Lake Rebecca Cross

Located near the far Western suburbs (well...not a suburb yet, but it's getting there) of the Twin Cities, is one of the lovely 10,000 Lakes the state is famous for; Lake Rebecca. Surrounded by trees and favored by big beautiful geese and (trumpeteer (spl?) swans, lies the lake and it's trails (which are available for riding to all most of the time) but were made available for a cross suffer-fest on this Sunday (October 9, 2005).

The day couldn't have been more perfect weather wise. Sunny, crisp and clear and about 60 degrees. Mike quickly changed and went to pre-ride the course while Syd, Dave(Minnesota Dad) and I checked out the competition. There were way more riders here than on any other event I've been to thus far.

Mike returns and informs me that it wasn't a great course. No room to pass. More like a mountain bike course. A race where an early front position is key to a good finish. Sigh. Top that off with the biggest field yet, and Mike still recovering from his sickness, I set my expectations on the low side.

I met up with some folks I met on the plane going to Interbike. Cycling really is such a small community. Then Dave, Sydney and I headed down to the start/finish with extra wheels, extra bike and recovery drinks in tow.

We already know some of the guys and Mike positioned himself next to Aric Hareland of the Salsa Superteam (2nd in the series last year) at the front of the start. There were over 40 guys racing this very narrow, very technical circuit for the next hour. Off they went. Jay "hollywood" Henderson drills it at the front to the first uphill turn and then yells "GO" to the two guys behind him, which were Mike and Aric. Nice (Thanks Hollywood).

First lap, and Mike comes through TTT-style with Aric in tow. 25 seconds later, and Dan Swanson and a guy I don't know follow them before groups of 7-10 guys suffer their way past the start/finish. Cross, different from road racing, is more definitive; Unless you have a mechanical (common), it's almost impossible to make up any time and so it's more predictable (although, like I said, the mechanical factor is HUGE).

By the second lap someone comes through and yells, "Hey there's a guy down near the gully!" Several course officials head out on bikes to find the downed rider. Broken collar bone....and a few other crashes by other guys.

But Mike and Aric kept powering through and gaining time. Last lap and Mike comes through by himself. Aric had attacked him on the backside, and took a technical portion a bit too fast and banged his bars loose, but the bike was still ridable and he got another one quickly anyway. Mike hammered by him as he avoided a crash and by the time Mike came through the start/finish for the last time, there was NO ONE behind him. I screamed, "Michael...put your hands in the air!" He won!! (As I result of me telling him to put up his hands I missed a perfect photo opportunity.) Oh well. It's nice to win!

Mike Taylor - McGuire-Langdale (1st), Aric Hareland - Salsa Superteam (2nd and about a minute back), not sure about 3rd, and Dan Swanson- Nature Valley/Penn Cycle (4th). Thanks to the St. Paul Bike Racing Club and Bianchi/Grand Performance for hosting the lovely day