'Cross Crusade So Far...

Hey Gang, sorry we didn't post a recap of the Cross Crusade opener from the Alpenrose Velodrome. We're going to make up for it now with TWO races in one post, both Alpenrose and Rainier High School.

 The first race of the 2013 River City Bicycles Cyclocross Crusade dawned cool and foggy over the hills of Southwest Portland and the grounds of the Alpenrose Dairy. Team Metropolis was there bright and early for a long day of racing. We are pretty well represented in most categories, but the bulk of our racers go in the second race, composed of Category 'C' and Clydesdales (racers over 200#). Unfortunately, since most of us were racing, there aren't a lot of pictures of us doing so. The weather had recently turned from very wet to very dry, and the course was in good condition with the exception of some very muddy stretches which dried through the course of the day with the assistance of the sun, which came out in force during the second race.
 This was a theme that was to be repeated the  following week at Rainier.

Johnny B, single speedin'.

K Nasty (AKA Lil' Snacky) attacks the off camber.

Senor Chilidog looking pro.

JoJo overtaking the competition.

The stairs of doom.

Using the Schwartz.

Sunday at Rainier High School started off cloudy and cool. It took a little longer to burn off than the week before, but once it did, it was a beautiful day. I expected the course to be pretty dry, but there were still some severely boggy patches. Rainier's most famous feature is a long and brutal climb, but this year there were many downed trees as well, which the Crusaders worked into the course.

Using the natural terrain in course design.

Notice Brad yelling on the left.

Coming out of the woods.

Not the big climb, but big enough.

A hell of a lot of downed and limbed trees.

Tricky corner. The Team Metropolis encampment is in the background.

This weekend the Crusade returns to Portland and the Heron Lakes course at Portland International Raceway! Come out and enjoy the sun. Stop by the Team Metropolis tent and enjoy a beer courtesy of our friends at Widmer Bros. Brewing!