Monday, September 25, 2006

Va Derailer Race #4 - Falling Creek Park, Bedford, VA

Sat, Setpember 23, 2006


This course was a 4.25 miler complete w/ grassy field sections & lots of singletrack, some of it freshly cut. I’m so glad we pre-rode this course the Sunday before the race so we knew what to expect. Last year’s course was a 50/50 mix of long doubletrack (aka grassy field) and single track sections. The folks out in Bedford have been putting in a lot of time in the off-season to change the look of this course. It’s still just over 4 miles but it’s probably 90% singletrack.

The sport chickies started at the same time as all the sport men & Clydesdales. Knowing the course, I suggested to the gals we start behind the guys and just sort of pace ourselves. The course starts w/ about a ½ mile prologue around a grassy field w/ a slight climb towards the end just before dumping into the singletrack. Since we had to do 4 laps, I decided I would not go out hard on this prologue. I thought that some of the other ladies would do the pace setting but everyone felt content at the pace being set so we cruised along together. I mentioned to the ladies that things were likely to get backed up as we entered the first section of trail. Just before entering the singletrack, I noticed one of the sport gals in the 18 – 35 category along side of me. I asked her if she wanted to go first & she said “no, no…I’m good right where I am”

Everyone negotiated the first right hand switchback, then we twisted & turned down the trail to the next switchback. This one was a bit tighter & turned left. I consistently bobbled on this one on the pre-ride & did the same in the race. We continued on to a section of newly cut trail…slick, uphill, rooty. I didn’t quite have my legs to climb this so I hopped off & ran it. Back on the bike to descend through a chute between 2 trees before turning left into a small open section before the next round of singletrack. Along the way I was already noticing riders on the side w/ chain issues. I kept telling myself, “please, no mechanicals, ride smooth”

The other sport ladies were not far behind. The next section of trail includes another steep, slick uphill section. Once again I was off my bike running up this. I noticed the other sport lady tried it..she almost made it until at the very top, lost momentum, then slid all the way back down. She was laughing because it looked like someone had hit the “rewind” button the way she slid down. I hopped back on the bike and prepared for the right hand turn on the slick root, and climbed up the rest of the way.

Next we dumped into more twisty singletrack. Here’s where you could start gaining time. This section of trail is not terribly technical so you can gas it a bit. It eventually turns right and parallels a pond before getting to a series of logs. At this point, some of the beginner men were starting to catch us. Just before the first big log I knew I two guys behind me. I could not do this log so I let the guys know I was getting off on the left & to pass me on the right. They shouted a big “thanks” and were well on their way. I continued through the rest of the logs, onto another section of trail which was smooth & fast. A couple more beginners got behind me just before a twisty, turny section. I shouted “just let me get through this twisty, turny part & I’ll let ya’ll go” They said no problem. This section dumps out to a fast, grassy downhill. I moved left & let the boys go.

Next came a left turn over a bridge into more singletrack. I was very confident entering this section. We paralleled a stream for a bit, then take a left hand turn up about 100’ more on the hill. We cruise back the way we came on this for a bit. Then come the woop de woos. Riders had a choice of doing the more moderate trail or the whoops. I inadvertently chose the woops but they were fun & manageable. One way was not quicker than the other. The last downhill of the whoops was a little tricky. Back up the hill, right hand turn, more climbing through some loose rock, then across the ridge. Here’s another place to make up more time. You could look below you to see the other riders. The other sport lady was traversing across but I knew she still had to climb so I gassed it a bit more. I negotiated more tricky dips and roots, crossed another bridge & made the right hand turn back into the field. Here’s another place to put the hammer down before entering the last stretch of singletrack that winds you back up to where you started.

Ok 1 lap down, 3 more to go. Lap 2 was pretty uneventful. I maintained a good distance between myself & the other ladies. Lap 3…was a little unnerving. I managed the first 2 switchbacks on the beginning part of the trail. I was preparing for the slick, greasy, off camber section when I heard an awful noise coming from my derailer. Uh oh..Off the bike & tried to run, except my back wheel was completely locked up.

I had thrown my chain on the back to the inside! I was freaking out on the inside knowing my competition could not be far behind. I flipped the bike over, got the back wheel off and freed the chain. Now comes the fun part..I was shaking so bad that I could barely get the wheel back on & lined up correctly. About that time, Todd Reighley (aka Speedracer) asked if I was good. I said yea..go ahead (when in all actuality I was freaking out!) Fortunately Ryan, a friend of Rev, one of the El Toreo crew came along & asked if I needed help. I told him I couldn’t get the wheel lined up. He checked it for me & helped me tighten it down. Thank goodness…..Ryan, you’re a lifesaver! Back on the bike…at this point I was so frazzled that I kept bobbling every few feet or so. I just needed to calm down a bit & I’d be ok.

I settled back into a groove & was careful on shifts to ensure I did not throw the chain again. Towards the end of lap 3 I realized all of my Hammer Gel had spilled out. Luckily another teammate had some extra Clif Shot for me which kept me going.

Lap 4 was clean & I finished strong. The 18 -35 sport lady finished just a few minutes back from me. I came in 1st sport woman overall. One more race to go..the Poor Mountain Hill Climb!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Peaksview Park Race - Lynchburg, VA

The third Va Derailer Series race was held this past weekend in Lynchburg. This course is very twisty w/ tons of switchbacks & trails which double back on themselves. No huge climbs..but very challenging nonetheless.

We had a staggered start w/ the female sport riders starting behind the "big boyz" a.ka. Clydesdales. I was glad we got to start together. 6 sport ladies lined up. 3 of the ladies were in the younger sport class & 3 of us were in the "old lady" category. The first 3/4 of the course was on a paved road, then you go around a soccer field until dumping into the singletrack. I took off at the start knowing there were a couple strong ladies who could hammer the road. I kept the pace high, maybe a little too high, but I really wanted to get into the woods first. As I pedaled like crazy I thought someone would certainly take the lead, that's when I heard one of the ladies exclaim "I'm just gonna sit back and draft off of you" I glanced back & sure enough, the ladies were lined up single file w/ me setting an 18mph pace. Great, I thought, I'm gonna blow up on the first mile!

We rounded the soccer field and then took the left hand turn into the first climb on the singletrack. I knew what was coming b/c I had pre-rode in the rain earlier that week. I geared down slightly and hammered on to the first climb. I heard the sound of chain suck behind be & was thankful I did not get tangled up behind the mechanical problem one of the ladies had.
As I climbed the rooty trail, I heard some of my fellow Tuesday night "chicky" riders cheering me on! I shouted back " Chicky's rock" and continued twisting and turning my bike through the trail. I knew the girls weren't far behind so I kept the pace high.

Midway through the first lap I let some of the beginner men go by me. They were hammering pretty good & I did not want to hold them up. Chris Clark, one of my Team El Toreo teammates was in this group. I jumped on his wheel & kept their pace for a little while. At one point, the trail leveled a bit. I shouted to the guys "come on, pick it up, let's go". They picked it up slightly but not to my liking. I thought I'd "motivate" them a little more. I then shouted..."come on guys...you don't want to get passed by a girl...do you?" That's all it took...they increased the pace and were soon out of sight. As they drifted out of sight, I encouraged Chris a little more to stay w/ them.

I was feeling great on the bike and tried to maintain a steady rhythm. I also made sure I stayed well hydrated, drinking every chance I could get. I did have a bobble on the Roller Coaster section falling on some slick rocks...Ouch. Towards the end of the 1st lap, I followed another sport male rider..His pace was somewhat slower than I wanted but it was good because it kept me in check. Then I heard a female rider shout "finally, another female" I realized it was Kelly, one of the younger sport women....Kelly's pretty strong & she had ridden this course before so I knew she would hang tough this second lap. I asked her where the other ladies were..she said one had a mechanical as we dumped in the trail, but was not far back. We descended down to the road. I passed the sport male and turned up the gas. Kelly was not far behind. As I made the turn at the soccer field, I could see her fast approaching..maybe 15 seconds.

I rode as hard as I could on the second lap. Continually looking at the trails and listening to see how far back the other chicky was on the course.. I caught a couple of glimpses on some of the trails which double back...I kept my pace high while still maintaining control of the bike. I had a few more bobbles as I started to tire but nothing too major. Just before entering the roller coaster for the 2nd time I caught up to another El Toreo Teammate, Frank. I asked him if he had any gel b/c I was starting to cramp & forgot mine Doh! Fortunately he did...what a lifesaver...problem was the next mile or so of trail was so twisty & turny I could not take my had off the bars so I rode on, gel packet dangling from my mouth. I looked like a cat w/ a fresh kill, it was quite the site!
Finally, a straightaway so I could get a swig of the gel...I reached for my water bottle to wash it down and ....aaaaaaaahh No liquid! Oh well, I swallowed as best as I could..Yuk!!

As I continued the second lap, I kept listening to see if any chicky's were coming. I couldn't tell so I just kept hammering. I crashed again on those stupid rocks on the Roller Coaster...I fell in the same spot & landed on the same hip..now I have a beautiful, multicolored bruise...pretty.
Out of the trail & onto the road. I put it in my big ring & pedaled as hard as I could. W/ the finish line in sight, lots of my teammates were already in. They were screaming & yelling. I get such a rush from folks cheering that I get an extra adrenaline boost. It's pretty cool. As I went by my hubby, he exclaimed "You're the first one in"! Woo Hoo I crossed the finish line & waited to see where Kelly was....Here she came..under 1 minute behind...I cheered for her as she neared the finish....Great Job Chicky!

Overall time was 2 hours 3 minutes & 8 seconds..not too shabby for an old lady.

Next up: Bedford....
Hopefully I'll get some pics up soon