I did my usual pre-race routine arriving plenty early to make sure everything was going to be okay. I was happy that the warm-up routine required a vest because it was a little chilly and I do better in colder temperatures and that the rain had left the course in good shape. After reuniting with old friends including Utahmountainbiking Mike who kicked butt with a 2nd place finish the race was ready to begin. I was worried after Friday night’s ride that my legs where a little spent from the hard climbing I had done one Wednesday but warming up I felt good and was ready to test the legs.
The race started and like most races early in the season the pace was quick. With a field of over 40 in my category I was determined to stay in with the leader pack. This worked for about 20 minutes then my legs started to give out. I was still feeling pretty good because at Yellow Page hill I wasn’t far behind the pack. The hike up Yellow page just took it out of me and then the heat started to kick in. I tried to catch some guys on the descent to the fire road because I knew a headwind was coming up on the climb to the “Tunnel of Love”. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to close the gap until the first 40+ guy caught me about half-way up the road. I managed to grab his wheel and stay on it until we climbed back toward the start-finish. At this point I knew I was running on empty. My legs didn’t have any energy and now the heat was forcing me to slow the pace down. About this time one of the Mad Dog guys caught me and I just eased into his pace for the next half-lap until he flatted. About this time my legs started to feel a little better and I started catching a few guys. However on the way around the backside of the course I got sucked into a mud hole
that proceeded to reek havoc with my chain for the rest of the race causing a couple of guys to catch me and pass me on the way to the finish.
I think I finished in the middle of the pack.
Looking back there were some positive things I should take out of this. First, I was much quicker in the descents. Running a tubeless system that little voice in the back of my head isn’t telling me to be careful about flatting. Second, I did manage to pull a 52 minute 1st lap which was four minutes faster than last year. Up next, the Lava Rama.
2 comments:
What is the specs on the trek fuel slr you have pictured down below? Looking at getting a frame and going from there. Do you like it? what is the approx weight?
Mine is a 17" frame. I'll never buy another Trek again. The rear triangle has too much side to side flex in it. I've scratched up the rear triangle because it has flexed and met the teeth of my crank. I've talk to Trek about it and they don't have a clue what is causing it. The other think I didn't like was the rear shock didn't have a lockout. I had to upgrade the rear shock to get a lockout on it. I'm looking right now at Rocky Mountain, Cannondale or Giant for my next bike. With Trek you are just paying for marketing.
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