EFTA Big Ring Rumpus

[atomkin]

Had a perfect day for the Big Ring Rumpus on Sunday. The temperature was comfortable, and the course was dry, and very fast. Sadly my new bike hadn't shipped in time, so I was stuck on the old bike again. Since this was my second MTB race, I lined up with the Men's Novice 30-39, with about 11 others. I did a cross style start, and punched it from the get go, doing about 28mph until we hit the first turn. The turns were pretty loose, which translated into some big crashes later in the day for the huge cyclocross field. At this point, my heart rate was pegged so I backed off a bit. Looking back, there was only one guy had made any effort to give chase, and he slowly made his way onto my wheel. I then proceeded to pull him around the course for 2.5 laps, before he pulled around. At that point, I didn't really have enough to stick with him, and he opened up a small gap. I lost sight of him, when I got caught up behind some of the slower riders. Knowing that I probably wasn't going to be able to catch the leader, and since I still couldn't see anyone behind me, I decided to just try and hold onto my position for the last lap. I soloed into 2nd place in my age group, and finished 7th overall in the class. Now I'm looking forward to doing the Pinnacle, especially since I should have a suspension fork by then

[taudep]

Congrats, Abel.

I should be at the Pinnacle: fun course, tough single-track climb, great descent!

[ddeitch]

I lined up for my first Sport race. A quick "scrub check" of the field led right back to me, the doughy hirsute cat 5 philestine among the cat 2 roadie show ponies. We start off like it's Gloucester, and I stick with the pack for all of 3/4 of a lap. They dropped me off at my final destination, no man's land, where I was to remain for the next 90 minutes.
Teaching moments:
-The pain cave has a solitary confinement section.
-"Tubeless all mountain tires are way faster than file treads with tubes." FATAL ERROR.
-Can't catch the roadies in the corners if there are no corners.

[JOrkinMan]

Pinnacle is some of the best trails I have ridden in a while, and $#@%@#^ hard. Tried to race last year with little-no training and blew up like a stick of TNT. I don't think I'll get to it this year, but I'm making it a goal for 2012.

-"Tubeless all mountain tires are way faster than file treads with tubes." FATAL ERROR.

Cough. Cough.

[michael todisco]

Delayed report..... Masters Expert 50+..... 28 miles of road racing on double track. Hmmm whats wrong with this picture? Being more of a technical rider I knew this was not the race for me but I needed a visit to the pain cave. This was a race for roadies, 29er's and rigid bikes, all of what I'm not and don't ride. There was even a class for cyclocross at the event (there was a guy in my group with a CX bike and was somehow allowed to race with our MTB class).

That said, I hung on for 1 lap with the group and soloed the last 6 trying to talk myself in and out of the race. The mind wanders when pain is bearing down but I wanted to finish strong and after 3 laps of wondering why I came, I found a rhythm and started to groove it. Finished top ten (only ten in our group ).