PIR and the SSCXWC

I should have written you sooner, but it's been pretty busy around here. Where do I begin? PIR and the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC). There are lots of posts and videos, and I suggest you read and watch all of them. It was a ridiculous and fantastic day, both for racers and for CycloSportif. Halfway through the day one of my waffle irons died. Not with a bang, but a whimper. With a waffle half-cooked inside. I assume it was the heating element, the very heart of the iron. This happens about once a year. Unfortunately, it's sudden, unexpected, and can only happen while in use at a race. I could lug an extra one around with me just in case, but that would be way too risk averse for me. So I roll the dice.

Bad decision, when the massive heat element infarction occurs on the busiest day of the year thus far. I knew it was going to be crazy. The location was PIR - close to town, so no traveling excuses. The weather was decent - overcast, but no rain, and relatively warm. And the events - a normal Cross Crusade race (with it's 1100+ participants) and then the much-heralded SSCXWC. Did I mention free beer all day for the low purchase price of a $3 mug? So it was madness, and I was down to one iron at 1 pm with 3-4 more hours to go.

First I went through the 5-gallon main waffle batter supply. Then the 1 1/2 gallon back-up supply. Then I had to tell everyone it would be 15 minutes and I made the emergency waffle mix. Then it was over. No more batter. Vegan batter gone, too. And the SSCXWC had just started, or maybe it had not even started yet. Thanks to everyone for their voracious waffle appetites and their patience! Yes, I got a new waffle iron the next day.