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Post by dgaddis1 on May 29, 2011 17:54:19 GMT -5
I did my first XC race this morning at the Dauset trails in Jackson, GA. The CSRA had a good number of folks there. The Funk family was there, Nitro, Wala, Haby, and Jimmy B. I feel like I'm missing someone...
The course was a 10.5 mile loop. Not much climbing, but rough, and very fast. Lots of roots and way more rocks than you'd expect in middle GA. Way rockier than any trail we have here locally. Not as bad as the Snake though.
Since this was my first XC race I signed up for the XC3/base 19-29 class. There were 8 of us. It was full throttle from the start. I mean, hard as you can possibly go full throttle. 2 guys went down HARD on the 1/4mile gravel road sprint to the singletrack. I entered the single at the back of the pack in 6th place (never have been a sprinter). Eventually got past one guy, slowly started to reel in two others. Then my chain jumped the cassette and got stuck between the spokes and cassette when I tried shifting to the big cog. I had to stop. My class rode off, so did part of the class that started 2mins behind us, inlcuding Nitro. Finially got the chain out, and took off trying desperatly to catch back up, I was only back a few minutes.
I caught Nitro and few other guys at a switchback where there is another crash. I stay on Nitros wheel for a ways, the pass him on a rocky climb when he's in the wrong gear and stalls. He catches me, gets on my wheel and we haul balls. We pass one guy, then catch a group of 4 guys. Then my chain gets stuck again when I shift to the big cog under power. It's really stuck this time, no matter what I do I can't get it out. I end up sitting down on the side of the trail for at least ten minutes trying to get it free. My race is over, a ton of people pass me. I almost just gave up and started walking, I was only 3 miles from the end. Eventually a volunteer/photographer comes down the hill and helps me get it out. I finish the ride at a more moderate pace. No reason in killing it at this point.
I did almost get clotheslined tho when I take a left instead of a right. I think the race tape would have broke before it yanked me off the bike...hopefully. Before I was able to stop it had already slid up my arms, chest, and was under my chin. I was focusing on the trail tread, looking for the fastest line through the dip in the left hand turn, didn't notice the tape till the last second. Close call.
I finish up, chat with Nitro and his family a bit, then run into Wala and talk to him for a while. Eventually I realize I forgot to hit stop on my stopwatch/HR monitor. Once I stop it the stats were interesting. An hour and nine minutes on the clock. My average heart rate was 181 and maxed out at 206. I might have been DFL, but it wasn't for lack of trying hahaha.
I need to adjust my RD limit screw before I ride that bike again. And pull the cassette to check the spokes.
XC racing is pretty fun. It's hard. And FAST. I don't typically go out and just hammer like that, I'm more of a settle into my own pace for several hours kind of guy. Only problem with XC races is they're short. I spent 5hrs in the car today for less than an hour ride.
Not something I'll do often for sure.
The course was a 10.5 mile loop. Not much climbing, but rough, and very fast. Lots of roots and way more rocks than you'd expect in middle GA. Way rockier than any trail we have here locally. Not as bad as the Snake though.
Since this was my first XC race I signed up for the XC3/base 19-29 class. There were 8 of us. It was full throttle from the start. I mean, hard as you can possibly go full throttle. 2 guys went down HARD on the 1/4mile gravel road sprint to the singletrack. I entered the single at the back of the pack in 6th place (never have been a sprinter). Eventually got past one guy, slowly started to reel in two others. Then my chain jumped the cassette and got stuck between the spokes and cassette when I tried shifting to the big cog. I had to stop. My class rode off, so did part of the class that started 2mins behind us, inlcuding Nitro. Finially got the chain out, and took off trying desperatly to catch back up, I was only back a few minutes.
I caught Nitro and few other guys at a switchback where there is another crash. I stay on Nitros wheel for a ways, the pass him on a rocky climb when he's in the wrong gear and stalls. He catches me, gets on my wheel and we haul balls. We pass one guy, then catch a group of 4 guys. Then my chain gets stuck again when I shift to the big cog under power. It's really stuck this time, no matter what I do I can't get it out. I end up sitting down on the side of the trail for at least ten minutes trying to get it free. My race is over, a ton of people pass me. I almost just gave up and started walking, I was only 3 miles from the end. Eventually a volunteer/photographer comes down the hill and helps me get it out. I finish the ride at a more moderate pace. No reason in killing it at this point.
I did almost get clotheslined tho when I take a left instead of a right. I think the race tape would have broke before it yanked me off the bike...hopefully. Before I was able to stop it had already slid up my arms, chest, and was under my chin. I was focusing on the trail tread, looking for the fastest line through the dip in the left hand turn, didn't notice the tape till the last second. Close call.
I finish up, chat with Nitro and his family a bit, then run into Wala and talk to him for a while. Eventually I realize I forgot to hit stop on my stopwatch/HR monitor. Once I stop it the stats were interesting. An hour and nine minutes on the clock. My average heart rate was 181 and maxed out at 206. I might have been DFL, but it wasn't for lack of trying hahaha.
I need to adjust my RD limit screw before I ride that bike again. And pull the cassette to check the spokes.
XC racing is pretty fun. It's hard. And FAST. I don't typically go out and just hammer like that, I'm more of a settle into my own pace for several hours kind of guy. Only problem with XC races is they're short. I spent 5hrs in the car today for less than an hour ride.
Not something I'll do often for sure.
Also, Huff-n-Puff can hand your rear end to you!
