Blue Mountain – Cat 2 SS

Blue race. The scenario had it where I just had to finish and I would be in first place for the series. That did play a roll in my race, as I knew Blue was treacherous and didn’t need a flat or a ride in the ambulance. As the horn goes off Joe Johnston and Henry Gordz are off like rockets. I jump in between Joe and Henry, with the plan to just ride within my limits. We hit the first rocky section where Mandi is taking photos. Joe cleans this. Joe is a machine, and also gone for the rest of the day.

Where I knew today was going to be a long day

Henry slowly pull away, while the rest of the field is getting by me as I get tripped up. I didn’t feel dead, but this place was all work!

I find myself riding behind Chris Shilling (Allaire local) for the entire first lap. We pass Matty and he gives me a big “WTF!? YOUR 4 MINUTES OFF PACE!”

After the first lap I knew where I would hope to make up time on the rest of the field, and that was the slight flat section in the middle of the lap. I hammer through this section, maybe 5-10 minutes of riding, and look back. Thankfully, no one. I hope my body lets me recover and stay on the rest of the day. The cool part about this course was that you twisted back on itself many times. I would see Chris and Joaquin feet from me, but had to remember they were more like 1-2 minutes away.

I also channeled my inner Danny Hart on the downhills in order to get myself SIKED for riding. This place is awesome. The final downhill to the finish was all worth it.

I finish 3rd, (10 minutes behind 1st) in a race that was more of a victory ride. Not sure I would have been able to play with Joe and them, but it didn’t matter today. I came out in one piece and lived to tell the story. If I could, I would have run a 32×21 or something for this place, as you never really have a chance to “open it up”. Or maybe they should put more than one gear on the back of a bicycle? :hmmm:

No one else hung out for the podium, so I got some glamor shots in.

Jungle – Cat 2 SS

After the last two days, not really sure how this was going to pan out. Haven’t ridden since Monday (which was an awesome ride by the way) I felt refreshed and felt like I would have good legs since they haven’t done much of anything recently.

We line up and I see a sea (see what I did thurr) of yellow Team Town Cycle jerseys. This would not change. I notice the winner from last year lined up as well, and this time he had clipless pedals (instead of nikes and flat pedals). Stefane was behind me and was running 34×21. Wasn’t sure how this was going to work out for him, but maybe he’s a spinner?

We head off and I somehow lead the race into the ST. Nice and smooth and I didn’t feel like I was exerting myself. No idea who’s behind me and I don’t hear anyone calling out to pass me, so I stick with it. Feel clean and smooth through the first easier section of the course and even into the beginning of the rocks. I’m on my bike and feel in control.

At the beginning of the twisty climby, rocky, double switchback trail (not sure what it is so I won’t say the wrong name), I see a younger kid on a rigid behind me. He ends up cleaning a section I had to walk and gets by. I’m okay with it, and ride with him for the next mile or so. We head down the Fenceline trail and I hear his rim bottom out. Man he is running some low pressure. I almost wanted to ask, but I didn’t. He isn’t walking away from me and we are putting on a pretty good pace, enough that no one is in sight behind us.

AWHATTAP Luke! I was the first person he saw for the day and was looking forward to being the first person in the JH album.

We fly down the trail that has the shitty entrance and looked to be a raging river at some point and he flats. Ouch. Tough luck. I was curious if he was running tubes. Once again, I’m in first and no idea how to deal with this.

Not sure where Stefane or Ryan? who won last year was. I would find out Ryan was on my tail and cruising through the rock sections. He gets passed me on a spot that I get tripped up on and slowly walks away from me.

Animal Shute sucks as usual and I feel the whole field is behind me at this point. WTF. Am I unraveling? I see Henry from Campmor, 2 more TTC guys, but no Stefane.

We come through the S/F and Henry is giving me some words of encouragement. We battle for the beginning of the second lap, swapping positions and pushing ourselves. Coming through a couple of the twisty sections where it comes dirt/road/dirt, I eat it on the pavement leaning too hard into a turn. Ouch. I got my hands out in time and was able to brace myself pretty good. I pop back up and Henry squeaks in front of me.

We can still see Ryan in the distance and he isn’t more than 30 seconds away. The whole time I see two TTC jerseys behind us, keeping up. I pass Henry before the twisty double switchbacky trail, but give up a spot to the (no disrespect) older TTC guy.

I keep tabs on him but he seems pretty fresh, or I seem pretty dead. I didn’t feel dead though. I push on. I see Older TTC guy pass Ryan ahead of me. Eventually they are both out of sight, and I come up on Ryan and see him on the side of the trail in pain. He is standing, so he isn’t dead, but he’s not getting back on his bike soon. I pass and ask if he is alright, he shakes his head yes. I notify the bike patrol people to say if a yellow TTC jersey doesn’t come down soon, head up that way.

So now its just the older TTC guy and me. I keep hearing Henry smashing the rocks behind me, so I know he isn’t far. I keep on and keep seeing flashes of yellow in front of me. I know I have to make contact before Animal Shute or this is where I will finish.

At one of the rideable sections of AS, I somehow smash my head on a tree and come to a complete halt. I don’t fall off my bike but flashes of stars did appear.

I’m walking/jogging up AS and see Henry a couple of switchbacks below, and Older TTC guy couple above me. WTF! He’s so close, yet so far.

I soon realized I was NOT going to catch TTC guy, and worried about getting passed on the road by Henry like he did on the first lap. I get to the top of AS and pin myself as fast as I could. I didn’t want to fall on the pavement like I did earlier, so I took it easier in the turns. I peek around the last turn before the tunnels and realize I don’t see Henry. Phew.

I finish second and feel great with my effort. See Stefane at the finish and he snapped his chain and DNF’d. His bad luck/break puts me in first for the series ATM.

woo hoo! The combined age on the podium was 125, I was 20% of that. I hope to be riding like these guys do when I’m at that age.

I must say the course was great. A true mountain bikers course. If you couldn’t navigate rocks, you were dead in the water.