WOW am I tired. My day didn't start as exciting as my last race. I had everything packed ahead of time and ready in the car. I got to the race with time to register and warmup.

The race had a mass start for each division. Elite first, then Expert, then Sport and finally Novice. The sport group went off and I let the fast guys pull ahead me knowing that I might not be that good on the hills. Soon found out that was a bad idea. Its much easier to mess up and get out of someones way than it is to try to get by people. Most of the first lap consisted of traffic jams, except for Summer street. Mark and I were together for most of the first lap taking turns being stuck behind the non-technical riders. It wasn't until South Boundary that I finally got past all the traffic, and at that point the race was on. I started using a lot of energy at that point to try catch the rest of the field. I felt great coming out to The Plummet at full speed, no breaks, went over the lip of the hill, lifted my weight off the bike and got air for the first time ever. Now I'm down the hill, around the track and about to head back into the woods when Brian tell me that Tim is not that far ahead of me. I start to push a little harder, get back out into the woods and start the climb. My legs were definitely hurting at that point, but I continue pushing a heavy gear up the hills and feel good, considering. Then I get to the muddy climb on North Boundary and slip, then fall over. I get off the bike, run up the hill and let the people right behind me go by, which included Mark. He asked me if I needed anything, I told him no, and he was off. I didn't want to let Mark get to far ahead of me, so I started running, jumped on the bike and I was off. I got out to the water tower and could no longer see Mark, Damn!! I climbed Summer Street, onto Pine Link and then my glasses start to fog up and I don't want to take my hands off the bars, so I just ride and hope I don't hit anything too hard. I make it down the hill, off the Plummet around the track, throw my glasses to the timing people and back into the woods. I stopped for a second at the base of the Ski Jump to get my new water bottle and eat a gu and then I am off. I make the climb back up and hear Nathan yelling at me on North Boundary mud pit to stop slacking, or something like that, and get going. I run up the hill again, jump on the bike and head. When I make it back out to the water tower Mark is back in site. I can't believe it, so I push and end up catching him while he is pulling a twig out of his chain. Now its all down hill from here, so I just start to hammer. I'm able to flow pretty smooth through Eastside and I'm feeling good. I hit the little rise after Eastside and there is a Novice ahead of me. He politely pulls over and I proceed to give him a show. I end up hitting something, fly over the handlebars, roll a little and then my bike lands on top. The Novice asks me if I'm alright, I respond with "Great", jump on the bike and I am off again. Something was rubbing, but I am so close to the finish that I figure I will either finish now, or not at all. (turns out the rubbing is just a cable that got pushed a little close to the tire) I was very happy to see that Mark had not caught me during the crash. I pushed it to the bottom, jumped off the edge of Plummet and I am heading around the track. I see a couple people ahead of me, so I start pushing as hard as I could. I did not catch them, but no matter, they are experts.

I finished ahead of Mark with a time of ~1:36 and got 4th place. Unfortunately, I was not able to reel in Tim. I think he finished a minute or 2 ahead of me. I think it was probably one of my best race results on a MTB.

My AVG HR was 170 with a Max of 181.

Everybody, great job today. Thanks to all who helped out.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

Great Job Ken. Thanks for the race report.

Quote from Elite rider Thom Parson's blog, nice description of our course.

"I liked this course in its previous incarnations, back then it was a sadistic suckfest. Now it is dialed. Nasty climbs into really beautifully cut flowing, semi-technical traverse, then into a bunch of twisty, slick-root riddled corners through the trees, then just fun and sweetness and sickness, finishing up with the Pinnacle Plummet, which always puts your nuts in your ears."

I believe that is just what we have been shooting for all these years.
 
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That is the quote of quotes, I love it!

Nice find Brian.

Another nice quote,

"I've said it before and I'll say it again...I would climb 15 miles straight up just to be able to ride the down at the Pinnacle. SO MUCH FUN. And I think I might even like it better when its slick."
 
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I planned on starting at a moderate pace and catching riders as the race progressed. I knew there would be a bottleneck on the first steep grade after passing Lower Loop. Once everyone's tires started to bump, I jumped off and started running until there was a clear path. I got by six or seven riders there. Then the traffic flowed smoothly until the North Boundary bypass just after leaving Foliage. Again I was off the bike and ran past those who bobbled and initially cut off those of us behind them. There were several other riders making mistakes along the way to the towers loosing them places.

Once we passed the towers it was pretty much a clear path for most of the ride. After reaching the top on Pine Link, I was breathing so hard that I didn't think that I was going to make the next two laps. Since we did a mass start, I had no idea where I was in my class. From the top to bottom, I managed to pick up a couple of more places and was feeling pretty good.

One mistake that I made on the second lap was not passing a rider who offered at the end of eastside. I rode his tire all the way to the end of Trapper then shot by him on Forest. I think it cost me a bit of time overall. Coming from behind, I was never passed by any sport riders (only the elites). On the final lap I was able to fly from Eastside down to the bottom. After turning the corner around the tennis courts I noticed a rider closing fast on me. I sprinted as hard as I could and finished two seconds ahead him. As it was, he was an elite rider, but since I didn't know that he made push to the end.

I guess home course made the differnce from Bear Brook results where I was 18th out 21. This day I finished third out of eight in sport master, but also was ahead of four masters who beat me at the previous race. Overall I rode the course relaxed and had few mistakes.

Thanks Aaron, Nathan, Julie, Sandy, Loren and others I didn't recognize out the course, for your verbal support. And of course everyone at the bottom always gives us that extra push to head back up the hills. Thanks Brian, PJ and every volunteer as well as the rest of the riders for making this a happening event. I had a great time, particularly post race at Salt Hill!

Pinnacle X

Wow!! 10 years way to go guys!!

With a mass start of all the Sports Class, I looked around to spot Steve Segenchuk from mtbmind.com, who had beaten me by 3secs at Bear Brook. I knew I needed to be in the front before the climb or very close to it. On the way there, some guy came blasting by and had obviously not pre ridden the course and nearly smashed into the concrete barriers as you head up Forest. So, as we head up the slick singletrack I had about 2-3 guys in front of me, no wobbles and I cleaned all the way to the water towers and on to the pump track. At this point, Steve caught and passed me on the pump track along with the next rider whom I did not get around till we got near the end. The chase was on, but that would be the last I would see of the race leader/winner. 2nd /3rd lap same plan to go as quick as possible uphill and just keep it together on the downhill. No sign of the race leader and not knowing if anyone else was in my category I just kept going hard. Coming down the final descent I thought for sure Ken or Gurney were going to catch me, fortunately no one passed me. Muddy, slick conditions did not favor me today, then again everyone had to deal with them, my efforts were good enough for 2nd, 5 minutes back.

Question from one of the racers:

I raced last weekend and had a blast. Unfortunately, I forgot my to pick up my vest and knee warmers at the starting line. If anyone has found an Exodus Road Racing vest with knee warmers stuck in the pockets I would appreciate getting them back. Thanks in advance.

Let me know if anyone might know the wherabouts of these items so we can help this person get their stuff back.

Thanks, Brian
 
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