Revisiting Marley's Favorite Rides - Feats of Strength at SSCXWCX in Victoria

Dates: November 2015

Route: Unfortunately there isn’t one… basically look for all the silliest things in Victoria and ride them!

Previous links

You could sum up my early years of bicycling with one word - naive. I jumped headfirst into all sorts of ridiculous adventures, absolute not knowing any better how challenging, dangerous, or just plain stupid what I was about to do was.

The beginning of the Meat Stick with Justin Reznick and Rza Allen

Which leads us to my first adventure in cyclocross racing - Single Speed World Championships in Victoria, Canada (SSCXWC). At the time, I had gone to one cyclocross race as a spectator, and sure as heck hadn’t raced.

“No bother, you’ll be fine” my friends said, and convinced me to join them for trip across the Canadian border. Sure enough, I was fine. More than fine, but again, I might not recommend this course of action to anyone else.

I arrived in Victoria via the Victoria Clipper, a speedy boat that transports you (and your bike if you’re smart) directly from downtown Seattle to Victoria in less than three hours. Knowing I didn’t own a single speed bike, I decided to rent one in Victoria, not really intended to participate in the weekend events as more than a spectator. This plan lasted all of an hour, as I quickly found myself getting rowdy on trails with my friends on a woefully inadequate bike.

This is not a cyclocross bike. It is a single speed

By Friday night, we found ourselves at a private curling club with hundreds of other bike hooligans from around the glob e - signing the registration book and paying a dollar for lifetime membership. The weekend was off to a good start and I think it was this night that I was convinced to go to the Feats of Strength in the morning.

If you been to a SSCXWC, you know that you don’t just get to show up on race day and compete in the championships. Doesn’t matter if you’ve won all the local races, you’ve got to earn your ticket through The Feats of Strength - a daylong series of ridiculous challenges meant to whittle down the field and be a ton of fun.

I joined my group and very quickly realized that I was in for a surprise - I was the only one not on a cyclocross bike, I had a slick tires, and maybe most importantly, no clue what I was in store for.

Throughout the day, local organizers led our group all over Victoria - we found climby singletrack in the woods, a stupidly steep hill, a beach and a pumptrack. We partied in the woods all day - just a precursor for the fun to come on actual race day.

I can’t remember if I actually won one of the challenges or not, but all the women registered ended up getting an automatic bid for the championship race the next day. I wisely made the decision to only spectate on Sunday, but the fun on Saturday was way more than enough for me.

I’m still friends with a number of the folks I met that day and will forever remember their graciousness as I struggled to keep up, the laughs as I crashed many times, and most importantly, the lack of judgement towards me, my bike , or my ridiciulous ideas.

SSCXWX is coming back again this November, this time in Durango, Colorado. While I hope to be riding by then, I know that I’m definitely in for another good time.

CX National Championships 2021 Recap

This post contains affiliate links. When you click on these links and make a purchase, I get a tiny cut of the sale, helping me continue to do this work. I appreciate your support!

When I started racing cyclocross at the beginning of this season, my goals were to have fun, not hurt myself, and push myself out of my comfort zone. I had no illusions of winning a race, or even getting onto the podium. I’m a slow cyclist, even when I’m trying to go fast and give it all I’ve got.

Four months later, I’m wrapping up my first season of racing with a 17th place finish in the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship! Still got DFL (Dead F*cking Last) but I finished!! And that’s more than a bunch of people can say! Huzzah!

Photo by Evrgrn Photo

Before we celebrate too much (because let’s be honest, we’re going to), let me back up and explain how I ended up even racing at CX Nationals.

Shimano, one of my primary sponsors, was the Event Partner sponsor for CX Nats, providing neutral support to racers and exhibiting in the main part of the expo. As part of their agreement, Shimano built in a requirement for an All Bodies on Bikes activation.

Working with Shimano, USA Cycling, and Molly Cameron of RIDE Group, we planned a panel for me and Molly about diversity and inclusion in cycling, followed by an inclusive, community ride around the park venue.

On one of our first planning calls, I joked that I should “bring my single speed cross bike and take a lap on the course.” I forget who jumped on my wack-a-doodle idea, but after the call, I had an email confirming my registration for the Single Speed Women’s race. Well, shit, I guess we’re really doing this!

The fast folks at the start line, including Sarah Sturm & Sunny Gilbert, 1st and 2nd place winners. Photo by Evrgrn Photo.

Bike & Race Prep

If you’ve been watching my Instagram from this fall, you’ve seen that I’ve been riding my Surly Straggler converted to a single speed for all of my cyclocross races. I started the season racing with flat bars and 47mm tires - a super fun and rowdy setup. Midway through the season it was apparent that I needed more tire clearance so I swapped to some 40mm tires. Much better, lighter and faster. But turns out I still wasn’t done with modifications!

To comply with the USAC rules, I had to put drop bars and even skinner tires on. Thanks again to super-fast shipping from Competitive Cyclist and priority service from Julian at Peloton Bike Shop, I was able to get 35mm tires and drop bars on the Struggle Bus. Now we were ready for Chicago!

Race Weekend

I arrived in Chicago on Thursday evening and made it to Cantigny Park, the race venue on Friday morning for my first pre-ride. I was admittedly super nervous, expecting a challenging course since this was a National-level event. Turns out, racing cyclocross in the PNW all season was excellent preparation for this course, as it was fast and bumpy but nearly entirely rideable, even on my single speed!

At nearly 3km long, each lap had about 150 ft of elevation gain, which while nothing to sneeze at, was totally doable for me on my single speed. There was one section I couldn’t ride up - Mount Abus - and the sand pit I figured I’d evaluated on race day and get as far as I could on the bike, but otherwise during my pre-ride, I felt super confident about things.

And then everything changed….

Friday afternoon into Saturday brought an absolute onslaught of crappy weather to the Chicago area. In fact, this is the same storm that spawned multiple tornadoes across the midwest. High winds caused havoc in the expo, destroying a ton of team tents and causing lots of damage. Saturday’s races were pushed back a few hours to allow for cleanup, and we ended up cancelling the All Bodies on Bikes ride because of the gusting winds.

We were still able to have a short discussion about inclusion in cycling and the smaller audience allowed us to talk candidly in a relaxed group. Instead of stressing about leading a group ride, I was able to hang out, relax, and mentally prepare for my race.

The Actual Race

I was the very last to be called up, with zero USAC race points. This was great as I actually prefer to start in the back of the pack because I know I’m slow and don’t necessarily want to be in the way of fast folks racing for the hole shot. With my signature lipstick, crop top and bib shorts (https://www.avantlwith a base layer - don’t worry, I’m not an idiot in 30 degree temps), I lined up at the start feeling excited and confident.

Immediately after the start, a number of racers crashed out in front of me, but benefit to being slower - I could go around them. When they went down, I optimistically thought “hey, maybe I won’t be dead last!” My optimism was short lived as I was quickly caught in the sand pit and passed. No worries- I’m used to being alone on the race course way behind the rest of the pack.

As soon as we exited the sand pit, we were greeted with a rutted, muddy, sloppy course. The fast and fun course from my pre-ride just a day before was long gone, along with my ability to ride most of the course. Each pedal stroke felt harder than it had before and as I made it to the Shimano barriers, I realized my heart rate hadn’t dipped below 180 yet.

Because I’ve been wearing and training with the Wahoo Kickr heart rate monitor since last summer, I know that I can comfortably ride at 165-170 beats per minute for 30 minutes. I’ll be tired, but it’s do-able. My heart rate during CX Nats was upwards of 185 the whole time - I desperately needed to get it down.

As I mentioned earlier, my goals for this CX season were to have fun and not get hurt. I carried those goals into this final race with one additional goal - represent bigger bodies on a national stage.

I’m not going to lie - this was probably the hardest riding I’ve done all season. The adrenaline from the cheering crowds, hearing my name announced throughout the park as I tackled the course obstacles, and the excited of this race meant that I didn’t necessarily ‘race my race.’ I let the excitement get to me, took off way too fast at the start, and found myself gasping for breath as soon as I hit the mud.

It was evident from the start that I’d be lucky to get two full laps in - the leaders were doing 8-9 minute laps while I was midway through the first lap with nearly 20 minutes elapsed. Taking stock of my options, I decided to just have fun with it. I stopped and took nearly every handup that was offered to me, including more than one shot of Malort, a gummy bear filled jello shot, and multiple dollars! Heck, I made $9 in this race - I think that officially makes me a professional cyclist! :)

As I rounded the corner into the Belgian stairs, I took my first fall of the day. Thankfully it was into some some mud, so no worse for the wear except a few big bruises that showed up later.

At some point, the leaders Sarah Sturm and Sunny Gilbert, who would go on to win the race, passed me. Both of them, even though they were racing for the National Championship were kind and funny and encouraging. While we were racing, they each cheered me on as they passed, which brought a huge smile to my face. I feel so honored to be part of this sport where we take care of each other and encourage each other, regardless of our speed.

I met my goals and finished the race with a huge smile on my face. I was so proud of myself - from never having raced a cyclocross season to completing a season where I successfully finished every race I entered. Dead last in every race, but I still did it, which is a huge accomplishment.

I watched the men’s single speed race after mine, still muddy and gross. Next time I’ll wash my bike and legs before spectating, but I didn’t want to miss a minute of the action! It was so fun cheering people on - from the fast guys in front to the party pace crew in the back. This is what cyclocross is all about.

The elite championship races were held on Sunday, but I had plans to meet up with some friends in Chicago for a ride. We met and rode the North Branch Trail nearly 20 miles (again on my single speed) and I’m still amazed by how flat this part of the country is! I couldn’t ever imagine enjoying riding a single speed 20 miles in Seattle, but here I was, enjoying every pedal stroke!

After our ride, I headed back to Cantigny Park to hopefully catch the championship races. I arrived after the Women’s race, which is probably a good thing, as there were a number of anti-trans people who showed up to protest the inclusion of transwomen in the race. I say it’s a good thing I wasn’t there because I won’t put up with that non-sense and would’ve maybe gotten in a fight. Transphobia and discrimination and hate have no place in cycling and the community made it clear that they weren’t welcome. Unfortunately, USAC didn’t do anything and a number of racers felt intimidated by this hate group. In the wake of this, the CEO at USA Cycling is out, but it doesn’t seem like substantive changes will be happening. Definitely something to keep an eye on for the future.

Overall, I am so thankful, happy and proud that I took on this challenge. Racing cyclocross is so far out of my comfort zone - it was a great experience to put myself out there, learn new bike skills, and make a lot of new friends in the process. I’d like to think I’ll be back on the starting line next year but probably still in the Beginner Women’s category.

I Did a Cyclocross Race and Came in Dead Last

Lap 1 - already suffering

Last weekend I lined up at my first cyclocross race start line in the Women’s Beginner category, full of nerves, fear and excitement. Aside from half a lap dressed in a Santa suite in Portland a few years ago at the Single Speed World Series, I’ve never attempted cyclocross. For years I’ve stood on the sidelines and cheered on my friends.

I’ve always wanted to get out there and try it. Everyone (literally everyone) who has ever raced cross will tell you “It’s so fun.” “You just race your own race and do your own thing.” “Nobody cares how slow or fast you’re going - they’re all too concerned about their own race.”

Despite this AND all the body positivity and inclusion in cycling work I do, I’ve always been too intimidated to actually get out there myself. I was afraid of the mass start. I was intimidated by the performative aspect of everyone watching and cheering, and the idea that everyone would truly see just how much slower I am than everyone else, and frankly simply feared that I was too fat, too slow, and too unskilled to race cyclocross.

I also didn’t have a bike that would work for cross racing. For those unfamiliar, cyclocross is basically a criterium style race where you take on a variety of terrain and obstacles - from grass to mud to singletrack. An ideal bike is one that you can dismount/remount quickly, pickup easily to run with, and has clearance for knobby tires.

Sure, my Surly Straggler would’ve worked, but I was using that as my do-it-all commuter, touring, city bike, so removing the fenders, racks and accessories was not an option (or at least one that I was willing to do.)

Fast forward to 2021 and I’ve now been blessed with a stable of bicycles which has allowed me to convert my Surly Straggler into a single speed cyclocross bike! (HUGE thanks to competitivecyclist.com - one of my sponsors!

So here’s how the race went, what I learned, and what I’ll do differently next time!

The Surly in all her glory

Race Prep & Practice

In the weeks leading up to the race, I attended a few practice sessions with a local WTFNB (women trans femme non-binary) club called Breakfast Cycling. At these practices, we ran through a number of drills that would come in handy during the race. These included mounting and dismounting my bike, learning how to turn tight corners, how to carry my bike efficiently up hills, and how to start a race.

These practices were so helpful. If you’re looking into starting cyclocross, I highly recommend finding a team or group that runs practices. I was able to learn in a safe environment, ask questions and make mistakes in a supportive environment without the race day pressures.

What I Packed

Turns out, I took a lot of stuff to the race. Most of the stuff I didn’t end up using, but was glad I had it just in case. I’m sure I’ll get this list dialed in as the season goes on, but here’s what I packed:

Floor Pump

Change of Clothes (for after the race)

Towel (to sit on in my car)

Water Bottles + Nuun (electrolyte tabs)

Chamois Butt’r

Snacks

Camping Chair

Dog Bowl & Leashes

Spare Tubes (even though I’m set up tubeless)

Multitool

Extra Shoes & Socks

The Actual Race

I carpooled to the race with a teammate and we arrived a few hours early to give ourselves time to register and pre-ride the course. I wish I would’ve had more time to pre-ride the course more, as each lap I got more comfortable with tricky sections which would’ve made the actual race easier.

In our local series, all the women’s categories (except single speed) race together. This means total beginners like myself are on the course at the same time as world tour pros like Heidi Franz. Each category starts 30 seconds apart, with the fastest women starting first, and us taking off a few minutes after them.

From the start, I was in the back of the pack (which truthfully, is where I like to be.) I get nervous when other riders are right on my wheels, so riding my own pace at the back was perfect. I definitely started out way too hard and found myself struggling to breathe and heartrate way too high. I unfortunately forgot my heartrate monitor, but I’m looking forward to wearing it for future races.

Around the middle of the first lap, I eventually found my groove and settled into a sustainable pace for the rest of the race. That definitely included stopping for handups (beer, a cookie and some pickles) but hey! Race your own race!

Cyclocross is a funny sport in that I still don’t really understand how/why/when I’m done. I know I got lapped twice by the leader and at the end of the race there was a sign that said “you are done.” So I stopped riding.

Learnings for Next Time

My next race is coming up on Sunday and I’ll again be in the Beginner Women’s field. The only changes I’ll make for this week are to remember my heart rate monitor, eat more food, and maybe put a bit more air in my tires.

All smiles at the finish line

This blog contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase from one of my links (which I hope you do), I receive a small commission, which helps me keep doing this work. To learn more about my use of affiliate links, please click here.

I went Mountain Biking!

We’re talking real deal, single-track, flow trail, front-suspension bike mountain biking! I know it sounds crazy and that’s because it absolutely was. But it was so much fun and I can’t wait to go again.

My new bike - the Marin Pine Mountain 1

It all started with the WTF Bike Explorers Summit back in August. I took a CX Bike, the Masi CXGR bike that is on loan to me from Masi Bike. Even though I got the smallest frame they make, I still had to frankenstein the heck out of this bike to get it to fit me – putting a 650b wheel on the front with a big tire, leaving the 700c tire on back, shortening the stem. It still wasn’t great, but it was good enough to ride some trails (or so I thought.)

I totally thought this bike was more than sufficient for bikepacking (and it was), but I was immediately super jealous of everybody else’s setups. They had big squishy tires, lots of clearance, and suspension. Most folks were riding hardtail mountain bikes with front suspension and flat bars and loving it.

For some reason I was convinced that they didn’t make bikes like this to fit me. But here at the Summit were lots of other small people making it happen. Holy shit, there is a rad adventure bike out there for me, I just need to find it! And so the search was on.

Turns out, the search didn’t take very long at all.

Once I got back into town, I put the word out that I was looking for a hardtail bike. Through an online bike forum, I was pointed to a local shop that was blowing out all of their inventory to make room for winter gear. All of their bikes were 40%, making the bike I was interested in $700 – practically an unheard of price for this bike.

True confession time: I bought the bike after a five minute test ride, before ever really going mountain biking. At this point, I hadn’t even been on any beginner trails or taken a class. This could turn out to be a really dumb purchase, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

After more mansplaining than I needed about bike fit, I bought the bike and took it home. It then sat in my apartment for 3 weeks before I got up the courage to use it.

My first ride on it was at Duthie Hill Park. I’ve heard about Duthie for years now but never made it out there now. Holy cow have I been missing out. It is amazing. Beautifully built trails (well, the one I went on repeatedly was beautiful, but I’m assuming the others are as well), great signage, and easy to access.

As an absolute beginner,  I rode the Bootcamp trail twice, which is the easiest trail there. It’s a one-way cross-country style trail, with lots of berms and turns. According to the stats, it’s 0.9 miles long, with 64’ of ascent and -69’ of descent.

Even though I had no clue what I was doing from a technical standpoint, I had a lot of fun. It was exhilarating to feel a rush of adrenaline from biking again. I can’t even remember how many years it’s been since I felt that!

The following weekend I went with a bunch of friends to Leavenworth, Washington to an out-of-town cyclocross race. I’ve only actually raced once, at Single Speed World Series PDX in 2016, but I still love hanging out and being cross-adjacent. This year, our group of friends rented a house in Leavenworth and spend Saturday mountain biking and Sunday racing/cheering our friends. With my new bike, I could actually join them for the mountain biking!!  

The plan was to do a shuttle system –two people would drive us all up to the top of Tumwater mountain, then one person would meet us at the bottom and run a second car back up to the top. The thinking was that this would let us get a whole bunch of runs in on some of the most awesome trails in Washington.

Turns out things don’t always go according to plan.

The drive up to the top of the mountain took much longer than anticipated. Like 2 hours longer. One care even bailed on the way up and 4 riders rode half the way up. Not the worst idea and they made it up in the same time as the car.

Once we made it up and reassembled bikes, we got some last minute mountain bike tips from more experienced riders. I learned to put my weight back, brake lightly, and let some air out of my tires. Ooh yeah squishy time.

Finally, we were off to ride.

Our group of ten varied greatly in skill, from my total newbie status to way more advanced riders on full suspension bikes. To not hold up the entire group, we split into a few groups, agreeing to meet up periodically on the way down, mainly before big turns.

I was by far the slowest in the group, but I went at a pace that I was comfortable with, especially given the advanced nature of the terrain we were on. (The trails we were on ranged between a Blue and Green rating, but they were technically the most difficult I’ve done.) For reference, we rode Freund Canyon and For the Boys (stupid stupid name.)

For some of the advanced riders, I think these trails were probably really easy and an opportunity to practice getting high on the berms. For me, it was heart-pounding, holy-shit I’m going-to-die-any-minute if I make a wrong turn kind of fun.

 As we progressed down the mountain, I learned to trust my instincts on the bike, trust the bike, and had a lot more fun. Going up and over little features was a blast, and I definitely see the appeal of mountain biking. Needless to say, we only went down once and retrieved the car later.

The variety of terrain we went through was striking – one minute it felt like we were riding through an alpine meadow and the next we were on a berm on the side of a mountain about to fall off. We rode through burned out forest sections and onto the side of a ski hill. It was fascinating and made me super curious to do more.

Overall, I’m incredibly happy with my purchase and can’t wait to do more. I have yet to load it up for bikepacking, but am confident that it will do the job.