Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Seven Oaks Race Report

Well I definitely felt about as unprepared as you could get for a race going into last weekend. I was completely trashed after the Lake Ahquabi weekend and just plain needed a break. I only rode into work for over a week. Finally last Wednesday, after getting all registered for school, getting my FASFA crap in line, I came home and knew I needed a ride. Having only been on a bike about 5-6 times for about 90-100 miles of commuting, I was interested to see how I felt. Rode some gravel and everything responded well after warming up. My back had also been really tight after Ahquabi and I of course did nothing before race weekend to make it better.

So Sunday rolled around and I rolled up to Boone with a crew of the usual suspects. The stupid weather made it so pre-riding the course sometime previously during that week an impossibility. So I was pretty much going into race day blind. I hate that. That is what this season is about though. Getting familiar with the IMBCS races. So I hit up a pre-ride lap that was quite abbreviated with Nick. Based on it I stupidly left my 36-19 on and called it good. That turned out to be a mistake.

The gear worked well for the start. Seeing as I hadn't ridden too much I was tentative at the start. Knowing full well I shouldn't but knowing that I had missed some of the course, I decided it was better to settle in behind some that were more familiar with the course. It turned out not to be too bad of a move. I should have grabbed Jed's wheel though seeing as he has been really strong and that we have been riding at a somewhat similar level. His fitness/strength is definitely higher that mine and he was definitely familiar with the course. My bad. I did however get into a group with Kevin and Shockey who after my fumbles gapped off of me a little.

So slowly things settled in and I found the backside of the course laden with freaking uphill switchbacks, punchy steep climbs, and slow weird drawn out climbs. About 3/4's of the way through lap one I felt like crap. My gear choice felt huge and I was sort of struggling to keep up with Kev and Shockey. I already knew I was out of the money (beer) for the unofficial SS MTB State Champs. Jed was checked out. Kevin pulled away from Shockey, and I finally gapped back up to him. Descending into the lower ski area, I came around Ben due to my larger gear and signalled for him to grab on and draft off of me. He was climbing well and I wanted to pull him up to Kevin. Didn't work out.

I got up to Kev and rode with him for around half of the lap. He got caught up where I had during lap one and I went around him. We rode together for a while, but I had to punch it on the climbs. At the end of the lap I was feeling a little squirrelyness from my front tire, but I had set my pressure low so I ignored it. I had a decent gap on the other two so I just held strong and kept trucking.

Going into lap 3 I ran most of the steep parts of the openning singletrack section and then dove into the descent to the bottom of the beginning of the course. Once I hit the base I heard the dreaded hiss of a cut. Shit. It was slightly spewing Stan's every revolution. I stopped and let the fluid pool to get it to seal. It did and I kept riding. Then it busted open again 100ft down the trail. I stopped this time and sealed it. I hesitated and knew I had to hit it with CO2. As I was hitting it Kev came around and gave me a little sympathy. He was riding strong and bouncing back. I never caught him.

I had to settle for 4th on the day. After the flat I was just a little knocked down. I haven't ever had a "mechanical" in a race before so I was due. I've been really lucky. After I hit the tire with CO2 I had too much pressure and just couldn't get back in the groove. I did manage to keep the gap at 20 seconds though and that was good.

Congrats to Cam for shredding our collective faces off one more time. You are on another planet. For sure. Gears might be coming, but not this season for fear of the of sticks and cable cutters. Jed good race. Wish I would have known the course and gotten my panties out of a bunch and just started as strong as I should have. You still would have cleaned house. Kevin, much earned "win". Keep those legs going during the week. Shockey good race too. Glad to be able to drink some beers with you and sorry about the van/beer incident. To everyone else see you sometime soon. Not the time trials weekend though. I'll be Gnomefesting.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Mid-Season Break.

Well it is mid season. My legs are telling me so, and so is my mind. I can hardly even comprehend the races so far. CIRREM, Ouachita Challenge 80 mile, Sylvan Island, Banner Lakes, State Crit, ScoCoPa Chase, Camp Ingawanis, Lake Ahquabi. Somewhere around 8 races. One gravel metric, one epic mountain bike race, one road bike race, and 5 other mountain bike races. All the IMBCS so far have been Expert level races. All but two done 100% SS. One aided by suspension (yeah I know cheater cheater). My legs haven't been this used since.. well never.

Coming up on the schedule brings Boone XC, Des Moines Crit weekend, off weekend (supposed to be 24 hours of Boone) or maybe Colesburg gravel race, Gnomefest weekend, maybe SSWC09 weekend, Lake Manawa, off weekend, then Sugar Bottom Scramble. It wouldn't be all bad if most of those were just hour long cross races, but the shortest one so far has been 22.5 miles (other than State Crit weekend) and 1.5 hours in the saddle.

I need a mid-season pick me up. Tomorrow brings some testing, registering, and a road ride. Hell maybe I'll even go ride gravel to spice things up. This last stretch is going to tax my brain and body for sure. Anyone pushing me to race cross is crazy. My Zombie Monkey is just calling my name for some good rock bashing, town shredding, snow riding good times. Oh and chilling out and drinking beer. Just way more beer than average.

On top of all that I think tentative plans are beginning to be put into works for next season's race ride. A diversion of an asset and some funds to accomodate a change in the right direction for the future of my racing. A descision I thought would never come/be really hard to come to terms with is running through my mind with ease.

Oh what October 5th will bring.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sunday Photo Session


Getting the ZM a little dirty for the photo session. Found a sweet little side trail while returning a movie and seeing Brett before finding a photo location. In front of the garage just gets boring. It sure is nice to have a geared mountain bike again. This one is a bruiser in the weight category, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I do need to change out that rear tire though until winter.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Zombie Monkey Musings

Tonight was a chill night following a chill week. Tomorrow brings DB's wedding and again a chill day in the saddle. The ZM project (Surly Karate Monkey, here on out known as the Zombie Monkey or ZM) officially wrapped tonight with the first test session being had. I had very little light beeming out of my puny Cateye. Initial impressions lead to too high of saddle height (gotta cut that post 20mm more), 10mm too short of stem (sorry NS) and short wheelbase. Hopefully I can slide the saddle back a little more, and maybe even rake the front wheel out a little more.

A custom fork would feel amazing on this thing. 472-474mm axle to crown, and 47mm of rake. Just enough to kick that front wheel out there a little more, and keep the handling in the ballpark. I might have to throw the old On One Carbon fork on the ZM for Gnome Fest.

I can't even believe how well balanced and behaved this machine is. Everything that led me to get the ZM turned out to hit the nail on the head. I now truly believe that if one of Surly's sizes fits you, you should have a Karate Monkey in some form. If you love 29er's you owe it to yourself to own one or give one a shot. Mine was transformed into the ZM though liberal usage of purple ano and lots of slow planning and care. Zombie's dislike purple and black. Known fact.

Only a true Zombie Apocalypse transportation device would recieve this much planning preemtively. Most post Apocalypse machines have to be whittled together from the last remaining remanants of post Apocalyptic society.

So to all: Do your homework. Prepare your bike well. If zombies should come, you are going to need some form of transportation, protection, etc. It's not like it's really going to happen, but hell, in my case it got me to build a sweet new 29er.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Lake Ahquabi Race Report

Well going into this weekend I knew what was coming. Unless I put gears on my bike, Cam was going to walk away with this one, while a chase group sat back and duked it out between each other. Needless to say my expectations were to get smoked by 5-10 minutes and Cam didn't disappoint. He took it by 8 minutes.

On the other hand I avenged my worst race ever from last season. I ended up in a chase group with Jed Gammel, Nate Kullbom, and Kent Carlson. Kent did well to hang on and keep pulling back to the group, but Nate, Jed and I were keeping the pace high all race. I don't know why that was needed, but I wasn't slowing down for anyone either. All three of us worked together really well which was refreshing.

There were various times when things would get stretched. Jed dropped a bottle once. He was riding awesome, so I asked Nate to sit up til' he came back. Then at the end of lap 3 Jed had to stop for bottles seeing as he didn't have a hand up, so we let up to keep him in the group. He was riding way strong, so we kept things civil and gentlemanly seeing as he was earning his keep just as much as anyone else in the group, if not more.

At the beginning of lap 4 the three of us were all still together, so I upped the pace to see who still had legs/ who wasn't cramping yet. I sure was close but had been managing to really fight the cramps off. About 1/2-3/4 through the lap Jed asked if we were alone and I let him know that Nate had popped a while back. I also let him know that since everything had been cooperative and all that I wasn't far from cramping and that he'd probably pop me on the asphalt climb. He laughed at that and said he'd been feeling the same thing. He did open up the gap quite thoroughly and I thought I was done.

I noticed through the last 1/4 of the course that he wasn't openning the gap at all and it was holding. I gave it everything I had to keep the gap at 5 seconds. After the asphalt descent I saw the signs of him fading through the grass so I gave it the last of the gas in the tank and gapped up to his wheel. I don't think he liked seeing me there as I kind of came out of no where.

We hit the base of the finishing climb and I was on his wheel. I could see his strain pushing his 32-15 vs. my 36-18 and knew that the climb was mine. I put the hammer down. A couple of kids were caught unaware as we came flying by them uphill. Jed realized a little too late I was coming strong and moved over to try and block me. Shoulders were thrown from both parties. We went down about 50 yards from the line. I patted him on the shoulder as we laughed/cramped and decided to foot sprint for the line.

I took 2nd in the end. Cam gapped us big time. Jed took 3rd. Nate only lost a minute for 4th and Kent came in 5th. Thanks to Bruce Brown and everyone that volunteered on Sunday. Hopefully Boone will be a little better seeing as the course is a little more technical which suits my riding style very well. I am keeping the IMBCS points gap civil until Gnome Fest weekend. That will bury me into 2nd for sure. Still not bad for my first season racing Expert, and not hitting anywhere near all of the races.

Gears?

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Bored

Not much going on this evening. I actually got in a good but odd day of riding today. I had my crown installed this morning so the mouth is all back to normal. I cruised back home and met my Dad to get some corn he picked up after work. He hung around for a while and drank a beer. My tentative plan to ride Amana gravel out and back was being foiled by answered phone calls or not answered.

I finally got a return call from Brett at about 10:45 and Sugar was on the schedule. We cruised out and decided on a lighter ride and choose mostly greens with some blues/blacks thrown into the mix. The pace wasn't super high seeing how Brett was rolling his 32-18 on his Monocog, and I was rolling the 36-18 on the 'Fly. I set it up with front and rear S-Works Fast Traks the day before and was curious about the lack of cush in the front end, as well as traction.

Fortunately my fears/concerns were washed away when the Fast Trak just refused to give up grip under hard cornering. They didn't always hold the line I wanted, but they did admirable for a 50mm wide tire. What they did do awesomely was climb and roll flats. My 36-18 felt like nothing today. I was worried that gear at Sugar would feel ridiculous, but pushing the bigger tires I have this season made the setup feel effortless.

We rolled a lap and then headed to town for a beer and Mexican buffet. Yeah I said it. It was good. We got his chain retensioned after a mystery de-tensioning and headed back out. We cruised another green lap and Brett decided to head back to the truck. When we got there I was going to take my backpack and just cruise the road home, but a one Mr. Black's truck was there. He rolled up no more than a minute later and had only put in a half lap due to a lost bottle. I encouraged that we head out on a rescue mission to get it back seeing as it was an insulated bottle. Mr. Black agreed.

We proceeded to scorch a pretty fast 80% complete lap to end the day. It was an odd one seeing as the first two laps were really low pace, which I wasn't looking for. I think it turned out to be just right. We'll see after BBR ride Thursday, off-day Friday, and pre-race road bike Saturday.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Camp Ingawanis Race Report

I had mixed feelings going into this past weekend. No riding on Wednesday or Thursday. Friday I rode to work and then home. Saturday I rolled the road bike and pushed some big gears on the way home. I was feeling ok, but after Banner Lakes and then a 3rd at ScoCo, I didn't if the legs had the big efforts in them. Plus the previous season held some pretty wicked terrain.

I was psyched about riding the opposite side of the Camp though. I had no idea of what was in store, but I had a feeling it was going to be fast. I heard that it was going to be flowy, which usually means really fast. I also didn't know who was going to be showing up. I rolled up to the race with the Geoff's crew. We had a strong showing 6 deep. 2 Expert Men, 2 Expert Women, and 2 Sport Men.

Kevin and I were signed up for the Expert open. We pre-rode the course and almost immediately I knew that it was going to be the first time I'd ever bust out a 2:1 gear on my SSuperfly. It was kind of intimidating, but I knew if I was going to hang with the big boys on gears, I was going to need to roll a big gear. I set it up and patiently waited.

At the line I was feeling good. My plan was to follow Cam and Kevin for as long as possible. Both those boys can roll, and I knew on this course it would be important. Luckily the gear choice was awesome and I got into the singletrack 2nd on Cam's wheel. Things settled in immediately and somewhat comfortably. I knew the pace was going to get elevated, but it seemed like Cam was willing to keep things mellow for a little bit. About 3/4's of the way through the first lap Kev had to hold up a little and settle into his own pace.

The next two and a half laps were uneventful. I just sat in Cam's wheel and tried to hand as best as possible. It was good to sit in as there were a couple of long doubletrack and he would punch it through these every chance he got. He definitely didn't want me to get around in these sections. I held it as long as I could.

About 3/4's of the way through lap 4 I knew I had to back off a little. I had no idea how for back Kev was, but my legs were just starting to talk a little. I still felt great, I just knew I couldn't match the pace. I rolled through the start/finish with Cam still in sight, but creeping away. I held my own pace through the rest of the last lap to hold onto 2nd. Cam only openned up 33 seconds this time around so again, I'm getting closer.

This race was important as I'd never actually hung around at that pace before. The boys at ScoCo had my number lap 1. I was overtrained going into that weekend, but was ok. I still felt great but I knew I had to chill out prior to race weekend. This weekend brings Lake Aquahbi which will be another fast one. My high end is definitely there, it's just a question of again how long I'll be able to hold the strongest rider's wheels. I'm not going to be able to attack them but hopefully I'll be able to keep it close. The course is Chequemagon-ish.

Hopefully I'll be able to roll a big enough gear to not make it a blow out. I'm also going to scout Boone tomorrow and the week after. I haven't ever ridden there, so recon is imperative to take away the "local" advantage. I have a feeling it won't be the same result as Banner.