VQ & CC RR's???????

[CalEpic]

Originally Posted by Keith B

I'm on a post race high and just signed up to ride Blackstar/Motorway tomorrow night with a friend as a training ride - hey its prep for VQ

That is just wrong. So wrong.

C

[CC]

Great RR! Great job everyone!

[OMR]

Originally Posted by Winger

Did Counting Coup...

I almost got taken out by a downed tree on Holy Jim, but barely stopped in time.

Rider #195....I saw you cut the trail on main divide before Motorway. It probably only saved you 15 or 30 seconds, but it was the principal of it. I hope you're proud of yourself.

When I told you about the tree at the bottom of Upper Holy Jim you looked at me like I was an Alien from the planet Zorca.... Congrats on 6th place... awesome ride!

BTW: Rider #195's name is Jonathan Chillas. Sorry to hear he cut the trail...

OMR

Originally Posted by slowSSer

CC ride report:

I finished! better than 2003's attempt.
next year: VQ!

Ethan, I was wondering what happend to your dad? I know he started... was waiting to cheer him on at the bottom of Upper Holy Jim.

OMR

[Winger]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

When I told you about the tree at the bottom of Upper Holy Jim you looked at me like I was an Alien from the planet Zorca.... Congrats on 6th place... awesome ride!

LOL. That's how I felt...totally out of gas, legs cramping, and I thought you were a hiker taking a break. I think I was pleasant, but if I wasn't, I was....focused.

I don't think the tree would have registered in my brain without your warning. You saved me....thanks!

Doug Andrews said he hit the tree and it knocked him off his bike. He thought he was done, but collected himself and kept going.

[klowie]

I'll keep it short and just mention 10 things that I really loved about my VQ.

1. Being dropped off by my wife an 22 month old son at 5:00 a.m.
2. Reaching the top of the Motorway
3. Passing people going down the Motorway, and then being passed to bring me back to reality.
4. Aid Station #1 - Best banana and apple I have ever eaten.
5. Feeling great climbing Maple Springs (in last year's CC I bonked hard here).
6. Cramping a mile before Four Corners, running out of fluids, but still making Santiago Peak.
7. Going down HJ - I love that trail!
8. Getting some magic pills for my cramps at Aid Station #2 - The Warriors' Society volunteers are the greatest!
9. Making the last cutoff by ten minutes.
10. Getting picked up by my wife and son at the finish.

[jcampbell]

Another rendition...

Fri: Had a pretty rough day at work with the crazy stock market right now. Planned on eating good and wouldn't you know, I go to Dell Taco for a Double Dell, large fries, and Mr. Pibb. Went back to the office only to find a few more things to do. Now granted, I had my whole day planned out, how I was going to eat real good and get some sleep. I get home late and were off in the car to find something to eat. CPK... actually it was good... then flew back home.

Fri - Sat: Must have stayed up all night thinking about the damn race.

Sat: Got up at 3:45, hobled around with the knee issue, grabbed a bagel, banana, filled the camel hump, grabbed the air compressor and filled the tires to 58 front and 60 psi in the rear. I figured I was just going to make the cutoffs. (I flew on the climbs and sketched on Motorway) What a rush!

The start: I was asking the dude burning the big stogee if that was the good stuff... he didn't laugh! Sorry bud. Still I told myself I was in the Spirit World from then on out. I brought my booz cruise light, that single led with a flat nickle sized battery... somehow that thing gets me everyewhere I want to go at night on the roadie, but what a waste in that start. I hung with some spandex for a while, then had to back off to breath again...

Past hidden valley, I had two guys complaining too each other on how windy it was, how the start was unorganized, and how they should have made the race smaller. I told them both to get away from me. He gave me the f off and made a threat, and my middle finger flung up like a pecker getting... well enough of that. I was still in the Spirit World so I didn't care.

I said a prayer as I turned the corner at Blackstar, and I almost fell over with the wind... but I looked down and what did you know, my best time ever just over and hour... so I picked the pace up and ... since I was in the Spirit World, I made myself beleive that the wind was pushing me up to the ball and on to the peak behind.

Saw a few people in front of me cut the course halfway to Motorway as well. Oh well, I know it's faster, but was it worth it! Got to motorway and there was a dude there telling everyone to jump the fence and not ride around it... wouldn't you know, the two people I was trying to catch up rode around it and as the second one went around he clipped himself pretty good. I jumped the fence and passed them both.

Motorway was fun, I thought I was being chased by a few wolves or something with all the howling my brakes were making. I felt bad as I would run up on someone and they would move over for me. I managed to catch up to a group of two and then the picture guy was there. I was sure I didn't get a shot so I got all bummed out for a while. Got to the bottom, jumped the first bump and my right foot came out and I landed on the seat pretty good, the second one was better. Came out to a crowd of cheers and I just took off instead of stopping.

Maple seemed faster than ever. Made it up in 1.25, pretty good for me. Passed a bunch of people and caught up to ryan. I don't know him that well so it took a few passes back and forth to say something to each other...

Made it to four corners in 4 hours just after ty finished the dang thing. On the climb to the peak the Cliff Bar was getting nasty and I was having a hard time keeping it down. First time thats ever happened.

I sketched on the snow with the air pressure I was running. Hit HJ and talked with Steven a wee bit then said maybe I am doing good, I'd better get going. Past about 10 people on the way down HJ up top, then passed another 4 on lowers. By the time I hit the downed tree, I clipped my head trying to squeaze by quickly but nothing major. From there I saw nobody except for one lady hiker and one biker coming up. Slipped and dell in the water. NICE...

Just passed the gate a ranger chick told me to slow down, I did for about 5 seconds... then booked it.. 80's term. As I passed the aid station they were yelling stop... so I slowed and then some guy said don't stop keep going.

Down the road I didn't see anyone except a bunch of idiots in 4 wheel drives. I seriously almost got clipped by a lady driving a red suburban, For some reason I had a ton of energy left and I shifted into the biggest gear I had and carried it all the way to the end.

Came into the finish and there was a huge crowd of sho air guys... I thought for sure I was like 40th or 50th.. actually hoping I was... but Ryan and Matt came over to say good jop and said I got 15th.. no way.

That was my longest ride ever, I neve even rode the entire course in training.

Someone took my picture with my feather, that got destroyed soon thereafter. So I sat there for a second, and then figured I needed to go find the shuttle. Cruised over to oneil park, which i had no clue of to where it was. On the way over, I managed to get that twin tangled up in the front brake and it ripped the feather out of my hand and managed to twist the handlebar just enough to make me look like an idiot and almost eat it on the street. Kind of funny.

Had some good eats, love the show... and kicked back for about and hour for the first shuttle.

All and all I thought it was a great day, just wish they had a few more people to help out in tellingus where to go after the race. Not really put together that well, but I understand completely when everyone focuses on the race and not the afterparty...

Thanks to everyone who pushed me to do better than I expected. Can't wait till next year VQ.

[Sprockethead]

Originally Posted by Keith B

I'll be back next year for VQ without a doubt .
I'm on a post race high and just signed up to ride Blackstar/Motorway tomorrow night with a friend as a training ride - hey its prep for VQ

Keith, you are a sick man. Please mix in a steak to your diet, you're getting skinny. Great job on CC, Ann is already giving me crap about riding VQ next year. I didn't even ride CC!

Great job to everyone who participated and thanks for all the RR's.

[pshloss]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

Once to the dirt, I stopped again for a gel and Advil once more regrouped with George and Jose. The dirt portion of Maple Springs went quickly and before I knew it I was at 4 corners. More Advil.

Hmmm Advil

[allison]

Originally Posted by Sprockethead

Ann is already giving me crap about riding VQ next year. I didn't even ride CC!

Oh yeah, bud, it's ON for VQ next year

[Keith B]

I'm eating steak all the time! If you do VQ next year then you can do CC again with me the year after

Originally Posted by Sprockethead

Keith, you are a sick man. Please mix in a steak to your diet, you're getting skinny. Great job on CC, Ann is already giving me crap about riding VQ next year. I didn't even ride CC!

Great job to everyone who participated and thanks for all the RR's.

[tkblazer]

all i have to say is that you guys are a bunch of sadistic bastards

[Keith B]

So I wont be seeing you later on tonight to ride B-Star/Motorway?? Say it aint so?!

[Wrecker]

Originally Posted by Keith B

I'm eating steak all the time! If you do VQ next year then you can do CC again with me the year after

So the plan is VQ next, then CC again? You guys are fricken insane....though I am thinking that I should train a bit more to get a respectable time in next year.

Damn the CC/VQ curse, such hell yet it is able to allure us each and every year!!!

"Hi, my name is Rachel, and I'm a bike-a-pain-a-freak-a-holic"

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Ethan, I was wondering what happend to your dad? I know he started... was waiting to cheer him on at the bottom of Upper Holy Jim.

OMR

dad (dave yotter) didnt finish- he came down with a cold about three days before- it's his first cold in something like two years, so his plan was to finish half and call it a day- also, he got a late start and didnt make the motorway checkpoint- missed by 2 minutes. so, my wife was there for support for both of us and got to take him back home and de-biked himself. he says "next year!"

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by Keith B

So I wont be seeing you later on tonight to ride B-Star/Motorway?? Say it aint so?!

if you were asking me keith, i've never even done that right before

[OMR]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

dad (dave yotter) didnt finish- he came down with a cold about three days before- it's his first cold in something like two years, so his plan was to finish half and call it a day- also, he got a late start and didnt make the motorway checkpoint- missed by 2 minutes. so, my wife was there for support for both of us and got to take him back home and de-biked himself. he says "next year!"

I'll probably do either VQ or CC next year instead of volunteering again (I usually ride one or the other every 3 or 4 years)... Look forward to meeting and riding with your dad... afterall, us "old guys" got to stick together

OMR

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

I'll probably do either VQ or CC next year instead of volunteering again (I usually ride one or the other every 3 or 4 years)... Look forward to meeting and riding with your dad... afterall, us "old guys" got to stick together

OMR

damn- he'll be about 66 then!

the best part is when i'm out of shape, my dad regularly beats me going up hills- i'll be huffing and puffing all anaerobic on the side of the trail (one downside of only riding SS) and he'll just cruise on by me.

edit: nice signature! Blues Brothers?

[ThinkFast]

The journey...

The whole thing started for me months back. I had been off the MTB for a few years and my buddies Paul and Greg invited me for a ride through Whiting. I was hooked again after that first ride. We rode together for a few weekends in a row. We would do a lap through Whiting or Aliso (avoiding the Mathis climb because it was too hard). One short lap was the usual ride, never anything longer. I was out of shape! No endurance.

<fast forward>

Met Mark and Scott doing the Cooks - Luge loop on one of my first longer rides since being back on the bike. My longer ride was STT to Old Camp and it took all I had in me to make it to Old Camp. Mark had only started MTBing 2 months earlier and I had only been back on the bike for a couple months. Mark and I started riding together a couple days a week, adding distance every weekend. We slowly start getting stronger.

<fast forward>

Eventually met Matt, Ryan, Andrew (Winger), John and others. We were all at about the same level of fitness and we started riding together almost every Saturday morning.

<fast forward>

Mark, Matt, Ryan, Andrew, and I all decided to sign up to do CC. John signed up for VQ because the CC was full. Everyone was really comitted and most of us got in a good amount of training every weekend. Mark and John were just as comitted but couldn't ride as often as the rest of us (with John getting in the least amount of riding).

<fast forward>

I switched to VQ the day it sold out and got one of the last spots available. My only reason for switching to VQ was I knew I could finish CC, which was my original goal. I hoped to be able to just finish VQ. I started trying to add a little extra distance to our weekend rides.

<fast forward>

Mark, John, Andew, Matt, Ryan and I on our way to Blackstar for the start of the race. Everyone seemed pretty stoked to have the ride finally here. Everyone gave it their all. CC saw Andrew get 6th, Matt 8th and Ryan 13th. Mark finished in a little over seven hours even after only having one day a week, or less, to train the last few months. John missed the last VQ cut-off at the bottom of Horsetheif by 11 minutes but continued on. He persevered and finished!

I finished middle of the pack in VQ, 74th place in 7:52. Most memorable for me was how difficult Horsetheif was. I rode what sections of it I could and was slumped over the bike pushing it on the parts I couldn't. MY HR was so high just from hiking that it would only raise 5 BPM if I was riding! I didn't ride a lot of it but I passed 6 people on Horsetheif.

<Yesterday>

My legs were still tired so I decided on doing a lap through Whiting. My first ride after doing VQ and I coincidentally see my buddy Greg who I haven't ridden with in months now...He was doing the usual one lap through Whiting.

What a great ride.

The journey was as good as the ride. Watching everyone progress together was very rewarding!

Thanks.