Joined
·
378 Posts
Race: Legend of Stanky Creek
Location: Memphis, TN
Class: Beginner 30-39
On the Tuesday before the race, I chose to ride the course as if I were racing to get an idea of what kind of time I should expect. It has been really dry here and the course was in superb shape. Stanky has the potential to retain water and be muddy in spots, but on Tuesday it was perfect. I did the loop in 52 minutes (~10 mph) with two wrong turns (these were because the beginning of the race course is different than the regular trail) and for some reason I could't make myself go all out. No worries, I should be able to improve on that time with the adrenaline flowing and other racers pushing me (maybe 11 mph/ 49 minutes).
On Saturday I head up to the trail to pre-ride the race course. I was really happy I did this too, because they had taken out a couple of technical sections and it would have really thrown me if I had to deal with this during the race. During my pre-ride the clouds move in and we get a light rain. Since the course is almost 100% wooded single track, I hardly feel any of the rain. Everything seems great.
That evening though, the skies open up and Memphis gets drenched. The next morning I’m thinking to myself that it is going to be an ugly day. The beginners don’t race until 1:30 on Sunday and I’m guessing the course will just be trashed. I get over to the course about 50 minutes before we start. I get registered and see there are 6 others in my class. Fortunately, it has been dry all day and I hear the course isn’t that bad. I do my warm-up and head to the START!
Since there were only 7 in my class, I get to line-up on the front row. We head out and I’m immediately in second place.
Wow, this is really cool, my best start of the 4 races I’ve done (previously fourth was my best start). Although, the course is very deceptive! The dirt seems fairly solid, but in places it is really slick. To top it off Stanky has A TON of roots, and they are extremely slippery!!! So, I’m being extra careful in the turns. This is only the second time I’ve ridden the course when it was wet (I try to stay off wet trails, but this may have hurt me for the race). Since I’m taking the turns slower than usual I figure I will start to hear people behind me coming to pass. BUT, what’s this? No sounds, and I notice I am right on the tire of the leader.
Now strategies start rolling through my mind, (1) Do I relax and wear down the leader? (2) Is he holding back and will he blow me away at the end? (2) Since I have more in me, do I pass and try to put as much distance between us as possible? Well a few minutes later he answers the question for me. He hits a big puddle and goes down. I quickly brace myself for the puddle a go by him. He gets up and does a good job of recovering, but is a ways back.
Now I come upon 2 racers from the 19-29 beginners. I politely ask if I can pass and they are very gracious and let me by. When I pass I think I inspired them to speed up, because they are now hanging on my tail. The course is still tricky but I think I’m getting the hang of the wet stuff. That is, until I come to a large log pile. I aggressively attack the pile and clear it fine, but on the other side my front tire slips as I try to make the immediate left turn.
One, two, three and I think four racers go by. “FUDGE!!!!!!” (PG version) I start to panic just a bit. “Did two 30-39 racers just pass me?” Now I’m in third. “Crap”, I start to take a few more chances and WHOOPS fall again on a root in a sharp turn. SHOOT!!!! Now I’ll never catch-up! :madman: Calm down and just ride. This is about having fun. Relax. I settle back down and I catch and pass the 19-29 beginners again. Okay some progress is being made. Now I see the racer that was initially in the lead. What’s this? He bites it when he tries to clear a bridge over a downed tree. I clear it fine and I’m off. WOW, if I can keep this up I could get second place. If I push myself maybe I could catch the leader and fight for first.
With 3 miles left I get a glimpse of a rider way ahead of me (opposite direction on a big hairpin turn). I realize I probably can’t catch him and decide to focus on riding and improving my own time. All of a sudden it starts to pour and the course gets REALLY slippery. Now, just focus on staying upright. I make to the finish in one piece.
The race felt good, but probably slow due to the conditions. I check my time and placing,
TIME: 55:47 min, 9.69 mph
PLACE: 1st What??:eekster:
In all the confusion of my fall I miscounted how many people went by. One, two, three, NO four!
It’s fun to have some success, but I realized I really just love riding.
Location: Memphis, TN
Class: Beginner 30-39
On the Tuesday before the race, I chose to ride the course as if I were racing to get an idea of what kind of time I should expect. It has been really dry here and the course was in superb shape. Stanky has the potential to retain water and be muddy in spots, but on Tuesday it was perfect. I did the loop in 52 minutes (~10 mph) with two wrong turns (these were because the beginning of the race course is different than the regular trail) and for some reason I could't make myself go all out. No worries, I should be able to improve on that time with the adrenaline flowing and other racers pushing me (maybe 11 mph/ 49 minutes).
On Saturday I head up to the trail to pre-ride the race course. I was really happy I did this too, because they had taken out a couple of technical sections and it would have really thrown me if I had to deal with this during the race. During my pre-ride the clouds move in and we get a light rain. Since the course is almost 100% wooded single track, I hardly feel any of the rain. Everything seems great.
That evening though, the skies open up and Memphis gets drenched. The next morning I’m thinking to myself that it is going to be an ugly day. The beginners don’t race until 1:30 on Sunday and I’m guessing the course will just be trashed. I get over to the course about 50 minutes before we start. I get registered and see there are 6 others in my class. Fortunately, it has been dry all day and I hear the course isn’t that bad. I do my warm-up and head to the START!
Since there were only 7 in my class, I get to line-up on the front row. We head out and I’m immediately in second place.
Wow, this is really cool, my best start of the 4 races I’ve done (previously fourth was my best start). Although, the course is very deceptive! The dirt seems fairly solid, but in places it is really slick. To top it off Stanky has A TON of roots, and they are extremely slippery!!! So, I’m being extra careful in the turns. This is only the second time I’ve ridden the course when it was wet (I try to stay off wet trails, but this may have hurt me for the race). Since I’m taking the turns slower than usual I figure I will start to hear people behind me coming to pass. BUT, what’s this? No sounds, and I notice I am right on the tire of the leader. Now strategies start rolling through my mind, (1) Do I relax and wear down the leader? (2) Is he holding back and will he blow me away at the end? (2) Since I have more in me, do I pass and try to put as much distance between us as possible? Well a few minutes later he answers the question for me. He hits a big puddle and goes down. I quickly brace myself for the puddle a go by him. He gets up and does a good job of recovering, but is a ways back.
Now I come upon 2 racers from the 19-29 beginners. I politely ask if I can pass and they are very gracious and let me by. When I pass I think I inspired them to speed up, because they are now hanging on my tail. The course is still tricky but I think I’m getting the hang of the wet stuff. That is, until I come to a large log pile. I aggressively attack the pile and clear it fine, but on the other side my front tire slips as I try to make the immediate left turn.
One, two, three and I think four racers go by. “FUDGE!!!!!!” (PG version) I start to panic just a bit. “Did two 30-39 racers just pass me?” Now I’m in third. “Crap”, I start to take a few more chances and WHOOPS fall again on a root in a sharp turn. SHOOT!!!! Now I’ll never catch-up! :madman: Calm down and just ride. This is about having fun. Relax. I settle back down and I catch and pass the 19-29 beginners again. Okay some progress is being made. Now I see the racer that was initially in the lead. What’s this? He bites it when he tries to clear a bridge over a downed tree. I clear it fine and I’m off. WOW, if I can keep this up I could get second place. If I push myself maybe I could catch the leader and fight for first.
With 3 miles left I get a glimpse of a rider way ahead of me (opposite direction on a big hairpin turn). I realize I probably can’t catch him and decide to focus on riding and improving my own time. All of a sudden it starts to pour and the course gets REALLY slippery. Now, just focus on staying upright. I make to the finish in one piece.
The race felt good, but probably slow due to the conditions. I check my time and placing,
TIME: 55:47 min, 9.69 mph
PLACE: 1st What??:eekster:
In all the confusion of my fall I miscounted how many people went by. One, two, three, NO four!
It’s fun to have some success, but I realized I really just love riding.
