Click, Click BOOM! Gun Club CX

Gun Club CX. If you have never experienced it these words and pictures will not do it justice. This is more than a typical CX race. More so than any of the other OVCX races, this race truly embodies the CX spirit of the races being events, spectacles even, rather than just a “race”.

Last Wednesday most of the regular Cincy CX racers went out to recon the course with John Gatch. Gatch is the diabolical mastermind of Gun Club CX. He is perhaps more famous as being one of the Johns from the Two Johns Podcast. He also is one of the voices of OVCX as one of the more animated announcers on the tour. Oh, and he is the guy wearing leiderhosen and suspenders at the races…

They pulled all the stops out this year. Roto-tilled up the sand (didn’t matter, it was still super fast, more on that in a moment), added a very technical creek crossing with two lines to enter and a steep hill directly following the creek which was a run up for many. It was rideable if you had momentum from the creek and did not get bogged down in traffic up the hill. The rest of this super MTB friendly course was the typical short steep climbs, the singletrack, the gravelly twisty turns, and the smell of grilled meat from the HUGE grill next to the tiny little pit area. Oh and added to all that were these guys:

What the hell Gatch? Seriously, a drumline? Gun Club CX is sensory overload.

Since the 4s were going off at 4:15 and finishing sometime around sunset I arrived at venue around 1:00. Just in time to see the finish of the Elite Masters and the Elite Women. Nikki won the women’s race, and B-Jet Donovan-Billiter (wife of official Gun Club Artist James Billiter) took home 3^rd. Some combination of the usual suspects for the men were on the podium. I was not really paying attention as I was trying to navigate the crowds to get to registration. I missed the 3-4 women’s race but Heather got her best finish with a 5^th in the old lady 4s and Sherrie put in a solid ride too. They said there was still some frost on the ground when they went off. Sounds like cross season is finally here.

I registered, pinned a number, and settled in to watch the Cat 3 Masters race. Butch, Jeff Cyrus, and Steirwalt were representing the Rogue Nation and all 3 are strong MTBR’s so I expected a good showing.

As you can see here, Jeff and Butch are ready to go. Steven Gers of Bio Wheels is contemplating something… perhaps a top 10 finish for him today?

They were off, around the big turn, through the straight away and into the sand. Like I said, it did not scrub any speed and Butch decided to go all human-bike bowling ball and a few others were happy to oblige as the pins. Carnage ensued. Matt and Jeff made it out in good position but Matt’s rear der was all jabberwockied. Jeff looked strong all race and had his best finish, 11^th. He just could not catch onto the Bio Wheels paceline right in front of him. Matt was behind him somewhere, strong mid pack considering he only had about 3 gears all race. Butch fought back from the sand carnage to come home 22^nd, but it was an inspired 22^nd.

The open 3s were next, Tim Brown was the lone Rogue in this race. He and Joe Cz were warming up together so I am sure he rode well, I was debriefing Matt, Jeff, and Butch and did not see much of this race. Tim did bring a tiny little dog with him though and try as we might, we could not convince him to race with a basket on his bike and put his dog in it.

In the Elite men a crash at the start line left Josh Johnson with a broken bike so he ran the first half lap to the pits. It was entertaining and he took it in good spirits and did not quit. Bob’s Red Mill basically rode a paceline at the front the entire race. I went to warm up for real.

The 4s started with me on the front row since the only race I can win is the registration race. The open 4/kiddie fun ride went first and us old dudes had a 15 second delay. Nolan won the 4s but Spencer Petrov rode well to come second and as you can see he is about 70 lbs and blurry.

Segal told me I had to put up a pic of “the young Mr. Bain” so here it is. Apparently there is some stipulation in Segal’s contract that no pic = no cookies and that would be bad.

I got a decent start which I knew was key to hold off the faster roadies who were not as fast in the techy-bits. At one point after the creek and the runable ride-up, and after the next little steep hill that some people ran, I think I was leading the race. This did not last long as Chip, Tim, Tracy, Jeff, and Bryan went by. A few more passed me, I passed a few back and then we settled down. I was able to pass people on the two run ups as I rode them, or rode most of the big one until someone would stall in front of me. I am not sure who was right behind me at one point, I thought it was Christian Ambjorn but someone was yelling at him to “Get past Garneret! Go!” I held him off which makes me feel great. I love this course, it suits my abilities and I raced well. Jeff Hardin, Rogue in the Cat 4 45+ caught me and I rode behind him most of the race. We crossed the line together, him winning the 45+ and me notching my first top 10 with 9^th. Cyrus stuck around to take pics and give me a beer afterward so huge props to him. Some more pics:

Jeff getting a good remount and Matt behind.
The view down into the creek crossing
This is what the run up looked like in traffic on lap one
And here's me riding it on lap 2

Proof I cleaned it

You could've gotten PAID at the top!


A blurry Jeff H. taking the win in the 45+ 4s and me right behind for 9th 35+


Me scaring this poor girl as I dry heaved after the race. It was brutal but a blast. Get it? A blast, like a shotgun?


Next week is Infirmary mound in C-bus for the joint OVCX/Cap City race. It is unknown if any LTP correspondents will be there so Segal may just have to post obscure music videos for 2 weeks. Thanks for reading (or at least looking at the pictures)

Jason