The Homegrown Cyclocross Series combines the low key, local race feel with the competition of some larger races.  Conveniently located at Woodward Park in Fresno; field sizes are large enough to ensure ample amounts of pain and suffering throughout the race as you battle other competitors.

    I was racing single speed for this first race of the series.  I had done some work to my bike earlier in the week and was lacking the 18 tooth cog that I knew I would need.  Instead, the 16 tooth cog that I did have, ensured there would be plenty of low cadence grinding throughout the race.

    There were 11 racers in the single speed field.  We were racing for 30 minutes and would start just before the men’s C field.  From the start I hung in the back, not concerned about the holeshot.  The course is very conducive to single speeds with plenty of opportunities to pass, lots of flowy parts, and a few short climbs that you can blast up.

    Throughout the first lap I picked my way through the field.  At the start of the second lap I passed the two leaders and got a gap.  The start/finish area, which is flat and smooth, is just about the only place on the course that my “way too tall” gearing would allow me to get a good fast cadence.  I clearly had the best top speed possibilities out of the field.  I think for next race a 39×18 will be just about perfect.

    A few laps later I started lapping some of the riders from the C field.  But again, because of the layout of the course, this wasn’t any trouble.  After four laps of racing, and a little over 30 minutes, I soloed to victory with no one else in sight.  At the awards I picked up my custom pint glass and later made the trek back home.  Overall, a great day of racing and hanging out with friends and fellow racers.  I will certainly be back for next week’s race on 11/1/09.  Perhaps I’ll try racing my Singlecross in the A class as well.

    I took tons of photos during the day of the B and A race.  Pictured are DuBurg and Rappo duking it out through the barriers.

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