When I got to Warda Saturday morning I was feeling pretty good. We parked next to John Madden and he and I were talking and hanging out at the cars. Wally Groda rides by and is parked in the next row behind us. John takes note and mentions that instead of racing for 2nd (Will Black was in the 40 class) that they were now racing for 3rd. I laugh and walk over to talk with Wally. My laughs are short lived when Wally informs me he's racing the 30 class so he can get an extra lap... I put my mind in check because it started to go south on me again. First Robert Baird, then Joch Da-bla-bla, Dale, and now Wally... I tell myself I'm just going to ride smart and stay with them, I'm fast enough to go toe-to-toe with any of these guys, the funny thing is, this time I believe what I'm telling myself.
There's a little discussion in the front during the top10 call-up at the start. Some of the guys moved up so everyone else in the top10 does too including Robert B who is NOT in the top10 (only because he's only raced one race.) Ultimately things work themselves out and Robert stays at the front. Wally looks over at me from our 2nd row positions with a snicker. Top10 wise I was 11th going in to this race so I stayed back but I wasn't worried as it's a LONG start here at Warda! Gun goes off and we're on our way.
I'm not liking where I end up in the pack once we settle in after the initial little climb. I'm midpack if that, likely back half. I notice I'm behind Jessica R. and I'm not liking the lack of draft I'm getting off of her. At the same time I see Wally, Zack, and Robert up ahead of me and I feel compelled to go up and get next to them. I tell myself "be patient, it's a long way to the cattle guard." As we round the 1st and 2nd corner and start heading back toward the front I move up a spot or two. Midway through the field the pace isn't too high but it just felt like things would explode at any moment. I know something's got to happen soon so I make another move to go up the left side to the front. There's approx 5 people between me and the front and we're rolling in two pace lines.
Time to make a move and get a little closer to the front, I hit the gas and as I pass the 3rd person, still nobody has gone yet. The cattle guard is a couple hundred yards and closing quickly. As I come up on the front riders I see some movement on the other side and I figure others are now going too so I put down a little more power to get on to the surge that seems to be happening on the other side.
I slam the pedals and surge out in front of the group. I put my head down and just drive in to the pedals. As I cross the cattle guard there's nobody in front of me and nobody in my slip stream. I hit the funnel and I'm now moving through the dirt around the lake. My goal was to be in the front 3 going in to the woods. The attack I put down was just to make sure I was out front with the big motors. Not only am I'm out front, I've got a huge gap and I'm all by myself. KIA and Noob are yelling at me from a shade tree as I shoot up the false flat into the single track. I back it down a little once I make the woods because I need to recover.
This was pretty much the race. I knew at the time the attack would go really good or really bad. Either way I was not going to go in to the single track midpack without a fight. It paid off and the gap widened as the race went on. I finished the race about 50sec ahead of 2nd.
Throughout the race the guys would close me in to about 15-20 seconds and then sometimes I'd get the gap back to 30-40 seconds. It was really fun to be out there solo but at the same time it was very unnerving knowing that they were likely going to come flying up on me at any second. Ultimately nobody every closed me down and I seemed to open the gap a lot through the last lap.
Lap3 I almost went off the side of Gas Pass after the switchback. The only thing that saved me was that I kept looking ahead to where I wanted to go and not where the bike was headed. Literally I was on the front tire (back tire off the ground) at over 12mph on the edge. How I didn't go over the bars, let alone the edge, is beyond me. All I did was just keep looking ahead up the trail and tried to let the bike keep itself upright. Unbelievable when I think about it but I'm incredibly grateful I was able to ride that mishap out.
This was by far one of the best races I've ever had. The field had some seriously strong and talented riders and the course required a good mix of skills. Getting away early and staying out front was a challenge. In the end I got the win.
3 Podiums (two wins and a 3rd) in 4 races (1 DNF), 15th at the Rattler, not a bad Spring race season! Now it's time to focus on Leadville.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
Big Ring Challenge XC Race 2014
Yesterdays race at Double Lake made this my 5th year of racing and broke the tie between finishing and DNF’s at our hometown course.
2010 – Cat3 Win
2011 – SS Open 4th
2012 – Pro/Cat1 DNF
2013 – Cat1 DNF
2014 – Cat1 Win
It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since those guys at EnvrioInks convinced me to do a TMBRA race, the Double Lake race. The race bug got me at that race and my racing ‘career’ has been an up and down battle between love and hate for the sport. Yesterday was a high point.
On the start Dominic got out a little in front of us. I closed him down and had my front wheel at his crank as we approached the funnel and he waved me through. We set off in to the single track and while I didn’t win the hole shot as I wanted, somehow the race was going to plan. We hit the first right-of-way and I thought I’d test the field. Surging ahead I went wide open until the 180 turn back in to the single track. While the move spread the field out, there were still 4-5 guys breathing down my neck. Much to my dismay Tootall was back there.
On the jeep road climb I attacked again and briefly broke away but Dale was quick to grab my back wheel. I threw everything I had at him and the rest of the guys on that climb and they were still back there. I decided to back it down some and be patient; I wasn’t powering away from my 4-5 man entourage.
About ¾’s the way through lap1 Dale went down. Tootall bridged up to me and told me of the wreck. Maybe 5 minutes later I hear talking in the group and Dale is back! Geez, this is not good I thought, we were rolling a good pace through the woods and he’s somehow closed us down.
I led the whole first lap and as soon as I got through the sand pit I opened it up again to attack the group. I put a gap in to the field but it cost me and I had no choice but to back it down and recover in the single track. My gap was quickly gone as Dale was there with me again. A short time later we’re back to 3-4 riders again. Dang if Tootall isn't in there too.
We get to the first right-of-way and Dale comes around me. I’m all but appreciative of this move. It’s not easy work sitting at the front, I’ll follow someone else’s lines and let them pull on the open roads. Halfway through the first lap it’s just Dale, me, then Tootall and I’m now focused on saving energy until that last fire road. I have to get to the single track at the end of the road in first.
We get out to the fire road and I quickly grab Dale’s wheel and tuck in. Tootall is a little ways back and I don’t see him on my wheel. Dale starts taking up the pace but I feel like he’s out of burst energy. I sit there for about 10 seconds but I am not a patient man. I attack and open a gap and just keep driving the pedals until the single track. When I hit the single track I’ve got a nice gap on Dale and Tootall is back a ways from him. I keep the pace up in the single track but I back it down so I can recover a little. 2 minutes in and I still have a huge gap on Dale, I don’t even see or hear him. Another few minutes and I still don’t see or hear him.
Here I tell myself ride defensive, we don’t need a mishap and if they close I’m in the prime spot and I like my chances at a sprint finish. Midway through the Luge I hear Dell and catch a glimpse of his red kit. I’m on it again. I’m not giving up the gap that easy. I exit the single track and I know I’ve won but I don’t take any chances and push through the finish line.
That was a good win and I had the 2nd fastest overall time in cat1. I was extremely pleased with the race and the time. Happy racing anniversary to me!
One thing I’d like to say is Toot’s has a motor now. He’s always been fast but it was mostly due to really good bike handling but damn, he’s finally got a motor. I’m going to have to go race the 40 class now as I figure he’s figured something out and will likely get stronger going forward. Good job Andrew, I’m pretty damn impressed, I threw everything I had at you every time I had a chance and you were still there like my shadow!
2010 – Cat3 Win
2011 – SS Open 4th
2012 – Pro/Cat1 DNF
2013 – Cat1 DNF
2014 – Cat1 Win
It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since those guys at EnvrioInks convinced me to do a TMBRA race, the Double Lake race. The race bug got me at that race and my racing ‘career’ has been an up and down battle between love and hate for the sport. Yesterday was a high point.
On the start Dominic got out a little in front of us. I closed him down and had my front wheel at his crank as we approached the funnel and he waved me through. We set off in to the single track and while I didn’t win the hole shot as I wanted, somehow the race was going to plan. We hit the first right-of-way and I thought I’d test the field. Surging ahead I went wide open until the 180 turn back in to the single track. While the move spread the field out, there were still 4-5 guys breathing down my neck. Much to my dismay Tootall was back there.
On the jeep road climb I attacked again and briefly broke away but Dale was quick to grab my back wheel. I threw everything I had at him and the rest of the guys on that climb and they were still back there. I decided to back it down some and be patient; I wasn’t powering away from my 4-5 man entourage.
About ¾’s the way through lap1 Dale went down. Tootall bridged up to me and told me of the wreck. Maybe 5 minutes later I hear talking in the group and Dale is back! Geez, this is not good I thought, we were rolling a good pace through the woods and he’s somehow closed us down.
I led the whole first lap and as soon as I got through the sand pit I opened it up again to attack the group. I put a gap in to the field but it cost me and I had no choice but to back it down and recover in the single track. My gap was quickly gone as Dale was there with me again. A short time later we’re back to 3-4 riders again. Dang if Tootall isn't in there too.
We get to the first right-of-way and Dale comes around me. I’m all but appreciative of this move. It’s not easy work sitting at the front, I’ll follow someone else’s lines and let them pull on the open roads. Halfway through the first lap it’s just Dale, me, then Tootall and I’m now focused on saving energy until that last fire road. I have to get to the single track at the end of the road in first.
We get out to the fire road and I quickly grab Dale’s wheel and tuck in. Tootall is a little ways back and I don’t see him on my wheel. Dale starts taking up the pace but I feel like he’s out of burst energy. I sit there for about 10 seconds but I am not a patient man. I attack and open a gap and just keep driving the pedals until the single track. When I hit the single track I’ve got a nice gap on Dale and Tootall is back a ways from him. I keep the pace up in the single track but I back it down so I can recover a little. 2 minutes in and I still have a huge gap on Dale, I don’t even see or hear him. Another few minutes and I still don’t see or hear him.
Here I tell myself ride defensive, we don’t need a mishap and if they close I’m in the prime spot and I like my chances at a sprint finish. Midway through the Luge I hear Dell and catch a glimpse of his red kit. I’m on it again. I’m not giving up the gap that easy. I exit the single track and I know I’ve won but I don’t take any chances and push through the finish line.
That was a good win and I had the 2nd fastest overall time in cat1. I was extremely pleased with the race and the time. Happy racing anniversary to me!
One thing I’d like to say is Toot’s has a motor now. He’s always been fast but it was mostly due to really good bike handling but damn, he’s finally got a motor. I’m going to have to go race the 40 class now as I figure he’s figured something out and will likely get stronger going forward. Good job Andrew, I’m pretty damn impressed, I threw everything I had at you every time I had a chance and you were still there like my shadow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)