MFG Cyclocross Series # 4 - Mangnuson Park

Cyclocross season keeps on rolling, along with my never ending supply of pics and rambling words.  Photography is like racing - some days you have it, some days you don't.  I'm just a hack, but must be doing something right, since I usually arrive home with a decent Pile-O-Pics after most races.  In any case, I'm having fun and that's what it's all about.

This week's Pics 'N' Words from MFG series # 4, that took place last weekend.  Venue was Mangnuson Park in Seattle, nice spot for a 'cross race.  Very flat and fast course, some pavement included.  Barriers and one run up section.  Usual cool 'cross scene that we're lucky to experience in the Seattle area.

See for yourself...

Teammate Lars trades dirt for concrete.  Super nice dude, along with his teenage racer son, Anders.  Anders assisted my own teenage racer son Ian, warm up for this race.  Anders appears to have the series already won for his Grade 10 - 12 junior class.  Cool.

Kari Studley, woman's single speed 'cross national champion, can also go pretty damn fast with multiple speeds.

Concrete underpass allows for some fun camera angles and blur shots.

Dreaming of life beyond training wheels.

Past the secret door.

Monster Cross bike flattens everything in path.

Birds eye view of the action.

Girls racers rock.

Snippet-O-Cross

Racer Boy Ian chases teammate Matt into the concrete abyss.

Scenic cruise on the shores of Lake Washington.  Ian demonstrates.

Run Ian run.  Check out the new white Northwave shoes.  Pro, eh?  Considering this was a flat, fast, and not very technical course - not really his style - did pretty well.  Scored 9th out of 18 kids in the Junior Boys Grades 6 - 7 class.  His currently sitting in 7th place overall for the series.  Great job!

Follow the leader.

High speed leaf crunching.

Insanely nice fall day.

Various barrier action.

Back of the course featured a run up, courtesy of wooden stairs.

"Do my cleats look worn?"...

Grimace into the corner.

Go JL Velo.

Old school cool.

Lined up for torture.

It's late and my mental caption machine is operating in sleep mode.  Time to wrap this up and hit the sack.  A few races left in the season, more to follow.  Adios...

The Jiggernaut Frame Building Jig

While cruising though Kickstarter - cool site where people donate to fund various projects - came across this project, already fully funded and I'd assume in production.

Affordable jig to try your hand at building a bike frame.  Fantastic idea and well executed.  And affordable - at least during their pledge drive - $299 for the jig.  $499 for jig and tube set to construct a road frame.

Dust off the old brazing skills from high school metal shop class, and you have yourself a fun winter project.  As per their official site, not sure if available yet.  I gotta find out - I want one.

Seattle Cyclocross Series # 3 - Silver Lake, Washington

Yes kids, time for another round of 'cross Pics 'N' Words, courtesy of me at no additional charge.  Call now, operators are standing by.  As seen on TV.  Money back guarantee.

This alleged report emanating from the shores of Silver Lake, Washington.  That be in Everett for all non Pacific Northwest types.  Stop number three for the Seattle Cyclocross series, held last weekend.  The Seattle and MFG series are well attended, now pulling in around 1000 racers per event.  Crazy town, huh?

This race also signaled the end of our Warm 'N' Sunny weather.  Overcast, cloudy and cool.  Rain the night before, wetting things down a bit. Leaves changing color and cooler temps make it feel like fall.  

And fall means cyclocross...

Juniors hit the sand, teammate Henry staring down his line.  My number # 1 son, Racer Boy Ian, seen on the right.  Go JL Velo, go.  Start area pavement dumping quickly into fairly deep sand.

Cheering makes you go faster.  Scientific fact.

Running through deep sand adds to the festivities.  Sam demonstrates.

Ian lines up for the barriers.

Looking good.

Go Ian go!  He was looking forward to this event, this venue more to his mountain bike style - tight turns and short punchy hills - almost singletrack like.  He was riding well and looking good, then it all sorta went pear shaped...

Barriers, sand, then short run up.  Nobody said 'cross was easy.  Sam stares me down in agreement.

Junior teammate Henry blurs the course with speed.

Scott and Jarrett - two very fast 13 year olds - in battle.

Kids racers rock.  They really do.  Pretty cool junior scene we have in the Seattle area.

Run Ian run!  Flat tire causing him to run almost the entire last lap.  Ouch.  After crossing the line, plopped on the ground to recover - soaked with sweat - slightly light headed.  Suburb effort, though he was seriously bummed.  First flat or mechanical issue in a few years of mountain and 'cross racing.  Bound to happen eventually.

We have no spare wheels or bike in the pit area, would have come in handy today.  Ian did run into the pit, directed by spectators - but after some confusion over his 9 speed cassette - he just ran out of the pit to finish.  I'm not even sure if this series offers neutral support.  I need to check on that.

In any case, I'm very proud of him.  Would have been easy to quit, instead toughed it out and ran to the finish, placing 14th out of 18 kids in the Junior Boys 13 - 14 class.  Excellent job.

Fallen pine needles, overcast sky, arm and knee warmers.  Smells like 'cross season.

It's the final countdown.  Fast women get ready to roll.

Joey spreads the love.  Joey is a bit famous from this little spectacle last year.

Round 'N' Round we go.

Carve an arc.  Monster Cross bike leading the way.

Single speed Action-O-Plenty.

Barriers 'R' Fun.

Full speed dive into the sand.

Dude, we told you that number was bad luck.

Man, these helium filled bikes kick ass.  Theo charges the barriers.

Evan tilts the horizon on his way to a very respectable finish in his first CAT3 race.  Pretty cool for a high school kid, no?

Harrison deep in thought - or maybe pain.  Another fast high school kid.

Doc who fixed my daughter's broken arm last year.  Any doc who races 'cross is okay in my book.

And there you have it - another post to help fill up the Internet.  More 'cross reports and other nonsense to follow.  Thanks for reading and checking out the pics.  Until next time...