2024 Cyclocross Masters USA Nationals 70-74 - Louisville KY - with commentary

[@mikem4814]

Louisville again hosted, but made the course much more difficult compared to last year's easy course that favored power over skill. After a warm and almost bone-dry season in the northeast, the cold, mud and ever-changing conditions were a shock. No way did I keep up with the top guys, but you can sort of follow them through the announcer's play-by-play at end of each lap. At the end of the video there is some talk among the leaders about what happened during the race. The end of each lap: 16:00, 20:47, 25:00.

[@ronetele13]

Thank you for the video. Good job on your race. Really nice to see the course on Thursday compared to when I raced it on Sunday although this is under my friends account.

[@mikem4814]

Thanks for watching and for your comment. I lost track of the weather after I left. How was the course on Sunday?

[@HarryF.]

I agree with your assessment of the course and conditions, Congratulations you had a nice race .. Well done

[@mikem4814]

@@HarryF. thanks for watching it commenting. Did you race?

[@HarryF.]

@@mikem4814 Yes I am still trying to race, you passes me at 23+minutes .. I was in the 75-79 race. I am still having fun an I need to keep moving so I don't rust in place.

[@PeterHackbert]

Great video that displays the ethos of the master competitive cyclists.

[@mikem4814]

Thanks for watching and for your comment. Yes cyclocross definitely tough no matter what your age. I love competing with these guys. All of us do our best, but completely respectful of each other.

[@jurgennaujoks9199]

My biggest repect to all of you! I'm just 62, from Germany and I love Cyclocross in a very deep way.Good luck at all your ways, looking forward, we have good days in front of us : )

[@mikem4814]

Thanks for watching and your kind comment!

[@crazypaulinquebec]

Great video and effort! The important thing is... you were there!!

[@mikem4814]

Yes! 11 hour drive for 40 minutes of “fun”😂

[@johnfleming2542]

Very nice video - thanks for posting. As a longtime cyclist (raced a little in the 80's), I might have to try one of these someday. I have a cross bike and have been known to hang around/ride with a few cyclocross miscreants here in NC, so I have no real excuse not to!

[@mikem4814]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, give it a try. It’s very hard but very rewarding and as far as bike racing goes, it’s relatively safe.

[@bobfetherston1195]

@mikem4814 my wife and I just watched your video!! We really enjoyed it as it is a great document of the difficulty of the mud in our race. Crazy to think that the sunshine would make 32° F (0° C) dirt into mud so treacherous !! Absolutely agree (with your Strava comment) " ... old men running around in the worst conditions... "Amazing that right after the race age is briefly lifted and all of us enjoy the excitement/joy/enthusiasm of an 8 year old!!!

[@mikem4814]

If any sport will keep you young it’s this one!!

[@PeterHackbert]

Mike- stumbled onto this video yesterday. I can see that you were in my nrighborhood. I had the event in my calendar but it ended up conficting with the USA Long Course National Triathlon Championships in Daytona FL. Within the national and world multisport community we find it very challenging to find videos with the intricate description and depth as your video that serves as an inspiration..The video provided a unique perspective on the cyclocross course and narrative for master competitors committed to compete at a very high level. Keep up the good work. Lets connect. Peter Hackbert National Aquabike Champion 75-79.

[@mikem4814]

@@PeterHackbert Peter, thank you for watching and for your generous comment! I am grateful to be retired and have enough time to go a bit overboard on some of these videos. My hat’s off to all the film editors. Time and patience is required!

[@PeterHackbert]

Mike- interested in the types of bikes used by you and masters the event.

[@mikem4814]

@ I used Specialized Crux with knobby tubeless tires. Any gravel bike would work fine.

[@neilashton9459]

Well done on the video and your race. Cool you had your son in support - did he race too? I am all too familiar with getting passed by Derek Bateson somewhere on lap 2 and seeing him agonizingly inch away in the distance. Great to see him and fellow NCCX racer Alan Lesage at nationals.

[@mikem4814]

@@neilashton9459 Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes, my son raced the following day in the extremely competitive 35-39 group. He just turned cat three so it was his goal simply not to be last, which he did meet. No mud for him. The ground was frozen the next morning. Our bikes were close enough in size that we could use each other’s as a possible pit bike.

[@aarondeutchman3212]

What video editing software do you use? I still use garmin virb but need something better while still easy.

[@mikem4814]

@@aarondeutchman3212 I’m using iMovie on an iMac. It gets the job done but is fairly basic. I may try Final Cut next.

[@isitrachelorj3953]

Nice effort Mike. Tough conditions. I got the story straight on the New England guys, but Smith was a shocker. His results hadn't been anything special this year. Pan Ams were against nobody. But he was champion in 2018 . . . Guys a stud I guess. Come up to New England some year, do Noho. Have a great winter!

[@mikem4814]

Yes, that was a bit of a surprise. He wasn’t even in the first row at the start. I wish I could’ve seen what was going on up front. It must’ve been quite a battle.

[@ronaldhoward7908]

I raced against Joe Saling in the 80's he & his wife Dot. Champions then🎉

[@mikem4814]

EVERYONE has raced with Joe. He’s been all over the place.