Race Report: BubbleCross 2025
After quibbling in the slack thread on whether the sand would be rideable because it’s been so dry, we were treated with an all-seasons type of race. I started the day drenched in my raincoat and rain pants and finished the day dehydrated, eating fries in shorts and a t-shirt. A dumping of rain in the AM gave way to drier conditions in the PM for a surprisingly rocky edition of Bubblecross.
W 3/4/5 Race
As most of the NYC race community was dusting off the cobwebs this weekend, so too were the NJ USAC officials. We gridded in slightly chaotic fashion that only amplified the back-to-racing nerves. Once everyone was settled in their spot, the whistle blew and I got a slow start, losing spots despite my first-row call-up. The field bunched up in the first few turns where it felt like you were burning matches to close the door on folks trying to pass, only to slam your brakes to turn, and rinse, wash repeat. The field largely stayed together until we got to the woods where gaps started to open up on Lap 1. I made up a spot on the long sand pit which made me feel like I was good at sand and started to chase down 5th place ahead of me. I was DeterminedTM and flying through corners — maybe it was the new baby limus tires that were mounted two days before the race, the cornering work I’ve been doing in the offseason, or the racing confidence that has eluded me since my Cat3 upgrade. On the last uphill turn, I lost my front wheel and there’s nothing like falling to make you come down to earth. I lost two places to my teammates as I bumped my shifter back into position. As CX is NOT a team sport, and neither Aimee nor Diane were Eli Iserbyt or Michael Vanthourenhout, this meant WAR. Aimee, Diane and I traded places a few times on the second lap. On the punchy uphill rocky section, I sprinted all the way to over the log and then some (which was a long way to go), to launch my bike in front of the group before the gravel descent into the sand pit. An annoying tactic that works very well. From there, it seemed like my slice of the race held their positions as I put on the mental countdown clock of all the sections I didn’t like but only had to ride 1 or 2 more times. At this point in the race, I had clearly forgotten about registering for the W1/2/3 race. After the race, there were smiles and out-of-breath high fives at the finish line.
W 1/2/3 Race
I did not have any results-based goals for this race. I was focused on righting the wrongs of my line choices in race #1 and riding the sections I ran. For the most part, I was able to do this. I was able to stay on my bike for every section (except the log) during the afternoon pre-ride or race. I did not hydrate well before, during or after my first race, a lesson I seem to need to learn at the beginning of every CX season, and paid for it in the afternoon race. I got in a few laps but pulled myself to save some energy for the ever-important post-CX evening unpacking, cleaning and laundry chores.
