photos and words by Wade Hewitt
The mens Bs race heads through the dust to the double run-up section. © Wade Hewitt
Normally this is my favorite time of year. As the days get shorter and the bite of the summer heat starts to lessen the smell of cyclocross is in the air. Well, in most places the summer heat is starting to die down, but not here in SoCal. The start of our CX season is typically met with 100 degree temps and lots of dust. It’s a far cry from the mud, rain and cold that most people expect but I’ve grown to love it.
Unfortunately, this year I won’t have a cyclocross season. I’m recovering from a bad accident, on my cyclocross bike, which left me with two cracked vertebra, a broken collarbone and a broken finger. Even though I can’t race and am still wearing a neck brace I wanted to get out there with my friends and cheer them on at the races.
This year the Southern California weather outdid itself and the temps and dust levels were at all-time highs at the second SoCal Cross Prestige Series race in Long Beach CA. Dust sucks while racing, and watching, but it does make for dramatic photos.
The Cs race kicking up a cloud of dust. © Wade Hewitt
Bruce Weyman, Squareone, (shouldering his bike) and Matias Mendigochea, Helen’s Cycling (running his bike in front of Bruce) negotiate the double run-up section in the 35+ As race. Matias went on to take 2nd place. © Wade Hewitt
Start of the Cs race as they head into the shady section of the course. © Wade Hewitt
The mens Bs race heads through the dust to the double run-up section. © Wade Hewitt
The mens 35+ As race winds through the trees. © Wade Hewitt
Bruce Weyman, Squareone, negotiates the log barrier in the mens 35+ As race. © Wade Hewitt
You can see cyclocross photos all season in his Cyclocross Gallery.
