We've had a couple different snow storms roll through recently. There was "Q" (WTF?) and now we just finished up with "Rocky" which, much like its namesake, had several sequels. I took a few pictures of the really light stuff which fell with almost no wind and was able to really build up on stuff.
This first picture is a totally blown exposure but I kind of like it. I had just picked my camera up and shot out the window, then noticed (when the screen was mostly white) that exposure comp. was on +1.5EV.
No filters and no messing around, these are the colors the camera saw. Yay light pollution!?
Corrine, Charlotte and I put in about three hours of training today on gravel roads south of town. I was expecting at least minor amounts of mud but for the most part it was completely dry!
We had a short leg on Highway-92 but there was almost no traffic and we had the place to ourselves.
The small object darting toward us is one of many dogs we ride past on this route. This particular one, however, is new.
He was friendly enough and actually ended up running with us for about two miles. He refused to go home and would not stop running. We ended up calling the phone# on his tag, getting no answer, and riding back to his house to chain him up to a corn crib (no one was home either). Barring a heart-attack, we most certainly would have arrived back in Pella with him in tow.
Got to ride underneath a bald-eagle.
Almost back to civilization again. Nothing like burning an entire USDA daily diet calorie allotment in one trip!
Corrine, Cody and I drove out to Kentucky to watch the 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. I hadn't really planned to go to this until the week before the date. Generally we wouldn't be making a long drive unless we are riding when we get there but it was well worth the trip, even if only to spectate. Historical note - this is the first time in the 60-year history of this sport that Worlds has been held outside Europe. It probably won't be back for a long time either (rotation through the other dozen countries) so it was a must-see for that reason alone. It was also fun to see a few people who we'd watched a couple months before at Jingle Cross, now being sent by their home countries to Worlds.
Checking weather reports during the week before, it was 60-70°F and raining in Louisville while we sat in the teens at home. The race-day venue forecast called for a drop to 30°F and snow. Perfect CX weather really.
This was originally a two-day event, splitting races across a Saturday and Sunday. I was a little bummed when we were planning it as we could only make it for Saturday which meant watching the juniors and under-23 race, unable to see the women elite or men elite. Resigning myself to the fact that U23 would still be a good race, we were pretty well set to go until I got an urgent email from the ticketing service. The big news was that the Ohio River was expected to blow out of its banks and flood through the race venue by Sunday, so all races had been rescheduled and crammed into Saturday. Massive win! Now we got to watch all the races and only had to pay for one-day tickets!
The predicted snow arrived on time and blanketed everything white for race day.
Even good parking was a fair distance from the venue. The snow was already getting slushy and spoke volumes about what the course would soon become.
We got checked in and had just enough time to wonder around before the juniors race started. What was immediately clear was that this place was LARGE. Every effort had been made to make the course length to the absolute maximum allowed.
Video of some junior racing.
It felt like watching the Olympics because national pride (from all nations) was so strongly displayed everywhere.
We headed back over to the start to grab some beer and watch the women elite start.
The crowd here was bordering on out-of-control at times. The excitement in the air was powerful.
Video of the women elite:
I don't know what this sign said but these guys were pretty happy with it.
Katie Compton clocking in some laps. She went on to win silver for USA, which was our best placing of the day.
The course had begun to melt on the surface by now and everyone was getting pretty muddy.
This course had an elevated staircase overpass just like Jingle Cross, so that was pretty fun.
Here's the Ohio river, already creeping up on the edge of the park.
The public works dept. had provided several big diesel pumps with operators to keep the water at bay. They had pretty nice sand-bag walls up but the water was still coming in. At one point, spectators were even helping to shovel bags to keep up.
Men's U23 race. The crowds were getting much larger now and there was a wave-like roar that followed the American riders around the course. It was great to just stand there and listen to it.
Things are getting pretty muddy now.
One of several filming towers. This sport is such a big deal that it was being broadcast live all over Europe.
Bike-washing station for the pits.
Some mud...
I'd say the norm was to pit every lap at this point. Grab a clean bike and go again while the mechanics wash the spare.
This truck was just sitting here with the door open. The two guys walking away tried to buy some off the driver but he declined and then closed the door.
It would appear that lots of people ride bikes to a bike race.
Back to the start for the men elite. The crowds were huge at this point and, as you can see, there's people spilling over everywhere.
Elite men video clip.
These guys were pretty fast at pitting. There are two mechanics waiting - one to catch the old bike and one to hand off the new bike. The rider never stops running, just throws the old bike and jumps on the replacement.
The Belgians easily dominated this race for the duration.
The roads got a little snowy on the way home and we saw a lot of accidents. Made it home just fine though.
