Always exciting to ride in a new location, even better is to race at that local, since the promoter will highlight the best trails. Rolling up to the venue was downright cold for September. On my way to registration are many of the regulars from the Catamount Weekly series, as is the Littleton Bike and Fitness crew, all of who are racing in the SS category. All who are also dangerously fast and mentally tough.
The line up for the start had us somewhat confused. Elites, SSs, and then the experts at 2 minute intervals? The race was 35 miles, basically 4 laps on a 8.5 mile loop. Most of the SSers were talking about a neutral lap to warm up and have fun. Not a chance.
Start: off we go. I didn't excatly attack from the gun, but I did make an effort to be the first into the woods so I could have a clean line in the singletrack. By all accounts I had a 10 second lead after the 800 meter grass field opener. Might have been my effort, might have been the larger gear I was riding.
The course was amazing. Each lap was about 7.5 miles of tight technical Vermont singletrack, with about 1 mile of doubletrack and dirt road. I like these numbers.
Towards the end of the first lap I start to pick my way through the trail end of the elites, while a handful of the seasoned experts come up past me. Having the experts come through was nice so I could hook up onto their wheels and pull me along until we came to a open section where suspension and gears come into play. Also not too sure where my fitness was, so I was more trail riding, not racing, as I don't want to burn all my matches.
For a majority of the race I rode my own pace, crusing along the woods, talking with the folks I knew. Either I was slowing down, or LBF Shark Jamie was accelerating through the race, but he gave me a good surprise half way through the last lap. As I was walking up a short steep hill, I hear a bike come up and a chain explode. Look back, there is Jamie cursing at his chain tensioner on his converted SS. A quick match is lite under my ass and I am cyclocrossing mounting my bike and hitting race pace. 24 hour race mode is back into play, I create anger in my mind that I can translate into pedaling the dern bike.
The next section of trail is a sweet section of singletrack that double backs on itself many times, all along this I am passing folks, while everytime I come around a switchback Jamie is there. I think I have about 10 seconds on him. Coming up to a short climb, I look back as I crest the top and see I have opened up a gap again. Focus back to not crashing and having fun, but pedalling faster than before.
Coming up a double track climb and see the shadow of the Man. Dan Delarose the promoter from Jay Challenge was grinding his FIXIE up one of the last climbs. Chit chat with him for a handfull of seconds, enough for words of encouragment, joking words, and broken french cursing a flat tire. Dan rules.
Into the finsihing loop, look back, have atleast 15 seconds so I can sit up and enjoy a nice solo win. It was great to have so many fast folks there to ride along with. Every person I met on the trail was super stoked to be riding such awsome trails. Not words of anger asking for a passing line. Great venue and I look forward to it next year!
