Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Cross

In case you haven't already noticed, there's a change in the air. It's starting to get colder, the leaves are changing color, Cider Mills are firing up their sweat Donut-Making Machines of Destruction and Cyclocross season has begun!

Tailwind Cyclocross Training Race from Hans Nyberg on Vimeo.

For Team Hot Dog, there's no better time to be alive. It all started with the Tailwind Cyclocross Clinic two weekends ago which was attended by JRAD, Shaun and Myself. We honed our dismount, remount, pedaling, stopping, turning and Orange Crush Bunny-Hopping skills and ended the day with a mock-race. I did not win :( We celebrated our defeat with a nice Pizza Pie and Frankenmuth Oktoberfest from Mr. B's.


Last weekend was the beginning of the 2011 Tailwind Cyclocross Series and a Double-Header of Cyclocross Madness. Saturday's race started out a little cold and overcast. In the C class 39 and under Men's was about 25 guys. In the Old Guys class, JRAD and Myroo were eagerly chomping at the bit to get a piece of me. I'd gladly give you a race recap but when the bell went off, I don't remember much more than pedaling, pain and more pain. Thankfully we have photos! I came in 19th Place....a solid back of the pack finish like I expected. Not too shabby for a chubby guy! Jrad crushed the Old Guys Class in 17th place followed by Cooper in 19th. Shaun is fast and did well, so poop on him for being a chicken weigher. We drowned our sorrows again at Mr. B's with Burgers and more Frankenmuth Octoberfest.

• Waterford Double Cross Day 1 Results

Here is a photo of the 40+ C Class. Look at how old they all look!

Day two seemed to bring out half as many racers as the first day thankfully. Since I felt like I had been run over by a gigantic flying boat from Saturday`s race, I was looking forward to another 30 minutes of torture. The bell rang and I pedaled and felt the pain. JRAD brought the pain and passed me up on the last lap. I tried to chase him down, but the Cyclo-Wiz was just too much for me. I found myself in 9th place in the 39-Under, JRAD scored 15th and Cooper rocked 18th place in the old-farts category. Shaun did really well but, again, chicken weigher. We drowned our sorrows and celebrated the fact that we did not have to race again for two more weeks at Buffalo Wild Wings.

• Waterford Double Cross Day 2 Results

Cool down lap, tHD Style!

I do want to give MAD-PROPS to the following tHD fans who came out to support us this weekend: My Lovely Wife, My Mom, My Mom In Law, JulieRAD, JRAD's Mom and Dad, Mango and Shaun the chicken-weigher. Having that many fans show up was awesome and we are very thankful that you waited until we were finished racing to ask for Autographs!

- Steve

P.S. If you've never done one of these races before, I highly suggest you suck it up, come on out and have some fun.