Fast and furious! The best condition Moody has been in some time. The new bypass before the RR and around the muck hole with a straight shot over the stone bound/root section is a big improvement and the main downhill was a blast. Moody is the only race around where the hill climb is actually a recovery section.
Props to Brian and Liam for kickin' some buttocks and taking the top podium in their cat.
It took a lot to pull me out of my garden and away from family (Aaron and his kids were up for the weekend) to get over to Claremont for a 1PM start time, but I'm glad I did. The weather was dry and cool and the course was ready to run.
I had a good sprint out of the gate and was sitting in about 4/5th when as soon as we crossed the first bridge and into the technical stuff the guy in front of me dumped it and took me out. From there I got passed trying to run while finding a spot to hop on. No big deal, I just used them as markers to reel in and by the end of the first climb it was me and a CCB rider, who wasn't in my cat. I hung with him for lap #2 until he pulled away and from then on it was a quite race all by myself. Kinda lonely, accept for the cavity where all the hecklers were hanging out and the park road where we had some cheerful revelers. Thanks for the encouragement there it kept me going strong to a 4th place finish.
In the end I had enough fun that maybe I'll climb out of my garden next weekend and race Webb's
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

Tyler and I showed up at 11:00 to watch the sport race, then found out they had started at 10:00. So we cheered them on for their last lap then prepped for the kids race. Tyler had a good race, coming in second after an epic three lap battle earning himself a spot on the podium and a nice trophy. The expert race started right on time with 15 vets charging down the fast doubletrack. I took the lead before the first singletrack, it was more like it was given to me as the pace slowed after the first high speed turn almost took out the leader. The course was in super shape, best I had ever seen it. The guy who had won the first two events of the year was right on my tail most of the first lap and I figured he was letting me set the pace and would pounce later. Going up the long climb the first lap I passed a train of 6 riders who had started before us and created a little gap back to second. Raced the second lap as hard as I could and turned a real good time. Start of lap three Tyler handing me a fresh bottle and a quick glance over the shoulder revealed nobody in sight. Decided to conserve a little energy through lap three in case a charge was needed on the final lap. Still turned a good time and was riding pretty much alone. Last lap it was started to sink in that if I did not mess up I was going to win. Kept catching myself dreaming of the finish and then reminding myself to focus on what your doing. Managed to keep it together and cross the finish line first, one minute ahead of second. Only real issue during the race was a dropped chain that was quickly fixed. Only managed to clear the cavity 1 out of 4 tries, so I got heckled plenty. Highlight of the day was watching Mark watch his son win the kid's race, priceless! Major kudos to everyone involved with course prep and to mother nature for finally giving these guys a break.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

Wednesday night I broke my bike and had to take it to Claremont for repairs. Friday I picked it up after work and I decided to ride the course. I was very impressed. The crew over there had done a great job of making new trail and hooking up the sections to flow nicely. I agree with Brian that the smooth long up hill is a recovery. In fact the last 1/2 to 1/3 after the big fallen tree is the big gear stand, lockout and pedal marker. That's about the only section that my road riding helped me out except for maybe my lungs. As most of you know I spend much of my time in the woods on the ground. I was very bad on the first lap. I had four off the bike events two of them were serious. Each time I managed to muscle my way back but it was just too much time to recover for a first or second place. I ended up with third out of the seven of us Masters that started. I don't know what the riders in the other groups were doing in the old muck/rock garden but I saw many sport riders having great difficulty making the slow tight turns and big rocks. They were slowing up every one and getting on and off several times. I avoided the entire deal by picking up the Salsa and running past everyone all the way to the new bridge. I did this each time and passed about 6 people in total. On the nice downhill after the big climb I am sure Brian and Nathan saw this nice maple tree about the size of my arm perfectly positioned to take me out after jumping a Birch log. The scars on that little obstacle are from me. I have matching marks on my left shoulder. On the Gravity Cavity first lap I cleared and was half way up when a walker in front did not yield. I cleared really fast and well on the second lap and had to dismount on the third. It was really fast on the way down. The highlight was watching the little guys in the kids race. It won't be long and those guys will be passing the Dads. Enjoy the ride. It was a good day.

Awesome job guys, wish I could have been there to cheer you on.

Ryan

I met Brian (javy) from Sunapee for the first time (he noticed the new Team Pinnacle digs). Then he went off before me with the Vets.

I got off the line behind everyone and edged my way to second before reaching the first turn. The guy in front of me slid around the corner and kept pedaling hard. I figured he might come back at some point until he went around the next hair pin with both tires sliding. When we got to the rough stuff, he left me eating the dirt off his rear tire. The next time I looked up, he was but a shadow through the trees at which point the idea of him coming back to me has disappeared.

Then the guy behind me went by and stayed there for a few minutes till he had trouble in the rocks where I passed him. It didn't last long however, because the first little steep hill, he and the first woman went by me and I never saw either again until the podium.

Gravity cavity was a rush and the thought that the hecklers on the corner had of me riding to the top of the other side was quickly dissolved. I did make it to the first root from the momentum off the downhill.

It seems like it took me till I started climbing the big hill before I could get into a racing mode. I passed a couple racers up the hill. Going down the other side I passed someone else who had started before me. The first part of second lap went much better than first lap and I thought I might gain ground on second place. I rode most of that part of the lap with no one in sight, to the rear or ahead.

After crossing the park entrance road going down the side path I turned corner and hit something hard, blowing out my front tire. So, I ran the rest of lower part, up and over the hill, passed on top by three racers who were behind me. Two more went by as I ran down the hill. Not sure how much time I lost, but I ended up about seven minutes out second place and seventeen out of first. Third out of five Novice Masters.

With the exception of the flat, the second half of the race was better than the first half. Thanks Laurie (my wife), Dan and Bob H for cheering me on. The course was excellent?

good job Dana, way to stick it out with a flat.

Entering the race, I had much less than perfect conditioning...but I did not care...just wanted to race this thing. As mentioned earlier, I met Dana W. and we chatted about all the good ole boys at Team Pinnacle, etc. etc. About half of the vet boys with me headed out first in front of me. There were about 4 to 6 behind me that seemed to want to stay back...so I let them. The boys in front of me seemed to want to go faster and faster...so I let them. Out of sight they went. There I stayed, in the middle, with one other fella. I liked his pace, so I just stayed on his wheel. Eventually he got all messed up in those big rocks and decided to let me by. He must have been hurting because I never saw him again. That same crew that Dana mentioned (the fastest woman, etc.) passed me too.

The only issue for me on the ride was screwing up the lap/finish line. I managed to be the only one on earth that did not get it, and went out into the sand pit, happy as heck, and asked some fella where to go next. He said go back to where you just came out of and take a right...I said Oh-No! Ok, so there I went and continued the whole second lap seeing noone. I am not sure where I finished, but probably near the bottom. Had a lot of fun however!
 
When in doubt, ride

Well done gentleman!

THere are 4 more things I want to hear about.........Gurneys DNF is one of them.

THe other 3 are reports from our Junior Riders!

I see Skarin took the advice bumped up to Sport and won! Jesse bumped up and also ripped a 3rd place. 2 podiums baby. Ethan Willey also had a great race in the novice. Guys if you can figure this message board out, post your race reports. NIcely done.

Javy, I am still hanging on to your jersey, so you will get some of the "new" duds. Nice race.

PJ

Not too much desire to write a race report when it ends with DNF. But the day had its high points.

At the gate there was maybe 15 or so in my age group, so I thought I was assured a top 15 finish. About 1/2 way through the first lap there were about 6 in front of me, and nobody behind me. Once again, I'm riding mostly alone, tucked in behind the speedy guys, but in front of the not-so-speedy guys. Mediocrity rules!

I passed a couple of folks on the first climb out of the cavity, and another couple on the hill climb. I turned the first lap in 28:10. Second lap I passed a couple more here and there. Second lap was complete in a low 56. On the third lap I passed a trio of riders struggling in the new swamp bypass "twin rock" with a beautifully executed dismount/sprint/pass/ remount and was feeling pretty good about my race. I was finally warmed up at that point.

After the little switch back just beyond the bridge, I looked back for my recently passed trio - I couldn't hear them or see them. The too-long look over my shoulder caused me to drift wide left, into the pucka brush.

Next thing I know I'm looking at a derailleur hanging down from my bike. I suspect if you look carefully at the ground at that location you'll see disturbed earth where I threw my tantrum. It was short, not witnessed by anyone, but a tantrum nonetheless.

I considered running the rest of the course, but didn't take long to decide against that idea. I know that's what I should have done, but that was a long way to push a bike.

Had I kept up my pace, I believe I would have finished about 6th. But the "if only..." argument does not hold, I simply DNF'd. And it's because off my off-trail mistake, not just bad luck.

The day was saved when my five-year-old son Liam won his first bike race. He'd ben off training wheels for a whole two weeks prior to this race, but he was ready. Liam's had his share of challenges, so his win was extra special to me. I don't think I'd ever seen him happier, same with me.

My wife says "Just like his Dad - except Liam WINS his bike races!"

The next savior of the day was watching Brian come through the finish line with a grin on his face and a triumphant fist in the air. Watching the race, it was difficult for me to understand where he was placed. But the way he came through the gate, I was pretty sure he earned the top podium spot. He shaked his head yes when I held up a number one finger in question. Job well done Brian!

Nathan came through a short time later, rather nonchalant about his 4th place finish - a fine showing in my book, or anyone else's for that matter.

Short term, my off-offroad adventure cost me a derailleur hanger, a rear triangle, and maybe a derailleur. My tantrum should have been longer! But I can ride my old K2 for now. Long term, I'm all but guaranteed a bike riding/racing future well into the masters class, as I can't call myself a good Dad if I don't support my son's interests, can I? Overall, I think I won.

See y'all tomorrow.

MG