smooth stretch of pave. No words, just an exchange of looks. I hear a servo chirp from Jamie's Di2, I drop a cog, we stand, we sprint. Jamie takes the city limits sign sprint win.....at mile 286. We still have 54 miles to reach the finish line. Right there, that's why I love him. 

Trans Iowa v12 - Sunrise #1

Trans Iowa v12 Starting Line

My memory of the events leading up to the Baxter Iowa sprint are fuzzy, like a dream recalled in fractured segments.

3:50 AM Saturday morning, and I'm chatting with Corey Godfrey near the start line. I've been riding endurance gravel for +5 years and this morning, I see many friends and familiar faces. It's a narrow spectrum of riders that "enjoy" this hobby. A few words from Mark, a blast of the horn, and we're rolling conservatively fast and furious toward checkpoint #1 at 50 miles.  

Trans Iowa Starting Line

At a post race meeting, I was asked about my race day plan. In all honesty, I didn't have a global plan, not one detailed in hard copy. I had an immediate goal of sticking with team Kuat to checkpoint #1 at 50 miles. We had to average right at 12 mph to make it before the cutoff. Three hours, thirty-three minutes later, we arrive at check point #1 with a 15 mph average. 

Step #1 successfully completed. 

At mile 70, nearly 5 hrs into the ride I stop at a Casey's in Victor, Iowa. The place is busy, buzzing with riders refueling, in search of the elusive "real food". I want a slice of pizza, but it was disappearing at rate typically reserved for bread and milk before the snow storm. My team Kuat friends had split up, with Jim and Collin ahead of me, and Jamie trailing me by a few minutes. I down a sandwich and chips, load up on liquids, then head North.

Saturday Morning - Mile 90 Climbing the 13th Ave. Hill

Somewhere around the 100 mile mark, I hear a familiar voice behind me shout "Nice bike". The voice is Jim Cummins'. He's complimenting my bike because, it's a righteously good lookin' bike.....and it used to be his righteously good looking bike. Jim is riding with Scott Omara and Warren Wiebe. We spend the next several hours visiting and making our way North to the next source of sustenance, a convenience store in Traer Iowa at TI mile 132. By Traer, we've been riding for 9 hours and 40 minutes and we're hungry for some more "real food". 

My Fargo in its natural habitat

We leave Traer and continue the push North, assisted by a much appreciated tailwind. This section is highlighted by an arrow straight 10 mile run up Ansborough avenue. Nice hard pack gravel, perfect weather, and that tailwind. Even with 150 miles on the legs, this section was a joy.  

The Interim

I have the luxury of like-minded friends willing to train with me for hours and hours. Months prior to Trans Iowa, nearly every weekend was spent exploring new routes that Collin had mapped. Gravel exploration exposes you to areas that you would otherwise never see. There's beauty in this world that is muted, or altogether removed by the creature comforts of the modern automobile.

Sunrise Training Ride

In these hours we talk life, love, politics, religion, and more importantly, bikes and bike racing. At times we just bitch and moan, it's clinically therapeutic to bitch and moan. 

Jim, thanks for documenting our rides so well.

Trans Iowa v12 - The Sunset

Thirteen hours, fifteen minutes, and 165 miles after leaving Grinnell, we arrive in Hudson, Iowa. I'm still travelling with Jim, Scott and Warren. At this point in the race, Jim Phillips is off the front at +1 hour, Collin is leaving the convenience store a few minutes after I arrive, and Jamie arrives a few minutes after I do. We rest, we fuel, we ride.

From Hudson we're heading primarily West toward Grundy Center at TI mile 189. It's getting dark, and during the stop in Grundy Center we fuel and adjust clothing layers accordingly. 

Jamie and I had been leap frogging one another for 20 hours now. I come upon him at an intersection near the 200 mile mark. I let Team Emporia ride away and joined Jamie and JT. We would spend the remaining 140 miles together. 

 Trans Iowa v12 - The Darkness

We continue the push South toward the Iowa River valley. Around TI mile 220, Jamie, JT, and I are descending a hill on the rutted B road, 270th Ave. JT caught a front wheel in one the ruts and face planted hard. We both thought this might be the end of JT's Trans Iowa. We had him sit while we assessed him for damage, and quickly deemed his wounds superficial. His headlight required some McGyver engineering, but the bike controls were sound. 

Twenty hours, and 236 miles in and I feel a serious bonk heading my way. It's 1:20 am Sunday and I need some calories. We stop for a nature break and I tell Jamie that I need some real food soon. He offers me half of the breakfast burrito that he'd been packing since Grinnell. I'm not sure what the shelf life is for a breakfast burrito, but that might have been the best thing I've ever tasted, at least that's how I remember it.

It's 3:10am when we arrive in State Center, Iowa. TI mile 265. We're out of food and water. We cross a set of railroad tracks and find a closed convenience store. We sat down for bit, unsure what to do next. Luckily JT pulled out his phone and determined there was a convenience store a mile further. Otherwise we may have sat there for days. 

Little did we know, Collin and Jim had left this c-store 15 minutes before we arrived. I remember Jamie and I slumped in the floor of the Caseys, leaning against the coffee island. We had no words, but listened to the clerk explain to a coworker how nobody wanted to work very hard these days. With warm food and rest came the strong desire for sleep. We found the energy to get up and head back out to the bikes.

Single speeder, Jeremy Kershaw rode up as we were loading bottles. He exclaimed that he'd been riding alone for hours, obviously elated to see a convenience store and people. He asked Jamie, "How far out is the lead group?" Jamie paused, looked him square in the eye, and said, "I don't know what that means?". 

Trans Iowa v12 - Sunrise #2 The Deep Gravel

Jamie and JT - Somewhere in Iowa

After that city limits sign sprint in Baxter, the gravel got mean. Deep chunky gravel that tries to make you bleed. Combined with continuous rollers, this was soul crushing. 

It was one of the final stretches due East that I looked down. I kept seeing bright flashes of light. The flashes were reminiscent of the sun reflecting off the surface of water. The first time, I just dismissed it as a rogue reflection, the second time I was looking for the source of this phenomenon. I failed to find it. I discussed this with Jamie, and he said with certainty, "there are no flashes of light coming from your tires, ride on". 

At mile 335, we stop at an intersection to drink. I post this to Facebook. I remember reading it several times over in my head, making sure it made some sense. 

It did.

Trans Iowa v12 

 Jim Phillips - 11:11am (31hrs:11min)

 Collin Little - 11:24am (31hrs:24min)

 Jamie Wynne - 12:06pm (32hrs:06min)

 Don Buttram - 12:06pm (32hrs:06min)

Jamie, Myself, and JT at the finish. 

At the Finish Line - Left to Right, Jamie Wynne, Jim Phillips, Collin Little, Don Buttram

Austin Rattler 2016

Mountain bike racing is not pretty, I have pictures to prove it. 

Yours Truly At the Finish

My goal: Travel to Rocky Hill Ranch, race hard and secure a slot in the Leadville 100 MTB this coming August. Others had similar ambitions, LOTS of others. If my aging chicken legs, didn't produce the finish time necessary for a Leadville coin, plan B had me vying for spot via qualifier lottery. 

My friend Dathan Atchison invited me to carpool down with his family. The trip was enjoyable, and the drive time passed quickly. We traveled on Thursday, for a Saturday race. 

Friday we made the quick trip from our hotel in Bastrop, out to Smithville for packet pick-up and to pre-ride the course with Dave Wiens and other racers. I'm an unabashed Dave Wiens fanboy. He's a Topeak Ergon team member, a two-time US National Mountainbike Champion, multiple worldcup winner, member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, and rounding out his resume are SIX consecutive Leadville 100 MTB wins! 

But the accolades are not why I'm a fan. Dave will ride the course with you, offering valuable insight to everyone from the first time racer, to the seasoned pro. He's genuine and humble, the world needs more of that. Oh, and by the way, Saturday, he won the Austin Rattler. When Dave speaks, listen.

Wiens on the course at Austin Rattler 2016

With a feel for the course under our belts, Dathan and I called it quits after 8-10 miles. We'd have our fill on Saturday.

____________________________________

Saturday morning the weather looking promising with only a 20% chance of afternoon showers. The field at Rocky Hill Ranch was large, 575 in the 100k race alone. 

The 100k Starting Line

With the traditional shot gun blast by race director Josh Colley, we're off to the races. The first lap of (3) bypasses the immediate single track in favor a double track climb to break up the field prior to entering the single. The pace is aggressive, and I'm working hard to maintain my solid position as mid-pack fodder. The course offers variety to suite every rider's taste. Dusty double track, open cow path single (which felt like babyhead cobbles), some of the tightest wooded single I've ridden to-date, and straight up gravel road.

The ONLY time I was clean during the race.

I'm focused and riding solid. I finish the first lap with +13 mph average. There's plenty of opportunities to drink and eat on this course. I'm sharing the Atchison family support crew, they kept me fueled and got me in-and-out in stellar fashion! 

My lap number 2 was solid, albeit at a bit slower pace. (11.4 mph avg.) It was nice having a good idea as to what was coming up next on the course. Lap number 3 was different. It started sprinkling rain about 5 miles from the finish. At 4 miles to go, the sprinkles turned to a deluge. What had previously been sweet berms was now muddy, greasy face plant material. I backed off my pace in the muddy sections and finished the race in 5hr:18m:59s. 

  

With this being the first Leadville qualifier of 2016, the field was tough. My finish time did not merit a Leadville coin. I was left to the luck of the draw during the lottery portion of the racers that finished under the cutoff time. It was not my lucky day. I plan to head to Leadville in July to compete in the Silver Rush 50. My goal for Silver Rush, same as before, race hard and secure a Leadville 100 MTB position. 

 "I Never Lose. I Either Win
Or Learn."
~ Nelson Mandela

Dathan went on to rock the Rattler with a phenomenal 4:28:28. A time worthy of Leadville entry on performance virtue. Dathan, well done brother! Congratulations, you're heading to the race across the sky!

Dathan Atchison on the 2016 Austin Rattler Course

 This weekend, April 23-24, I'm off to Grinnell Iowa for a bike ride with friends.

'Til we ride again.
Cheers,
db

Land Run 100

Photo Credit- James Gann

The Scene: 2016 Land Run 100 finish line.

District Bicycles- Stillwater Oklahoma. 

Bobby wants us to #unlearnpavement. What is that?

"Something that allows each person the opportunity to begin to find out who they really are, and what they are capable of. This is the heart of unlearnpavement."
    ~Bobby Wintle

 "What's he on?", says a bystander.

Bobby's "on" a mission. A mission to make each and every one of the nearly 500 riders and runners feel the love that he has for them as they cross the finish line. He wants us all to see the world as an exciting place to be.

He's "on" for 7 plus hours. He's "on" unbridled enthusiasm, and the world needs a helluva lot more of it. 

Bobby wants you to get a glimpse of how he sees the world. A world ripe with adventure possibilities. He knows the secret. Shared suffering. He knows friendships forged in trying times are strongest. He knows that feeling of satisfaction that overwhelms you when you've completed something that once seemed insurmountable.

Don't show up at Land Run with an easy day in mind. You're at the wrong race. Most of the riders experienced the difficulties of the 2015 race, or at least seen pictures. The fleeting moments of muddy bravado, punctuated by expensive noises. 

Be prepared to hike-a-bike, or risk an early race day retirement. 

When I'm here, I feel at home. I'm among like minded, caring, and loving friends. I truly enjoy seeing these friends take on this challenge, a challenge that may have defeated them in the past, and find redemption in the red clay mud.  

Why gravel?

My answer is simple. Modern roads have been engineered to reduce the time it takes to get from point A to point B. Fair enough, I appreciate that when I'm driving. But when I'm riding gravel I get to enjoy stretches of road that I would never drive. I get to enjoy the true lay of the land. I see, hear, and smell the world at large. I can ask the question, "Where does that road go?" and then find out.

And when I get to take that adventure with friends, that's just icing on a seven layer cycling cake.

I was asked, "Do you know everybody here?".........not yet.

Bobby, Crystal, Team District Bicycles, all the wonderful, welcoming volunteers, Stillwater, thank you for the family reunion. 

Photo Credit- James Gann

Much Love,

 db

  

Cuban Gravel Crisis

 I have a condition. I was unaware of said condition, until my friend pointed it out. I suffer from exercise induced rhinitis. And, know this, I'm not looking for sympathy. Please, save that for one of my many other conditions.

My friend, whom prefers to remain anonymous, (John Long), is a federal government employee. He explained, as a federal government employee, you cannot simply have a "runny nose during exercise". This situation requires a condition, hence "exercise induced rhinitis".

This condition segues into one of my other conditions, Snotrocketous Imperfecti, or, in laymen terms, an imbalanced nasal cavity outflow. My left nostril. Perfect trajectory. My right, OMG!

I know what you're thinking, (along with "this is disgusting"), why is this a big deal? It's 40°F, I'm barreling down a gravel road on my bike, 20ish mph, it's hard to breath. It's really hard to breath with a stuffed up nose. I gotta get rid of that stuff. As a courtesy, I check for riders nearby, and clear the left side. I dread it, but I need to clear the right as well. I dread it because, at best, it's gonna wind up on my shoulder or sunglasses, or worse, pop my right eardrum, which occasionally sends my balance into a spiral.

I am fortunate. I'm 8 miles into the Cuban Gravel Crisis, hanging with the lead group, but I'm one layer too heavy, and have to stop and remove my wind shell. I take this opportunity to clear that right nostril.

Jim Phillips and I both stop, remove a layer, and let the pack gap us, agreeing this stop will keep us from chasing a group that will put us in the red zone far too long. Everyone has a slightly different red zone, but spend too much time there during a 100 mile gravel race, and you'll spiral into a seemingly bottomless pit of pain.  

A gratuitous photo op to show off my 1 month old grandson, Liam Buttram.

Liam Buttram- Age 1 Month

Jim and I rode the majority of the 102 miles together. It was nice to have the company of a friend. The CGC course is one to be reckoned with. The first 40 miles is an unrelenting onslaught of rollers, not unlike the 150 miles of Gravel Worlds. Rollers replete with washboard features and nice, loose, gravel. 

The CGC Course - Photo Credit: Josh Lederman

It was in this first 40 mile section I felt some chafing in my chamois area. I was wearing new bib shorts, and some chafing is not unusual. They kinda have a "break in" window. I wasn't that worried, because I had a safety net packet of chamois butt'r at hand in the gas tank. I'm extremely clever like that. 

During a nature break, I decided to remedy the chafing issue, which had escalated, by applying the additional Chamois Butt'r. I pull it from the gas tank, tear off the tab, and squeeze, looking forward to the creamy goodness. But, here's the deal, this goodness wasn't creamy. It lacked the familiar viscosity. It was clear. It was, well, soapy-ish. To the untrained eye, packets of Chamois Butt'r Kit Wash and Chamois Butt'r cream are very similar. Again, I'm extremely clever like that.

Jim, being a good friend, offered to share some of his Chamois Butt'r. The offer came with a qualifier, it had already been applied. I carefully weighed the offer. Then declined. 

Ride Forward.

Jim and I had been jockeying positions with six time Ironman and Trans Iowa finisher, Josh Lederman. Josh battled some flats earlier in the race, and flatted again on a descent with Jim and I. He was out of tubes, and down to patching. I donated one of my spare tubes to the cause. Earlier in the race, I bragged to Jim about my tires. My Clements had taken me across the Kanza, through Gravel Worlds, and numerous gravel and road rides in the interim, with nary a flat. Jim said it was way too early to say that. 

CGC River Crossing - Photo Credit: Josh Lederman

Miles 40-70 presented some substantial climbs. I've been streaming Amazon Prime music to my car via bluetooth, and had a great playlist for the hour plus drive from Lebanon to Cuba. It's a good playlist including Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Awolnation, and some acoustic stuff. But it was The White Stripes 7 Nation Army that became my CGC earworm. You have no idea how many times you can play that baseline riff in your head during 8 hours of gravel riding. I used this riff, along with some pedal stroke counts to take my mind away from the climbing.

The fuel station/check point at mile 82 provided much needed liquid refreshment. We've been riding for 6hr:30m. and I could feel it. Jim was holding back for me. It was here I told him to go on.

The course leveled off for the last 20 mile leg back to Cuba. The refuel helped, and I could smell the barn. Jim had gapped me after the 82 mile stop, but I came upon him patching a flat around mile 91. Hoping generosity would balance the earlier "no flat" braggadocio, I toss Jim my last tube. I had a party to attend in Springfield later that evening, and made haste to the finish. 

My friends, Collin Little, Anatolie Junco, and Paul Erickson worked together, posting a phenomenal finish at 7hrs:10m. Jonathan Graif snagged the overall single speed win, with a quad crushing 7hr:53m. RESPECT. Well done gentlemen. Full results can be seen here.

Left to Right - Paul Erickson, Anatolie Junco, Jonathan Graif

Collin Little's Finish Time: 7hr:10m

The Legend that is Jim Phillips at the finish line.

Major Kudos to Mr. Bob Cummings for crushing the inaugural Cuban Gravel Crisis with a monster 6hr:25m finish.

Left to Right- Mr. Josh Brown and Overall CGC Winner: Bob Cummings
Photo Credit: Mrs Cummings

Josh Brown. You're a tough competitor, righteous race promoter, and most importantly, a kind and generous human being. Well done brother. 

2015 Leadville Trail 100 MTB The Finish

My previous 2015 Leadville Trail 100 MTB posts.

• 2015 Leadville Part 1
• 2015 Leadville Part 2
• 2015 Leadville Part 3
• 2015 Leadville Part 4 

Powerline Climb

I'm staring up at the Powerline climb. Dreading it. I fight this beast every year. The beast is winning. Not just winning, this 3 mile climb kicks my ass.

My Powerline Climbs - The steep section

I stop and do my best to get the sweat out of my eyes, and take this opportunity to eat and drink.

Back to pushing. Sweating. Riding. Pushing. Sweating.

Around 4 miles after you turn off the highway, it levels out. You can ride again. I find the Sugarloaf descent a welcome change of pace. Doing my best to recover and go fast simultaneously.

I'm out of water. I'm thirsty. Bad combo. Some insanely awesome spectators are handing out bottles of water at the base of the Carter Summit climb. Even lukewarm water was a little bit of heaven.

I felt some eagerness in my legs, and climbed with a purpose. I grab some electrolytes at the Carter Summit aid station and work my way through the little punch-ups en route to St. Kevin's.

The descent went really smooth.
I was getting excited.

At the base of St. Kevin's, I came upon Rhys Lyster, an Australian. Rhys asks if there's a chance to make the finish line in under 10 hours. My math, clouded by a long day, still came up with "NO".

I clarify that "NO" was just my opinion, and he should certainly try. Just be aware, you still have the boulevard to climb, and don't underestimate its difficulty.

Rhys hit the boosters and hammered through the mud holes by the railroad tracks.

I caught Rhys on that rocky section up to main road. I told him this section is short lived, and there's some smooth gravel at the top of the hill. He thanked me.

I worked the boulevard hard and a few minutes later, I was taking the right hand turn at the school. 

At the crest of the hill I see the finish line. That strip of red carpet that says you can rest now. The spectators funnel you to the finish line mats. Your mind wants to sprint that last bit, and I'm sure my pace improved, but it was lame as far as sprints go.

Merilee medals me. The awesome Linda Guerrette snaps a photo. Thank you Linda.

At the Finish Line

Super crew Cynthia takes over and guides me through the chaos. She's pushing my bike now. Cynthia, Thank You. I pushed that thing enough for one day.

My friend John Bradley crushed his way to another big buckle with a 8:48.

John Bradley at the Finish Line

Friend and Leadman competitor Jake Bradley clocked in at 10:15. Well done my friends!

Jake is Done!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Team Trailspring for all the support at Leadville. 

Myself, Matt, and Jason

Single digit finish, that's motivation for 2016.

db

Singletrack & SingleTrack Mind Festival

September 2nd, 2015

Wednesday evening, I met up with John² (Long & Bradley) and ventured out to Two Rivers Mountain Bike Park to recon the course, as I planned to race XC Marathon on Sunday of the Singletrack Mind Festival.

We admire the improvements to the facilities and all the new trail since my last visit. The XC course basically laps the perimeter of the park.

Two things quickly became obvious.

• 3 or 4 laps of this course was going to be a tough workout.
• Wow, it's been a long time since I rode singletrack of substance. 

Near the 8 mile mark of the 9 mile XC loop, you enter the downhill section which has a wall ride feature. Me, not having ridden the wall recently*, though it prudent to give it a go. 

In my minds eye, it was gonna look like this.

Actual wall I tried to ride, with a rider actually riding the wall

In reality, my ride was less impressive. I feel that 1 or maybe 2 of those pesky laws of Newton's colluded to make my wall ride less than epic. Then, my audience of alleged friends, both, exacerbated the situation by laughing, a lot.

The fall that immediately followed the shortage of momentum, force, adhesion, lack of friction and other NASAish stuff, sent me on a sliding path to terra berma**.

A path that put a nice burn on my forearm, and somehow knocked my rear wheel out of the dropouts. 

While I pick up the pieces, John² done what good friends do. 

Rode on without me.

*NEVER

** Similar to terra firma, just packed down with a shovel

September 5th, 2015

Saturday I volunteered at the Singletrack Mind Festival. My duties included mixing up copious amounts of electrolyte drink, and directing racers to the parking lot. I enjoyed the parking lot duty as it afforded me an opportunity to make this fashion statement.

And yes, I know the reflective vest looks good with the pirate socks. 

This is not me, nor will it ever be - Photo credit to Kimberly Metzger

This is not me, nor will it ever be - Photo credit to Kimberly Metzger

My friend Jim Phillips made a video of the gravel ride from the festival Saturday morning. Check it out. Great job Jim!

The vibe was great Saturday and I enjoyed seeing my friends, and all of the trail running participants.

Major kudos to all of the Singletrack Mind team for an impressive weekend.

September 6th, 2015

Race day. The XC marathon starts at 10:00am, and it's already a sauna.

That's me, the handsome one.

I started out really conservative, and got progressively slower, just to make sure I didn't blow up.

I did.

Lap 1 = 58:50

Lap 2 = 59:16

Lap 3 = 1:08:15 (If math is not your friend, this is where I blew up)

If you made it back to the start/finish before the 3 hour mark, you had the opportunity to start another lap, or be heckled.

I faked several mechanicals, sat with my head on the handlebars (not fake), and used a few other secret tricks to make sure I was NOT at the start/finish in under 3 hours.

Post race. Absolutely drenched.

As you can see in the results here, I absolutely crushed it*.

*Mid-pack fodder as usual

September 9th, 2015

Wednesday evening. I'm in a hurry, running late to Magruderville.

It's been a year since I had ridden Magruderville. I missed it, but had a busy racing season.

The man

Tom's place has a great laid back vibe, some righteously tight single, and post ride food and beverages.

Post ride socializing. Photo credit to Magruderville

It was nearly dark upon my arrival. I slapped on some lumens and set out on a solo lap. 

The Magruderville trail building team have been busy in the last 12 months, and I enjoyed the new sections. I was again reminded of how little singletrack I've ridden.

Tom gave me a tour of the newly renovated kitchen (the termites had attacked). It was nice to sit around the fire a while.

Thanks Tom.

September 12th, 2015

Saturday morning it was 54 miles of road riding with the usual suspects. It was different. I had fingers on my gloves, and arm warmers!

John Long and I ran out to Sac River afterwards and watched a little CX racing, then made a lap.

What a beautiful weekend.

db