switchback attack!

So, I've only ever done two mountain bike races, and a handful of xterras over the last two years that I’ve been mountain biking. Since Randi and Angela both upgraded to expert this year,I figure I should race the big girls also! My upgrade was approved a few weeks ago. We decided to venture down to one of the Kentucky Points Series races, at Younger's Creek. We pre-rode the 14 mile loop Saturday afternoon. And I was a bit worried for the 2 laps due the experts on Sunday. There are switchbacks, steep, and very loose, the likes of which I have never ridden before. A long set for 500 feet elevation up at the start, lots of fun stuff on top, more difficult switchbacks in the middle, down and back up, more fun stuff, including the drop, what looked to me like straight down for 30 feet, off a completely horizontal lip. More hard stuff, and more awful switchbacks down. I seriously thought about dropping after one lap, but I thought if I could just pedal one more stroke, each pedal moved me past the half way point and toward the finish. The second lap was hard. I felt slow, and tired, and sloppy. But I managed a big smile going down the drop, as it was like an amusement park ride. I finished third. Out of only four women racing expert. Ok, so I felt a little out of my league, but I'm happy that I did the race, and finished, and had a few smiles along the way. I think there were only 9 women total at all levels of the race, its a challenging course. Every ride is a new learning experience for me, and I try to look at it that way. Did I have fun? What did I learn? What can I improve? And this one was probably the hardest course I've ever ridden. And had things I don't get to ever practice, so maybe I'll get myself back down there some weekend just for some switchback practice.

Knobscorcher-Tsali---A Climber's Paradise

Before our dismal dismissal of the Chickasaw Classic in Tennessee, Meredith Link coaxed me in to going to the Knobscorcher race at Tsali Recreational Area in North Carolina (April 6th). She praised the trail system and Randi also exclaimed how fun the trails are.

So, I talked Jason in to driving me across the states to Bryson City, N.C. Getting there was tricky in that it rained during the entire drive, and we made an extra pit stop after watching a car hydroplane and flip upside down. Matt, being a firefighter and first responder, and Meredith, being a nurse, sprung in to action along I-75 to administer health care to the occupants. Fortunately, the 5-year old girl and 2 adult women were unscathed in the accident. That is, we think their teeth were missing before the crash.

After 3+ days of pouring rain, we lined up for the AMBC/SERC #2 race. This 30-mile hell was my first Expert showing as well as my first national event. Lining up on the start line with the pro women was certainly a proud moment. I gushed at two of the girls who were riding my dream bike, which this week is a Gary Fisher Superfly 29er.

I managed a decent start but quickly lost my position within the 17 riders of pro & expert women as we started the ascent of the first hill. It was a fire road and my quads were burning already. I was last into the single track and trying to get my HR down—I’m always nervous like that at the start. After a few minutes, I found my rhythm and started concentrating on my mantras: boobs to the tube, breathe, flow, push on my outside leg in the corners, etc. This was fun!

The trails were drying nicely and despite the hilly start, I was living it up. With 4-5 miles to go in the first lap (15-mile laps), I saw her—the yellow jersey. It took me a while to catch her, but I finally went around. As I climbed the last hill of the lap she was still right behind me. Jason was there to give me a water bottle which I greatly appreciated. I had already consumed over half of my water.

On lap 2, yellow jersey girl passed me—she was a much better climber. Did I mention there was about 2500 feet of climbing in that 30 miles? Ouch! No worries—I knew I would get her when it flattened out. About halfway through the second lap I managed to pick off 3 more. Where was yellow jersey girl? And then I ran out of water. I had been rationing a bit up to that point and still had a little Heed in the water bottle. Eating without drinking is kind of nasty, but I knew I had to.

With about 3 miles to go of the race, I started looking for the Finish Line. It had to be around the next corner or over the next hill. Ugh. It must have been mile 28.5 when I finally cracked. I was still going a decent speed, but I just wasn’t pushing like I was up to that point. I never did catch yellow jersey girl.

My final place was 13th. Results are posted here. Total race time was 3 hours 6 minutes—my longest distance and time of pushing myself. My own victory indeed.

Our First Beautiful Weekend of Spring!

Randi and I were the lone longer option riders Saturday. Most people getting ready for the Little 500, and others at road races in Indy, and Angela was in North Carolina for the Knobscorcher mtb race (hopefully she’ll post about the race). We chose a route to Nashville and beyond (60 miles total). Into Nashville from the west, the hill on Helmsburg Rd caught us off guard. It hurt quite a bit! Not to be outdone, the ride was planned to go north up Bear Wallow Rd, which I believe passes one of the highest points in the state. It’s a long long climb, with some steep sections. I suffered silently most of the way, a few out loud expletives. Randi just kept riding. She says she was not feeling great, but she put the hurts to me. When we turned east to head over to Clay Lick Rd (a road never before ridden by either of us), we were thinking relatively flat, then a nice long downhill to the valley. But we were wrong, after some gently rolling, mostly uphill rollers, we hit Clay Lick. And yes, we did go downhill, but after a couple miles, we rounded a bend and before us loomed a Boltinghouse looking hill and I think we both started praying. It was a quiet climb, except for our heavy breathing. The top was so steep, when I stood up, my wheel spun a little, my quads screamed, and then begged for no more after we crested the top. Then finally the nice long downhill we waited for, where we had to put some mtb skiils to work, bouncing over the badly potholed section of the road. Up that annoying hill back into Nashville, then the annoying big hill out of Nashville. Then some (relatively) flat road. We were both thankful for some easy riding, which is funny, because we are both more suited to the hills, than the flats. South Shore hill (and Randi) has never kicked my butt more than it did Saturday. I got home and was pretty useless for the rest of the day. I did clean my bike though!

Sunday was supposed to be another road ride, but the HMBA site reported BCSP was ridable, so I headed out there. My legs were trashed from Saturday’s ride, but it was so great to be out on my new mtb on the dirt so I didn’t care. I didn’t wipe out, my skills were not terrible for my first trail ride in months, and I finished with a smile, sore quads, and a little mud from the few small mud patches. Even after the heavy rain we’ve had for a month, the trail was 99%+ dry, so what a treat! Rain is forecasted for Tues-Sun! ugh.

And today is another beautiful day. Sun and 70’s – our nicest day yet in 2008, and we are back to work this Monday.