Southridge Winter Series Race #1

[sdyeti]

I am going to have to crack down this year ...trying to save $5000+ in the bank this year. There's a plan to buy a house in the somewhat near future. Doesn't sound like a lot but remember, I'm a teacher (= public employee) who doesn't make much)

Originally Posted by denmother

have too much "disposable income".

[denmother]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

I am going to have to crack down this year ...trying to save $5000+ in the bank this year. There's a plan to buy a house in the somewhat near future.

That's quite an undertaking!!! Good luck and happy house hunting!!!

P.S. Just think of all the $$$ for lodging you'll be saving by staying at Casa De Denmo and sharing rooms at races!!! Happy to help out.

[davidB]

Originally Posted by jfromlv

Super D is lots o' fun. The courses really vary, although I almost always choose to do them on my C-Dale Rush, rather than my Enduro. The guy who absolutely kills the rest of us in Super D in every race does it on a 29er hardtail. Hopefully the Super D courses this year will be geared much more what it was intended to be, fast DH, not too tech, with some short climbs. (I plan on helping set up the courses this year, so that's why I have my hopes up!)

thanks, so what changes between the different classes? more laps? same course right? and what class are you in?

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

I am going to have to crack down this year ...trying to save $5000+ in the bank this year. There's a plan to buy a house in the somewhat near future. Doesn't sound like a lot but remember, I'm a teacher (= public employee) who doesn't make much)

But didn't you just by a SoCom??

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Then bring your bike and practice, or even better, race! It'll give you a chance to get your feet wet - so to speak - without any pressure; because you're just doing it for fun, right? And who knows, you may find that racing is fun.

Originally Posted by allison

I meant for you to come out and ride.

Aside from CC and a team 24 Hour event, I seriously have never given racing even the slightest bit of thought. I figured I was slow, so why bother?

It does make one curious though.

[2wheel_lee]

I never went to a mountain bike race before my first race. Who cares if you're slow? Something you may find surprising is that racing may motivated you to get faster.

Or not. It may just give you motivation to have fun in new ways at races (e.g., costumes).

[allison]

Originally Posted by PacMan

Aside from CC and a team 24 Hour event, I seriously have never given racing even the slightest bit of thought. I figured I was slow, so why bother?

It does make one curious though.

But you bailed on CC

I'm going to refrain from posting my further comments so no one feels it necessary to mock me.

[PacMan]

Plus, one of the other "racing" issues I have is that I will basically have no support people. I don't even know if that's necessary, but I think it would be too hard on my wife to lug 3 kids around the venue all day. Especially my precocious 2 year old.

[sdyeti]

Yes but if those f---ers didn't STEAL my M3, I wouldn't have bought one. Asking me to not ride dh is not fair.

Plus, I am a responsible renter and have renter's insurance. Not replacing my stolen bike(s) would be like letting "them" win.

Originally Posted by PacMan

But didn't you just by a SoCom??

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by PacMan

Aside from CC and a team 24 Hour event, I seriously have never given racing even the slightest bit of thought. I figured I was slow, so why bother?

It does make one curious though.

That was always my thinking, but last November Tani asked if I was doing the Southridge Challenge. I had never considered it before, but thought I'd give it a try. I crashed and came in almost last, but still had a good time and wanted more so I did a few of the Winter Series races. It was always fun. The atmosphere is great and I liked the challenge of improving my time and placing. This year I put all the Winter Series races on my calendar and plan to do all of them. I'm hooked.

It's definitely worth trying. There will be lots of people you know there, and very few of them will put a stick in your spokes as you go by.

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

That was always my thinking, but last November Tani asked if I was doing the Southridge Challenge. I had never considered it before, but thought I'd give it a try. I crashed and came in almost last, but still had a good time and wanted more so I did a few of the Winter Series races. It was always fun. The atmosphere is great and I liked the challenge of improving my time and placing. This year I put all the Winter Series races on my calendar and plan to do all of them. I'm hooked.

It's definitely worth trying. There will be lots of people you know there, and very few of them will put a stick in your spokes as you go by.

true that....


I had never even contemplated racing especially DH but with a little push and shove from some close friends I ended up having a great weekend at Southridge... It is just too much fun, yeah I am slow but I had a great time and as far as support people I had all of STR yelling and screaming with support. Way too much fun fo sho

Come on Doug... You got Peeps...

[allison]

Originally Posted by PacMan

Plus, one of the other "racing" issues I have is that I will basically have no support people. I don't even know if that's necessary, but I think it would be too hard on my wife to lug 3 kids around the venue all day. Especially my precocious 2 year old.

Nah, it's totally not necessary in beginner racing.

You register, go ride around to warm up, get yourself prepared.. start line.. Gel.. staging.. GO!

Then you feel like you are dying for about an hour.. cross the finish line.. Woohoo! Awards, raffle.. time to go home

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by allison

Nah, it's totally not necessary in beginner racing.

You register, go ride around to warm up, get yourself prepared.. start line.. Gel.. staging.. GO!

Then you feel like you are dying for about an hour.. cross the finish line.. Woohoo! Awards, raffle.. time to go home

and bring the DH bike back for Sunday

[allison]

Originally Posted by J_Sims

Come on Doug... You got Peeps...

Yeah.. hopefully someone will be able to hang around about 45-50 minutes after I start for a new bottle

The other option is to just leave a bottle somewhere.. and hope no one picks it up! Many expert level riders don't have support, to be honest.

They just spread a few bottles around and exchange when/if they need them.

[sdyeti]

I can probably help ya again (that is, if I'm not racing too...thinking of SS but honestly, I'd have to change my gearing around...34-17 is not going to work).

Originally Posted by allison

Yeah.. hopefully someone will be able to hang around about 45-50 minutes after I start for a new bottle

The other option is to just leave a bottle somewhere.. and hope no one picks it up! Many expert level riders don't have support, to be honest.

They just spread a few bottles around and exchange when/if they need them.

[allison]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

I can probably help ya again (that is, if I'm not racing too...thinking of SS but honestly, I'd have to change my gearing around...34-17 is not going to work).

That was awesome of you guys last time.

Oh man.. we could go out and do SS all season

Not good training for me, though. Er, maybe, but that's a lot of hiking.

You'd definitely want something else. The hills get STEEP. I ride 32x21 but you might not like that gearing. It's all I'll ride

[sdyeti]

I used to run a 34-18 when I lived in AZ. It was good for the steep climbs. I rode a lot of tough trails on that bike.

Does the SS class do one lap or two?

Originally Posted by allison

That was awesome of you guys last time.

Oh man.. we could go out and do SS all season

Not good training for me, though. Er, maybe, but that's a lot of hiking.

You'd definitely want something else. The hills get STEEP. I ride 32x21 but you might not like that gearing. It's all I'll ride

We'll talk during the week (toward the end maybe) and plan.

As for now, we're out...heading to the airport. Wishing ya well on your ride tomorrow! I (kinda) wish I could join you but we're landing at 11pm.

Originally Posted by allison

That was awesome of you guys last time.

Oh man.. we could go out and do SS all season

Not good training for me, though. Er, maybe, but that's a lot of hiking.

You'd definitely want something else. The hills get STEEP. I ride 32x21 but you might not like that gearing. It's all I'll ride

[allison]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

I used to run a 34-18 when I lived in AZ. It was good for the steep climbs. I rode a lot of tough trails on that bike.

Does the SS class do one lap or two?

SS men's does 2 laps. I was the only female that ever did SS last season, so Donny let me choose to just do 1. I couldn't do 2. Probably still couldn't at race pace.

You could always ride your Yeti, though. Might wind up being decent VQ practice. Right, Sarah?