I got owned by this one… Clifford Park could be the most technical course on the EFTA circuit and I simply didn’t have enough miles on the mountain bike to hold my own. I think I was also still recovering from the B2B, 7+ hours in the saddle really takes a toll on you.
If this had just been a 3 lap race I probably would have been alright, but about half way through that third lap things started to get sloppy. My upper body was tired right from the get-go, but my legs held out until mid way through the third lap. The fourth lap I was just in survival mode, trying to hold my place and not crash.
This is a really fun course, and one that on a good day would probably suite me pretty well. It doesn’t have any long climbs, but it does have a handful of short burst climbing sections and a little bit of fire-road (about 20%). Last year I flatted out when I ran too little air in the tires; hopefully next year I can give this course a real try.
Results were not available right away…
UPDATE:
Time 2:10.09
4th Place of 5 Senior I's
18th of 27 Experts
37 Riders DNF'd
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
B2B
This past weekend was the Harpoon B2B, according to my computer it’s a 148.48 mile ride from the Boston Brewery to the Windsor VT Brewery. Until now the longest day in the saddle for me had been just over 100 miles. This was a tough ride, and would have been challenging at just a century.
Getting out of Boston was easy as it was flat, but it was chaotic. To simplify things the organizers staged riders in groups of 25 and spaced them out in 5-minute gaps. Our group must have gotten off to a good start because somewhere in Cambridge or so we caught up to the group in front of us. This made things interesting, as we now were now trying to navigate the burbs with a peloton of 50 riders or so.
The first 50 miles really flew by since we had such a huge group and it was mostly flat. Just after the 50 mile water stop we hit our first hill, I took a good pull here, but I didn’t want to take on too much as it was still early in the ride. This proved to be a smart call as the hills rolled on until mile 90. From there we hit the major climb of the ride, it was roughly 6 miles long, and pretty steep. This was a new section to the ride and clearly caught a lot of people off guard. I have never seen so many riders stop to take a breather or actually walk their bikes.
On top of a challenging hill 90 miles into the ride, the organizers also underestimated the mileage of the second stop. This was frustrating, as I had gauged my food, water and energy based on a water stop at 101 miles and it wasn’t until 109.
After a long stop for lunch, I got back on the road to finish the final 30 miles or so with a good group of riders from the North Shore. The last 30 miles started pretty flat and we pulled a solid 21-22 mph. As we came into the last 15 miles we hit some rolling hills, I tried to take a pull but as soon as I jumped to the front of the group they fell off, and I wasn’t trying to drop anyone. So at this point it was me and this guy Tom, we rode in the last few miles together. He also said that anytime he tried to take a pull these guys would just drop off… maybe they didn’t want someone not in their club pulling, road-snobs.
My final ride time was 7:43.29
Including rests it took 8:36.55
My average speed was 19.2
Max speed was 46.2
Total distance was 148.48
Getting out of Boston was easy as it was flat, but it was chaotic. To simplify things the organizers staged riders in groups of 25 and spaced them out in 5-minute gaps. Our group must have gotten off to a good start because somewhere in Cambridge or so we caught up to the group in front of us. This made things interesting, as we now were now trying to navigate the burbs with a peloton of 50 riders or so.
The first 50 miles really flew by since we had such a huge group and it was mostly flat. Just after the 50 mile water stop we hit our first hill, I took a good pull here, but I didn’t want to take on too much as it was still early in the ride. This proved to be a smart call as the hills rolled on until mile 90. From there we hit the major climb of the ride, it was roughly 6 miles long, and pretty steep. This was a new section to the ride and clearly caught a lot of people off guard. I have never seen so many riders stop to take a breather or actually walk their bikes.
On top of a challenging hill 90 miles into the ride, the organizers also underestimated the mileage of the second stop. This was frustrating, as I had gauged my food, water and energy based on a water stop at 101 miles and it wasn’t until 109.
After a long stop for lunch, I got back on the road to finish the final 30 miles or so with a good group of riders from the North Shore. The last 30 miles started pretty flat and we pulled a solid 21-22 mph. As we came into the last 15 miles we hit some rolling hills, I tried to take a pull but as soon as I jumped to the front of the group they fell off, and I wasn’t trying to drop anyone. So at this point it was me and this guy Tom, we rode in the last few miles together. He also said that anytime he tried to take a pull these guys would just drop off… maybe they didn’t want someone not in their club pulling, road-snobs.
My final ride time was 7:43.29
Including rests it took 8:36.55
My average speed was 19.2
Max speed was 46.2
Total distance was 148.48
Monday, June 9, 2008
Week 3 of the Rayburn TNT
So it’s been a while since I posted an update, but two weeks ago there was a thunder and lightning storm the night of the TNT race and then that Thursday we went to Jersey for a wedding so I didn’t do much riding that week.
Last week I did make it to the TNT race, but I didn’t check my tires before racing. About a quarter of the way in my tires burped out enough air that I finally had to stop to top them off, but being that it was a race I just topped off the rear and figured I could finish with a low front tire. In retrospect this was probably a bad decision. With less than ¾ of the race to go, I thought it would be fun to hit this big rock as a jump. But, what I failed to consider was that the landing happens to be in the middle of a turn, this is not good when your tires have no air. As I landed the front tire blew out almost all the remaining air and folded over sending me to the ground. I don’t bruise easily, but within just a few minutes I had a HUGE bruise on my quad. I then nursed my self and the bike with a completely flat front tire to the finish line. Unfortunately with the flat tire issues and a crash the best I could do was sixth, ending my wining streak in the TNT.
1. Rick 5:41 5:57:55 (16:55) 6:11:09 (13:14) 30:09
#2. Pat 6:03 6:20:04 (17:04) 6:33:12 (13:08) 30:12
#3. Bryan 6:08 6:24:10 (17:10) 6:37:21 (13:11) 30:21
#4. Doug 6:38 6:38:21 (17:21) 6:51:54 (13:33) 30:54
#5. Scott 6:10 6:27:50 (17:50) 6:41:05 (13:15) 31:05
#6. Adam 5:26 5:43:50 (17:50) 5:57:55 (14:05) 31:55
#7. Russ 5:05 5:23:20 (18:20) 5:37:28 (14:08) 32:28
#8. Mary 6:00 6:19:04 (19:04) 6:32:59 (13:55) 32:59
#9. Paul L 6:08 6:26:54 (18:54) 6:41:06 (14:12) 33:06
10. Mike T6:15 6:34:10 (19:10) 6:49:16 (15:06) 34:16
11. Tim 5:55 6:14:50 (19:50) 6:29:38 (14:48) 34:38
12. Laura 5:19 5:38:24 (19:24) 5:53:59 (15:35) 34:59
13.Nate 5:22 5:42:12 (20:12) 5:57:42 (15:30) 35:42
14.Mike L 5:27 5:47:16 (20:16) 6:03:04 (15:48) 36:04
15.Chris 6:05 6:24:47 (19:47) 6:42:15 (18:32) 37:15
16.Dave S 5:57 6:17:46 (20:46) 6:34:24 (16:38) 37:24
17.Liana 6:01 6:23:25 (22:25) 6:42:20 (18:45) 41:20
Last week I did make it to the TNT race, but I didn’t check my tires before racing. About a quarter of the way in my tires burped out enough air that I finally had to stop to top them off, but being that it was a race I just topped off the rear and figured I could finish with a low front tire. In retrospect this was probably a bad decision. With less than ¾ of the race to go, I thought it would be fun to hit this big rock as a jump. But, what I failed to consider was that the landing happens to be in the middle of a turn, this is not good when your tires have no air. As I landed the front tire blew out almost all the remaining air and folded over sending me to the ground. I don’t bruise easily, but within just a few minutes I had a HUGE bruise on my quad. I then nursed my self and the bike with a completely flat front tire to the finish line. Unfortunately with the flat tire issues and a crash the best I could do was sixth, ending my wining streak in the TNT.
1. Rick 5:41 5:57:55 (16:55) 6:11:09 (13:14) 30:09
#2. Pat 6:03 6:20:04 (17:04) 6:33:12 (13:08) 30:12
#3. Bryan 6:08 6:24:10 (17:10) 6:37:21 (13:11) 30:21
#4. Doug 6:38 6:38:21 (17:21) 6:51:54 (13:33) 30:54
#5. Scott 6:10 6:27:50 (17:50) 6:41:05 (13:15) 31:05
#6. Adam 5:26 5:43:50 (17:50) 5:57:55 (14:05) 31:55
#7. Russ 5:05 5:23:20 (18:20) 5:37:28 (14:08) 32:28
#8. Mary 6:00 6:19:04 (19:04) 6:32:59 (13:55) 32:59
#9. Paul L 6:08 6:26:54 (18:54) 6:41:06 (14:12) 33:06
10. Mike T6:15 6:34:10 (19:10) 6:49:16 (15:06) 34:16
11. Tim 5:55 6:14:50 (19:50) 6:29:38 (14:48) 34:38
12. Laura 5:19 5:38:24 (19:24) 5:53:59 (15:35) 34:59
13.Nate 5:22 5:42:12 (20:12) 5:57:42 (15:30) 35:42
14.Mike L 5:27 5:47:16 (20:16) 6:03:04 (15:48) 36:04
15.Chris 6:05 6:24:47 (19:47) 6:42:15 (18:32) 37:15
16.Dave S 5:57 6:17:46 (20:46) 6:34:24 (16:38) 37:24
17.Liana 6:01 6:23:25 (22:25) 6:42:20 (18:45) 41:20
Thursday, May 22, 2008
TNT - Rayburn
Tuesday Night was the first of our 3 stops at Rayburn for the Time-Trial series. I love Rayburn, its got super tight singletrack with some punchy hills and some fun technical challenges. This is the type of course that you need to finesse. As I said before the start of the race its ‘how fast can you ride slow’ because all the tight switchbacks, you have to limit your speed here. I was expecting the results to be pretty close, but I did pretty good and won by almost 2 minutes.
Here are the results:
1. Adam: 5:48 6:03:34 (15:34) 6:15:55 (12:21) 27:55
2. John B: 5:58 6:14:43 (16:43) 6:27:49 (13:06) 29:49
3. Charlie 5:45 6:03:15 (18:05) 6:15:52 (12: 37 ) 30:52
4. Pat 6:32 6:49:45 (17:45) 7:03:15 (14:30) 31:15
5. Rick 6:12 6:29:50 (17:50) 6:43:32 (13:42) 31:32
6. Scott 6:10 6:28:02 (18:02) 6:41:39 (13:37) 31:39
7. Bryan 6:46 7:03: 59 (17:59) 7:17:45 (13:44) 31:45
8. Mike C. 5:20 5:38:02 (18:02) 5:52:04 (14:02) 32:04
9. Russ 5:34 5:52:45 (18:45) 6:07:07 (14:22) 33:07
10.Nate 5:35 5:54:15 (19:15) 6:08:52 (14:37) 33:52
11: Mary 6:47 7:07:05 (20:05) 7:21:43 (14:39) 34:43
12. Mike T. 5:36 5:56:10 (20:10) 6:11:25 (15:15) 35:25
13 Mike L 5:22 5:42:14 (20:14) 5:57:37 (15:23) 35:37
14. Laura 4:51 5:10:16 (19:16) 5:27:56 (17:40) 36:56
15 Chris 5:38 5:59:39 (21:39) 6:15:30 (15:51) 37:30
16. Liana 5:41 6:03:44 (22:44) 6:20:55 (17:11) 39:55
17. Dave S 5:32 5:54:36 (22:36) 6:12:06 (17:30) 40:06
18 Don G 5:33 5:58:44 (25:44) 6:17:07 (18:23) 44:07
Here are the results:
1. Adam: 5:48 6:03:34 (15:34) 6:15:55 (12:21) 27:55
2. John B: 5:58 6:14:43 (16:43) 6:27:49 (13:06) 29:49
3. Charlie 5:45 6:03:15 (18:05) 6:15:52 (12: 37 ) 30:52
4. Pat 6:32 6:49:45 (17:45) 7:03:15 (14:30) 31:15
5. Rick 6:12 6:29:50 (17:50) 6:43:32 (13:42) 31:32
6. Scott 6:10 6:28:02 (18:02) 6:41:39 (13:37) 31:39
7. Bryan 6:46 7:03: 59 (17:59) 7:17:45 (13:44) 31:45
8. Mike C. 5:20 5:38:02 (18:02) 5:52:04 (14:02) 32:04
9. Russ 5:34 5:52:45 (18:45) 6:07:07 (14:22) 33:07
10.Nate 5:35 5:54:15 (19:15) 6:08:52 (14:37) 33:52
11: Mary 6:47 7:07:05 (20:05) 7:21:43 (14:39) 34:43
12. Mike T. 5:36 5:56:10 (20:10) 6:11:25 (15:15) 35:25
13 Mike L 5:22 5:42:14 (20:14) 5:57:37 (15:23) 35:37
14. Laura 4:51 5:10:16 (19:16) 5:27:56 (17:40) 36:56
15 Chris 5:38 5:59:39 (21:39) 6:15:30 (15:51) 37:30
16. Liana 5:41 6:03:44 (22:44) 6:20:55 (17:11) 39:55
17. Dave S 5:32 5:54:36 (22:36) 6:12:06 (17:30) 40:06
18 Don G 5:33 5:58:44 (25:44) 6:17:07 (18:23) 44:07
EFTA NECS #1 - The Glocester Grind
This was a great course for the first race of the season. Mostly flat, with some buff sections to gain some speed on and some fun berms to rail, and of course there were some really muddy and technical sections thrown in for good measure.
Last year I blew up here, so when I went over the bars and all my GU got buried in the mud in the first half mile I was a little nervous that I was gonna bonk again. This year, I had more early season mountain bike rides so that helped and I felt strong the whole race.
I got a pretty good start, which is key as this race funnels quickly into tight singletrack with little room make any passes in the first mile or so. The group got spread out pretty quickly, but I did catch up to the one of the guys in front of me as he was apparently having chain problems. I didn’t realize it, but him and the leader of our pack DNF’d so I was quickly in the lead.
I held my position and felt like I was keeping a good pace, on my last lap I did get passed by a group of 3 Vet riders but I still finished strong.
Final Results:
1:42.39
1st Place Expert Senior I Men
13th Place in the Expert Class of 35 Men
Last year I blew up here, so when I went over the bars and all my GU got buried in the mud in the first half mile I was a little nervous that I was gonna bonk again. This year, I had more early season mountain bike rides so that helped and I felt strong the whole race.
I got a pretty good start, which is key as this race funnels quickly into tight singletrack with little room make any passes in the first mile or so. The group got spread out pretty quickly, but I did catch up to the one of the guys in front of me as he was apparently having chain problems. I didn’t realize it, but him and the leader of our pack DNF’d so I was quickly in the lead.
I held my position and felt like I was keeping a good pace, on my last lap I did get passed by a group of 3 Vet riders but I still finished strong.
Final Results:
1:42.39
1st Place Expert Senior I Men
13th Place in the Expert Class of 35 Men
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Last Pisgah TNT
Last night was the final TNT at Pisgah. It was a great night, 60 degrees, dry, and a good turn out. I was able to get a quick warm up in and then went straight to the line. My first lap was pretty good, I cleaned a few sections I missed the other week and found a good line down rock garden. My second lap started real good, I rode the first two rock spines as fast and smooth as I ever have; but shortly after that I got tripped up and it took a little while to get my rhythm back. On top of that I got held up a little as I was passing some other riders. Enough bitchen, it was a nice night and some fun riding so here are the results:
Name 1st lap 2nd lap Total
Adam 19:05 20:22 39:27
John 19:54 20:28 40:22
Rick 20:15 20:26 40:41
Charlie 20:38 21:33 42:11
Bryan 22:08 22:58 45:06
Scott 22:22 23:18 45:40
Laura 23:34 23:52 47:26
Mary 24:25 23:05 47:30
Nate 23:30 24:38 48:08
Russ 24:10 25:41 49:51
Mike T 23:55 28:41 52:36
Mike L 25:51 28:25 53:16
Chris J 26:35 28:10 54:45
Liana 27:41 28:36 56:17
Paul S 33:03 34:12 1:07:15
Pat 22:28 flat DNF
Name 1st lap 2nd lap Total
Adam 19:05 20:22 39:27
John 19:54 20:28 40:22
Rick 20:15 20:26 40:41
Charlie 20:38 21:33 42:11
Bryan 22:08 22:58 45:06
Scott 22:22 23:18 45:40
Laura 23:34 23:52 47:26
Mary 24:25 23:05 47:30
Nate 23:30 24:38 48:08
Russ 24:10 25:41 49:51
Mike T 23:55 28:41 52:36
Mike L 25:51 28:25 53:16
Chris J 26:35 28:10 54:45
Liana 27:41 28:36 56:17
Paul S 33:03 34:12 1:07:15
Pat 22:28 flat DNF
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
TNT
Last night was the first Tuesday Night Time-trial, well second; but the week before I chickend out because it was pouring.
It was good to get one race under my belt before the first EFTA series race. The time-trail course was pretty short, just a 3 mile loop, twice. John updated it from last year; it was actually a little shorter but we did two laps vs just one. We start mid-way up Pisgah, take a fast flowy down hill that has some good short climbs thrown in. Then from the bottom its a good climb back to the top, then we take a false-flat fire road over to the bone-yard. This section is new, and I never really ride it because it's a mess. After the climbs it's pretty jarring.
I guess I had a slight advantage as its pretty much in my backyard and I ride 95% of the course about once a week. In addition the hills here suite me well; anyway here are the results.
Name Lap 1 Lap 2 Total
Adam 19:41 20:16 39:57
John 20:28 21:26 41:54
Rick 21:37 21:31 43:08
Charlie 22:14 22:51 45:05
Pat 22:21 22:54 45:15
Laura 23:17 24:00 47:17
Scott 22:45 26:45 49:30 Flat on second lap, completed by foot
Mike T 25:28 26:22 51:50
Nate 26:30 28:08 54:38
Mike L 26:47 28:13 55:00
Liana 29:41 30:39 1:00:20 Rode two separate laps
Bryan 22:40 DNF DNF Flat on second
Next week is Pisgah again, then it's on to another course...
It was good to get one race under my belt before the first EFTA series race. The time-trail course was pretty short, just a 3 mile loop, twice. John updated it from last year; it was actually a little shorter but we did two laps vs just one. We start mid-way up Pisgah, take a fast flowy down hill that has some good short climbs thrown in. Then from the bottom its a good climb back to the top, then we take a false-flat fire road over to the bone-yard. This section is new, and I never really ride it because it's a mess. After the climbs it's pretty jarring.
I guess I had a slight advantage as its pretty much in my backyard and I ride 95% of the course about once a week. In addition the hills here suite me well; anyway here are the results.
Name Lap 1 Lap 2 Total
Adam 19:41 20:16 39:57
John 20:28 21:26 41:54
Rick 21:37 21:31 43:08
Charlie 22:14 22:51 45:05
Pat 22:21 22:54 45:15
Laura 23:17 24:00 47:17
Scott 22:45 26:45 49:30 Flat on second lap, completed by foot
Mike T 25:28 26:22 51:50
Nate 26:30 28:08 54:38
Mike L 26:47 28:13 55:00
Liana 29:41 30:39 1:00:20 Rode two separate laps
Bryan 22:40 DNF DNF Flat on second
Next week is Pisgah again, then it's on to another course...
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