CB/Wildflower race reports here!
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finished a race finnally
XC course was sweet; lots of old growth aspens; lots of recovery on the way to the top; could have been more technical, but thats cool. Lots of single track!
Super D run at the top was a b*tch, lap around the top...where was the esspesso???
The folks at CB Racing suck though! i feel for the folks at cyclecyndicate/bigfoot for having to deal with those idiots.
Great weekend; good weather; good vibes; good times!
XC 10th
SD 8th
XC course was sweet; lots of old growth aspens; lots of recovery on the way to the top; could have been more technical, but thats cool. Lots of single track!
Super D run at the top was a b*tch, lap around the top...where was the esspesso???
The folks at CB Racing suck though! i feel for the folks at cyclecyndicate/bigfoot for having to deal with those idiots.
Great weekend; good weather; good vibes; good times!
XC 10th
SD 8th
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2,414 Posts
Well, since I know that modesty will prevent Badger and Shoesmachen from tooting their own horns, I'll start out by telling you that Dave and Grant "RallyBlue" and "Thumper" respectively, killed it - both came in right around 5:07, putting them both in 2nd for their classes. I made a mistake hours before my race that cost me, I finished in 5:15, for 6th in men's 30-39 Expert. My run was clean (as in no crashes) but pretty sloppy.
The course was nearly identical to last year's, with the only noteworthy differences being the reshaping of the jumps at the bottom of the course. I personally liked the first of the set, as it was kind of an odd hip-type jump that you could boost at mach 3 without fear of missing the tranny. The middle 2 jumps, on the other hand, were very "different", as carrying any speed above what seemed like a snail's pace would send you well beyond the landings (they were both tables, and about 6' long each). The bottom kicker was almost the same, but the tranny had been slackened to resemble more of a ski jump.
I thought the race was run much better than last year's, and while it still has a ways to go, I'll most likely be back next year.
Results are up, the way:
http://www.racemsc.com/results/main.php
The course was nearly identical to last year's, with the only noteworthy differences being the reshaping of the jumps at the bottom of the course. I personally liked the first of the set, as it was kind of an odd hip-type jump that you could boost at mach 3 without fear of missing the tranny. The middle 2 jumps, on the other hand, were very "different", as carrying any speed above what seemed like a snail's pace would send you well beyond the landings (they were both tables, and about 6' long each). The bottom kicker was almost the same, but the tranny had been slackened to resemble more of a ski jump.
I thought the race was run much better than last year's, and while it still has a ways to go, I'll most likely be back next year.
Results are up, the way:
http://www.racemsc.com/results/main.php
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1,078 Posts
Overall, a pretty fun weekend! The hot and dry conditions made the course very dusty and extremely loose.
I have a pretty cool story about fellow bikers/racers coming together to help eachother out. As I strolled down to my bike that has been sitting for about a half hour, waiting for our class to be called to the line, something didn't feel quite right. A look to my rear tire confirmed a DH racers biggest fear...a flat rear tire! Son-of-a...! I almost immediately started to accept my fate...a DNS.
Then I heard a voice..."Do you need a tube?" Heck yes I said! So miraculously a random fellow racer has a small fanny pack with an XC tube, pump and tire levers. SWEET! After many thanks and promising to give it back to him after the race (BIG THANKS JIM! He races for Re-Cycle Sport in Breck), I frantically went to work to change my rear tube. Big thanks to teammate Poppa Patterson and Yeti team Semi-Pro/Jr. X rider Kyle Kendall (who ended up winning Semi Pro!!) for the hand in pumping the tiny tube up to proper psi in a 2.5" DH tire. I ended up making it to the starting line just in time to put my goggles on and hear, "and in 5,4,3,2,1...GO" VERY LUCKY! So I am quite happy with an 8th place finish with a time of 5.17 on my nomad (in the same old-men with asthma class that Godzilla is in). That bike rules! And so do all my fellow racer/biker friends who helped make this weekend a great time! :thumbsup:
I have a pretty cool story about fellow bikers/racers coming together to help eachother out. As I strolled down to my bike that has been sitting for about a half hour, waiting for our class to be called to the line, something didn't feel quite right. A look to my rear tire confirmed a DH racers biggest fear...a flat rear tire! Son-of-a...! I almost immediately started to accept my fate...a DNS.
Then I heard a voice..."Do you need a tube?" Heck yes I said! So miraculously a random fellow racer has a small fanny pack with an XC tube, pump and tire levers. SWEET! After many thanks and promising to give it back to him after the race (BIG THANKS JIM! He races for Re-Cycle Sport in Breck), I frantically went to work to change my rear tube. Big thanks to teammate Poppa Patterson and Yeti team Semi-Pro/Jr. X rider Kyle Kendall (who ended up winning Semi Pro!!) for the hand in pumping the tiny tube up to proper psi in a 2.5" DH tire. I ended up making it to the starting line just in time to put my goggles on and hear, "and in 5,4,3,2,1...GO" VERY LUCKY! So I am quite happy with an 8th place finish with a time of 5.17 on my nomad (in the same old-men with asthma class that Godzilla is in). That bike rules! And so do all my fellow racer/biker friends who helped make this weekend a great time! :thumbsup:
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I know a few people who didn't attend this race because of how poorly it was run in the years past. This year I think ran as well as any other race in the series. They really stepped it up to put on a good event. Now if we can just get them to build some new courses... 
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Kyle's a great guy, uncorked a great run to, only 8 seconds off of the fastest pro time. Was a beautiful weekend, hot dry and dusty. I got to discover how much damage you can do to your bike on an "easy" course if you land just right.... was still a great time. scottSylentK said:
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Amen.. the biggest risk on this course remains the fire road to the start. Lots of flats at the starting area. scott.thumper. said:Now if we can just get them to build some new courses...
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Finally cracked the MSC top 5 in XC sport with a 4th place. As always Crested Butte was beautiful.
-R
-R
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2,705 Posts
Overall a good weekend here. walked away with only a rebruised thumb. And all my wheels are mystically in tact!
Same course as last year. This year they left me off the start list but that was all figured out by race time. they did some very good work redoing the bottom line. cept the tables. Which if pumped correctly could be very very fast.
Had a poor at best race run. crashed 2x in the turn section. Lost my rear the first time which left me a good 10 feet in front of my bike which is always a pleasure. Somehow i beat last years time by 10 secs with 2 crashes and last year i had a perfect run...
Same course as last year. This year they left me off the start list but that was all figured out by race time. they did some very good work redoing the bottom line. cept the tables. Which if pumped correctly could be very very fast.
Had a poor at best race run. crashed 2x in the turn section. Lost my rear the first time which left me a good 10 feet in front of my bike which is always a pleasure. Somehow i beat last years time by 10 secs with 2 crashes and last year i had a perfect run...
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4,208 Posts
What a great wkend - one of the most fun bike trips I've done. Would've liked to have ridden more xc, but my legs apparently had enough b/t dh practice and the roadie thrashing earlier in the week. Which seems to confirm my fears that overtraining on the road (cramming?) and hanging out at the beach overeating and drinking isn't the best way to prepare for a race. You know, there really was only one way to find out for sure...
I am happy to report with my "coaching" Tony got down a race run with no mechanicals and no crashes. Woohoo, way to go, Tony!
From my wkend's experience, I'd say this race was run as well as any other I've attended. Woulda been nice to have more variety of trails to choose from on the mountain, but maybe someday...
I am happy to report with my "coaching" Tony got down a race run with no mechanicals and no crashes. Woohoo, way to go, Tony!
From my wkend's experience, I'd say this race was run as well as any other I've attended. Woulda been nice to have more variety of trails to choose from on the mountain, but maybe someday...
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I believe he was referring to the "coaching" he did early on Saturday. You did some "coaching" too, remember?.thumper. said:Wow, Jerry, you must be an excellent coach! I've been trying to figure out how to coach someone to not have a mechanical. I'll have to learn that from you sometime! :skep:
I must say that the course was much easier than the Angel Fire Super-D course. I showed up on time, this time, and placed 10th in the Men 30+, which points wise put me in 4th place overall (sweeet!!!). The 1/4 mile run at the beginning sucked (I didn't know that this was a Bi-athalon). My friend John placed 2nd in the same category. Fun weekend overall.
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6,763 Posts
I'm happy to say that this weekend was probably the best race weekend I've ever had. Sure I didn't end up on podium but whatever...
As others said the course was virtually the same as last year aside from the jumps at the bottom, but this was a new year, a new bike, and most importantly a new attitude and viewpoint towards riding. After continually having bad luck in races last year, in efforts to 'win' and 'beat' others, which consequently led to sloppy riding and crashes; this year I've been approaching racing for personal goals and just to go out and have fun riding my bike. And that's exactly what I did.
After last year I decided to just take it easy, I wasn't at all nervous sitting at the start gate, I was going to go out and have fun riding my bike. I decided to take it conservatively at the top section so I spent some time on the brakes until the g-out/road thing. My good friend Alex said he was going 5fingers on the bars for about 3/4 of that, which is amazing! That section was fun and constantly changing. After the road I 'launched' off the backside with the speed I had left and went no brakes until about 30feet before the turn into the rock section. This is where my trouble was last year (see consequential picture below) so I took it easy, went high after coming into the section and then went just about straight down the rocky right line. After coming through there safely and successfully, and taking more than enough time through those dust berms (crashed there once during practice) I let go of the brakes and went through the rest of the course. I kept the tree sections brakeless for the most part, and on the switchbacks dabbed my foot down to insure I would stay up. Then on the pedal-sections (well...where I did pedal, lol) I sat down and started spinning in low gears.
It was cool though, when coming into the last tree section I was about 100yds from the racer in front of me, which gave me more confidence about my run, haha, and then right as I came out onto the corner before the stepdown the rider behind me BLASTED past me and the three of us finished fairly close together.
So, I finished 18th out of like 25 that finished with 6:00.17, which while it isn't exactly a podium race time, I felt pretty confident since I took more of a leisurely paced run and just enjoyed myself. Could I have done better? Probably, but I'm pretty damn happy to get down in one piece for the first time ever in a DH race.
Of course winning the last raffle at the awards ceremony with all sorts of cool goodies is pretty sweet too.
AND, the weekend wouldn't have been the awesome success that it was without:
-The coaching efforts of Uncle Jerry, G-Rant, and Grandpa Knipe. (Except for Ryan couldn't quite get onto the lifts with us, lol)
-The generous accomodations and hospitality of the entire Kozos crew and everybody for letting me crash at the condo. (Jerry I paid Grace for letting me stay there by the way) Thanks.
-The skillz of Broc, Jerry, Mike, Lee, and everybody else in showing me some good lines.
-And, my friend Brian for taking me up to CB with him, despite the fact we weren't able to ride much together up there.
The only complaints I have about the weekend are the tables at the bottom of the course, which in my opinion were designed horribly and should have been made much longer. And also the fact that splitting practices was a last minute decision and was not posted prior to the event, resulting in many disgruntled riders (hopefully not too angry of course). It seemed like it was enforced off and on throughout the day though.
Picture of last year:
![]()
Hopefully vast pics are up soon.
As others said the course was virtually the same as last year aside from the jumps at the bottom, but this was a new year, a new bike, and most importantly a new attitude and viewpoint towards riding. After continually having bad luck in races last year, in efforts to 'win' and 'beat' others, which consequently led to sloppy riding and crashes; this year I've been approaching racing for personal goals and just to go out and have fun riding my bike. And that's exactly what I did.
After last year I decided to just take it easy, I wasn't at all nervous sitting at the start gate, I was going to go out and have fun riding my bike. I decided to take it conservatively at the top section so I spent some time on the brakes until the g-out/road thing. My good friend Alex said he was going 5fingers on the bars for about 3/4 of that, which is amazing! That section was fun and constantly changing. After the road I 'launched' off the backside with the speed I had left and went no brakes until about 30feet before the turn into the rock section. This is where my trouble was last year (see consequential picture below) so I took it easy, went high after coming into the section and then went just about straight down the rocky right line. After coming through there safely and successfully, and taking more than enough time through those dust berms (crashed there once during practice) I let go of the brakes and went through the rest of the course. I kept the tree sections brakeless for the most part, and on the switchbacks dabbed my foot down to insure I would stay up. Then on the pedal-sections (well...where I did pedal, lol) I sat down and started spinning in low gears.
It was cool though, when coming into the last tree section I was about 100yds from the racer in front of me, which gave me more confidence about my run, haha, and then right as I came out onto the corner before the stepdown the rider behind me BLASTED past me and the three of us finished fairly close together.
So, I finished 18th out of like 25 that finished with 6:00.17, which while it isn't exactly a podium race time, I felt pretty confident since I took more of a leisurely paced run and just enjoyed myself. Could I have done better? Probably, but I'm pretty damn happy to get down in one piece for the first time ever in a DH race.
Of course winning the last raffle at the awards ceremony with all sorts of cool goodies is pretty sweet too.
AND, the weekend wouldn't have been the awesome success that it was without:
-The coaching efforts of Uncle Jerry, G-Rant, and Grandpa Knipe.
(Except for Ryan couldn't quite get onto the lifts with us, lol)-The generous accomodations and hospitality of the entire Kozos crew and everybody for letting me crash at the condo. (Jerry I paid Grace for letting me stay there by the way)
Thanks. -The skillz of Broc, Jerry, Mike, Lee, and everybody else in showing me some good lines.
-And, my friend Brian for taking me up to CB with him, despite the fact we weren't able to ride much together up there.
The only complaints I have about the weekend are the tables at the bottom of the course, which in my opinion were designed horribly and should have been made much longer. And also the fact that splitting practices was a last minute decision and was not posted prior to the event, resulting in many disgruntled riders (hopefully not too angry of course). It seemed like it was enforced off and on throughout the day though.
Picture of last year:
Hopefully vast pics are up soon.
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Sounds like an Awesome weekend was had and I'm glad to hear that the timing system was a non issue this year!
Congrats to all on good finishes this past weekend.
I'm super jelous, I missed it! Looks like I still have a while to go before I can ride again.
I went to the Dr. today and got my cast off and now my foot is in a walking boot, but I'm still sportin crutches. Enjoy your rides guys. Wish I was...:madman:
Congrats to all on good finishes this past weekend.
I'm super jelous, I missed it! Looks like I still have a while to go before I can ride again.
I went to the Dr. today and got my cast off and now my foot is in a walking boot, but I'm still sportin crutches. Enjoy your rides guys. Wish I was...:madman:
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434 Posts
yeah
this was a much better race this year then previous years. Super chill weekend with tons of people just hanging out waiting to get to ride. already looking forward to Snomass:thumbsup:
this was a much better race this year then previous years. Super chill weekend with tons of people just hanging out waiting to get to ride. already looking forward to Snomass:thumbsup:
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