XC - 17 miles
After last race's DNF, I was real anxious to get out there and have a much better race. I knew one guy in my class wasn't going to be there and when I lined up with the 2 others guys in my class I kind of resorted myself to 3rd out of 3. I have a big problem of going way too fast for the first 2 miles and generally feel like crap at the top of the pavement/first climb. Today was no exception, but I was now using a full geared setup which helped tremendously, for a bit.
I asked Donny before the race what had changed, thinking it was going back to the original course, but nope, back to the short course of 2 weeks ago, with an added addition in the back.
They started my class with 2 other classes, for a total of 15 guys but by the pavement climb I was still near the front. The first time up the pavement climb I felt ok but watched the two other guys in my class slowly pull away. I remember passing some of the DH'ers walking their bikes up, thinking, damn, that's what I should be doing. They're not sweating yet, and look like happy folks. I remember coming up next to Mark (mfoga) pushing his bike up the hill, so I chatted up a bit with him for a second or two. Again, I think those guys are on to something.
I remember getting passed by Clint (Upsidedown1) up by the water tower, but didn't really see anyone else out there i knew racing until Brian (BoingBoing) and I were neck and neck at the end of lap 1. I shifted my chain straight into my spokes after the first descent and spent what seemed like forever trying to get it out. I did however catch glimpses of the two guys in my class at various turns ahead of me and only getting farther away. I hung with Brian for lap 2 and had to get used to coming through the start/finish and not stopping like i'm used to.
Climbing the pavement for the 3rd time was something I was definitely not used to, and when shifting to my granny I found out that wasn't happening, and had to middle ring the damn thing. Not fun. I remember coming up next to Chuck (HappyGilmore) thinking, man, everyone I know is doing DH! Why am I doing XC again?! ah yes, because I suck at the downhills. Towards the top of the pavement climb I could see two guys, one in my class, and the unmistakable tall dude, Jeff (J_Sims). I started thinking, if I catch him, is he going to ride his M6 up the hill with me. How demoralizing. Fortunately the turnoff came just before catching him. Woot! Unfortunately I never could catch the one guy in my class that I could see always a turn or two ahead of me.
I finished lap 3, cleared that rocky climb at the end that I got caught up on for the first two laps, and came through the finish line 29 second behind 2nd place. #-o
Within 20 seconds of finishing, I pull up next to Jeff, Mark, Chuck, Brandon completely out of breath, out of water, and get told "hey we're going to subway, you ready?"
:lol:#-o
edit: apparently the guy that won my class is a pro DH guy or so I was told by Mark and Jeff. He beat me and the other guy by 16 minutes, and had the 2nd or 3rd fastest sport time overall.
