This week marked the 3rd race in the 2007 Boulder Short Track Series, this being my 2nd race. The first race proved to be a quite a learning experience as I finished 31st out of 44 with only the top 30 receiving points.
This week would be different.
Today almost 50 riders showed up for the Mens 'C' race.
Unlike the first race-where I intentionaly started in the back- I lined up right on the front of the line, aling with the sponsored, spandex clad roadies/experieced MTB'ers, becuase I knew I had to get close to the wholeshot or forget about a decent finish.
I rode around the staging area getting myself into the right gear for the start, not to high that it will be tough to pedal and not too low where I wont get enough torque.
I got a great jump off the line but I was wide right and had to fall in line behind a rider with his elbows out ready for a clash and was about 7thor 8th going into the first turn. A rider washed out on the quick left and I was able to pass another who was slowed up by the felled rider, at this point I am in 5th or 6th and my only goal is to maintain from here on out.
The laps where long, just over a mile, with back to back 180 degree switchbacks followed by short steep power climbs. These are the make or break areas, and the spots where I actually gained ground on the top riders. It was the long straights where I lost time-probably need to spend more time at the gym.
By the last lap my lungs and eyes were burning from the frenetic pace along with the ridiculous amount of dust that gest stirred up at these races. My legs didn't want to pedal any faster than they were but they didnt want to quit either. I had been pasted by 7-8 riders prior to the last lap putting me around 15th. I was not going to slip further and although my body paid the price I stepped up the pace and Actually caught one of the female pros going across the finish (they ride at the same time but start 3 mins before us).
All in all I was stoked on my performance and got treated to an amazing Mens Pro race while I tried to recover from the torture I just put myself through.
The only thing I can think now is that I can't wait for next week, top ten maybe???
Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label racing. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
Teva Mountain Games
"Yo, Ian is competing in the Teva mountain games, in a mountain bike race on Saturday." Andy said blowing out smoke from a tube rip.
"Dude, if Ian can compete, we can do that shit"
I was thinking about this conversation while being pelted by hail balls in the staging area. The were sending the groups off in 1-minute intervals, mens expert followed by womens, mens sport then womens, then at 1:04 mens beginner was off, as soon they let us go it began to rain much harder, oh well I thought, this should be interesting.
Andy and I shot off, I didn't want to let a lead group get way out in front so i made sure to keep up with the lead group through the first climb. It didn't take long to catch the back of the womens sport pack, unfortunately. I had my speed dialed for the long steep climb just before going into the first area of single-track, I was dropping riders like nothing coming up that hill, but a womens sport rider just got in front of me and was holding me up the whole time we were on the single track, luckily this part wasn't too long and I didn't lose much time.
Next was a seemingly never ending climb on a wide ski-trail, I was able to maintain my position with 1-2 of the women sport riders catching back up to me. Over the 7.5mi loop there is over 1500ft of elevation gain, it seamed like it would never end.
Once we hit the single track leading back towards Gold peak it was on, i was loose and fast in the mud, passing mens sport riders in the turns and burning up the rooted climbs. Then came the section with the drop-offs, I came in way too hot and as soon as my wheel hit slippery rock just to the right of the drop it was out from under me and I was over the handle bars before I knew what happened.
I jumped up shook of the mud, did a quick inspection of myself and the bike, all good, a couple riders coming, jump back on quick and I'm off again. I was making good time when no one was in front of me but I kept catching riders due to my fast, on the verge of control lines I was taking, then they would hold me up, at this point Sandy and Hoi are out of sight, the single track opens up and drop the hammer.
The end of the race was an all out sprint, I finally spotted Hoi and a younger rider who had swapped positions with me a few times earlier in the race. there was a short climb followed by 100yd flat leading into a tunnel followed by some S-turns. By the time we hit the tunnel I had dropped the grom and was getting close to Hoi.
"CaaCaaa" I yelled as I entered the tunnel, Hoi turns and sees me as the sound echos all around us, "your not getting me fucker" Hoi yells back.
We got to do a short pre-ride to get a feel for the course layout and know what we were getting into, the last part of the course consisted of a short fire road down hill into a sharp over 90 left hander leading into a slalom course that shoots you out to the finish line.
As Hoi led us into the last hard left turn my front wheel bumped his rear and we both slid around the turn, his right foot came unclipped and as he tried to clip in I was pedaling away, he wound up blowing the first turn and ducking under the rope to get back on track. Once he get back on the trail we are bar to bar and stay that way through slalom course.
50 yards to the finish and we are in a dead sprint neck and neck, there is large group of big rocks that we need to hammer over before the finish, I see Hoi feather his back brakes, I don't even think about the brakes and just lean back and hold on. That's all I needed as I beat him out by a bike length across the finish for 7th out of 31 in my first race, I'll take it.
"Dude, if Ian can compete, we can do that shit"
I was thinking about this conversation while being pelted by hail balls in the staging area. The were sending the groups off in 1-minute intervals, mens expert followed by womens, mens sport then womens, then at 1:04 mens beginner was off, as soon they let us go it began to rain much harder, oh well I thought, this should be interesting.
Andy and I shot off, I didn't want to let a lead group get way out in front so i made sure to keep up with the lead group through the first climb. It didn't take long to catch the back of the womens sport pack, unfortunately. I had my speed dialed for the long steep climb just before going into the first area of single-track, I was dropping riders like nothing coming up that hill, but a womens sport rider just got in front of me and was holding me up the whole time we were on the single track, luckily this part wasn't too long and I didn't lose much time.
Next was a seemingly never ending climb on a wide ski-trail, I was able to maintain my position with 1-2 of the women sport riders catching back up to me. Over the 7.5mi loop there is over 1500ft of elevation gain, it seamed like it would never end.
Once we hit the single track leading back towards Gold peak it was on, i was loose and fast in the mud, passing mens sport riders in the turns and burning up the rooted climbs. Then came the section with the drop-offs, I came in way too hot and as soon as my wheel hit slippery rock just to the right of the drop it was out from under me and I was over the handle bars before I knew what happened.
I jumped up shook of the mud, did a quick inspection of myself and the bike, all good, a couple riders coming, jump back on quick and I'm off again. I was making good time when no one was in front of me but I kept catching riders due to my fast, on the verge of control lines I was taking, then they would hold me up, at this point Sandy and Hoi are out of sight, the single track opens up and drop the hammer.
The end of the race was an all out sprint, I finally spotted Hoi and a younger rider who had swapped positions with me a few times earlier in the race. there was a short climb followed by 100yd flat leading into a tunnel followed by some S-turns. By the time we hit the tunnel I had dropped the grom and was getting close to Hoi.
"CaaCaaa" I yelled as I entered the tunnel, Hoi turns and sees me as the sound echos all around us, "your not getting me fucker" Hoi yells back.
We got to do a short pre-ride to get a feel for the course layout and know what we were getting into, the last part of the course consisted of a short fire road down hill into a sharp over 90 left hander leading into a slalom course that shoots you out to the finish line.
As Hoi led us into the last hard left turn my front wheel bumped his rear and we both slid around the turn, his right foot came unclipped and as he tried to clip in I was pedaling away, he wound up blowing the first turn and ducking under the rope to get back on track. Once he get back on the trail we are bar to bar and stay that way through slalom course.
50 yards to the finish and we are in a dead sprint neck and neck, there is large group of big rocks that we need to hammer over before the finish, I see Hoi feather his back brakes, I don't even think about the brakes and just lean back and hold on. That's all I needed as I beat him out by a bike length across the finish for 7th out of 31 in my first race, I'll take it.
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