Weeping Willow

[BTurner]

A great race with at great turnout. Seemed like old days lining up with 30+ Expert 40-49. I faded early and ended up 17th. Congrats to John Plump for flying the MRC flag today with a podium 3rd place finish in the Sport 50+. Abel Tomkinson had the legs and finished 5th in the Novice 30-39 but I will give him first in the vintage class. Todd Prekaski also held his own in another big 30+ Sport 40-49 field with an 18th place finish. I am loving the 29er and 2x10 drive train but may be looking for a suspension fork as my arms are ready to fall off as I type this.

[taudep]

Mountain bike racing really tires one out...so much so that I don't have any words...

Great course, though.

We've gotta get everyone in MRC with a MTN bike down to PJ's place for a BBQ and soul-crushing ride.

[atomkin]

As Bill said, I managed to get a 5th place finish in the Men's Novice 30-39 today. I dragged my 1995 rigid framed Stumpjumper out to Willowdale this morning, and received more than a few curious looks in my road kit. Several people even approached me to ask how old the bike actually was, at which time I would point out the amazing features like "lightweight" cantilever brakes. Looking around me, I recognized Nick Maggiore, of Back Bay cycle from cross season, and made a point to mark him. I made sure to get in near the front of my field when we lined up, and was able to hop onto Nick's wheel as he punched it on the double-track start. We put a decent gap into the field early, and I joked with him that we would see which of us would run out of skills first. The early sections of the course flowed very nicely and we were able to maintain some good speed, but we soon started to run into various juniors and the back end of the 20-29 field. A few of our field were able to catch on as we were trying to get through, and then Nick took a fall on one of the many very slick roots. We then proceeded to trade crashes and passes for awhile, exchanging encouragement. I managed to bang my knee pretty hard, and took a minute or two to get back up to speed as it loosened up, meanwhile I got passed by 5 guys. The rigid fork was leaving me feeling a bit beat up now. I was able to pick up ground on any of the fire road sections, and decided to make use of my cross skills running over some of the more technical sections maintaining my speed. I passed a tandem, and lost Nick when he didn't make it around them before a hill. At this point I really had no idea where I was in the race, since the fields were so overlapped and I didn't have a bike computer, so I just pushed as hard as my bike would allow me to. I passed another two who I had been trading spots with at the narrow raised bridge when they got tangled up on the ramp, while I sprinted through the water, and put about 2 minutes into them. Before I knew it, I had hit the finishing chute, and it was over. The course was a blast, and I finished in 1:00:02 besting the best time for my age group by last year by 7 minutes, and it was great seeing Bill, Todd, and John P. I'm looking forward to doing some more MTB races this season, hopefully on a newer bike.

[rusto]

Photos by jw246 on flickr:

Todd P

Bill T

On Facebook,

John P:



John P again:



Todd P:



Todd P again:



Bill T:



Bill T again:

[jmp2478]

My objective this race was to still be racing, rather than just riding around at the finish. Last weekend in RI I blew up big time about 1.5 laps into a 3 lap event before a flat tire put me out of my misery. Off the start 5 guys immediately blast up the double track which lasted about a mile. They get about 50 yards ahead and just hang there. So I bridge up to them just before the single track started. Once we enter, the first few guys slowly disappear and me an another guy are riding behind a Cyclonauts rider. He's holding us up a little, but I figure I'm not going anywhere until the guy in front of me can get by him, and besides, it's keeping me from going too hard. This goes on for about 5 minutes and then the guy sitting second pops his rear tire. Now I'm just being held up by one guy. What the heck, I squeeze by him on a twisty climb and start looking up the trail. For the rest of the first lap there were a bunch of guys from the fields that started ahead of mine that it was interesting. Always someone to bridge up to, and then rest while you waited for a safe place to pass. This helped me stay in my game plan. By the start of the second lap there were less and less opportunities to do this. Once back in the woods I was basically riding alone. The lap passed without much adventure. Every once in a while I'd catch someone in the woman's field, or get schooled by someone in the Elite field lapping me (MAN those guys are fast). I finished by myself having know idea where I was in the field. Extremely surprised and satisfied with a third place. I was able to finish under power and with a smile on my face. Great venue, great race and really nice field of competitors.

[PJ McQuade]

We've gotta get everyone in MRC with a MTN bike down to PJ's place for a BBQ and soul-crushing ride.

I'm free Memorial Day. Anyone available? We could hit the trails in the a.m. and proceed to my patio for beers n' burgers after.

[scott_sweeney]

Really want to do a couple of MTB races....considering my luck on the road right now, gotta' be more fun!

[taudep]

PJ, I'm around, could be up for a ride and BBQ...

Scott, I think my next MTN bike race is either The Pinnacle (800 feet of climbing/lap) 6/19, or Moddy Park 6/24. Then of course 24Hogg.

I should also add, that there were 43 starters in my field and age group. Which is amazing for a MTN bike race. If you're not doing it, you're missing out!

Congtas, Abel, on your first MTN bike race. You'll have even more fun with a little cushion on the front fork.

[PJ McQuade]

Oops, scratch that, I double booked myself that day. We'll make this happen soon...

[scott_sweeney]

So interestingly enough the guy that picked me up after my chain exploded at Sunapee highly recommended the Pinnacle. He said it was way better than Harding Hill.

Let me see if I can get a hall pass.

[RFollansbee]

The Pinnacle is my favorite EFTA race. Light years ahead of Harding Hill in interesting terrain - up and down. You'll love the run down the old ski jumping hill.

[taudep]

I still don't think Harding Hill is that bad, though. But I only did it in the mud.

I don't have happy memories of The Pinnacle, but I can see how a climber like Rob would like it. Fun downhill section, though. Even the climb is interesting because it's on a lot of single track.

Scott, if you're in for one, I'll make sure I add that to my schedule, too.