July 18, 2008

Mt. Snow, Vermont

87°, humid, partly cloudy 

13th place, Sport 45–49, 1:26

This was the second year at this location and the course was dialed in. Unlike Windham, there were lots of fireroad passing opportunities before reaching the single track. Unfortunately, I was the passee instead of the passer.

I had no power and couldn't maintain as high a heart rate compared to my previous race five days earlier. I was off the bike for four days, and took it easy on my practice lap the day before my race. Got plenty of sleep, ate really well, and didn't drink much. BTW, the Cherrystone clams at Boston's Union Oyster House were especially tasty. Didn't do much except walk around Boston for a couple of days. I don't know why I was off my game that day. I really had high hopes based on the previous race. 

I knew it was game over when, nearing the top of the course during the first lap, three female racers passed me. They probably started 4 minutes behind me. I enjoyed God's bounty in its many forms until they rode out of sight.

These were the toughest climbs I'd ever encountered in a race, maxing out at 25%. Luckily there were no extended forested single track climbs to bunch us up. It was only a problem on forest descents. It's rocky, rooty, and slightly damp as the parade of riders wore down the course. The rocks were granite compared to shale at Windham. Not sharp, but large enough to stall your momentum going up or down if you were going slow. The stair steps down the roots were especially fun at speed. You needed speed to maintain your line, otherwise you'd start riding a root and would slide across the trail. 

I didn't fall, I didn't walk, I didn't break bike parts, and I didn't top 10. On the plus side, I beat ShoAir's Scott Tedro, the top ranked sandbagger, I mean, rider in my group. Ok, technically he DNFd. I'll take what I can get.

Since we're in New Jersey for a wedding on July 6, why don't we stay for Mt. Snow on July 18?

We had planned this trip for months and decided to extend our east cost swing to visit Philadelphia (wife's home town) and Boston (don't know anybody there). Luckily, Windham had a race the week before Nationals, offering me a tune up opportunity. I've never ridden anywhere but Cali, and was concerned about the roots and rocks. I had a difficult time choosing a durable, but light tire for the conditions. After a couple of emails and a conversation with Dain at WTB, I raced on ExiWolf 1.95s.

I didn't like those derailleurs anyway

I took a well needed rest and got back on the bike again on the 9th. As I was reassembling my bike, I stripped the B-screw on the rear derailleur and the cable pinch bolt on the front. Not the screw or bolt, but the freakin threads on the derailleurs. I tried to upgrade, but I couldn't find a low-normal XTR derailleur. XT worked great and was less than half the price with only a small weight gain.

Three cassettes later

During my pre-ride at Windham, I kept adjusting my cable tension, trying to fix some ghost shifting. After one lap, I noticed that the 30 tooth cog on my old XT cassette was bent. I got a new SRAM 990 cassette and bent that one within 10 minutes. I finally put on an LX cassette and haven't bent that one yet. Oh yeah, and add two chains to go along with the cassettes. I picked up an XTR cassette upon my return and I'm also ordering some new chainrings to complete the drive train refresh.

The Race

July 12, 2008

East Coast National @ Windham Mountian

70°+, 60% humidity, cloudy

4th place, Sport 40–49, 1:11

10 miles and 1,800' of climbing never seemed this difficult before.

Windham Mtn. is a small ski resort in the Catskills. The race course starts at the base lodge and meanders across the ski runs and through the trees. There's an immediate choke point within the first 1/8 mile as the course transitions from gravel road to single track. I had a great start and was third at that point. After two short tree sections, you immediately start up a 20% climb before the first ski run traverse. 

The single track sections were dusty over shale with a few ladders over the muddy sections. Some of the wooded sections reminded me of Steam Donkey at Skeggs. 

I held my 3rd place position until the backside of the first lap. I was fourth in a group of riders before descending the "Mini Wall" section. I just couldn't find enough open space to pass four guys and paid the price. The lead rider went down, causing me to dismount and run the section. Five riders passed me—at least one in my group.

After the first lap, I started climbing with more effort. That's where the iBike shines. I know right away if I'm creating more power. I started passing guys again, including the guy in my group who passed me earlier. 

I hung around the finish waiting for the results, but finally returned to the B&B to clean up and pack. It was raining when we returned and I had to hunt for the results board. 4th place.

I'm ready for Nationals.

I'm on my way home this morning and my riding buddies and I stop next to a car straddling the left turn only and thru traffic lanes at a red light. I didn't give it much thought and rode away in the bike lane when the light turned green. As I started moving, I hear a horn behind me, and then the same car passes me within inches. It was close enough to reach out and touch the roof. I'm pissed and sprint off after the guy, hoping to catch him at the next light. For reasons unknown to me, the driver stopped in the middle of the road, between the double yellow lines, where one of my buddies gets in front of him and starts screaming. The driver then attempted a 3-point turn, bashing the curb in the process. Now, he's just stopped, blocking the lane, completely incoherent, mumbling something about just getting up. I started taking pictures of himself and the car as they coaxed him to park correctly. He gets out, and can barely stand up. As my friends were dealing with him, I made a wreckless driver complaint to SJPD and requested an officer on the scene. After what seemed like and eternity, two cruisers show up. One of the officers took a statement from me, interviewed the driver, and then asked me if I felt his actions were dangerous enough to warrant a citizen's arrest. I answered in the affirmative, and he said "That's all I need to know," and sent us on our way.

We got lucky. He wasn't freaking out or belligerent. I wouldn't recommend doing this on your own or in a less populated setting.

Score one for cyclists.