Photo Courtesy of Steve Wingo.What I have noticed over the years is that you have many Great and Successful racers that started in XC, and the opposite is not exactly true. Not many people jump straight into Enduro's but I am sure there are some out there.
Saturday night I wasn't even sure if I was going to go and race the "short" race. As plans would have it, things, financially didn't work out as planned and I simply didn't have the money to take the whole family out there. Luckily our Team Bikeworks Orlando Captain, offered space in his vehicle to ride up to the race. After careful discussion with my wife, I decided to go for it.
I was drinking water like a fish, I remembered my last experience at the 8 hour and I didn't want it to happen again. So I made sure, before I hit the line I was pissing clear. My plan was to race the Single Speed class which is extremely competitive. Lot's of the people who race that class are expert level riders and above. So I knew I had some competition going in, but I was not worried about it. My goal for the day was to ride smooth, steady and safe. And I went out there and did that. The start was the usual mayhem as people are jockeying for position. I watched as Jamie Knight launched a brutal attack of the front. I am a great XC starter and I can go out fast and stay fast, but at the head of the bunch where I was at, we were all watching Jamie dance on his pedals and ride away.
Quickly after the race start the course zigs and zagged into the single track and it had the entire group sliding sideways to negotiate the entrance. I settled into my pace and watched many people pass me by. I stayed on my plan and rode smooth and steady. Before long, I single speeded many people. I was surprising my self cause my last yellow wave experience had me being passed, this time around I was catching people and passing people dealing out my own justice. Most of the ground I was gaining was on climbs as people were spinning a small ring and cog combo I was mashing the 32 X 17.
I caught up to a guy, but then he managed to get me back, and I almost covered the ground to my other team mate but he managed to shake me.
In the end, coming towards the finish line I was in full sprint mode, mainly cause I am so used to riding miles and miles I was excited that after 16 miles my race was almost done. I had the most consisten lap times ever, finishing the laps with about 29 minutes for lap one, 30 minutes for lap 2 and 30 minutes for lap 3. I usually would drop two minutes maybe even more in the past between laps so I was very proud of my efforts. Once again though, my physiological abilities are exceeding my legs ability as I rode as harder then my legs could power out. This of course means more and more miles.
Overall, it was an exciting race, it was good times and it was fun. When I was done, I was skipping around like nothing, really 20 miles in is just the warm up not the end of the race.
Mr. Goodbike was offering a free longboard in a last man standing contest. Basically, you ride around in a designated area knocking or shoving or taking out the other opponents, no dabs allowed. I really wanted that skateboard, I was claiming it before the contest started. Within thirty seconds of game on, I had already taken out three riders, one rider, which I feel awful about, after I stiff armed him, fell straight over didn't even have time to clip out. Another two I just shoved into each other, then after one person failed to take me out, I barely rode out the designated area and was DQ'd. I really thought it was crap but O well I really wanted that board.
Great times, looking forward to the next one. Will post pics as I find them. Also, check back as the Birthday pictures for my Son Kailan will be going up soon. My little boy got a year older and a year wiser.
that is all,
Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS
4 comments:
If you going to keep doing the FSC, I am not sure miles and miles are going to help you much more. Maybe a bit more sprints, climbing, accelarations, etc...? Good luck!
I never done an XC race so I guess count me on the jump into enduro cold... still learning.
Im doing the XC to work on my top end, I will keep doing miles and miles for my long end... Regardless, I need more time on the bike, period, only way my legs are going to get stronger.... Ya, I was specifically talking about you when I said most people just dont jump into enduro...LMAO!!1
There's some cherrypickin' going on in that ss class.
Im only doing three more stops in the series, hoping to crack the top ten. Fernadina, Tally and Felasco.
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