2008 Capitol Cross Classic - Reston, VA

A true cyclist is not a fair weather cyclist, and a fair weather cyclist is certainly not a cyclocrosser. Nowhere was this more evident than at this Sunday's Capitol Cross Classic; a thin sheet of snow and ice covered the ground as air temperatures hovered at or below an icy 30 degrees for most of the day while the winds blasted from 20 to 40 mph over the frigid waters of Lake Fairfax.

And it was to this quaint suburban summer retreat that the MAC cyclocross series came to on this barren and desolate winter day for its series finale, the Capitol Cross, presented by The Bike Lane and the Potomac Velo Club. Inhospitable as the weather may have been, the Capitol Cross is the de-facto end of the season party for the MAC/MABRA 'cross scene, so the atmosphere was warmed up by the good social vibes and celebration of all things velo (velo with knobbies and cantilever brakes, of course). Also warming things up were the heated bathrooms and the heated "HQ" building, where riders could sign in without frostbitten fingers.

Not heated, however, was the course. In fact, the open section along the Lake Fairfax dam concentrated the worst aspects of the day's weather to all those who had to race along it, leaning precariously into the brutally strong and icy winds. But once across this forbidding no-mans land, the course turned into a true cyclocross paradise. The run-up from the lake was longer than ever, and harder with the installment of new railway ties. After a grueling slog through the ensuing gravel (read: rocks) section, a key feature of the course reared it's infamous ugly head - the technical downhill and the very slick off-camber, where many a bike and rider met the ground.

Being my last race of the season, I was looking to go down with all guns firing in the C Men's race, even as I was just getting over being sick. Two years ago I came to this race as a spectator, witnessing my first ever cyclocross race. Last year I came here to race at the tail end of my first 'cross season, finishing 44th. This year, after a season of three top 30 finishes and two top 20s, I came looking to keep this season in the top 30. Despite falling on the off-camber, I made up time and positions on the run-ups and the climbs, and finished the day in 26th, taking that position in a sprint to the line. Otherwise, I had a great time out on the course, making my passes on the run-ups and climbs. At the end of it all, it was nice to finish and find the warmth of my car and the warmth of my fellow 'crossers afterwards on this very arctic day.

Afterwards, I turned my attention to supporting my Bike Rack DC team mate, Matthew Bartlett, in the B Men's race. Bartlett won the C Men's race at the DCCX, and has been riding strongly in the Cat 3/4 races since. Bartlett had a strong day out on this very challenging course, finishing the day in 25th after steadily moving up all during the race. Also in the race was my friend Mike Giancoli of Hup United. He missed the C Men's race earlier in the day, and made it up with a brave ride in this field of some very fast and strong riders.

Overall, a great race and a tough day and an awesome way to end an awesome season for myself and my team. 'Nuff said, here's lots of pictures. Thanks for reading this and checking out the blog, and stay tuned to The Complete Jewish Cyclist for more of your kosher cycling fix.

C Men's Race

The cold and frigid start of the C Mens race at 9:00 AM. I'm in the blue and black Bike Rack kit, just behind Steve Riskus of AABC.

Charging the fast downhill section out of the forest behind Lake Fairfax. This descent became dicier with each pass.

The infamous off-camber was the crux of the race, especially for the C Mens race when the ground was slick and hard, offering little purchase. I went down here.

Getting back on while being passed by Elliot Caldwell, whom I would have to race against later on in a sprint to the finish line.

The run up was a real challenge, as it was made longer this year than in previous years, but turning off of the frigid exposed section of the Lake Fairfax dam was actually a nice relief.

The run up was crucial, as I was able to make up a few places here, but it did take a massive effort.

Descending out of the forest and off of the dam, this was a part of the course to gain plenty of speed and keep the pace high, as a brave spectator looks on in the freezing cold.

3/4 Mens & B Masters

Action from the Mens 3/4 & Masters race. I'm not sure who this guy is, but I see him all of the time. He's a super cool guy who also happens to be a bad-ass 'crosser.

The Unholy Rouleur himself, Jim from Squadra Coppi, leads a group up one of the technical climbs out on the course.

Joseph Ventosa of Proteus is both an very nice guy and a hearty racer. He does something like two or three races, and can be found hammering on both a geared bike and a single speed.

Not everybody is Sven Nys, but everybody races 'cross, and anybody who races 'cross is commendable and exciting to watch.

Around the Race Venue

The heated bathrooms just yards from the start line came as a luxury on this brutally raw day.

The strong gusty winds had the course tape flapping wildly all over the place, even tearing it down in many sections.

It was a long windy drag to the finish line, where the banner flailed in the strong breezes.

The race venue provided an nice gathering area, providing exhibitors from The Bike Lane, REI, and a food vendor serving warm food and drinks (sadly, none of it kosher). Many of the tents actually blew over in the winds.

Steve Riskus (AABC) on the left, and James McNeely (Squadra Coppi) on the right trading war stories from out on the course.

Tom Jones and Chris Mattingly of Proteus.

Hmmm...now which of these free sponsored BMC 'cross bikes is mine...

...none. Mine is my trusty, tried and true Cannondale Optimo Cyclocross (not free nor sponsored, but masterfully serviced by the master mechanics at The Bike Rack).

B Men's Race

Riders warming up and staying warm for the B Men's race...

...and look who's doing the Bs! Michael Giancoli of HUP United came for the C Men's race, but showed up late so decided to mix it up in the upper classes. Mike's a kick-ass C racer, so it's rad that he made an on-the-spot decision to do the notoriously fast Killer B's race.

James Mcneely having a pre-race chat with Giancoli ("dude, my hat and sweater are so much warmer than your helmet and skinsuit right now").

My Bike Rack DC team mate and winner of the C Men's race at the DCCX lines up for the start of the B Men's race.

Giancoli at the start as well, with yet another cool variation of the HUP United team kit.

Bartlett in the opening lap, working the switchback midfield.

Giancoli comes through the same section a few moments later.

Bartlett powers up the climb, beginning his surge up through the field.

Giancoli climbs the hill as well as riders begin to fall behind him as well.

Off the damn and through the forest, Bartlett settles into his rhythm.

Giancoli also finds a line through the increasingly slippery corners.

Bartlett working the run up, where he displayed fine form as the race progressed.

He also showed fine form on the slick off-camber, staying on his machine through this dicey section.

Giancoli on the off-camber, guiding his Rock Lobster through a good line.

Nearing the end of the race, Bartlett gives it full gas towards a fine 25th place finish in this grueling race on a brutal day.

Giancoli powers up the climb, also near the end of a good race. He came to race the C's, and ended up racing the B's, and with a series of excellent finishes this season, this was an heroic way for him to finish up the 'cross season. HUP HUP HUP!

Photographic Self-Indulgance

We love cycling for many reasons, and one of them is purely visual. Cycling is a very aesthetic sport, and to a greater degree, lifestlye. Whether the images be of bikes, riders, or landscapes such as the serpantine road up L'Alpe D'Huez or the brutal cobbles of the Foret du Arenburg, cycling's visual library is both vast and ever enticing. And in particular, cyclocross holds its own special place in the library of cycling imagry; raw weather, muddy courses, faces twisted in painful contortion, and empassioned fans. Of course this imagery is played out on a grand and epic scale on the legendary 'cross battlefields of Belgium, but for us MABRA/MAC cyclocrossers, we'll take what we can get, and we are very appreciative of what we have.

Here is some random photos from my 2008 cyclocross season to enjoy while I'm busy assembling a photo essay for the 2008 Capitol Cross. Thanks to Ryan Dudek who took most of these photos while cheering me on (C'MON JASON!!!). Thanks also to everybody who's snapped photos of me as well. If you see one of your pictures here, please let me know so that I can give you credit, or take them down if that is your wish.

2008 Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross - Buckystown, MD

2008 DCCX - Washington, DC

2008 Rockburn Cross - Elkridge, MD

2008 Tacchino Ciclocross - Leesburg, VA

Capitol 'Cross Classic - Quick Report

Brrr....

I finished off my 2008 cycling season yesterday morning at the Capitol 'Cross Classic in Reston, VA. It was a brutally tough day to ride a bike, much less race a bike. The temperatures sat at or below 30 degrees for most of the day and the winds blasted from between 20 to 40 mph. Still, this is cyclocross, and the tougher, the better (and kudos for anybody brave enough to come out an watch this race. Standing around in the icy cold and frigid winds was as challenging as was racing in it.)

I'm working on a longer posting with a full race report and lots of photos, but in the meantime, here's the gist of it all: I came to this race three years ago as a spectator to witness my first ever cyclocross race live. I came to race it last year and finished 44th. This year I returned better trained and more experienced in the ways of cyclocross and finished 26th. Either way, no matter how brutal the weather or competition, it was as fun as ever, and a great way to cap off an incredible cycling year.

Here's a teaser photo, and in a few days, I'll have the whole write up and photos posted.

2008 Tacchino Ciclocross

Damn it was cold this morning!

And since it was a cyclocross race, damn it was fun!

And fun is indeed a great way to describe this race put on by the folks at Squadra Coppi. This Italiancentric racing club, based in Arlington, VA, and named after the famed "Il Campionissimo" himself - Fausto Coppi - the Coppi team once a year brings an Italian flair to this very Belgian sport. Italian for "Turkey Cyclocross" to honor the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, this late-season race in is fun event giving a bit of a break to the racers who are near the end of a very serious season of racing.

Held in scenic Ida Lee Park in beautiful Leesburg, Virignia at the base of the Catoctin Mountains, the Tacchino Ciclocross presents a challenging course to the riders. The front side of the course included long paved straights before diving into a field of tight corners, gravel and grass stretches, one dismount barrier, and a series of sharp ups-and-downs in rapid succession to test the strength and bike handling skills of the riders.

And of course, there was fun. As always, the big Turkey stuffed into a Squadra Coppi kit (no, really, some guy dresses up in a big turkey suit) was on the course to humor and taunt the riders. Nothing like trying to get a laugh from a guy who's searing lungs are one breath away from explosion. And The Complete Jewish Cyclist got some recognition today also! The primes included a suitcase of meats originally billed as "The Suitcase of Sausage", but redubbed as "The Jason Pearlman Memorial Hebrew National Prime" on account of the somewhat kosher Hebrew National Franks mixed into a prize basket of obviously not kosher fare of bacon and sausage. The "Memorial" was soon dropped after it was discovered that I was not actually dead. I didn't win any primes today, but the Unholy Roleur himself, Jim, charged me with walking the suitcase itself - one of those metal secure attaches complete with handcuffs - over to the organizers table. Still, it was nice to hear me name over the loudspeaker, though next time I'm gonna go for something more like "Jason Pearlman is tearing this field to pieces without mercy".

And, of course, there was racing to be done.

The start of the Men's Cat. 4 race was at 9:00 AM under cold blue skies and air set at a cool 30 degrees. I opted for knee warmers and a simple base layer under my Team Bike Rack kit, in addition to doubling up on socks and gloves. I held at the rear of the field on the first lap, avoiding the falls. Working myself midway into the field with three to go, I defended my position while avoiding one of the many riders who went down in front of me on the backside of the course on the tight corners leading into the climbs and descents. I moved up some more with two to go, lost two vital placings after that, but then surged to take over one rider on the last lap to get myself into 20th position. After finishing 44th here last year and not on the lead lap, this year's race was a big improvement, and many thanks as always go out to my family for their support, my friends for their encouragement, the Bike Rack DC for helping me get into 'cross, and HaShem for bringing me to this point.

'Nuff said. Here are some pictures of the day. Apologies for not having too many pictures this time. I took off after the results were posted, and spent the rest of the morning exploring the charming historic downtown of Leesburg with my family, enjoying the warm indoors of the Georgetown Cafe and the quaint shops along the mainstreet.

Early in the race, joining into a group as the field begins to string out. I'm sitting just behind the Bike Lane rider in red and black.

Sitting on the wheel of a Bike Lane rider, waiting for the right point on the course to make a move.

Last lap now, into 20th position and fighting to keep my position after pacing a rider just a few moments earlier.

"The Suitcase of Sausage", which on raceday became the "Jason Pearlman Hebrew National Prime", awarded to the riders leading certain laps. The only possible kosher meat of note here are the Hebrew National Franks. Hebrew National is now certified kosher by the Triangle-K under the auspices of Rabbi Ralbag, head of Kehilat B'nai Yisrael in New York City, himslef having learned at Yeshivat Etz Chiam and the legendary Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav (pretty awesome things to have associated with a prime sprint in a cold field in northern Virginia).

The Unholy Roleur himself, Jim, is an incredibly friendly guy, and no MABRA/MAC race is complete without his prescence. Big thanks to him today on injecting this race with some good humor, even if it led to my friends taking the joke further that the wieners were circumcised (hey, if you want a deadly serious tone, go to a road race; if you want fun, hang out at a 'cross race). And of course, big props to Jim and the Squadra Coppi for once again putting on an incredible race and a great day for the MABRA/MAC cyclocross scene.