there were a fair amount of lugged bikes including the venerable richard sachs ( in the tubes and in the flesh), croll, gaikowski and some others... lots of crashes... lots of wind... jeremy haynes
> Your on the spot correspondent in Kansas City giving you the latest
updates.
>
> Flash! Cyclo cross nationals running in truly miserable weather.
Friday's
> races were run in mid thirties drizzle. Overnight, the temperature drops,
> and Saturday the course is slick with ice. Crashes everywhere, including
a
> decisive one in the men's B. At the hairpin turn just before the first
> running section, the second place rider goes down and takes three guys
with
> him, and causes a bottleneck that allows the leader to sprint up the hill
to
> a 15 second lead. After that no one can threaten him.
>
> With winds running up to 30-40 mph and temps in the teens, mental
toughness
> is key. Watched three races this morning before hypothermia drives me
back
> to the car, as I am not tough at all.
>
> A fair sprinkling of mountain bikes in the mix today, including the 3rd
> place rider in the Mens B race. No lugged steel bikes seen (sob!) but
tons
> of aluminum and tig welded steel and a few Ti frames. Carbon fibre absent
> except for the mountain bikes. Probably not enough demand for cross bikes
> to justify the tooling cost of carbon molds.
>
> (Required classic content:) I had hoped to see a classic Alan or Raleigh
> crosser, but modernity rules.
> Classic Canti brakes are the preferred stoppers, although a respectable
> percentage of V brakes seen. Saw at least one bike with regular toe
clips,
> but SPD style or Time ATAC cleat systems rule.
>
> Lots of fun, and if I can find my duck hunting suit, I may go back out
> tomorrow.
>
> Tom Adams in Cyclo Cross HQ, Kansas City