Thinking back, it’s been two years since Cyclo Cross Tokyo was held in Odaiba. That race was my first time racing on sand. I remember not being able to get my bike to move how I wanted, and I spent most of the time off the bike carrying it. That experience really cemented my fear of sand. The Miami round of the Kansai CX, also held annually as a UCI race, uses a course on the sandy beaches of Lake Biwa. Since this was my first time entering, I searched "Kansai Cyclo Cross Miami" on YouTube and watched elite-level races until I couldn't watch any more, so my mental preparation was spot on.
This time, I was more meticulous with my practice runs than ever before. While riding the course, I checked the parts I was concerned about over and over again. I think I thought more seriously than ever about whether I could ride a section or not and which lines were best. (It's not that I'm not always serious, mind you!) I also tried dropping my tire pressure little by little to find the sweet spot. I brought two sets of Dugast tires, but chose the Smallbird. For my 53kg body, I set the pressure to about 1.5 bar. That said, once the race starts, it’s a living thing; lines change, and timing for passing other riders doesn't always go as planned. Still, perhaps thanks to the careful preparation, I finished in 25th place. Since UCI races pay prize money down to 25th place, I managed to scrape together some winnings. The amount is small, but it’s still money earned from a respectable race, as far as I'm concerned. I’ll report it to my parents tonight. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who cheered for me!
Many of the others who came along were also taking on Miami for the first time, but they all did great!
And above all, I had some heartening support this time. Hidenori "Kodo" Hanamura—a.k.a. Hide-chan—even though he was racing himself, spent his time after the race cheering on riders with his own djembe. He even whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a session alongside the Kansai CX stalwart, "Master Sano"! I was cheered on many times during the race, which helped me keep pushing until the very end.
The Akigase Bikelore was also held this weekend, and it had just as much of a welcoming, homey atmosphere. My next race is the National Championships on December 8th, but Kansai Cyclo Cross continues after that, so if you're interested in heading out from Nagoya, please come talk to us at Circles. I look forward to hearing from you.
See more photos here!
Click here for photos by Mr. Maekawa of CRC, an indispensable presence at Kansai CX!