State CX Championships at the Washington County Fairgrounds

We drove out early, partly because I thought it was farther than it actually was, and partly because there is no real sleeping in our house anymore with a six-month-old daughter and a sixteen-year-old dog. It was good that we were early, because the Fairgrounds were blanketed in a thick fog and no one knew exactly where the registration/expo area was. After two bad guesses and one error, we finally found the "dirt road just before the Max stop."

Still shrouded in fog, the Fairgrounds were beautiful and set an Ardennes-like stage for racing. The fog and low light silhouetted riders as they passed under rows of tall, barren trees. Very nice.

I thought it would be an average day. I should stop lowering my expectations - generally, but definitely for cyclocross races in Oregon and especially the state championships. There were 100 racers in the single speed category alone. Uh, wow. And this course was a mess. A big, sloppy, flat, yes you are going into that cesspool of a 4H horse/cattle ring mess. So, I sold out of waffles by 1 pm. And I sold a lot of socks. Insert small advertisement here: Do yourself a favor - if you ride in the cold and the wet (and the mud), buy some Swiftwick merino wool socks. They rock - awesome, warm, soft foot and tall supportive cuff. You will not be disappointed. And the opportunity to purchase them on this website will be coming very soon!