New Season, New Kit, New Rules

The 2009 season has begun with H&R Block - Kona's Fort Langley CX race. The weather was perfect...wet enough for a little mud but no rain during the race. The New season brings many changes to the BC Cup starting with the Master Men's age being raised to 35+ from the 30+ of previous years. The change was made to help increase the size of both A and B mens groups. A few Masters were caught off guard by the change but the Master Men's field still looked to be the biggest of the day.
I got myself a fancy new kit for the season and just need to get the new Opus Stelle to match. New for the season is the later "Premier" start time for us masters. We toe the line with the Elite men at high noon. This change had it's issues right off the bat with the masters not getting under way until 3 minutes after the Elites and with a short, fast loop lap of only 5 minutes we were sure to see the fast boys picking their way through us in no time.
I had no reason to be called up based on last years BC Cup points (although if I had got my correct placing at Coquitlam I may have been in the top 10) so that left me at the back of the field on the line. No real concern as I didn't have a good warm-up I needed to start slow. The start went and I managed a few bold moves to gain ground. Rolling towards the first set of barriers I was mid pack, I moved over onto the racing line and immediately had someone picking my pocket. The result was a set of handlebars in my spokes...no visible damage so off I went in pursuit of my lost placing. Turns out that the wheel didn't suffer any damage but my rear derrailluer cable was broken limiting my gear choices to a big ring or small ring offering. Once I had that figured out and resigned to not trying to shift I was fine.
Thank God for the run-up! I don't know if it is a physical or mental advantage but I do like running. I was able to gain places all day on the run up and even re-pass some of the Elites that came by me (only to surrender on the descent) on the approach.
The race pretty much went like this. Hold my spot for the flats, pass someone on the run-up, don't crash on the descent, hold spot on flats, REPEAT. This was my fist time doing the Fort Langley race so I can't compare the course to the previous years, but I did like it and believe most racers did. The kids all had fun as well with the various farm animals around.
Results to come and more photo links as well.
CrossBoy