I want to have a spot for race recaps. Im really not interested in much else, but I do like writing about races.
Short Track #1 was the first race of 2016. It picks up right where the 2015 season ended, with a 45 minute balls out/cross effort. This course was a little moe technical than a cross course though (Even though some dude decided to race his cross bike).
After a few warm up laps everything is still frozen solid, ruts and all. The ruts were a little sketchy bcause they were all on the bch cut sections on the side of a slope. Otherwise, everything was tip top.
Warm up pic!
Lining up 3 or 4 rows back. And this isnt an organized cross race with callups. Line up where you get and live with it. In case you didnt see the pre-eg, this race was stacked. @Kirt said it was the deepest race we've had for one of these... i'll take his word for it. Back to my position, i'm realy not sure what to expect out of myself considring the competition. I have been doing the basement hamster thing, and i'm definitley in a better place than this time last year, but still really not sure how those trainer hous will translate on dirt in a race.
We all take off and my only goal is to get in front of the guy on the cross bike. I have no interest in being behind him once we get off the fire road. Mission accomplished on that, and then I settle in probably in 15th or so.
Once I catch my breath in the singletrack, its time to start making some moves on the fire road. Its tight, and everyone else has the same idea so passing is still tough.
Somewhere around the 2d or 3rd lap I find myself behind @UtahJoe. He takes a shitty line in a weak attempt to make a pass and I end up getting around him. Now, i like to bust Utah's balls, but shortly after the start / finish, he takes off and after a few minutes I dont see him again. He said something about not letting @The Heckler beat him and powered away. Bye Bye Utah.
Another awesome @gtluke Pic!
Eventually I catch Heckler too and am able to put him behind me...which to his credit, is petty satisfying. I spent the 2015 cross season watching him dominate, so passing him here felt good.
Going into the last 2 laps I was leading a train of 3 or 4 including Dan and Heckler and some other guy I dont know. At this point the lapped trafic (fat bikes) were a big factor. If you built up a lead, you could lose it just like that because someone was in front and you couldnt pass. It went both ways though, and if you made a pass, the guy behind you may not have such an easy opportunity and get stuck, thereby building your lead.
I managed to stay in front of the pack until the start of the last lap. Dan S made a move and got in front. At first I wasnt too worried. I had good legs and felt l would be able to get back. Wrong. He put a little space beteeen us and then some lapped trafic got in between. Next thing I know, he's out.
I was able to hold on to 9th, which all things considered, i'll call it a successful kick off to 2016. Looking foward to next week's race.
Short Track #1 was the first race of 2016. It picks up right where the 2015 season ended, with a 45 minute balls out/cross effort. This course was a little moe technical than a cross course though (Even though some dude decided to race his cross bike).
After a few warm up laps everything is still frozen solid, ruts and all. The ruts were a little sketchy bcause they were all on the bch cut sections on the side of a slope. Otherwise, everything was tip top.
Warm up pic!
Lining up 3 or 4 rows back. And this isnt an organized cross race with callups. Line up where you get and live with it. In case you didnt see the pre-eg, this race was stacked. @Kirt said it was the deepest race we've had for one of these... i'll take his word for it. Back to my position, i'm realy not sure what to expect out of myself considring the competition. I have been doing the basement hamster thing, and i'm definitley in a better place than this time last year, but still really not sure how those trainer hous will translate on dirt in a race.
We all take off and my only goal is to get in front of the guy on the cross bike. I have no interest in being behind him once we get off the fire road. Mission accomplished on that, and then I settle in probably in 15th or so.
Once I catch my breath in the singletrack, its time to start making some moves on the fire road. Its tight, and everyone else has the same idea so passing is still tough.
Somewhere around the 2d or 3rd lap I find myself behind @UtahJoe. He takes a shitty line in a weak attempt to make a pass and I end up getting around him. Now, i like to bust Utah's balls, but shortly after the start / finish, he takes off and after a few minutes I dont see him again. He said something about not letting @The Heckler beat him and powered away. Bye Bye Utah.
Another awesome @gtluke Pic!
Eventually I catch Heckler too and am able to put him behind me...which to his credit, is petty satisfying. I spent the 2015 cross season watching him dominate, so passing him here felt good.
Going into the last 2 laps I was leading a train of 3 or 4 including Dan and Heckler and some other guy I dont know. At this point the lapped trafic (fat bikes) were a big factor. If you built up a lead, you could lose it just like that because someone was in front and you couldnt pass. It went both ways though, and if you made a pass, the guy behind you may not have such an easy opportunity and get stuck, thereby building your lead.
I managed to stay in front of the pack until the start of the last lap. Dan S made a move and got in front. At first I wasnt too worried. I had good legs and felt l would be able to get back. Wrong. He put a little space beteeen us and then some lapped trafic got in between. Next thing I know, he's out.
I was able to hold on to 9th, which all things considered, i'll call it a successful kick off to 2016. Looking foward to next week's race.
