Short Track Recap

UtahJoe said:
Usually my first race of the year I start out slow and gradually start feeling better....Today my start was beyond bad...I mean when @Mountain Bike Mike is behind me yelling "LETS GO UTAH" I knew something was really off. After a lap or so, it was like someone finally turned the choke lever to off and I started feeling like my old self again. .
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..... and just like that... you went around @muddybike .... and rode away.... never to be seen again.
 
This upload probably won't be done until Late tonight/morning. The first races of the day being the last to upload. There should be multiple shots of everyone who raced today.

Here's a link to racer photos (upload still in progress):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/diyfzs8nth0nr1w/AAAh-9oWqkTSWOc_lKQ6KRx4a?dl=0

These are free.
Photo Credit: Eric Capers
Instagram handle: @capedoc1

It was great to see some young blood on the scene!
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Thanks to the whole mtbnj crew that made this race happen. The course was so much fun and there is always a great vibe at your races.

We arrived, got numbers and hit the course for a bit more than a lap with the boy. As the pre ride went on the boy looked more and more comfortable. We spent a lot of time this winter on the tiger woods trail of Allaire just so he would have a bit more skill and comfort once we started racing up north from home, and it looked like the plan might have paid off. He went off with the 9:00 races and every time I saw him he looked great and having fun. Mission accomplished. I missed him finishing up but he was 4th in the 13 and under. Which was a really great result for him. I was so stoked for him.

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I lined up second or third row and got an ok start. As a rookie to the cat 1/2 field, expert in this case, I don’t really push my way into the front in a start cause I know I won’t finish there. So I stayed back a bit. A minute or so into the single track and a couple guys in front of me go down and I stop in time, but a few people get around me before I can remount. I chase best I can and the group is off ahead and I’m not going to make the catch. I settle into a hard pace and in a few places I push a bit too hard and ride a bit above my ability. I see seconds slip away. I settle back down and things go smoother. I am slowly making the catch but get caught in some traffic and lose a few more seconds. Make it back and lose it again in traffic. @Mitch tells me 2 to go and I look at the clock and I think he is crazy but they sent me back out for a last lap when I thought there was no chance. The last lap I tried to push hard but the course was getting pretty slick and it was tough to take some of the risks I was taking on the first laps so I pushed hard on the fire roads and climbs. Finished up 15th. It’s about where I belong and I was happy to make the lead lap.

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capedoc said:
This upload probably won't be done until Late tonight/morning. The first races of the day being the last to upload. There should be multiple shots of everyone who raced today.

Here's a link to racer photos (upload still in progress):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/diyfzs8nth0nr1w/AAAh-9oWqkTSWOc_lKQ6KRx4a?dl=0

These are free.
Photo Credit: Eric Capers
Instagram handle: @capedoc1

It was great to see some young blood on the scene!
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awesome pics! thanks for shooting in the crap weather!
 
choop said:
Thanks to the whole mtbnj crew that made this race happen. The course was so much fun and there is always a great vibe at your races.

We arrived, got numbers and hit the course for a bit more than a lap with the boy. As the pre ride went on the boy looked more and more comfortable. We spent a lot of time this winter on the tiger woods trail of Allaire just so he would have a bit more skill and comfort once we started racing up north from home, and it looked like the plan might have paid off. He went off with the 9:00 races and every time I saw him he looked great and having fun. Mission accomplished. I missed him finishing up but he was 4th in the 13 and under. Which was a really great result for him. I was so stoked for him.

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I lined up second or third row and got an ok start. As a rookie to the cat 1/2 field, expert in this case, I don’t really push my way into the front in a start cause I know I won’t finish there. So I stayed back a bit. A minute or so into the single track and a couple guys in front of me go down and I stop in time, but a few people get around me before I can remount. I chase best I can and the group is off ahead and I’m not going to make the catch. I settle into a hard pace and in a few places I push a bit too hard and ride a bit above my ability. I see seconds slip away. I settle back down and things go smoother. I am slowly making the catch but get caught in some traffic and lose a few more seconds. Make it back and lose it again in traffic. @Mitch tells me 2 to go and I look at the clock and I think he is crazy but they sent me back out for a last lap when I thought there was no chance. The last lap I tried to push hard but the course was getting pretty slick and it was tough to take some of the risks I was taking on the first laps so I pushed hard on the fire roads and climbs. Finished up 15th. It’s about where I belong and I was happy to make the lead lap.

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Go Ian
Wish we could of made it to this one.
 
Awesome day out there! It was great to see a large crowd with a lot of energy all day even through the race and always nice to catch up with fellow racers. Thanks MTBNJ crew!!!

My short race recap - didn't feel like throwing on a suspension fork so I just rode my SS setup I was using in November which normally would be undergeared for a race but the muddy conditions proved to be the right choice. The start was insanely fast and I quickly was spit out the back to get clogged up in the conga line up the switchbacks where I just fell in and slowly churned my way up them. Once we started getting spread out I gradually picked off a rider here and there each lap to move up to finish 13th of 27 in sport - a pleasant surprise. Even as the course got muddier each lap, it was a blast with just the right amount of climbing and rocks and fast, slippery downhills. I overslept by an hour this morning and wasn't sure I'd be feeling in the mood to race once I finally got moving, but I'm glad I did as today was the perfect amount of stoke to get the season going for me.
 
Thanks to the MTBNJ.com crew for putting on another fun and well-run event.

Been looking forward to this since the wrap of HOH. The legs are feeling good, although the weight has slowly crept upwards all winter long.
10 of the 20 registered fatbikers lined up - that's ok, less traffic, since i tend to race from the back! Like it is a choice.

With all the pre-race banter and mule services, i arrived early to say hello, exchange parts/things, and watch the kids. Great to see them riding smoothly,
with determination. Nothing easy about this course for the pre-teen, or new racer.

Had to wear the OOS jersey on arrival, to show support, and strength in numbers. Met up with some of the guys before things got going,
and gave them the lay of the land. You all looked a bit nervous! Nice job getting out there and mixing it up, and to the guys that didn't ride
but still came out in support - that is solid.

As the kids finished up, we were called to the line. I had warned everyone that the possibility of swimming meant I had to wear my tri onesie,
and that is what i did. It was 55F and light rain - it wasn't cold while racing - yet a bunch of people were rocking multiple layers.....ok, i could have
used a rain cover before/after, but way to sexy to cover this. 😀 i felt my butt burning, perhaps @Mitch was staring?

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Back to the race, as the horn sounds, I figured a good strategy would be to stick with DG. He has years of racing experience,
so I could watch his lines, and where he puts in power vs spinning. Plus I haven't ridden with him in a couple years,
so why not.

Coming around to the start-finish on the first lap....

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Photo courtesy of KGZ

I'm feeling very relaxed, and rode the lap cleanly, after a few bobbles on the pre-ride. On the third lap, I decided to push
a bit, and passed DG from the road into the single track, figuring he would follow - which would keep me motivated. Didn't really
look back, just wanted to keep riding cleanly - Hit the rock ramp carrying a decent amount of speed each time,
with the same good result.

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The section up top after that rock is fun, and i hit it hard, taking the B line at the split. Didn't like that tree at the end
of the rocks in the A line. At the top of the switchbacks, I looked back to see DG just starting up. I concentrated on clean and smooth,
figuring he'd make his way back to me at some point.

I managed to stay on the bike the whole race, with a quick pause to let one of the crazies go by on my last lap. I ended up
without anyone to race, except holding-off the front the the experts as long as possible when they approached. Kindofa
losing battle, but whatever ya can grab. Tried to give them an idea where they were as they flew by.

Finished 5 of 10, 2.5 minutes behind 4th, a little over 3:00 from 3rd - Since the goal was to not get lapped, or ridden-off into the lake, I'd say mission accomplished.

Thank you to @capedoc for braving the elements, and getting the pics.
See ya all soon, for another mid-pack performance!
 
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