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Started the race, my legs felt lethargic on the climb,
then not being used to 70's temp with humidity coming
off the wet ground, I started to overheat. Wasn't
long before Jeff passed me on his way to his first
podium finish. I had to stop on the climb to unzip my
jersey to cool off, then Jason M. passed and I
restarted up the hill. 20 minutes into the race, I
noted the course was much more muddier than the
pre-ride, my legs didn't feel fresh, and my head was
very hot. I was thinking I have just started lap 1
and never mind lap 2, I felt like going home. I said
to myself "Okay, forget getting your first Sport
championship point, just make this a brisk training
ride", the fastest pace you know you'll finish. Now,
I can reflect on this and for most races I feel pretty
crappy for the first 20-30 minutes then it gets
better. Clint Burt told me he always feels bad for
the first 30 minutes, then he settles down. Future
races, I'll be mentally prepared to suffer and feel
like feces for the first 30 minutes.
After the finishing the longest climb, also the very
first one, the downhill cooled me off and I settled
into a rhythm. I didn't push a big gear, but used
moderate force to spin up the hills, on dismounts used
a quick walk versus a run. On the final long climb to
the top of the Pinnacle for lap 1, I my legs started
to feel good and so I started to push a big gear and
started to pass riders on the climb. The top of the
downhill was treacherous, across a side-slope on the
downhill through muddy roots and rocks, then the
swooping downhill started. A great downhill, I did
get out of control a couple of time, and I almost
endo-ed over some rocks as I was about to blow
straight through a corner, but the front tire bounced
off the big rock and the rear end whipped around a
couple feet to complete the turn. (An unintentional,
nose wheelie jump turn.) I was now pointed straight
down the trail, let out good woop and a hearty
chuckle, then accelerated downhill in the big ring.
The weird part, the second lap was easier mentally
then the first lap. I pushed a little harder on the
climbs, and started to pass rides, :-). Then, as I
was going over a rock wall, I bounced off to far left
and my front tire wedged into a rock and stopped. I
flew over the bar BUT the worst part was my left brake
(front) lever was bent down 2 inches lower. I had
2/3 of lap left and whenever I hit the brake my chest
and hip would pitch forward to the left. I had to
braking w/ my middle finger and my left wrist was too
far bent to be able to hold my left side back.
Now the strangest part of the race began, I was
catching guys on the climbs, but loosing time on
clipping in and downhills. After suffering on the
first long climb of the race, I was looking forward to
the final long double track climb to top of the
Pinnacle. I pushed a big gear on the climb and passed
4-5 guys, :-). The descent was an adventure, you need
the front brake to really slow down. I'm braking with
my left middle finger while leaning way over to the
right side, to take weight off my left wrist. I can't
believe I actually caught up to guy I had been racing
since the beginning of lap 2. I passed him on the
mini-climb in the 2 mile downhill. He was bummed, and
said something about me crushing him on the
mini-climb, :-).
DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPEN BUT I FINISHED 11th in Sport
Veterans, 1 place out of the points, and their where
more than 12 rider, 14. Damn there was 15 listed at
the race. Why do they keep getting rid of people
behind me.
METRICS: This year, I promoted myself from Novice to
Sport, and it is my last year in Veteran age group
before aging into the Master class next year. It has
been a big adjustment, I expected worst case to be in
the middle of the pack NOT the end of the pack. It
has taken a while to find a way to measure my progress
while not getting bummed out. I found if useful to
compare my performance to Sport Master which I'll join
next year, and to Novice Veterans where I would be, if
I didn't promote myself. Had to find a way not to get
BUMMED OUT. I use my average lap times to figure out
where I would finish in the Novice Veterans.
BOX SCORE:
.........................................
** Pinnacle NECS Race **
_Sport__Veteran___11/14
_Sport__Masters___4/9
_Novice_Veteran___4/16
_NumberOfWomenPassingMe___1
(Same Brunette, passes me on the crest of the
Pinnacle, then she rubbed in by disappearing on the
downhill, sign her up for Crank Racing) (She did the
same at Bradbury, passes me on the hill, then drops
the hammer on the downhill) (Adventure racer for Rob
& Nathan ???)
.........................................
** 2003 NE Championship Series **
** Standings after 4 Races **
_Sport__Veteran___000_Pts__LAST
_Sport__Masters___376_Pts__6th
_Novice_Veteran___400_Pts__2nd**
**Comparing my average lap time for the Sport
distance to Novice lap time doing the Novice Distance.
Example: Bradbury Mtn: Sport & Expert 2 laps, Novice 1
Lap. Compare Sport time divided by 2 to Novice times
to find my position.
Jason's 110th Race!
The start of the race headed straight to a long, steep
climb and I was able to stick with the middle of the
group. It then went into some tight singletrack, which
was fun but surprising since I hadn’t pre-ridden the
course. There were slippery wooden bridges, which I
fell on once, and plenty of slick roots to deal with.
Still, I was having fun.
I would get passed by a guy in a euro skinsuit on the
climbs, and then I’d catch him on the technical stuff
and pass when possible. But on the last climb, he
passed me again and was out of sight. I was hoping to
catch him on the downhill, but didn’t see him again. I
missed 13th place by 18 seconds, but got my best
finish of the year at 14th.
The Pinnacle was an excellent course. Miles and miles
of climbing, tight and twisty singletrack, a fast, fun
and dangerous downhill, and plenty of mud.
This is my third Sport class race and I’m slowly but
steadily moving up through the ranks. I felt much
better this time, especially when it got tight and
twisty. That’s where I was able to gain some ground.
The downhill was a blast! Overall, just a fantastic
course.
My weakness is still long climbs, and I’m working on
that. Twelve years ago, back when I was a Cat 3
roadie, this was my strength, so I’m confident that
I’ll find my climbing legs again.
Thanks to my wife, Karen, for coming out to support
me. And thanks to Jeff’s cheering section for the
morale boost.
My career bicycle racing tally so far:
 79 Road criteriums
16 Mountain bike races
14 Road races
9 Road time trials
3 Road stage races
(Most of these races are from 1986-1990, I then didn’t race again for about 9 years.)
Sunday was a sweet day for a ride - 70 degrees and sunny. The race started
Enduro style, in waves of 20 by class. Lap one went great and I found myself
quickly moving through each 20-person starting group. I stayed in the middle
ring for as long as I could, but eventually, my grannie came-out to help.
The hills were quickly weeding-out the field, but there was a contingent of
us moving together through the class. By the time we had reached the
"Pinnacle," my legs still felt good and I was getting seriously psyched
about the race.
The 2-mile technical descent was a blast, but there are a few bikes in the
shop today getting repairs - riders were literally flying off the sides of
the muddy, slick trail and into the trees (I had a few up-close and
personals with Mr. Shad-E. Tree). As we shot-out of the trees and down the final steep
shoot onto the main field, a headwind hit hard and the group disintegrated.
I took the opportunity to sprint and enter the woods alone for the 2nd lap.
The rest of the race went almost perfectly, minus one sweet head over heels
fall. At one of the rock walls, I was looking too far forward and failed to
see a giant hole in the ground (that wasn't there the first time through). My
front tire dug itself in and the rear wheel went over so quickly that I was
on my back with the bike on top, but with my feet still clipped-in. It was a
tough extrication in tight quarters - I'm sure some cursing was heard
throughout the hills...
A short distance later, I saw Brad (thought it was Rob) in the trees fixing
a flat. I called-out, but he was totally engrossed in his tire. As I climbed
the backside fireroad, guilt welled-up that I didn't stop and assist, but I
was just too pumped to stop now. By this point I knew there was a small
chance that I might (win!?) this race and nothing was going to slow me
down... The fireroad was so shot by now that running was much faster than
riding at times. The mud got into my pedals and shoe clips as I jumped on
and off, making clipping-in really tough, but with some more cursing (some
would call it praying) and banging, the shoes snapped into place for the
final push up the Pinnacle and speed descent to the finish. BTW, riding up
hill with one foot clipped-in sucks!
Finished 3rd in Senior II and 4th overall for Sport. The hill workouts of
the past few weeks have really paid off. Thanks Tom for the tips on proper
fueling and thanks Rob for tips on pacing.
Congrats to Jason and Tom who both had personal bests!! Sweet! And, welcome
Brad (who I don't think has email).
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