2010 Over The Hump Series (Merged threads)

Good luck everyone..... I will be there in spirit cheering each and every one of you on. let's have some goal smashing, safe riding out there tonight!!

 

What size is Julia? I might be able to bring my wife's SC Juliana tonight with me to the race. Cannondale and Specialized are going to be there tonight with demos so that might be another option.

 

Thank You!

Julia is moving up to a size medium bike 5"7 right now. If there are some demos available maybe that will work. Thanks SamKT we appreciate the offer.

-Elvia

 

Looking forward to making a fool out of myself tonight.

If I beat any B2's tonight I feel sorry for you .

 

My wife is 5'4" and the bike is a small. It probably won't fit right, but I can bring it along to try if you like. It has CB Candy pedals. I also have some SPD pedals I can bring if that's what she's using.

 

An article about the race made it into MB Action. :clap: See everyone tonight at the series finale!

 

Make sure to stop by The Path tent tonight. We'll have cold, cold beers(free!) and assorted snacks.

See you there!

B

 

I feel like I am becoming a regular..... See ya tonight!!!

 

Anybody know what I need besides $$ to register? I'd etc?
It'll be my first time and I'll hopefully get there with just enough time.
Hope I don't forget anything and that there are still spots.

 

Elvia, I think i am going, I can bring my tracer if she really wants to race.

 

Elvia - me too, I have a med tracer she is more than welcome to ride, just cleaned and lubed chain today. I have wellgo flats on it now, but can put 545 SPD's on it for her. Anything we can do to keep her in the race!

 

Thanks Revalimage!

Mark she is taking you up on the Tracer, maybe she is familiar with it or something.

See you tonight Revalimage and thanks so much -- Julia thanks you much for your offer.

-Elvia

 

I have flats on it right now, have her bring he pedals.

 

Wow, that was interesting. I went did a pre lap with DB and though the course was fun, but knew it was going to be ugly if you got stuck behind people who are not very skilled on a bike but can climb fast.

So I didnt know they were lining up and I start at back of pack. I pass some people going to first climb and then it all went south. I had on dude who was in such a hurry to pass people on he climb( with little to no room to pass) run into me#-o. Then going into the first steeper DH part I get hit again, when I slowed up for all the people I didnt want to run over, then at the end of that section another person runs into me#-o#-o. At this point I was a little pissed, none knocked me down or anything but it was crazy to see how little skill, care for other etc... some of the people around me had. Then right at the split it a major bottle neck and no where to go, well unless you a ahole in orange jersey and white knee brace then you just try to blast up the middle of all the people, but my front wheel kinda got in the way( hope you earned that big paycheck for winning , oh wait you had a "B" on your leg:lol. At that point I was DONE, I cruised the rest of the section back to the road and called it. I had no desire to be taken out by an idiot (an there were MANY) trying to get a top 40 finish in Beginner class. I saw to many people who really had no business trying to ride that course at the speed they were trying. Maybe had I know to line up early (I knew I wanted to be towards front on the climb but that didnt work starting at the very back) things may had been different but I think that will be my first and only race there. I will stick to the safer races, like DH, 4x and BMX.:lol:

I think that the races success is its biggest failure, there was to many people who have no respect for there fellow racers, after seeing dumb moves while out there and then a few more at the finish line that was very obvious. Plus there is way to big of a gap in skill levels in the beginner class, they really need a 4th class for those who are not out for hardcore race or don't have the skills to race the whole course. That would make it better for those who will make it safer with those do anything to win (or get do anything to get top 20) Beginner class racers.

 

It was the first race I ever attended. The only accident I saw was when a guy tried to pass someone right AFTER the finish line. Couldn't figure that one out.

(To be fair, I'm not sure if it was clear enough that the first little sign was the finish line and the large banner that said "START" was only the starting line.)

 

So OTH 2010 is in the books. To preface this post, I'd like to thank and congratulate the race organizers and sponsors for making OTH possible. I will definitely race next year!

Race #12 did have a ton of people attend, which added to the bottlenecks and d-baggery. My chain dropped in the first climb, and I couldn't catch my group. Got caught behind a bunch of people at first singletrack and slowed all the way down. Not that this race mattered in my overall standing; I'm still DFL for all the B1s that completed at least 9 races. Still, I'm continually shocked at how many inconsiderate MTBers there are. A few notes:

1a. Calling out "On your left" does not mean I will slow down/stop for you. It means I will move over, and you will pass me in a safe and predictable manner.
1b. If you're not faster than me, don't call out "on your left". I don't speed up when people pass me; I'm very considerate to let everyone pass. But stop cussing because you're not faster than a 250+lbs man.
2. To the guy who was intentionally rubbing my rear tire: Back off. When there's a line of 10+ riders in the singletrack, wait your turn to pass. You're trying to pass me, I'm trying to pass the guy in front, and so on.
3. What is up with the tandem left-right passes. There are a few B3s that seem to like to pass on both the right and the left simultaneously; and without calling out. Experienced this consistently in the last few races.

As you can see, all my complaints are about being passed. I'm super slow, so maybe my solution is to shed some lbs and get stronger!

All b*tching aside, OTH has been a great experience. Lost net 13lbs since the start, and now I'm strong enough to make it up mustard in 1-2. Cheers!

 

Sorry to the sport 3 guy who I called "on your right" and then passed on your left. I've never been the best with my lefts and rights. SORRY!

 

Steve it was great getting to meet you out there. I hope we can meet up and push each other up Mustard sometime I saw you drop your chain on that first hill and was bummed! I feel your pain with the crazy passes sometimes, the first race after the break was the worst that I saw. There were tons of people tonight, pretty crazy out there, but where I was riding it seemed to calm down just a bit over time, especially those who were out for their first time and blew up on the first lap, like my first race Starting B1 separate from B2 seemed to help a little, and I agree with above that I don't think everyone understood the whole finish line thing.

I didn't hit my 45 minute goal this week, lost a chain and mentally wasn't prepared anyways, was coming up with excuses while I rode. That's not how you do it! Finished right at halfway in my group, under my original 50 minute goal, so that's ok. I'll get it next year.

A buddy of mine went OTB on the back side tonight and ended up with a sling and a ride to the ER, fortunately nothing broken, just some ligaments that hold his collarbone in place were knocked loose. The unfortunate part is he'll keep that sling for 4-6 weeks :O He's in great shape so that should help his recovery and I'm sure helped limit some of the damage.

Great job everyone, thanks for the support and tips and camaraderie. This has been a great experience for me.

Adam

 

This was an awesome series, I have met a ton a great people over these 12 races and appreciate the enthusiasm that everyone brings. Sam, you totally deserve the special recognition given to you, it was good chatting with you on our prerides. I'm thankful for the series organizers, sponsors, and ALL CLASSES that participated. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.

 

This was my first "ever" MTB race and I had fun. I entered B2 with my bro high rev photo and many friends. It was a big class so the first section was tight and slow especially through the single track sections where alot of the strong fast climbers just couldn't hang in the the technical sections. Which was not a problem, we're all good at something and not others. I'm not a strong climber by any means, but I'm fast in the DH sections and more technical stuff. I'm also on a 39 lb bike, which doesnt make it any easier going up haha. Once I got to the launch ramp it opened up and I set a steady pace for myself. Towards the end of the first lap a kid named Eli endo'd right in front of me through the silty single track and got the wind knocked out of him, so I stayed there a couple minutes to make sure he was ok and was back on his feet and able to continue. The great part is he then passed me going up the big climb on the 2nd lap so I knew he was good to go! Not sure how my 2nd lap went time wise, but held my pace and crossed the finish line and had a few ice cold beers to celebrate.

With any form of racing you always have the opprotunity for a bad apple in the group, its human nature. An event like this brings more recreational racers than pros and thats what makes the events fun for all. I didnt have any issues with faster riders passing me as everything was clean and I actually got quite a few thanks for moving over and giving them more room. I can see the point of view of the faster riders too when they have to try and get around someone that isn't in touch with the surroundings and not holding a line .... but thats racing. Faster riders get around slower ones sometimes they are easy passes and some you have to work for.

Thanks to everyone who helps put this on. Looking forward to do it next year. Next on my plate is to race DH in Fontana this winter.

- Scott