Mtb Race Report: SSing to Glory! (or something therelike)
Eschewing the Burlington ‘Cross race for the more manageable pursuit of mountain bike racing, associated operative Brian Bergeler and I headed down to Greenville for their “Toys 4 Tots” race on Sunday. With the promise of free post-race barbecue and rideable trails when everything in the Triangle was soaked, the free-with-the-donation-of-one-child’s-toy race seemed just the thing for early winter blahs.
After happily delivering my “Mr. Pirate Potato Head” (thanks Brian!) to the sharply dressed military men and taking my place alongside the two other single-speeders at the starting line, we were off. No big to-do, just a “go” from some guy. Right on.
We were then treated to three six-mile laps around prime eastern NC singletrack. In some ways this was just the thing for my big wheels and one gear: there was little elevation change, and the big wheels smoothed out the rooty, bumpy, sandy surface. However, that didn’t keep me from begging (mentally, at least, and a couple times aloud to non-existent bystanders) for a little bounce in the back and at least a couple more gears. Every time the trail cut out of the woods into the recently logged -- and thus newly cut -- trail I wanted something that would allow me to sit and spin rather than stand and mash. I think those things are called “gears” and “suspension.” Crazy talk, I know.
That said, I found myself making decent time after the first lap. The course had lots of short, steep inclines that forced me to stand and pound my way up, and loud though my legs may have been screaming at the top of each rise, I was forced to charge to the top faster than those who could downshift. Further, while there were some tight places where my 29er seemed to be reminding me some equation from physics about inertia and rotating mass (I don’t remember the equation, but I remember that it ended in “= ouch”), in general I enjoyed the way I was able to lean into the sticky-sand corners and carve my way through the trees. Brian agreed that it was a nice course: maybe not as nice as anything in the western part of the state (ya know, “mountain biking”), but a good mix of speed and technical challenges.
I finished the three laps in 1 hr. 50 min and 51 sec: nothing to brag over, particularly, but I did negative split on my last lap, and that made me happy. It was good enough for third place in the SS category. Those of you paying attention might notice that this was also last place in the SS category. Whatchagonnado?
Actually, that’s a good question, as my time was only good for third in SSs, but that also equaled third overall, and would have been good for first in the Sport class. I’m not sure what this means: That SSs are naturally faster on this course? That gears and suspension just slow you down? That I should race in another class? Really, I’m not sure how to play this one. (Full results available here: http://www.digitalelysium.net/ecvelo/events/racing/2006BPToysForTotsMTBRaceResults.)
Brian, one of the few non-SSers on a hardtail, rocked out on the Stumpie for a seventh place finish – not bad for his first mtb race in five years. I’d hate to see what he’d do on a trail with some real climbs.
The post-race pig roast would have been divine, if not for the increasing cold and intermittent sprinkles, so Brian and I slammed down some pig and jetted it back to D-town for hot showers and Sunday Night Football. At least this week we didn’t feel too lazy about zoning out to Madden’s inanities.
After happily delivering my “Mr. Pirate Potato Head” (thanks Brian!) to the sharply dressed military men and taking my place alongside the two other single-speeders at the starting line, we were off. No big to-do, just a “go” from some guy. Right on.
We were then treated to three six-mile laps around prime eastern NC singletrack. In some ways this was just the thing for my big wheels and one gear: there was little elevation change, and the big wheels smoothed out the rooty, bumpy, sandy surface. However, that didn’t keep me from begging (mentally, at least, and a couple times aloud to non-existent bystanders) for a little bounce in the back and at least a couple more gears. Every time the trail cut out of the woods into the recently logged -- and thus newly cut -- trail I wanted something that would allow me to sit and spin rather than stand and mash. I think those things are called “gears” and “suspension.” Crazy talk, I know.
That said, I found myself making decent time after the first lap. The course had lots of short, steep inclines that forced me to stand and pound my way up, and loud though my legs may have been screaming at the top of each rise, I was forced to charge to the top faster than those who could downshift. Further, while there were some tight places where my 29er seemed to be reminding me some equation from physics about inertia and rotating mass (I don’t remember the equation, but I remember that it ended in “= ouch”), in general I enjoyed the way I was able to lean into the sticky-sand corners and carve my way through the trees. Brian agreed that it was a nice course: maybe not as nice as anything in the western part of the state (ya know, “mountain biking”), but a good mix of speed and technical challenges.
I finished the three laps in 1 hr. 50 min and 51 sec: nothing to brag over, particularly, but I did negative split on my last lap, and that made me happy. It was good enough for third place in the SS category. Those of you paying attention might notice that this was also last place in the SS category. Whatchagonnado?
Actually, that’s a good question, as my time was only good for third in SSs, but that also equaled third overall, and would have been good for first in the Sport class. I’m not sure what this means: That SSs are naturally faster on this course? That gears and suspension just slow you down? That I should race in another class? Really, I’m not sure how to play this one. (Full results available here: http://www.digitalelysium.net/ecvelo/events/racing/2006BPToysForTotsMTBRaceResults.)
Brian, one of the few non-SSers on a hardtail, rocked out on the Stumpie for a seventh place finish – not bad for his first mtb race in five years. I’d hate to see what he’d do on a trail with some real climbs.
The post-race pig roast would have been divine, if not for the increasing cold and intermittent sprinkles, so Brian and I slammed down some pig and jetted it back to D-town for hot showers and Sunday Night Football. At least this week we didn’t feel too lazy about zoning out to Madden’s inanities.
posted by DukePirate at 3:46 PM
3 Comments:
mr. pirate potato head rocks the catbox!!!!!!!!!!!!
nice work, fellas.
in regard to categories: there isn't a full-suspension or hardtail category, so i think singlespeeders should race with the group. unless there are beer laps, which there always should be.
the thing is, you can't spell "singlespeed" without "speed".
No beer on this one, unfortunately. Actually, it was a little cold for mid-race beers, and even the post-race cooler I brought down went uncracked. Sad to admit, I know, but there ya go.
Post a Comment
<< Home