4/9/06

[maxwell]

I'm READY TO SUFFER

No problem.:beer:

mtnbikej

The course is so sweet and painfull that I broke down and entered the 31 to 45 Novice class tonight.#-o
Now, which bike to race on?
35 pound XC race bike, or 39 pound trail bike?:-k

 

[Ladd Jasper]

On the original sign up form it stated that the race would be 2 laps for Novices. I feel misled and feel that paying almost $50.00 to ride a 5.7 mile course isn't worth it.

Not only that, but each email that was being sent out over the course of the past couple of weeks has had different information, often conflicting what the previous email had stated.

I'm feeling a bit misled here too, dH. I'm sure it was completely unintentional, but still feels like a case of bait and switch. I was interested in and signed up and paid for a two lap race, and am now being told it will only be one lap. I don't see the value, no matter how tough those 5.7 miles are.

In this instance, I think the issue lies mainly in the different interpretations of what a novice is. Does it mean novice rider, or novice racer? Apparently it depends on who you ask. This is a race, the first for me. I'm without a doubt a novice racer. Made perfect sense to register as a novice. I'm more advanced than that as a general rider, but I didn't sign up for just a ride. I'm sure there is a difference between a race setting and that of a casual Sunday spin w/ your buddies, but I can't say exactly what it is.

Would an intermediate rider spaz out coming into a corner, knocking everyone around him off line and into the bushes? Likely not, but I might. Why? Who knows, I've never been in the situation before. Maybe I need more personal space than a race affords. I don't know. Point is, it is that unknown factor that led me, and, I suspect, HUCKLEHOFF, to register as novices. Didn't matter how fast or slow I thought I could be over the course, but how the competition affected my behavior--though I did and do expect to be relatively slow.

I understand this is a learning experience for all involved, and hold absolutely no blame. I'd just like to see the details agreed upon before hand remain unchanged, and suspect that they will be exactly that for future events.

Now, that said, how does one switch classes? 8-[ I want my two laps, dangit, and if I can only get them by "stepping up," guess that's what I'll do. Heck, I'd planned to get smoked as a novice anyway, how much tougher could it be to endure a super-smoking by the intermediates? Not too much, I'll bet :-({|=

 

[i am dino]

Dale, after talking to Aldo tonight he told me he switched from Novice to Intermediate. With that said, I emailed Chris Vargas back requesting to be bumped up to Intermediate Division and I can get my two laps in. Hopefully this weekends practice session doesn't get rained out and we can spin a couple laps.

You brought up good points regarding our skills. I signed up as a Novice because it is my first race, but I'd say our bike handling and climbing skills are more along the lines of a solid Intermediate rider. But how that translates over into the racing world.....I guess we'll find out on the 22nd. (You are riding your Ventana right?)

 

[mtnbikej]

I'm feeling a bit misled here too, dH. I'm sure it was completely unintentional, but still feels like a case of bait and switch. I was interested in and signed up and paid for a two lap race, and am now being told it will only be one lap. I don't see the value, no matter how tough those 5.7 miles are.

In this instance, I think the issue lies mainly in the different interpretations of what a novice is. Does it mean novice rider, or novice racer? Apparently it depends on who you ask. This is a race, the first for me. I'm without a doubt a novice racer. Made perfect sense to register as a novice. I'm more advanced than that as a general rider, but I didn't sign up for just a ride. I'm sure there is a difference between a race setting and that of a casual Sunday spin w/ your buddies, but I can't say exactly what it is.

Would an intermediate rider spaz out coming into a corner, knocking everyone around him off line and into the bushes? Likely not, but I might. Why? Who knows, I've never been in the situation before. Maybe I need more personal space than a race affords. I don't know. Point is, it is that unknown factor that led me, and, I suspect, HUCKLEHOFF, to register as novices. Didn't matter how fast or slow I thought I could be over the course, but how the competition affected my behavior--though I did and do expect to be relatively slow.

I understand this is a learning experience for all involved, and hold absolutely no blame. I'd just like to see the details agreed upon before hand remain unchanged, and suspect that they will be exactly that for future events.

Now, that said, how does one switch classes? 8-[ I want my two laps, dangit, and if I can only get them by "stepping up," guess that's what I'll do. Heck, I'd planned to get smoked as a novice anyway, how much tougher could it be to endure a super-smoking by the intermediates? Not too much, I'll bet :-({|=

I agree, you make some good points.

HOwever, I am one who believes that if you ride alot and are an above average rider, then you are not a Novice rider/racer.

You might be suprised at how well you do. You get into that "Race Mode" pretty quick. You learn fast how to handle riding in traffic.

I will check on the switching the classes. It should not be a problem as we are accepting registration up to the morning of the race.


mtnbikej

Dale, after talking to Aldo tonight he told me he switched from Novice to Intermediate. With that said, I emailed Chris Vargas back requesting to be bumped up to Intermediate Division and I can get my two laps in. Hopefully this weekends practice session doesn't get rained out and we can spin a couple laps.

You brought up good points regarding our skills. I signed up as a Novice because it is my first race, but I'd say our bike handling and climbing skills are more along the lines of a solid Intermediate rider. But how that translates over into the racing world.....I guess we'll find out on the 22nd. (You are riding your Ventana right?)

The first race I ever entered was a DH race up at Big Bear. I thought, I never raced before so I entered as a beginner. I was an experienced rider at the time. I won my class by 9 seconds. In hindsight, I should have entered as a higher class. Would I have placed just as high, doesn't matter. I was racing as a beginner when I clearly wasn't.


I think you will all do just fine in the Intermediate class.

mtnbikej

The course is so sweet and painfull that I broke down and entered the 31 to 45 Novice class tonight.#-o
Now, which bike to race on?
35 pound XC race bike, or 39 pound trail bike?:-k

Hmmm......should I shoot myself in the right foot.....or the left foot? Sounds like you are in a bit of a quandry.:?::?:


I thought about racing......but since I designed a good portion of the trail and know just about every inch of it, I think it would be unfair for me take advantage of that. So I will be rootin' you all on.

 

[ECOdork]

Hmmmmm, now you all got me questioning my class....
Currently 17 - 30 novice but thinking of switching to the intermediate....

...will need to meditate on this...

dH and Ladd, if you guys are going this weekend, let me know. I could use another practice loop or two.

 

[i am dino]

Lance, we are planning on doing the Saturday session for sure. I say that you go for it and step up to the Intermediate Division. I've never ridden the course, but after talking to Aldo he said that I should have no problem spinning a couple laps at a decent pace on it. You've done some of our long rides and didn't have a problem keeping up, so I say you do the Intermediate Division.

J, thanks for the positive reinforcement. I'm sure I speak for all of us who are signed up for this race when I say we have no idea of what to expect. I'm assuming that I will get smoked in Intermediate, but I'll never know unless I try....and like you said, I'll probably do better than I thought I would.

 

[ECOdork]

right on! As long as it's not rained out, I'm game.

My feeling on the course was that it was a challenging xc course with some grinding climbs and steep (but non-technical) descents and switchbacks. I didn't think it was a cakewalk, but it certainly wasn't anything worse than the usual weekend grinders. As usual, I find myself on the cusp of novice/intermediate. My first lap was ~55 min and my second closer to 45 min.

I'd probably do 'alright' in novice and get totally smoked in intermediate. I'd be competing with the likes of sir Kippie and steve-O (if he decides to join)....#-obut hey I've never been too scared of last place, so I imagine I'll be jumping up to intermediate. One lap just doesn't feel like enough torture....

 

[Ladd Jasper]

I agree, you make some good points.

HOwever, I am one who believes that if you ride alot and are an above average rider, then you are not a Novice rider/racer.

You might be suprised at how well you do. You get into that "Race Mode" pretty quick. You learn fast how to handle riding in traffic.

I will check on the switching the classes. It should not be a problem as we are accepting registration up to the morning of the race.


mtnbikej

Thanks for the encouragement, j. I'll email Chris with my intentions to switch classes, as dH did.

You are riding your Ventana right?

Jury's still out on this one. Going to hit the Loop for a quick spin on the Stumpy in an hour, the first time I'll have been on it in 5 mos. If it feels good, I might run that at the race. It will depend mostly on if we get that practice run in on Saturday or not, and the coming weather makes that appear pretty iffy.

Glad to see everyone sticking with the race and stepping up to the challenge. It should be quite a party at the back of the pack!