Darkhorse 40 2011
- Thread starter maddawg
- Start date
Adirondack Blues
New Member
Finished 13th in SS after another day of leap-frogging back and forth with Mark Waters. Heat was brutal. Course seemed tougher than last year. So was my 33x17 gear choice- should have gone down a tooth or maybe two. Fun race, though some days you ride the trail, other days it rides you. Could have been the heat or something else, but today it rode me. Days like today make me question my choice to run SS and a rigid fork.
I enjoyed the race. I had some personal issues (Cramping) and most of the riders where curtious. I did notice a few that where being real aholes. On the first singletrack climb there was about 40 gus all bunched up and 2 or 3 guys are yelling rider up . Get off the course if your walking and just being dicks. come on what did you want everyone to do. Theres 40 guys all jockying for posotion and your acting like an dick. Later on in the race I was behind a guy who I needed to pass. I waited a few minutes till the trail was almost 5 feet wide yelled on your left. As i went by out of nowhere hes putting his shoulder into me and I go down hard. He half appoligizes and says something about passing on the rocks. Dude, its mountain biking, there are rocks everywhere. I brushed it off and just continued on. I really hope it wasnt intentional but wholeheartedly believe it was. .Oh well thats my rant and I feel better now.
Me too!
What an effing fun day! Suffered a bit near the end. Pulled out 21st of 100 finishing with a time of 3:49 in the sport class. My start was lousy though, I wasn't paying attention during the staging and ended up starting at the very back. Got caught up in the cluster-eff when dudeman went down 10 feet in to the race. Literally watched the leaders just ride awayyyy.....
Well Done, Darkhorse!
pedals
Well-Known Member
I raced as a team and I couldn't see myself out there doing 40. My hat's off to all who did. I'm always glad to have a good run. No mechanicals or crashes. I had fun riding w/ one masters guy who was a cross racer. I lost him on a techy decent and hope he's ok.😱
My MTBNJ teamies had great showing.Cool to be part of such a great team. 😀
Thanks Maddawg for being your awesome self in spite of the heat.🙂
My MTBNJ teamies had great showing.Cool to be part of such a great team. 😀
Thanks Maddawg for being your awesome self in spite of the heat.🙂
TimWarchol
Scum Sucker
it was a great course, i agree with it being harder than last year. It was so hot! Right from the gate from me i had some troubles with my big ring having it ghost shift after i spent all day yesterday trying to fix it without buying a new chainring. About halfway through the first set of single track i got off the saddle and let my polish instincts find a rock and hit the chainring and it actually worked. So everything is fine up until the point of that first big fire road climb. I figured id make up some time and push the climb and pass a good amount of people. too me it was the best climbing i have done in a while! once i reached the top of the climb i looked for the nipple of my camelback and realized i ran out of water. but i though i had enough heed to get me through the lap and meet my dad at start finish where he had water and treats for me. so my polish side made me blow through the feed stations and continue... bad choice... i met up with a guy by the powerlines that really seemed to know the trail all to well and called out every bit of it. he really helped out with flow and kicked my pace up calling out all the upcoming stuff. thanks man! he stopped at the last feed station and i flew through. after peddling for about 15 miles im really getting hit by the heat and the heed is raising my heart rate so at this point i was just saying push the last bit and get water. I got a second wind on the fire road before the beer stop and really was pushing it up the the 18 mile point where i crossed the road and hit a wall. i figured by now i just gotta make it to my dad and refill and sit for a few minutes.. i meet a guy wearing a hammer kit and asked for water and jokingly he said take a sip from my nipple... so i did, and even though it was heed, it got my mouth wet.. no pun intended 😀... finally i make it to start finish in 2hours and see my dad. he said i looked like i got hit by a train as i filled my camelback and bottles with just water. I grab a banana and continue up the hill. i reach the single track and as soon as i finish it, i hit the wall. completely done, my engine has seized. my legs were twitching and i was crapping, if i could have, i would have layed there and just cried. I had tunnel vision, cotton mouth, the works. i was pissed but i knew if i would have continued i really would have done some damage. So i take the fire road back to start finish and report as a DNF and just tell my dad to pack up the car. I took an icepack from our cooler and put it on my head and the rest i forgot.. i literally blacked out in the car. luckily, the doctor my father is, just drives home and threw me in a freezing bath and loaded me up with gatorade and water.... lets just say i wont be polish anymore 🙁. so overall i did 31 miles in about 2 hours 40 min.
Pampa
Well-Known Member
Good job Mike. I'm sure he's very grateful. You are really a good samaritan. If you remember, I crashed 2 weeks ago pre-riding with you and you help me get back on my feet and fixed my bike. Thanks again!
Come down to Allamuchy for the Mooch Madness race in a few weeks. It's a 4 hr race that promises to be a blast.
Pampa
Well-Known Member
I had heard a lot of good things about this race and they are all true. It was a fun day all around. I liked the course, the organization, the food, the people... everything. I'm spent but happy.
Woody, thank you so much for the jumpstart! If my legs come back by Wed. I'll go to the CR Happy Hour this week so I can give back the starter.
Woody, thank you so much for the jumpstart! If my legs come back by Wed. I'll go to the CR Happy Hour this week so I can give back the starter.
Nice job Mike and thanks for helping out the injured rider. I know we all get pre-occupied w racing, but when you think about, we all would do the same, and some day it may be you on the ground. Pay it forward ....
Sounds like a another great race up there. 🙂
Sounds like a another great race up there. 🙂
MtnRider
Active Member
The Good, The Bad & The Heat
I finished my 2nd DH40 🙂 and manged to knock over 10 minutes off last year's time.
First lap was going well until I somehow turned my wheel on a downhill, hit a berm and flipped hard into the dirt around mile 13. Got up a bit dazed, fixed my chain and went back at it. The funny part was how many riders commented "guess you had a bad fall" - my jersey and shorts must of been covered in the dirt that I didn't take the time to rub off.
Finished the first lap feeling pretty good but then the heat hit me and I felt like my head was going to explode. I only had slight twinges and didn't cramp but just didn't feel like I had much energy to do more than survive as a zombie. Still trying to figure out nutrition on these endurance races but that's a subject for elsewhere on the forum...
Around mile 14/15 another rider caught up to me and saw me in my struggle and was kind enough to remind me that I was accomplishing more than all those people just sitting on their couches and watching TV and to finish strong - not sure if he jumps on this board but it was definetley appreciated and kept me focused pushing through the last bit
I finished my 2nd DH40 🙂 and manged to knock over 10 minutes off last year's time.
First lap was going well until I somehow turned my wheel on a downhill, hit a berm and flipped hard into the dirt around mile 13. Got up a bit dazed, fixed my chain and went back at it. The funny part was how many riders commented "guess you had a bad fall" - my jersey and shorts must of been covered in the dirt that I didn't take the time to rub off.
Finished the first lap feeling pretty good but then the heat hit me and I felt like my head was going to explode. I only had slight twinges and didn't cramp but just didn't feel like I had much energy to do more than survive as a zombie. Still trying to figure out nutrition on these endurance races but that's a subject for elsewhere on the forum...
Around mile 14/15 another rider caught up to me and saw me in my struggle and was kind enough to remind me that I was accomplishing more than all those people just sitting on their couches and watching TV and to finish strong - not sure if he jumps on this board but it was definetley appreciated and kept me focused pushing through the last bit
Jim, I would think you would like going blind and having blood spill out of your ears. Isn't that what happens when you listen to your death metal?😀
wonderturtle
Well-Known Member
for some reason this race has my number. I am now only 1 for 3. and in the only race I did finish (last year) my thighs completely seized up with about 8 miles to go and I walked most of the last 5 miles in agony.
this year I felt good. was rolling pretty good for the first 15 miles or so and then my legs started to feel really heavy. by the time I made it back to the start I knew there was simply no way i was going the full 40.
I actually never cramped before I stopped at 20 but I could feel both thighs starting to twitch and my right calf. even my right forearm started to twitch. I have fought off cramping for many, many miles in other races but I could tell that major cramping was coming and there was no way to avoid it. I guess that's what comes with experience with these enduro races...."you gotta know when to fold 'em". i would have been in a world of hurt if I kept going (eg, after 2009 my calves werent right for 2 weeks).
frankly I think this race is just too much for me on a rigid singlespeed. dont think I need gears since I made all the hills (except a few that were too vertical) but I think a suspension fork would make a world of difference on that course. in the long run you just take a friggin' beating w/o suspension and it really saps your strength.
for me, I am convinced, its not the hills. that place is no more hilly than Hartshorne and Huber and I do 25-30 mile rides in there regularly w/o a hint of cramping. and it's not the distance...I've gone much farther w/o cramping.
but Stewart? every-f#$king time. every-f#$king time. it's the rocks that kick my ass over the long haul.
and it's frustrating as hell cause that course was fun as hell!
this year I felt good. was rolling pretty good for the first 15 miles or so and then my legs started to feel really heavy. by the time I made it back to the start I knew there was simply no way i was going the full 40.
I actually never cramped before I stopped at 20 but I could feel both thighs starting to twitch and my right calf. even my right forearm started to twitch. I have fought off cramping for many, many miles in other races but I could tell that major cramping was coming and there was no way to avoid it. I guess that's what comes with experience with these enduro races...."you gotta know when to fold 'em". i would have been in a world of hurt if I kept going (eg, after 2009 my calves werent right for 2 weeks).
frankly I think this race is just too much for me on a rigid singlespeed. dont think I need gears since I made all the hills (except a few that were too vertical) but I think a suspension fork would make a world of difference on that course. in the long run you just take a friggin' beating w/o suspension and it really saps your strength.
for me, I am convinced, its not the hills. that place is no more hilly than Hartshorne and Huber and I do 25-30 mile rides in there regularly w/o a hint of cramping. and it's not the distance...I've gone much farther w/o cramping.
but Stewart? every-f#$king time. every-f#$king time. it's the rocks that kick my ass over the long haul.
and it's frustrating as hell cause that course was fun as hell!
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Dusty the Whale
Mr.Chainsaw
I've rode/raced exclusively on a rigid SS for the last 3-4 years and i agree with both of you to a point. i find that after 30-40miles it becomes an issue and lately towards the end of these longer races my hands are so done i find that i dont even reach for the brakes cause it hurts too much...
I raced SS with a rigid fork at last year's DH40. My upper body felt completely pulverized by the end of the race. I like my carbon fork a lot, but not in a race situation.
allygadget
Active Member
forget rigid ha! I have a fork and I still have no feeling in two of my fingers on my left hand
Dusty the Whale
Mr.Chainsaw
I was pretty beat up. i get this "ring of death" that wraps around my waist...its not a cramp but more like my guts getting beat against my bones or some ish. i clearly mailed it in today and thanks to my slider situation on the Misfit not getting straightened out yet i'm stuck with an 18t on the rear. either that gear was too tall for me or the race was too long...you pick my excuse 😛
rTalk i had a BLAST today, that includes the entire race and festivities after, the course was great and conditions were perfect AKA zero water. the part that struck me as odd today was usually when i'm in pain on my bike i'm MF'ing everything up nd down but today i just cruised and enjoyed the outing.
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