Xterra Red River

I went to Oklahoma this weekend to get in a practice race before the all important Xterra NC Cup at Fort Custer on May 17th. After a preride I could see this course will be good practice for the courses I will be racing later this year. The bike is very similar to courses like O.N.E. and Last Stand and the run is just as tough as the Torn Shirt trail.

The swim was shortened to just 500 meters due to strong winds creating pretty big waves in the small lake. I didn't like that but it is actually to my advantage since I am not the strongest swimmer. I sat in a draft to conserve energy and I get out of the water in 15th place but I stepped on something that cut my foot open underneath my big toe and my index toe.

Due to my awesome transition skills I get on the trail in 8 or 9th place. My foot really hurts and I can pedal my bike without any problem but I hope it won't affect my run. After saving my energy on the swim, I attack the bike course on my Titus Fireline 29er and get the lead within about 4 miles. From there I try to ride smooth pushing my limits on the climbs but otherwise trying to ride safe and maintain a comfortable lead. 3 miles to go and I notice my tire is folding over under cornering pressure. Either I burped some air or I have a slow leak. Now I am riding even more carefully in the corners and hoping to get to transition without stopping to fix it. I get caught by one rider as I come into transition.

I take the extra time to put on a sock on the cut foot. Just worried about getting a lead on the other guy, I don't even think about if my foot hurts. I go hard to build a lead so he is out of sight, but soon the paranoia of who else may be catching me from behind sets in. I am now the hunted and my biggest enemy is the heat. I am unaccustomed to sunny 85 degree days from training in the midwest. I put out my best TT effort but it doesn't feel that fast. If I see anyone behind me, it's over, I don't have an extra gear to shift into. I'm on the limit. My best strategy is to not blow up so I take it fairly easy on the hill climbs even walking up some of the steep ones.

I finally make it to the open road and I run in to take the tape in 1:49. First victory of 09, 3rd victory in my Xterra career. 15th fastest swim, 2nd fastest bike, 2nd fastest run.

Post race I really paid the price. Dean warned me not to wear racing flats, but I did for their light weight advantage and my feet took a pounding. The balls and heels of my feet feel bruised, blisters are everywhere, not to mention one big gash on my right foot. If you saw me limping around the airport later that day, you would have never guessed that I had just won a race.

This race was a good indicator of what I need to adjust in order to elevate my game for Fort Custer and I think I will be ready.

Sylvan Island Race Report

I've been horribly inconsistent posting my own updates, but I enjoy reading other cyclists blogs. I guess I'll make an attempt to be more timely with my recaps for the 2009 season and hopefully someone enjoys tracking my season too.

Bill and I decided to race the Sylvan Island Stampede in Moline, IL. Early forecasts of rain wasn't what we were hoping for but we were committed. I checked the FORC (event organizer) website at 6:30am and they said that they hadn't received any rain and the race was still on. The entire drive was through spotty, and at times, heavy rain. When we arrived there were plenty of two wheeled MudMen rolling around. Crap. I don't mind racing in mud, but I don't consider it a strength, possibly because I don't own any "Mud" tires.

I line up with ~20 other people and the director allowed us to vote on cutting our race distance. We are a stubborn bunch and agree to keep it at 6 laps - 24 miles. I recognize some rabbits who are faster than me and line up behind them. I opted to go without sunglasses because of how difficult it would be to keep them clear. I had an equally difficult time seeing anything as the mud/water wake of riders ahead of me flew into my eyes and mouth. I hit the single track in the top 10 and just try to follow wheels. I didn't have a chance to pre-ride the course and this is a very twisty trail. My tire selection (Maxxis Crossmark) might as well have been racing slicks. I'm not sure how much more traction I would have gotten with a mud tire, but I had an incredibly tough time through corners (and even on some straight sections) on this tire created for fast dry terrain.

Lap 1 - Just learning the course. Ride into corners way too hot and in the wrong gear. I'm strong enough to hang with the riders around me but give up time in corners not riding efficiently
Lap 2 - The field is spreading out. I'm trying to calm down and stay in contact with the guys ahead of me. I still ride more aggressively around corners than my tires will allow and I pay for it with some wipeouts. I hear my rotors constantly grinding even when I'm not using them. I must have knocked something loose or splashed a bunch of muck between the pads.
Lap 3 - There are only a few people in sight ahead of me and but I'm settling in and have a better idea of where I need to be careful because of slick corners or peanut butter mud. I see a handful of guys pull off the course with mechanicals. I don't consider placing ahead of someone with a mechanical as a victory, but I keep telling myself that as long as my tires are inflated and my pedals turn, I'll keep pressing.
Lap 4 - More of the same. Anything mechanical on my bike is making it's displeasure known with loud grinding and horrible shifting. I'm riding the course with fewer dabs or stall outs, but that might because of fatigue and slowing down
Lap 5 - Only 2 more to go!! There was a rider behind me who seemed to be closing which helped me to keep on the gas. I had a GU packet under my short, but I was too afraid of wiping out trying to open it. A mouth full of mud before I got any gel wasn't too appealing either. I continued on with just a shot of water each lap but nothing to eat.
Lap 6 - I've put time into the chasing rider and I'm just riding to finish. I'm going slower and I'm not making the same mental mistakes from earlier laps, but the thick mud gives me trouble keeping my momentum

I finished ... and not last. I was 9th of 12 finishers but there were probably 10+ other DNFs. Mike Hemme from Killjoy was victim of a torn sidewall. The posted results are not complete and I'm not sure how many people pulled out.

I have some positives to take from the race and build on as I get back into a consistent training schedule. It will take a lot of TLC to get my beloved Alma back into proper working order. Hopefully it will not require too much credit card usage, but I think a new chain and brake pads will be necessary at a minimum. (Groans)

Sylvan Island Stampede

Report to follow from the "Sylvan Island Slop Fest"

Tim during an early lap, riding into one of many puddles

Bill riding through the start finish area

Dirt eater

Palos Meltdown 2009

According to the Cambr website, Sunday August 30th is the date of the 2009 Palos Meltdown. Registration will open on July 1st to non-Cambr members.

As far as I know, this will be the only mountain bike race in the Chicagoland area this year.

Mark your calenders.