Joined
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3,323 Posts
Am I an Expert? Apparently so, because they let me race that class.
My first MTB race ever was the Alien Run in 2004. I took first place
(out of 5 or so) in the sport category. I proceeded to race about 15
more times last year, and showed at the top of the sport category in
all the races. I'm not bragging, that's just how it went.
For 2005 , I decided there was no more fun to be had beating up other
sport riders, so I decided to give expert a shot. This race was my first
attempt. One thing is for sure - I didn't beat anybody else up.
The race staging area was at a different location this year. Last time,
we staged in bustling downtown Aztec NM. The mayor fired the starting
pistol, and we were escorted out of town by the local constabulary (in
a good way). The race then proceeded up 10 miles of oil-field access
road to the 10 mile singletrack, then back.
This year we started out at the go-cart track about 5 miles out of town.
The trail was changed to accomodate some newly created singletrack that
covered the first 7 or 8 miles up to the main course.
The race started out with me towards the back of the expert pack. This
is about where I expected to be. Someone from sport had gotten in the
middle of the pack, and I was right behind him. His pace seemed leisurely,
and the cat calls from the few experts still behind me had no effect
on him at all. After 15 minutes of watching the main body pull away,
we hit a wide section, and the guy was shoved off to the side so the
last 5 or so experts could pass. I felt one guy try and get past me on
a sharp uphill. He hit my back tire and went OTB into the bushes. I didn't
even know he was that close until he rammed me. I stayed where I was,
and gradually pulled the rest of us up to the trailing end of the pack.
And I was spent. 30 minutes into the race, and my legs were killing
me. The new section of course was extremely loose, tight through the
trees, and sandy. I was passed on the first hike-a-bike climb. I stayed
on his tail for about 5 minutes. Then I dropped back a little, and was
passed again. About 10 minutes later, I still had them in sight. We hit
the couple miles of oil-road, and I switched up to the big-ring. It's
a fast ride to the main trail. I could still see the last 5 or so of
the expert pack entering the main trail. Then I never saw them again.
The main singletrack is in better shape the the new section at the beginning.
It has been there for years, and is well packed and well marked. It's
10 miles long. It starts out through the trees, transitions to a slickrock-type
setting, then comes back down through the trees with lots of sharp tight
turns.
I was having shifter problems when I tuned my bike the night before.
I thought it was fixed, but apparently not. There was one gear that would
skip all over the place. Wouldn't you know it - it was the gear that
would have been the best for the conditions. One more was too much, and
one less was too little. Of course that's the way it feels. I found myself
forcing it into gear by holding down my trigger shifter to keep it where
it was supposed to be for about half of that section. 2/3 of the way
around the singletrack, I catch up to The Yellow-Jersey Guy. I don't
know his name, but he was at a bunch of the races last year. Always in
that same yellow jersey. I always pass him about 1/2 way through every
race. I caught up to hum and said - "So you upgraded to Expert too?".
I was glad he was there. It kept me from DFL.
After that we were on the shorter loop that the sports were doing. I
had to pass about 10 of them, and it was never on the flats - always
in the trees. By the time I got across the flats to the original singletrack
section, I was beat. That section is hard enough - and with exhaustion
setting in and slowing down your reaction time, I found myself jerking
off trail and spinning out in the sand a lot more than on the way out.
Passed a few more sport riders, then eventually rolled over the finish
line.
That was the weirdest part. Last year I would finish top of the sports,
and wait for all the experts to finish. This year they were all sitting
around relaxing, and I was one of the last 10 people off the course.
We had some crappy nachos (tasted good, but NOT the thing to eat after
a race) and compared winter activity stories until the promoters started
packing everything up around us. I think it's amazing how many people
I don't see unless they are on their bikes. It's like they've all been
hiding for the winter... Or I have.
One guy - Mike from Abq went out as beginner, and decided the short
course was too short. I had talked up the longer sport course as being
more fun, so he decided to go ahead and ride that as well. He was glad
he did. I was glad he did too. Nothign like beating youself to death
for your own personal amusement.
So - all in all. My time:
25.3 miles in 2:11
Max speed 32mph
The winning time was 1:45
My first MTB race ever was the Alien Run in 2004. I took first place
(out of 5 or so) in the sport category. I proceeded to race about 15
more times last year, and showed at the top of the sport category in
all the races. I'm not bragging, that's just how it went.
For 2005 , I decided there was no more fun to be had beating up other
sport riders, so I decided to give expert a shot. This race was my first
attempt. One thing is for sure - I didn't beat anybody else up.
The race staging area was at a different location this year. Last time,
we staged in bustling downtown Aztec NM. The mayor fired the starting
pistol, and we were escorted out of town by the local constabulary (in
a good way). The race then proceeded up 10 miles of oil-field access
road to the 10 mile singletrack, then back.
This year we started out at the go-cart track about 5 miles out of town.
The trail was changed to accomodate some newly created singletrack that
covered the first 7 or 8 miles up to the main course.
The race started out with me towards the back of the expert pack. This
is about where I expected to be. Someone from sport had gotten in the
middle of the pack, and I was right behind him. His pace seemed leisurely,
and the cat calls from the few experts still behind me had no effect
on him at all. After 15 minutes of watching the main body pull away,
we hit a wide section, and the guy was shoved off to the side so the
last 5 or so experts could pass. I felt one guy try and get past me on
a sharp uphill. He hit my back tire and went OTB into the bushes. I didn't
even know he was that close until he rammed me. I stayed where I was,
and gradually pulled the rest of us up to the trailing end of the pack.
And I was spent. 30 minutes into the race, and my legs were killing
me. The new section of course was extremely loose, tight through the
trees, and sandy. I was passed on the first hike-a-bike climb. I stayed
on his tail for about 5 minutes. Then I dropped back a little, and was
passed again. About 10 minutes later, I still had them in sight. We hit
the couple miles of oil-road, and I switched up to the big-ring. It's
a fast ride to the main trail. I could still see the last 5 or so of
the expert pack entering the main trail. Then I never saw them again.
The main singletrack is in better shape the the new section at the beginning.
It has been there for years, and is well packed and well marked. It's
10 miles long. It starts out through the trees, transitions to a slickrock-type
setting, then comes back down through the trees with lots of sharp tight
turns.
I was having shifter problems when I tuned my bike the night before.
I thought it was fixed, but apparently not. There was one gear that would
skip all over the place. Wouldn't you know it - it was the gear that
would have been the best for the conditions. One more was too much, and
one less was too little. Of course that's the way it feels. I found myself
forcing it into gear by holding down my trigger shifter to keep it where
it was supposed to be for about half of that section. 2/3 of the way
around the singletrack, I catch up to The Yellow-Jersey Guy. I don't
know his name, but he was at a bunch of the races last year. Always in
that same yellow jersey. I always pass him about 1/2 way through every
race. I caught up to hum and said - "So you upgraded to Expert too?".
I was glad he was there. It kept me from DFL.
After that we were on the shorter loop that the sports were doing. I
had to pass about 10 of them, and it was never on the flats - always
in the trees. By the time I got across the flats to the original singletrack
section, I was beat. That section is hard enough - and with exhaustion
setting in and slowing down your reaction time, I found myself jerking
off trail and spinning out in the sand a lot more than on the way out.
Passed a few more sport riders, then eventually rolled over the finish
line.
That was the weirdest part. Last year I would finish top of the sports,
and wait for all the experts to finish. This year they were all sitting
around relaxing, and I was one of the last 10 people off the course.
We had some crappy nachos (tasted good, but NOT the thing to eat after
a race) and compared winter activity stories until the promoters started
packing everything up around us. I think it's amazing how many people
I don't see unless they are on their bikes. It's like they've all been
hiding for the winter... Or I have.
One guy - Mike from Abq went out as beginner, and decided the short
course was too short. I had talked up the longer sport course as being
more fun, so he decided to go ahead and ride that as well. He was glad
he did. I was glad he did too. Nothign like beating youself to death
for your own personal amusement.
So - all in all. My time:
25.3 miles in 2:11
Max speed 32mph
The winning time was 1:45
