Goal: Finish in the top third
This race was kind of a last minute one for me. I wanted to do it but after checking the technical guide I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it up on time for sign-on. Because it was part of the national circuit everyone had to sign on the day before which meant we had to get to Edmonton before 7pm in order to register and have time to pre-ride the course.
There were 2 major factors precluding making this race:
1. My new frame (Norco Faze 1) has just arrived on Tuesday and the bike shop had scheduled it to be done on Friday...which could be anytime Friday.
2. I had some overtime still to be used up but my co-worker was supposed to be away the whole day on a training course so I couldn't take the day off which wouldn't have left me enough time.
After a few phonecalls to Bow and talking with my co-worker I was able to get my bike done Thursday night and leave work at noon on Friday. The next day I left work early and after a few unexpected slowdowns on the Deerfoot and the highway near Crossfield we were finally on our way to Edmonton.
After picking up our race plates and asking around a bit we finally got some decent directions to the park where the race was being held to do a pre-ride. The new bike felt really good although this was technically my first ride on it so I was still having trouble picking lines as I wasn't used to a full-suspension race bike.
Race Day:
My legs felt pretty good today and I was confident that I was able to ride the course with only a few sections that worried me...namely a sand trap and a super sketchy gravel switchback descent.
The whistle went off and I knew I could power up the first ascent. The problem with climbing in MTB races is not always your own technical ability...but sometimes the people who are in front of you. There were a lot of novices...69...which is the largest group we've had all year. During the first climb there guys already dismounting and running up...not good. I could also notice my rear derailleur was being quite stubborn upshifting and it was ghost shifting during the climbs. I knew right away my cables had stretched after the pre-ride yesterday. The first descent I had bailed on during the pre-ride I managed to clean (and somehow steer around two other guys who had bailed).
After finishing up the first part I cranked through the straight away..passing a couple guys before entering the flowy single track section. The sand pit came and the path was blocked so I had to dismount and run through. Next section was the rooty technical power climbs...now my derailleur was giving me a ton of problems...my chain was all over place making all the power climbs guesswork. During one straight section of the race I tried to pass couple guys on the outside of the straightaway and my handlebar caught on a stake that was a bit too high...first crash...not good.
The final part of each lap was a pretty long shale pathway back the lap area so I used this opportunity to crank and adjust my rear shifting cable.
Second lap went better in the shifting department. I ran this lap a little faster and a little cleaner. At the top of the first climb I saw one of my teammates with his bike upside down...I did a quick check and he said he flatted out but he was OK. I managed to pass a few guys on this lap and tried to plow through the sand trap but my chain ended up falling off again so I was once again being passed by the guys I had just passed trying to get my chain back on. I continued on and couldn't believe my luck. I had another bail on a descent when my front tire slipped out unexpectedly. I just wanted to put all these things behind me now.
Third lap went pretty good again. I managed to close a gap with another rider so I grabbed his wheel and followed his lines through the technical sections. On the straight I managed to overtake him and cruise through the flowy single track section.
On the rooty technical I thought I had finally seen a good line to take...I tried to power up the climb this time and this time my chain came off and got stuck in between my cranks and my frame. I spent a good 2-3 minutes trying to yank the chain out and at one point I didn't think I was going to be able to get it out without breaking the chain all the while about 5-6 riders I had passed managed to pass me again. I finally managed to get it free and had to run a good portion of the section because I was afraid of having the chain snap during the power climbs and there wasn't really a flat part to get started again.
After finally getting going again...I managed to pass just a couple riders and sprinted for the finish line. There was another rider I had met at the Bacon Race who had finished a couple spots behind me so as I rode past him I yelled to him to just giver with me...I wanted a close finish.
I passed the finish line and was sure that I had come close to the bottom. I had so many problems during the race and three crashes. It was one of my worst races. I had lost a lot of confidence in my technical ability and my technical climbing. I knew there might be issues riding a new bike for the first time during a race...but I didn't think it would be this bad. I was pretty disappointed because I knew I had lost 6-8 places while I was trying to pull my chain free and get it back on my gears again. I wasn't that tired after the race so I had enough to keep my placing if so many mechanicals problems hadn't arose.
Result: 28/69
Better then I had expected. A lot better. If I didn't have all those problems during the race I'm sure I could have placed 20th or better...but that's mountain biking for you. Every race is a test of your training and a little bit of luck.
I really have to work on my starting sprint and my technical skills. Probably just have to spend more time with my new bike and get used to the lines I can take now.
At least one of my teammates took third which was awesome to see...this is his second year racing and that was his first podium. My other teammate managed to take 11th despite having to fix a flat during the race.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Giver-8-er Enduro
Goal for this race: Finish at least 5 laps
This was my very first enduro event. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about biking for so long but I can't really say I don't like Enduros without first giving them a chance.
For the race I decided to look for a partner so that we could switch off every couple laps or so. This way we could each have a break and get something to eat. Someone e-mailed me that they were looking to rde with a two man team so I rode the event with Peter.
My partner was going to be a little late so we decided I would start off and ride the first 2 laps and by the time I was finished my second lap he would be ready to go.
The first lap didn't go so well for me...there were so many riders in front and behind you so it was really hard to focus with people bearing down on you on the tight single track. I had a couple minor slip-ups and one bail when my front tire slipped out on a decent. I had pre-ridden the course 5 times prior so I wasn't sure why I was making so many mistakes on the course.
I remember coming up on a part that was a really steep and sketchy gravel descent. I knew before the race that I would probably just tripod my way down as it wasn't worth the risk of injury to try and bike down. A rider asked if he could pas and I said sure...but he hadn't pre-ridden the course and shot down the hill at full blast...needless to say...the dust cloud a the bottom cleared and he had bailed pretty hard. I checked to make sure he was OK and continued on.
My second lap was a lot better...I grabbed the wheel of a teammate and just followed her the entire course. She paced the lap really well so I had an easier time just following her lines. When I got to the timing chute, my partner was ready and waiting. Perfect timing.
My partner ran the laps pretty fast and we were doing the laps pretty good.
I was ready to start my third lap and felt pretty confident as my second lap went well.
During my third lap I was taking a new section of single track much faster then usual and accidently took the wrong line...my front tire caught on something and ejected me from my bike. I remember getting up to see my bike in the creek...after I fished it out the cables were stretched and twisted. I untangled it and figured it was OK. I kept riding and then on a uphill I tried to shift and my derailleur went right into my spokes...not good...my derailleur was bent.
I bent in back into place and then continued on for a bit...then I found out I couldn't shift my front derailleur either. I could barely pedal the bike and forgot my chain pins back at the team pits so I couldn't single speed my bike. I ended up having to walk my bike back to the start/finish area and burn the lap as I had cut the course to get back.
I felt horrible...I've crashed before but never that bad...how was I going to finish the race?
I felt bad that we would end up last because I took a lap too hot. I checked with the organizers and it turned out that we could change bikes...so I figured I would be able to drive home...get my other bike and be ready to race by the time my partner finished 2 laps. I drove like a madman home, loaded my other bike and drove back to COP. By the time I had finished getting ready...my partner rolled in and I took off.
Another problem arose right away...I don't have a bottle cage on my Prophet and I didn't think of grabbing my CamelBak. So I had to run the lap without any water at all. This was brutal, it was super hot outside and all I could think about was water each lap.
I finished my 3rd lap problem free came into the pit and my partner had just eaten so he checked to see if I was good to run another lap. I had the energy to, so I drank a whole bottle of water, half a bottle of Gatorade and took off for another lap. 4th lap I ran fine as well...must have been the full-suspension setup.
My partner ran another lap and then I ran the last one of the day....making it 5 laps. I had met my goal...although I think I would have been able to do more had I not crashed. I figure that my crash ended up costing us 2 or 3 laps. In total we did 10 laps. In retrospect I'm glad it was my bike that got smashedup and not me...or else I wouldn't have been able to help finish the race at all. We didn't come in last but I personally feel we probably could have done more laps which would have moved us up a bunch of spots.
Result: 16/18
Well there's always next year. I did end up getting a new frame and wheelset after this race...which is essentially a new bike. I didn't want to buy anymore bikes this year...but I'm really starting to enjoy racing...so I think I should have a proper racing bike that doesn't mess up my back.
This was my very first enduro event. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about biking for so long but I can't really say I don't like Enduros without first giving them a chance.
For the race I decided to look for a partner so that we could switch off every couple laps or so. This way we could each have a break and get something to eat. Someone e-mailed me that they were looking to rde with a two man team so I rode the event with Peter.
My partner was going to be a little late so we decided I would start off and ride the first 2 laps and by the time I was finished my second lap he would be ready to go.
The first lap didn't go so well for me...there were so many riders in front and behind you so it was really hard to focus with people bearing down on you on the tight single track. I had a couple minor slip-ups and one bail when my front tire slipped out on a decent. I had pre-ridden the course 5 times prior so I wasn't sure why I was making so many mistakes on the course.
I remember coming up on a part that was a really steep and sketchy gravel descent. I knew before the race that I would probably just tripod my way down as it wasn't worth the risk of injury to try and bike down. A rider asked if he could pas and I said sure...but he hadn't pre-ridden the course and shot down the hill at full blast...needless to say...the dust cloud a the bottom cleared and he had bailed pretty hard. I checked to make sure he was OK and continued on.
My second lap was a lot better...I grabbed the wheel of a teammate and just followed her the entire course. She paced the lap really well so I had an easier time just following her lines. When I got to the timing chute, my partner was ready and waiting. Perfect timing.
My partner ran the laps pretty fast and we were doing the laps pretty good.
I was ready to start my third lap and felt pretty confident as my second lap went well.
During my third lap I was taking a new section of single track much faster then usual and accidently took the wrong line...my front tire caught on something and ejected me from my bike. I remember getting up to see my bike in the creek...after I fished it out the cables were stretched and twisted. I untangled it and figured it was OK. I kept riding and then on a uphill I tried to shift and my derailleur went right into my spokes...not good...my derailleur was bent.
I bent in back into place and then continued on for a bit...then I found out I couldn't shift my front derailleur either. I could barely pedal the bike and forgot my chain pins back at the team pits so I couldn't single speed my bike. I ended up having to walk my bike back to the start/finish area and burn the lap as I had cut the course to get back.
I felt horrible...I've crashed before but never that bad...how was I going to finish the race?
I felt bad that we would end up last because I took a lap too hot. I checked with the organizers and it turned out that we could change bikes...so I figured I would be able to drive home...get my other bike and be ready to race by the time my partner finished 2 laps. I drove like a madman home, loaded my other bike and drove back to COP. By the time I had finished getting ready...my partner rolled in and I took off.
Another problem arose right away...I don't have a bottle cage on my Prophet and I didn't think of grabbing my CamelBak. So I had to run the lap without any water at all. This was brutal, it was super hot outside and all I could think about was water each lap.
I finished my 3rd lap problem free came into the pit and my partner had just eaten so he checked to see if I was good to run another lap. I had the energy to, so I drank a whole bottle of water, half a bottle of Gatorade and took off for another lap. 4th lap I ran fine as well...must have been the full-suspension setup.
My partner ran another lap and then I ran the last one of the day....making it 5 laps. I had met my goal...although I think I would have been able to do more had I not crashed. I figure that my crash ended up costing us 2 or 3 laps. In total we did 10 laps. In retrospect I'm glad it was my bike that got smashedup and not me...or else I wouldn't have been able to help finish the race at all. We didn't come in last but I personally feel we probably could have done more laps which would have moved us up a bunch of spots.
Result: 16/18
Well there's always next year. I did end up getting a new frame and wheelset after this race...which is essentially a new bike. I didn't want to buy anymore bikes this year...but I'm really starting to enjoy racing...so I think I should have a proper racing bike that doesn't mess up my back.
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