Cyclocross Practice

Javier over the Barriers, Tongue First

This is about more than Javier's tongue. It includes commentary on his bell, and veers into observations about other riders at the practice sessions. But that tongue was captured in photos by other photographers during a recent cx race. It deserves attention and special notice.

Javier does not do barriers. (He does, but not without protest, though it is a requirement during races.) The photo here is rare, kind of like the sighting of a Horton Plains slender loris.

Horton Plains Slender Loris

Javier's really pretty good over barriers. He unclips in time, ably lifts the bike, runs and hurdles with relative ease, doesn't try to ring the bell mid-leap. And maybe it's the tongue thing that ties it all together. I'm not one to judge unique individual athletic qualities.

The bell itself is quite ingenious. It's not a cow bell, that ubiquitous clanker at any given cx race, but it is a bell and it's attached to his handlebars. It's a twofer. You get the racer and the bell in one.

Justin, Tongue Restrained

Back to barrier style. Notice Justin. No tongue. He makes it over the barriers just fine without it, proof that the dangling tongue is not necessary, but who knows, maybe he'd be even more adept with the tongue out. This is a college town. It might be worth a good scientific evaluation for any of you grad students reading this. Think about it. Remember to cite this article in your references.

Alan

Notice Alan. This is a rare shot as well. Normally, especially during the DirtHammer!, he's the dot out front, either:
1. Making us crank extra hard to keep up, thus improving our fitness, or
2. Making us cranky because we have to work extra hard just trying to hold on, or
3. Both.

Notice there's mud on Alan's helmet. It was a very dry day when this photo was taken. Where have you been, Alan?

Marty, followed by Justin and Javier. Where the heck is John going? He wasn't supposed to go that way.

Jim and his son Marty show that there is the chance of genetic predisposition toward masochistic behavior. Two generations of one family are foolish enough to do cyclocross together.

Jim, Genetically Connected to Marty

During other times of year they run full force into walls or walk through car washes (sans car) in order to sustain the same self-destructive qualities of cyclocross. They call it "training." Their neighbors tend to walk on the other side of the street.

Rachel. Her husband Dave would be in a photo, too, but he never gets out of the parking lot.

Rachel has gotten some good practice in at these sessions. Her husband Dave, however, has not. He's had bike issues (she's on his), or he shows up with only one bike shoe. Dave tends to wander aimlessly through the parking lot or sit one-shoed on the tailgate of his car. Rachel's really improving, though.

Richard. The bike isn't in the picture, but believe me it is cool.

Richard rides on really nice stuff. I thought you were supposed to be nearing retirement before you were able to ride on nice stuff. I think I rode a Schwinn Collegiate 5-speed when I was his age. It was purple. It had a chain guard.


Bob, Javier, Ken, Alan, and Rodger.