1st CX race of the season - Jeff Ker, Toronto, Canada

Greetings guys, believe it or not I have struggled to find the time to do this and I don't have much time this AM.
Alright.
Last weekend was the 2nd official CX race in Ontario South. I missed the first one with Kelly and I going to Chicago. But the 2nd one came and I had just completed building my first set of wheel, tubulars at that. I spent the money and I have to say without question it is so rewarding to ride on wheels you built. Good tubulars, Challenge Fangos, are an incredible ride, They are lofty and grabby and improved my abilities ten fold. They did make me faster even.
The course was incredible with good flat sections of twisty grass and gravel patches, significant hills to climb, Run ups to toss your BF and deep/steep sandy descents. I was so thrilled to be doing cross again I think I did the whole race with an ear to ear grin.
By the 2nd last lap my legs in the run up were about to seize which I knew would be the end. My chain was fighting me to move up to the big ring and I was loosing ground on the fellow I was chasing. I slowly picked off one rider at a time( for the sole reason that the fast guys didn't show up and I have been training for this religiously for weeks) and Kelly was stationed at all the most demanding spots to cheer me on. I find it particularly handy to coach your cheering section beforehand lest they say things like"go Jeff" and c'mon Jeff". This does nothing for me when I'm scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

The tires held like gun metal magnets through the turns. I find it ironic that Ontario has these crazy long hills to ride whereas BC don't do much of that. There were more barriers out in BC. But I think Sean might experience the long hills in the 3 peaks.
I managed to hold on and didn't go into my natural CX state of hyperventilation. Finished 2nd, though none of the fast guys were present as I said earlier.
This weekend coming will tell the truth.

There is a race in Guelph about 1 hr from Toronto and It was a blast last year. I just can't get this excited from road racing.

So I'm happy to lend any advice on wheelbuilding and I highly recommend it. Stay tuned for my next post on my 220km ride up to Wiarton Ontario on my Ira Ryan Randonneuse.