Geez....I'm way behind on updates. I'll blame that on a terribly fun and relaxing vacation last week.
Anyway.....the 2015 cross country campaign is off and running with two races on consecutive weekends. So dueling race reports it is.
Fort Duffield
As noted in the last posting, I headed south to Kentucky and the Kentuckey Point Series to race at Fort Duffield in Westpoint, just outside the Louisville. The course had been described as "old school" and the most technical course in Kentucky. Rocks and log crossings
These warnings seemed ominous, especially since I'm not the most technically skilled rider (I got a 29er so I could roll over obstacles, not finesse my way over), but I really wanted to get a race in before the DINO season started. So, I managed to trick convince Aaron to go along on a Team Matthews Racing trip down for the race.
Things got off to a less than great start when it became apparent it had rain in Westpoint the night before. That, and Aaron's bike nearly fell off the bike rack while going 75 mph on I-65. Thanks Thule.
Anyway, we got to the course and found everything was damp and the humidity soaring. We did a short pre-ride and sure enough, lots of damp slippery rocks, roots (none of which went straight across the trail...they were all at these crazy angle so the rear tire was slipping all over. And then the trees...there were lots of logs some of which could be rolled, some which needed to be hopped, and still others which no doubt would have resulted in a serious injury had I not pulled a cross hop. So, after dabbing along the preride, we lined up for the start, which went straight up the main park road to the fort at the top of the hill. The climb was ridiculously steep, and while I could have gone faster, I held back due to some ambivalence about my tech skills. The first lap was full of lots of hike a bike as other riders slipped or ran out of steam on steep climbs. I got in behind the Cat 1 women's leader, but a few foul ups resulted in me moving backward in the field.
I had no idea where I was at the start of the second lap, but during a particularly rocky section near the start, my rear tire slid on a slick rock, and the rear part of the bike slid to the right, towards the edge of the trail. I tried to save myself, but lost balance and started to fall down the hillside. There was a small tree just off the trail and I grabbed at it to stop the fall. Only it broke free at its base (IT WAS ROTTEN!) and I continued to fall before my slide ended up against another tree farther down the hill. I scrambled up, found myself mostly unhurt and tried to remount. Unfortunately, my chain had come off and was wedged between the dropout and part of the cassette. After a few minutes of cursing, I got the chain loose, and got to riding. But....the race was over. Following my inadvertent downhill, I knew I was at the back and had no chance to make up time. So, I decided to relax and treat the remainder of the ride as recreational training ride. And it was fun. My skills were much improved over the first lap, and I ended the race in one piece. As it turns out, I made the podium in my age group.
Although I suspect there were only three 30-39 years in my age group....I wouldn't know for sure since I never looked at the final results. So yeah.
Thoughts on Duffield? Cool park and the fort is a nice touch. It wasn't the hardest trail I have ever ridden, but it was the hardest I have raced. I think it would be a fun course for a more low key recreational ride (when it was dry).
DINO Winona Lake
Two weekends ago was the kick off of the 2015 DINO season and my first race in the Cat 2 Open wave. I prerode Winona the evening before and found the course in good shape, with a few slick corners. Later that night, while enjoying a pre-race meal at Applebee's (which was THE local hangout) , a first batch of rain moved in. Based on radar, it looked like the rain missed the trails. Unfortunately, early the next morning, a more significant series of storms rolled through which dumped on the trails. But, no chance of cancellation, this is a rain or shine course due to the sandy soil.
So, the course would be wet. A short pre-ride in the morning proved this, and also showed that glasses would be a bad idea due to fogging issues.
A few minutes after 10 am that morning the Cat 2 waves lined up for the start. Cat 2 Open was first up, and had a dozen riders, including two other from Matthews, Brian W., a regular adversary over the past few years, and a few other familiar faces.
The start was down a grassy lane, which took a hairpin turn, and then ran past the start line before heading into the woods. The pack stayed close initially, although Aaron, Jeff B. and Michael S. all got out to a strong along with a DRT rider. I had several riders behind me, but the slick conditions were keeping my speed in check. Steve H, another Matthews rider, and another racer (I think Gray Goat) were ahead of me, but took a wrong turn on the trail and I got around. Brian W. was right on my wheel (he was singlespeeding at 32-17,although Brian is so strong I don't see this as a handicap) and he had to deal with all of my technical missteps. After awhile, Brian passed me, as did a rider from Gray Goat. I kept Gray Goat in sight for most of the remaining part of the first lap, although I also got passed by a incredibly fast age grouper (the eventual overall winner).
I started the second lap alone and the course seemed to improve. Still slick, but not as bad. A little way into the first lap I spotted Brian W. in the trees ahead. I seemed to take my time in catching him, but finally got on his wheel and made my way around. Brian commented that he was having a rough time, but once past, I kept a lookout over my shoulder. I was concerned that if he suddenly had a rabbit to chase, he would bounce back and come after me before the finish. I nearly did myself in at one point on a steep uphill which had become very muddy. I hit it fast, lost momentum when my tires began to spin, began to slip, dismounted to run, THEN slipped and I and the bike went sliding down the hill straight at Brian. He stopped before I crashed into him, and allowed me to claw my way back up the muddy slope and get back on the bike.
I kept going and got a gap on Brian which I maintained until the end and rolled across the finish alone, having never closed the gap with Gray Goat. I was 14th out of 69 overall, and 7th out of 11 in the Open class (someone DNF'd...). I was happy with the overall, especially considering the conditions. The Open class....eh. I could have caught the Gray Goat rider ahead of me if the conditions had been better, and there are a few Open riders who should probably be in the Cat 1 wave after this race. I'm expecting my wave results this year to not be podium worthy since I am going up against a tougher group of racers. My primary goal for this season is to push towards getting top ten overall placings.
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| Oh hey Brian, remember when I fell down that hill and nearly crashed into you? Yeah, that was fun. Photo: Beth Bragg |
The next race is Brown County State Park, what I consider to be the premier race on the schedule, although not quite my favorite. In a change of pace, the course has reverted back to the original version, which includes a full circuit of the Aynes Loop, including a nearly 300 foot climb to the top of the loop before dropping back down to North Tower for a climb back up to the finish.
I'm hoping my usual climbing power shows up in full force. I'm also hoping that the forecasted chance of showers on Saturday does not impact the park. I'm getting tired of riding slick race courses.
