The Monkey Trail in LA - I love this race! The turnout is small but the trail is awesome. It’s only 3 hours from Dallas - I’m surprised more people from Dallas don’t race it.
Anyway, I got the hole shot and led for the whole race until about 2 or 3 miles to go and I had to stop to put in some air. The tire burped 5 minutes earlier and I tried to baby it but it got lower and lower until it was just flat. I should have stopped minutes before, but oh well…. It was a great day for racing and I had a great time. Jason Betz won it - he rode strong!
I did get the course record for my first lap, which is nice.
pics later.
Cheers!
This was the hardest race I have ever done. The hardest thing I have ever done. I’m not sure what place I got but 20th is probably about right.
I started in the front row and felt pretty good after the first bit of climbing.
After about 20 miles I was in 9th place and still feeling good.
I skipped the first checkpoint and that turned out to be a big mistake because I ran out of water for a while and couldn’t take in any calories.
This year was much harder than last years race. The start was harder – they grouped us all together (the 60 milers and 80 milers) so everything was faster. There was a big climb at the beginning that was new and most of all – Blowout Mountain was included this year. That section is BRUTAL! I am looking forward to the results – I would not be surprised if half of the racers didn’t finish.
At the last checkpoint – I just wanted it to be over. My friend jokingly offered me a sip of beer
– Yeah Man!
30 yards in a guy goes down right in front of me so I ran into him and fly over the bars. Good bye everyone!
I chase them down and end up in 10th at the end of it. Not bad, but I had a headache for a week after that and decided to skip Warda.
Man, it has been a while since I’ve competed in a XC race… It was tough! This was the coldest race or ride I have ever done with a 29 degrees at start time, but I actually felt comfortable - once the hands thawed out.
I felt like I could go harder at the beginning but decided to sit back a little for 2 reasons. - 1 people were all over the place going down the road at 25 mph! - and 2 The Horseshoe and Rabbit Ears sections are difficult and I wanted to try and finish strong in this race.
photo by pappatop68
This was probably a mistake because I could have gone up those hard sections faster than I did being stuck behind a bunch of riders in the granny gear, but I did finish the race feeling pretty good so it’s alright.
I caught Dave E. and rode with him for about half the race. I got around him going up to the Oaks section and then tried to catch some more. I caught a few more riders but I don’t they were in my class. From looking at the results it looks like I was closing in on a couple more so that is cool.
It’s good to be back in Cat 1. The start pace is way more manageable and the whole thing is just more fun! :D
Oh yeah, I got 13th which was mid pack… that was my goal since this was my first XC race since last Spring.
So I’m thinking it is time for 2×9…. The 1×9 has been fun and I’ve been pushing the harder gear, but I’m thinking I will be faster with some more range.
So Brandish and I team up again for this one. It was cold! Weather Channel said 36 degrees - feels like 26 when I left the house. It warmed up a little from there but not much…Tom did the start and had a great lap - he comes out in first place overall and off we go. I give up a few minutes on my first lap - little rusty at Erwin and those tight sections but I got better throughout the day.
(pic by Davis, PIV)
Tom had to leave early so he went out for 2 in a row and I would finish up the last lap - we have about a 4 minute lead so everything looked great…
However, Tom had not been eating really at all and bonked on his last lap giving up all the minutes he had gained for us! They come out together and it’s me and Yater for the last lap and first place for the day. Yater is ahead by about 5 seconds at the start and I start reeling him in on the first hill climb. I am thinking this will go well…
(pic by CHAG)
Right after that - on the first downhill section, my chain drops off!! $H!T!! The 1×9 has been flawless and it has to drop now?! I stop and put it back on and Yater is gone. I hammer and hammer but he stays ahead. I catch Kris C. (gooney) and he tells me that Yater is about 40 seconds ahead. I keep my head down and try to keep from blowing up (it’s close… I’m literally gasping.)
(pic by CHAG)
Finally I see him not too far ahead. I pin it a little more at catch him on a hill. No time to loosen up so I go for the pass right away and try to attack on the hills but he stays on my wheel. So now it’s time to play the game - everytime we get into the woods, I sit up a little and try to recover - we are chatting a little about the weather and the day… Every time it opens up - I hammer. Yater goes for a pass on the hills a couple of times but I was able to match his effort and stay in front. At the end it is all tight woods and we rolled across the finish line .274 seconds apart. Good enough for the win and a little coin.
Cheers!
Here are some pics from my phone - we had a good trip.
frosty mug
riding one of these in 3 feet of fresh isn’t that easy…
my iphone wallpaper - took this one from the chair.
this is the fastest run on the hill I think - Starfire. I’ve hit about 60mph on this. Left the GPS at home this year because it gets too crazy.
Aimster!
What? Ice in CO?!
Cheers!
Tom and I got 2nd in the first 6 hour race at Boulder. I was riding a little slow since it was my first race back and Tom had some mechanical issues… We should be able to get up to first for the next one if we team up again. The 9 speed worked great on the Optimus and I am really digging the new Ergons with the bar ends built in. I can climb with way more traction on the rear tire when I am using the bar ends - that was an unexpected benefit.
Me and tomtom are teaming up - should be fun. It’s been too long sice I’ve raced so it will be tough I’m sure - good thing I’ve got a rally fast teammate. :DDirt Dawg Christamas party after that - good times I’m sure…
I got teh spin bike setup in the ‘little house’ with the old xbox and Halo2… No wired internet connection out there so no xbox live, but Halo2 on Legendary was pretty hard last night - good enough for an hour. I am going to start getting back on there everynight after work for an hour or 2 (except Fridays)That should help get back in shape.
Holy crap - ouch!5 pullups, 10 pushups, and 15 squats. Do that as many times as you can in 20 minutes. I did it only 12 times and I had to do jumping pullups and cheater pushups at the end.This was on Saturday and I’m still sore as hell today - all over. I’ll throw a few more of these into the routine and see if it helps with strength on the bike come Spring…
