Mondays are hard enough by themselves but following a weekend of cyclocross in Chicago makes them almost unbearable. A weekend of CX is like a caffeinated sugar infused adrenalin rush that can’t possible be sustained, poor Monday doesn’t stand a chance.
I don’t know how they do it but it every weekend Chicrosscup is more fun and crazy than the week before. People are lining up for the rush, just between the 4A’s and 4B’s there were 200 racers!
Speaking of lining up, spectating at CX never disappoints. Supergirl via Velogrrl:
After having my absolute worst result of the year last week (16th) on the geared bike I was hell-bent on kicking some ass Saturday at day 1 of a 2 day weekend of cross racing.
I did everything right during the week; nutrition was in check, rest days observed, sleep was priority #1. I lived and breathed my training to a “T” (what does “T” mean anyway?) There was no stopping me. I lined up Saturday knowing I was going to get a top 5 for sure. Tasha and girls even came out to cheer me on, nothing motivates like family hootin’ and hollerin’ for you.
The conditions for a stellar race couldn’t have been better, yet, I sucked worse than I could have imagined. I got 23rd which, barring a Leadville placing, may be the worst placing I’ve ever had. I seriously thought about bailing on the rest of the series.
But I don’t always listen to reason which was shouting at me to “rest, take a race off, a week off. It’s been a long season Mr. B, You should be sucking.” I lined up and did it again on Sunday but brought the single speed. Same course, same competition, same, same everything but the bike. Oh, and zero expectations.
It’s good to be home, moved from 23rd the day before up to 13th even with a flat tire on the last lap. Results so far:
7th, 9th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 11th, 8th, 16th, 23rd, 13th (bold italics for geared races)
I’m all over the place on the geared bike, I know it’s only 3 races (I actually did 5 races with gears 2 of which were “B” races on the same day and placing in the high teens ) but I’m throwing out the geared bike in favor of the SS. The consistency of results with the SS would be reason alone but the #1 reason I’m staying with the single speed, It’s more fun.
CarboRocket 
I’m no statistician, but the variance in results is not indicative of anything other than your legs, the 23rd is an outlier, maybe you would have been 21st on the onesy, maybe 26th.
Luckily I am a statistician, here’s some more stats: 1 out of 5 races on gears was fun, 7 out of 7 races on SS were fun.
Here some stats for you, 2 out 3 SS CX races i was doing quite well in, ended abruptly for me. One spectacular slide on gravel and one double flat.
Good choice on the SS. Dang those Midwest guys can pedal a bike, huh? Sounds like a fast crew.
welcome home.
SS suck for cross racing… oh wait, maybe not.
hip hip…