Riding Updates:
Back in March I did my first "Hell's Kitchen" race, and first road race period, in good 'ol Hogeye, Arkansas. Cat 5 had around 62 people registered (much more than the usual 8-25 people in a MTB race class). Pretty much all I knew was we would have a 1.5mile climb, and another somewhat significant climb just before. Being in Cat5 our distance was only around 20 miles, but I thought the pace would be insane so I didn't want to burn out too soon. I also spoke with a couple other local racers who said the best thing to do was to go up the climb at my own pace....because about half the people who pass at the get go will be seen half way up the hill trickeling back down. I felt like my fitness was good, but having never ridden the course I didn't know what that hill was going to do to me.
The race:
The first 5 or 6 miles was painfully slow with the entire peleton just cruizing at about 16-18 mph. I was extremely anxious and wanted to just jump out and hammer....but not knowing the group, and the fact that I knew there had do have been some fast riders in there who would have had no problem catching me, I decided not to. There were quite a few times where I just fanned out a bit to avoid some dangerous riders who.....didn't point out a road kill rabbit.... stuck their brake lever into my left cheek...had bottles flying everywhere binging off tires....were panic braking...etc.
I guess the hill was going to be the deciding factor. I was in the top 5 or so people at the hill. A group of people about 30 deep got out of there saddle and started pounding past me. I wound it up a but, but knew it was a huge hill so I took the advice and kept somewhat of my own pace. After about a minute I assume about 10 riders already waterfalled back down behind me. As we began to roll the hill I was in 39x28 standing and constantly pulling just to keep momentum. I was feeling good and passing people left and right. As I rolled the hill the group of what now was about 14 people had fatigued and slowed a bit, but they were about 50 yards ahead of me. I was gaining on them but just when I though I may catch them (at this point I was riding solo) they started to pick up the pace. I had my head down, I was in my drops, and I was pushing the biggest gear I could averaging somewhere around 21-23 mph. They began to widen the gap though and I just couldn't close it. I turned around several times and saw no one behind me for about 8 miles, so I decided not to slow up and find someone. About 2 or 3 miles from the finish a two man chase group came up behind me and one of them said, "hop on...we need some help". I was all for it. We rotated out about three times at 30 second pulls. One of the guys was about to blow up, and the other looked pretty good. We got to a sign that said "1 mile to go" and it was about my turn to pull. Thanks to the race organizers the finish line was at the top of a climb...ouch:) As I pulled up to sprint territory I was thinking, "great, I pulled for the last 45 hopefully this guy isn't feeling too good". As I wound it up and eventually got out of the saddle I just gave it all I had. I could see his wheel creeping up to the right of my back wheel so I dug pretty deep and ended up taking it. It was for 15th place.....but pretending you're in first is just as fun...kinda!
http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp21/gtcl/T%20de%20T%202009/?albumview=slideshow
Tour de Tick MTB Race Neosho, MO:
So, last year I got second place in sport. This year I was hoping for first. My fitness is better than it has ever been, plus I had been training on the road bike which was never a factor last year.
It had rained a bit the night before which caused some concern about trail conditions...but they assured us that it had drained well and would be in pretty good shape. All true....but with some more rain during the race, and all of the riding occuring simutaneously, the conditions became somewhat mushy and sloppy. Oh well....I figured it would be fun anyhow!
We get off to the start and I get the whole shot. I tried to take off (which was hard running Hutchison Python tires with pretty much no tread) but was still able to split the group on the first significant hill. I was in first by about30 sec to 1 minute I assume and was feeling good. I came up to this downhill shoot that was pretty steep, but fairly safe. There was the easy singletrack going straight down, but there was also a kicker off to the right that looked to be safe and somewhat fun...not to mention people were standing there with cameras watching...you know? So I hit it. I landed it.....but with 24 lbs of pressure in my front tire, and a little too much weight on the front during the landing (rider error), it soon became apparent that I would be making a pit stop. At impact my tire sounded like a .22 pistol going off, and it blew off of the rim as I decended to the bottom and came to a stop. The people there were like "woah!, well at least you will get some cool points...hah". It was pretty much the right idea, and the wrong bike. I stood there trying to get the tubeless to seal for about 2-3 minutes or so with my CO2's, but I had two holes in my tire from the impact of the rim. I remember a couple of people passing me which must have been the 2nd and 3rd guys. I got going pretty slowly and made it to the start finish. After spending some excessive time tracking down a floor pump to borrow, and questioning the judges on whether or not using a borrowed pump was legal, I just ended up throwing in a tube and got going. Overall probably set me back about 10+ minutes, and I figured everyone had passed me by that point. I did my best to catch up and passed multiple people. I finished the race happy though. It was a lot of fun, and a really cool and fast course...Luke from Kuat Racks was cool enough to even take my muddy pic!
At the podium I ended up in second suprisingly....that was pretty cool too as I was prepared to get 8th or so. To top it off I somehow confirmed my strange title as the "Ultimate Raffle Winner" by winning the raffle for a new Trek 820 Mtb!! (last year I won a bike rack...weird?!) Gave the bike to the Mom who desperately needed an upgrade from her Sequiota old-school A&B Bike!
All in all awesome weekend....and a good time kicking it with some great friends!
Until next time...
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