Here we go again...

When participating in an event for the first time...in it's inaugural year...it's hard to tell what kind of event it's actually going to be. Conservative, structured, traditional, unorganized, uncontrollable...you just never know. Except when I heard about SSCXWC being put on for the first time in Portland last year. I knew deep in my liver that all the 'traditional' rules would be thrown out the window and the only thing to expect...would be the unexpected.
They did NOT disappoint.
As soon as the event was over I fell in love with SSCX and the idea of having a SSCX bike. So over the next couple months Carey and I sat down, punished our 'evil' livers and dreamed up the Rainier.
Now...one year later...we will return to Portland, hot off our stunning Sabotage of the Manifest, and "serve" PDX another steaming plate of Seattle Cross.

{the weather is looking agreeable (?!) so far...}

The team is bigger this year...and the amount of flesh we will be exposing would not be suitable for a PG-13 movie.

Go to the race. You will not be disappointed. While you're at it...put on your orange hunting gear and come grab a handful of Hot Cross Buns while you're at it!

Cross Stoke...

Apparently my bike showed up just in time. And I know Cross Season isn't here yet but my inbox has been filling up with people telling me that it's time to start registering for these things. Just today I got signed up for this one....

So if you find yourself at Interbike, you should make your way on out to the race. I signed up in the Manufacturer category and am going to start working on my "Race Kit" this weekend. To anyone going to CrossVegas, I expect plenty of 'hand-ups' and Preems. I'm going to be in full on training for SSCXWC (which haven't been announced yet, but I'm starting to hear things).

I want to try and crash the Crit as well. We'll see if I can get my Upgrade in time. I tried again today and got shot down again by USA Cycling.

Dear Brian,

The following request to change your USCF category has been denied by USA Cycling:stifflink - 2008-08-08 12:22

Member: Brian

License: Road RacerRequest to change category from Cat 5 to Cat 4

USA Cycling Response from Martha Lane Walsh:
Brian: USA Cycling guidelines specify that you need experience in 10 mass-start races to upgrade to cat 4.

I'll keep trying, but there aren't many more races I can hit before the whole thing goes down.

Plus...I gotta get on the Ball for the Cross season Kick off a few days before hand. Seattle's Star Crossed Cross race is one of the biggest in the country and really gets the season up here started. I've been eyeballing through the registration...and they don't have a Single Speed Category. I'm gonna have to talk to someone about this as I'm thinking there's gonna be enough people nutters enough to ride Single that we should get our own category.

The real kick in the pants about Star Crossed is I have to be on a 8am flight the next morning for Vegas. I already feel for the person who's going to be sitting next to me on that flight.