Any of you that know me or follow this blog, know that have have ridden and raced bikes for years - but only road and mountain bikes. The team I am with here in OR have talked me into racing Cyclocross for my first time. We kicked off the Oregon season right in our little home town with the Hood River Double Cross
Lining up for my first ever Cross race - my teammate Tony to my left 
It was a beautiful day and I was having fun!
My very first race and I sprinted for a 2nd place finish! (hope my sponsors don't fine me for forgetting to zip up my jersey!!)
Cam was having fun cheering me on and some of my teammates!
Our team set-up for day two of racing 
If you're not familiar with cyclocross - it is a bike race that will generally have you racing on grass, gravel, dirt, pavement with a couple barriers and other reasons to get off your bike and run with it.
It was a beautiful day and I was having fun!My very first race and I sprinted for a 2nd place finish! (hope my sponsors don't fine me for forgetting to zip up my jersey!!)Cam was having fun cheering me on and some of my teammates!Our team set-up for day two of racing If you're not familiar with cyclocross - it is a bike race that will generally have you racing on grass, gravel, dirt, pavement with a couple barriers and other reasons to get off your bike and run with it.Here are a couple shots of me hitting the barriers
Making a move to pass! 
On day two I had to sprint for a 6th place finish
Cross races are much more family friendly then a regular road race or cross country mtn bike race as you usually are doing laps making it more viewer-friendly
Cam getting a ride from Tony's boy Christopher - Camden loves trying to hang with the "big boys"
It is also for kids of all ages - check out this little guy racing juniors - he had to step on each barrier to get himself and his bike over. He has incredible form and is really fun to watch!
The next weekend we got Cam into the kids race - Kiddie Cross at the Battle of Barlow
Going over race strategy here
Off to an early lead!!
Intense - but smiling!!
Coming up to the first barrier....
not a hill for a climber like Cam!!
Back on the bike and pedalling fiercely!
Uh-oh - another barrier
Not a problem 
Victory smile and even a medal
I also raced the Battle of Barlow but a mechanical problem knocked me out for a lap and I finished almost last! 83rd of 87 finishers! But at least I finished!!
And gave myself time to smile for the camera!!
Two weekends - three BEAUTIFUL days for racing! Where is the mud/rain/cold I always hear about with cyclocross?!?!? (probably just jinxed myself!)
MMMMMMM!!! Belgium waffles with Nutela!!!
September is also a good month for climbing as the weather is generally still dry but cooler. This month I had a work trip to Denver and got in a good multi-pitch climb with Ryan that I work with. We climbed the First Flatiron near Boulder, CO. Not super technical but 8 pitches on a steep cliff face makes for a long, fun climb!Just getting started - 2nd pitch
Gearing up to belay the next pitch for Ryan who was leading the whole thing - check out the view over my shoulder - it was like that all day! 
On the ridge line - what a view!
A fun rap down the other side! 
All smiles after 4 hours on the rock!
My super-fun family enjoying the weather at the races!!! Looking forward to more to come!
Gearing up to belay the next pitch for Ryan who was leading the whole thing - check out the view over my shoulder - it was like that all day! On the ridge line - what a view!A fun rap down the other side! All smiles after 4 hours on the rock!My super-fun family enjoying the weather at the races!!! Looking forward to more to come! 
