First open race I've done which means all women of all categories are lumped together so typically you get more competitive women.

After the start I'm in last place right away..Mountain bikey course with lots of twisty turns on slick paths with ice that some melted to mud with wicked steep run up and gnarly downhill with trees, roots, and sharp 90 exit.

I never felt like I got the rhythm of the course which was odd but it was technical and slippery and I was being maybe overly cautious and tired from racing the day before. Men kept jumping onto the course and riding right behind me and talking with each other which was distracting and made me feel self conscience.

My rear tire slipped out once and I didn't fall, bike fell over in slick mud tight corner but I landed upright, ran into a tree on downhill so handlebar on the wrong side on tree but stopped before impact, ran into bushes a few times...made it through sand pit all 5x

Did the hard hill 4x to warm up and 4x in race crazy hard but I figured it out...tree crash with men all lined up behind me and my husband down at bottom taking pictures..nice to screw up for everyone to see.


I did the best I could given what I had today. Not my best day but my husband had a great time taking photos of everyone and loves going to CT.

First cross race I've felt self conscience about being slow. 4 women lapped me and the men following me to preride the course annoyed me. I needed to be mentally stronger and enjoy being out there being like a little kid playing around on my bike. I think not knowing anyone racing played into this..normally there are 4-20 NEBC racers there racing and cheering me and others on.

I did have fun just not feeling as good about how I did as normal. Ice Weasel race was a course more to my liking/skill set and it was only cat 4 race. This race everyone was higher cat than me.

Rode a little, packed up and headed home sad that cross season is over but also ready for it.


Goals for next cross season:
1. Learn to start faster and go for hole shot more aggressively
2. Warm up better as I seem to find my groove after a few laps, need to hammer bit more on warm up rides..one to check it out and next one close to race pace.
3. Improve skill set of cornering, dismounts, and remounts...with some courses 16 dismounts/mounts gaining 5 seconds each is huge.


Low key race and great for beginners as no bike race license is needed. I wish the guys would play by the rules and not ride the course when us women were racing and if they do stay say 50 yds behind don't ride up right behind me chit chatting...annoying as heck. Low key venue, easy to get to, nice facilities, challenging cross course ideal if you have mountain biking background.