PARKING:
STERLING:
PALMER:
This is where parking becomes a relative thing based on the number of racers. But, the measure involves: 1) Are there enough spots; 2) Is it conveniently located to the course; 3) Are you going to lose an axle getting there.
Both races do very well. Palmer is very straight forward with parking right next to the course. There wasn't a lot of it, but then again a lot wasn't needed. At Sterling, you actually have options (in front of the school, behind the school, to the side of the school). Requires a little forethought and planning. But, options can be good.
REGISTRATION
STERLING:
PALMER:
I was a little worried about Sterling, since last year we were funneled into this little hallway with people waaay out the door. Also, we got the email that Reg wouldn't open until 7:45. But, no worries. We had the wide alcove and the school was opened earlier than that. The people knew what they were doing, and things progressed pretty smoothly.
It is always interesting when you arrive to a race, and the registration people are getting instructions on how to do registration. I arrived at 7:30, with the first race at 9:00, and registration wasn't going yet. I always think that 1:15 minimum before the first race and registration should be open. It was close, but again, because of the small numbers things went pretty quickly. You couldn't ride your bike to the registration because you had to walk down stairs, so minus one cowbell.
BATHROOMS
STERLING:
PALMER:
Indoor bathrooms are always a bonus. Both races had them. I didn't see any PoJ's though. At Sterling, that's a little rough because the school is a bit away from the meat of the course. Since there are plenty of spectators, it would be great to have at least one or two closer to the Start/Finish line. At Palmer, there were only the bathrooms in the school as well, but plenty of woods to dive into in case of an emergency.
COURSE
STERLING:
PALMER:
An absolute study in contrasts. Fast and open. Technical and tight. New school and olde skool. Take your pick. Both courses were a lot of fun (and moderately frozen). Doing them back to back makes for an interesting weekend.
Palmer had those crazy run-ups. Very similar to Mansfield Hollow. Lots of roots (watch that tire pressure). Rocky downhills. Triple barriers (screw you, UCI). Plywood scrap bridge over a stream. Sterling had the hairpin uphill and downhill, the newly dubbed Subway and Mind the Gap barriers, the horse jump. Either way you go, you can't lose.
LINEUP
STERLING:
PALMER:
Big fumble for Sterling. Since when do we line up the faster group behind the slower group? So there we were, the Cat 3/4 Masters stacked behind the Cat 4 field. Huh? Mr. Stevens didn't seem very pleased with that development, but it was too late. We were already placed. Being a Verge race, this stuff should be automatic. Created an interesting obstacle course throughout the race with Cat 4 back-o-the-packers going down like dominoes.
Palmer was cool, but it is hard to screw up a line-up when 30 people are involved. Just lineup and go! It was interesting to lineup on a slight off-camber, though.
PITS
STERLING:
PALMER:
Sterling gets the edge for the double pits, where Palmer only had one. I guess another bike shop was supposed to be at Palmer. I don't know. But, it wouldn't have been too tough to set up another pit someplace so people could stash their tires in one location and use the neutral support in another. I saw one guy run an entire lap because he had a mechanical right after the pit. Props to him, but an avoidable casualty.
POST-RACE REFRESHMENTS
STERLING:
PALMER:
Nothing at Sterling that I could see. But, MRC brought some beverages and I had a banana in my cooler. Palmer had a food truck behind the school. And they gave away free Endurolyte pills at registration. Yeah for free stuff. I think they also had Hammer Gel samples. Enough to get you guy in a pinch.
OVERALL
STERLING:
PALMER:
Minor stuff aside, who can argue with two nice (if not cold) days at the end of November to do a cross race. I would strongly recommend this double next year just to experience both sides of the cross spectrum. Large very intimate. Grass versus roots. New and old. It is an interesting way to see where we are, and where we were. Everyone can then argue which is better. To me, they're both pretty good.
