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Tom Merrill
I pre-rode the course, developed a race strategy
based on the bottlenecks and passing zones. It was a
relatively hot and humid day compared to previous
races and training days.
I lined up in the Front Row. I planned to attack the
small hill at the start so, I could draft until the
first bottleneck, the long rooty hill called Sentinel
Pine. The race started. I topped the small hill in
6th place and then drafted on the carriage path to
Sentinel Pine, (7th or 8th at the bottom). I road 2
/3 way up and then brisk hike-a-bike, then continued
up the single track following a pack of 5 to 6 riders.
Near the top I let them open a gap, and saved my legs
for the slight uphill carriage path into the next
bottleneck, Little Bear.
I let the brakes go on the gravel downhill, put it in
the big ring and got into a aero tuck. Carried a lot
of speed into the uphill carriage path, and turned the
big ring knowing the Little Bear trail, a technical
winding, bottleneck was coming up. I passed 6 to 7
rides in clumps of 2 . 3 at a time. Only 1 guy was
ahead of me heading for the Little Bear entrance, he
went past the turn. I was into Little Bear and
running at speed (road it 3 times the week before)
Passed 2 more riders in Little Bear.
This was great, the first race where 20 minutes in I.m
in the top ten. THEN, I heard a thumping noise from
the front wheel. Stopped and my wireless speed sensor
was in the spokes. 4-5 Riders passed. Back on the
bike, up to speed. Three minutes later the same
thing. 6-7 riders passed as I really made sure the
sensor was moved over enough. 5 minutes later the
sensor back in the spokes. I spin it out so, it 180
degrees away from the wheel, more riders go by. No
longer in the top 10, mentally deflated
Continue with my race plan, pass the water stop w/o
picking up water (big mistake). I stayed with a high
cadence less force in the pedal spin in the flat
section and for the long hill went with more force in
the pedal. I started pass riders again. Passed 5 to 6
riders on the long climb. The next section was a
recovery technical section. A big difference in Sport
over Novice is almost everyone is a pretty damn good
technical rider. 4-5 riders passed me in the
technical section. Okay, another hill section is
coming. I closed up on a pack of rider going to Carr
Ridge.
I passed more riders in Carr Ridge as they boogied the
very technical trail. I came down to the end of Carr
Ridge and down the .Stairs.. After clearing the
stairs a pack of riders stalled going up the hill,
because they were in the wrong gear. The .Stairs. in
Bear Brooke are the end of a fast downhill; you go
down the stairs and immediately make a hard left and
go up hill. You have to be the in correct gear for
the turn and uphill before you descend the stairs.
(Why I am I so smart? I was was in the wrong gear
last year)
I passed the pack of stalled riders on the left while
a Rage guy did the same, except he kept coming left.
Handle bars tangle and we both went down. I go back
up and pulled away from him in a cycle cross mount.
Start of Lap 2, up the Sentinel Pine trail. Got to
the top and felt very hot. I basically wilted. I
started thinking more about the water stop than the
race. I picked a full bottle at the water stop and
drained it. I almost stopped for a 2-bottle pit stop.
I almost turned around 2-3 times to back for more
water at the water stop. I still had Cliff Shots, but
no water to wash them down. I was now in finish
without going to heat exhaustion mode.
Learned another lesson, need to ride technical trails
with a group of riders. Wish David Alden was pack to
his normal self for some fun, fast, technical rides in
Harold Parker. There is a big difference riding a
technical trail fast alone and being the 4 or 5th
rider in pack. The visibility sucks, and you have to
pick up the trail by the way they are riding it and
brief flashes of the trail between the bikes and
bodies. Learned a bike length is good balance between
visibility w/ time for maneuver and encouraging the
rider behind to attempt to pass you because he thinks
your letting the group get away.
My sophomore year of racing along with the transition
from Novice to Sport is learning experience. Another
tough day of character building, 27th out of 29.
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