Montvale Mahem Race Report

I had to do 2 posts..my pics are pulling in weird to blogger.

OW!!!!! That about summarizes the Montvale Mahem Race. It's been 3 months since my last cross country race. During that time I was riding fairly strong until about a month and a half ago. Hubby dislocated his shoulder...so I sort of lost a little motivation to ride.. I felt guilty every time I went out w/ out him. I haven't been putting in the long road miles to keep up my endurance & although I've been riding..I haven't felt really strong. Laura keeps getting stronger & stronger since she healed from a crash earlier in the fall. She's been focusing on the Iceman coming up in November all the while practicing short, intense, fast stuff. I knew going into the race it was gonna be a close. I was totally up in the air about racing until about 2 days ago when I saw Laura & Kristin had signed up to do expert. Sport, Singlespeeders & Experts all did the same length..so I decided if I'm gonna race, I may as well sign up for Expert too...just to make it interesting & possibly get some cash out of it for my effort.I had not ridden out here since February. Back then the trails were still fairly new. Much more has been added since then. I had heard folks talking about the course..how fast it was, where the log crossings were, the long climbs...Basically it was a course where you're on the gas the entire time. I would be riding "blind" as I had not pre-ridden the course so I had no clue what was in store.
When we lined up at the start, the girls were quite "whiny"...It was pretty comical to the boyz...they probably thought..."geez, what the heck are they racing for w/ all that whining...were's the cheese??? "
The start began w/ a gravel road climb.....great way to start for someone who hasn't been climbing real well. Laura pushed the pace right out of the gate. If I was even going to have a shot at doing well, I knew I had to stay on her wheel. We climbed the road, then onto the grassy section...then through the freezing cold creek into the singletrack. We ascended Yellow Drum trail..lots of leaves, roots, climbing. Laura was going so hard...I wondered if I would be able to stay w/ her. We got to one of the switchbacks & she pulled off...I took over the lead as we continued up. I thought to myself..oh no...I'm gonna pace the whole race and end up losing in the end. (nice positive self talk huh?) We continued on...up Bealle's Treasure, twisting turning, climbing, descending. A few of the sport boys caught us as we continued.. I had a slight gap going through the second half of the course. It was a ton of fun...very fast downhills, a few bermed turns..the only weird thing was the course went back and forth on itself so much, you could see your competitors but could never gauge how far in front you were. As I descended this super fun section, I must have hit a root the wrong way. The next thing I knew, I was in a heap of leaves on the side of the trail. One of the other riders who caught me said I was riding soo fast..next thing he saw was the lump of Paula laying in the leaves.
I got back on & continued. Little did I know I had the start of a nice bruise on my thigh...OW #1. As I continued, I encountered the log crossings. I was so hesitant after my crash that I ended up walking over all of them. It was pathetic. I have a bike w/ big wheels & couldn't do the darn logs!
I continued to push my pace b/c I figured Laura was right on my tail....Lap 2 was harder than lap one. On the climbs, I could feel twinges in my legs...never a good sign b/c I could tell I was on the verge of cramping. I kept drinking & eating my Shot blocks...but all the while telling myself..push the pace, she's gonna get you.
I crashed again in a different spot on lap 2. It was a sandy switchback where I had too much speed & just washed out. I did a 180 degree turn before falling. Argggh! OW #2.........Through Lap 2 I caught a glimpse of Laura in the same area as I was. I pushed it a little more b/c I didn't know how much time I had on her. As I came through the check point, the marshals were encouraging me on. I was running out of gas. The first part of the lap is mostly climb. My legs were starting to cramp...not good. I continued to push through it. Lap 3 was clean...slow, but clean. I still hiked all of the log crossings but I did not crash & maintained good control. I was flying the downhills b/c I knew I could make up ground there since I was labored in my climbing. Came through the last section & then followed the directions to head in. Another sport buddy of mine caught me. He said I had at least 2 minutes on Laura...I said "are you sure..b/c I think she's right there"...he said I was fine. By this point my legs were severely cramping. I didn't think I could make it back b/c there was one more climb. Going through the cold stream didn't help b/c I tensed my muscles ....as we headed back out the grass, I tried to spin & pace w/ the sport....he paced me up the climb....I was groaning & in a serious world of hurt. I tried to spin fast to the finish and that's when my right calf quit. It seized up & I couldn't get my foot out of the pedal to stretch it. Finally I got it out. I hit the finish line screaming. OW #3 Kenny (race promoter) was giving me a hard time for not taking my Sport Legs..when in fact I had taken my pre-race supplement (race caps)....I think I was a little dehydrated going into it & the constant up/down contributed to the cramping. Laura was only a few minutes back..she finished strong.

Overall I'm pleased w/ my effort.

..I wasn't happy about the cramping but I think I know how to fix that.

RoanokeOutside.com/Mail It Plus had a good showing at today's race

Expert Female: 1st- Paula Schimizzi, 2nd - Laura White

Sport Female - 1st - Jennifer Divers

Sport Male - 2nd - Adam Caldwell

Montvale Mahem Race Pictures

NEW TEAM SPONSORS CHECK 'EM OUT AT WWW.ROANOKEOUTSIDE.COM

Cove Trail work & creature sightings

Been a blog slacker again.....sorry...

We did trail work at the Cove on Saturday to fill in some really muddy spots on Songbird Trail. I spent most of the time helping to sort out rocks. After a while the rocks started looking the same. We rode today to try out our handywork. It rode much smoother...flowed well & our line of sight is much better now. The trail looks a little wide

where we had to dig...but that will get overgrown again in time.

Thursday night I finally saw my first bear of the season. A mamma & 3 cubs. ..We kept our distance...the cubs were very cute.

Saturday we saw a rattle snake while working on the trails....he wasn't so cute.

here are some pics..(borrowed from Laura...thanks!)

Carvin's Cove Race Report

Sunday was the second installment of the Roanoke Moutain Bike Challenge (RMBC)

The time trial up Mill Mtn was Sat. I felt good & had a decent time.

Sunday I was the only single speed chicky..but I started w/ the sport women & would do the same course as them. I think there were 6 or 7 female sport riders.. a few of whom I knew would be strong riders. My goal would be to finish among the t

op female sports..

When the riders lined up to the start, they had all of the sport men, women, clydesdales, and single speeders starting en mass. We had a "neutral" rolling start to the gate, once through the gate it was every person for themself. The neutral start was a little squirrelly. I tried to stay towards mid pak...I knew I wasn't fast enough to be in front, but I didn't want to be the last into the trails either.

When we arrived at the gate, the riders actually entered through in a single file, orderly fashion. They we hit the fireroad & took off to be some of the first into Songbird. This was a bit of a cluster getting in because people were already getting of of their bikes. I traded places with one of the clydesdales back & forth...I ended up having to go around him....then I ended up behind someone else who would stop at every technical section. (Songbird isn't very technical..one creek crossing, a few rocks embedded in the trails, etc). I knew if I wanted to gain any ground on the other chickies, I had to get around this dude.

I passed him in the cree

k because he stopped in the middle of the trail!!..I continued on..weaving & bobbing, pedaling, just having a blast. As I exited Songbird, my friend Skip was there encouraging me on. We then dumped into Enchanted Forest & on to Lower Comet. I was already running into people breaking chains & getting flats. I just kept praying I would have no mechanicals.

After Comet, we dumped back on the fire road & started the first ascent on the 1000' climb. I passed two guys who had passed me earlier on Comet. I continued to pedal & tried to get into a rhythm. I approached the feed zone where they were passing out bottles of cold water...I passed b/c I didn't have anywhere to put the bottle. I continued on up..mostly climbing alone...although I never looked behind me to see how far back the girls were. In a way I didn't want to know so it wouldn't put more pressure on me.

As I got near the intersection of Jacob's drop, I caught my teammate Chris. I was shocked I caught him..so I figured somet

hing must be wrong. I asked if he needed anything & his response was."Geez I must really stink today since I'm getting passed by you!" Thanks alot, Chris. I passed him & entered Hemlock Tunnel. I knew I didn't want Chris behind me so I slowed a little so he could catch up & pass me. I never saw him after that. A little motivation every now & then is good. As I started to descend Hemlock Tunnel, I started talking out loud to myself...I guess I was coaching myself down..."feather your front brake, let off of the back brake, get your weight back, look out ahead, keep a good line, relax, breathe" Luckily no one was around to hear all of this chatter, but it helped & I got down safely without dabbing on any switchbacks.

As I continued on Hemlock Tunnel, I started trading places w/ an expert dude. He'd dust me on the downhills, but I'd catch back up on the climbs. Once out of Hemlock Tunnel, we climbed up the fireroad...there's a stiff climb at the top & I was determined to make it w/out walking....and I did!! Yea me!. All the while I still had no idea where the girls were. I figured they were close to 1 minute or less behind me....so I kept giving it all I had.

Onto comet..got through safely..had a couple of hike a bike sections but kept a good pace..

Once through comet, it was back on the fireroad & back up part of the 1000' climb. I checked my time & realized I had a shot at finishing in under 1 hour 45 minutes. I decided to go for it but had to get up the second climb. It w

as pretty tough..especially w/ one gear. I settled in & rode steady..Once on to Connector(Four Gorge Trail)...I rode w/ another expert. He was pretty banged up..had crashed a few times & flatted...not a good day for him. As we continued, I decided I couldn't hold his pace & passed him. I continue on but the trail seemed to take forever to end. I caught up to a beginner girl & shouted some encouragement to her...she looked like she was going to have a meltdown at any time...poor thing.

I checked my time at the intersection of Hi Dee Ho...1:38....I can do this I thought to myself....I put the hammer down & rode as fast as I could to the finish.

Final time 1:40 and some change. I waited & waited for the strong girls to come out. Finally the first one arrived 9 minutes after I finished!...Wow...I knew I was ahead but didn't think I had that big of a lead...I was thrilled.

All in all it was a great race (of course it is when you do well) There were a few factors that contributed to my good race...Great Weather ( mid 80's & low humidity...I don't do well in heat), I knew the course well (ride out there every week), stayed relaxed, no mechanicals & just went out to have fun. Thanks to RCO for putting on another fun event.

MMTT

Mill Mountain Time Trial

It was hard, and it was all up...except for a little section on Monument.

We started a 1:00 intervals, up the alley, then right on Sylvan road, then climb a little bit of Sylvan to the trailhead at Monument. The alley was steep...I wasn't feeling great on the alley or the road. Once I got on to Monument, I felt a little better. I settled into a groove & pedaled away. I soon caught one of the boyz up ahead...pedaled a little longer & caught a second boy! Woo hoo..I was stoked b/c I didn't think I catch the second one. Then there was a third just before the fun downhill part on Monument. Got around him & put the hammer down....Came out flying & took the right hand turn up ridgeline. I could tell someone was behind me but wasn't sure who. It turned out to be my teammate Adam CAldwell who started 2 minutes behind me. He was absolutely flying. ONce he got around me, he just flew up the hill. All that road biking he has been doing has made him super fast.

I got to the switchback on Ridgeline & passed one more person. Then I had to walk the switchback..this is where I lost a little time b/c I couldn't get clipped back in. I continued up....came out in the grass, got on the path & back into the grass. I got passed by 2 more really fast boys...one started 4 minutes back, the other 5 minutes....they were flying. It was all I could do to keep my pedals turning. It was so steep on this section. I lumbered through.

Total time 23:18......There was only one other chicky...she did it in 22:54..... I'm pleased w/ my result. I could sit here & go shoulda, coulda, woulda, but it doesn't change the final results. I gave it my best & that's all I can ask for. I did beat some boys so that's always a plus....

Tomorrow is the Carvin's Cove cross country.

Burn 24 hours

This was our home away from home for the 2009 Burn 24 hours held in Wilkesboro, NC.  

The course was the same as last year...a little climbing on the front side & lots of fun, fast, bermed turns, downhills on the back side. 

350 riders were signed up.   Roanoke Cycling sent 2 teams of 4 riders each down for the event.   

Our team did a rotation of 1 lap each, then Skippy pulled doubles.  I felt good on my first couple of daytime laps.  As we progressed into the nightime hours we decided we'd all pull double laps.  When it came to be around 1:30 or so, I was hanging out waiting for my turn when the skies opened up & dropped some nice rain showers upon the riders.  I decided to head back to the tent & get my jacket.  I ventured back out on course and had a really rough time.  The roots were slick, I was overheated, & I had a rock in my shoe. At one point I sat down off of the trail to get rid of the rock when Dave (he was on the other RCO team) came by & asked if I was ok....I said I was, just having a rough lap.  The following lap was much better as the rain had subsided & I could lose the jacket.    I headed back to the RV to sleep until my next daytime lap. I don't really know if I slept all that well...I never sleep well in new enviroments and this would be true for this race.   I headed back out for my 7:00 am. lap.  This was probably my fastest lap.  I felt great..legs were strong I was flying.  I should have pulled a double when I got back & my teammate was having mechanical issues...We got him fixed up & off he went.    We debated about sending a last rider out before the cutoff, but we realized it would only move us up one place in the standings & it had started to rain again..so it wasn't worth risking injury. 

Overall we had a great time. Our team came in 9th while the other RCO team came in 4th.  Dave pulled the fastest lap of all of the RCO gang...something like 38 minutes...That's moving!

I can't wait to do another one...(as soon as I get over the crud I caught from riding in the rain all night...yuk)

Ah, this is the life

When the time comes for me to "retire" from racing this is how I'd love to spend my days.  Relaxing on a quiet beach or pursuing my other passion:  Golf