In true schlub fashion, I've been slacking off on race reports. But really, how many different ways can I write "I was off the back the entire race, but still had fun"?
Since going OTB while going OTB, there have been five races.
Marty CX - 11th of 14, lead lap
HPCX 1 - 21st of 23, -1 lap
HPCX 2 - 17th of 18, -1 lap
SCCX - 5th of 6, lead lap
Bubblecross - 7th of 10, lead lap
Highlights
Marty CX - bloody lip from double handup from the Hb tent. Beer in one hand, while Eric Paulsen smashed my face with a handful of cheesy poofs. I also handed up a lot of Munchkins to the earlier racers.
Lap times were ok
8:01, 8:15, 8:07, 8:37, 8:29
HPCX 1 - Tried to take a beer from
@StayHydrated , but smashed the cup with beer everywhere. I was licking it off my arm as I went up the climb towards the steps.
Lap times were bad, and they felt worse
9:13, 9:21, 9:42, 9:57, 10:15. Fart noise.
HPCX 2 - Sandy muddy monsoon. AWSEOME weather. 3-4 smallish crashes. No biggie. This race hurt. A lot.
Lap times
10:14, 10:13, 10:45, 11:34, 12:08
Post race maintenance included new BB, headset, front wheel truing, and straightening the rear der hanger.
SCCX - Smallest field of the year. Front row for everyone!!!!! I almost took the hole shot, and realizing the error of my ways, was releived when Chris "It's my first year and I will crush everyone" from Jalapeno took the lead as we made the turn onto the grass. Soon after, almost everyone else passed me too. Chris LaBudde and I danced for a lap or two, before he finally realized there was a race going on and left me for dead with about two to go.
Consistent lap times (it's a relative term)
7:35, 7:39, 7:48, 7:55, 7:59, 8:00
Bubblecross - I heart this course. This and Caffeinated are my favorite two courses in the NJ series. It was cold AF for the first few races. Luckily, by 12:something it was about 35 degrees. First time cold enough for the fleece lined skinsuit!!!! (Not good for use in 70 degree weather in September
@seanrunnette ) A little embro kept the legs nice and toasty warm too. In anticipation of the cold weather, I brought the trainer with me and had the MTBNJ.com tent set up with three sidewalls on. So much warmer with the walls to block the wind. I got only two pre ride laps in earlier in the day, and attempted to hop the 12" barriers and failed miserably. Thankfully, neither the bike or my body suffered any injuries, however, Barrier 1 - Ego 0 on the day. 25 minutes easy spin on the trainer then over to staging 5-10 minutes prior to start.
There were 10 of us in the starting grid, and I was in the front row. Quick whistle, and we're off. We head up the pavement towards the gazebo and start making our way up the grass field. I was in a good spot, mid pack as we made our way across the top of the field, and then 2-3 turns after that, Rich (the Hof part of Von Hof Bikes) hits the deck and two guys go down behind him. I had to dismount for a few steps, and it allowed the guys ahead to get a little (more) gap. There were a few of us in a small group as we came thru the finish area before the double up/down section below the ball field. I bobbled the second "up" and had to run it. Chris LaBudde was either right behind or right in front, until he flatted. The rest of the first two laps were clean, and about lap 3 or so Rich was closing in. He was back there for a while. He's catch up on the climbs and barriers, and drop back thru the woods and the sand. After two laps of this, he was right behind me coming out of the chicaines after the barriers. I tried to put in a dig before the downhill off the ball field, and it held thru the exit from the sand, but by the time we went thru the swing set area and back onto the starting straight, I was gassed, he wasn't. He passed me as we passed the pit area, and I grabbed his wheel for a hundred yards or so, but by the time we were halfway up the grass field he had a gap. I kept him in sight as best I could for the next lap, but I couldn't maintain.
Going into the final lap, I could see the leader, Chris entering the climb up the grass field as I was coming down and about to pass the pit. There was nobody between us, so I knew as I crossed the finish line to start my final lap that I would be the last one out there. I rode the first half of that last lap at my "race pace" just to ensure that the 1/2/3's that would be entering the course for pre ride after Chris finished didn't catch me. Second half of the last lap I kinda mailed it in and sat up a bit.
Lap times
2:34 prologue, 7:38, 7:42, 7:59, 7:48, 7:58, 8:30
I need to bring the trainer to every race and use it. I could feel the difference of not struggling the first lap or two to get my legs moving. The results may not show it, but I could feel the difference.
Screen shot of pics from Don Madson
One weekend, two race left. Supercross Cup Weekend. Masters 40+ both days, 10:45am.
Then I'm done.