This weekend was my first time attending the Peak to Peak mountain bike race which is certainly going to become a fall classic.I really broke some cardinal rules at this one, so here is a synopsis of what to do and what not to do.
Do: All your prep work to your bike two days in advance to make sure things are running right, ghost shifting blows.
Don't: Change tires out right before a race start
Do: Have your race clothes ready the night before
Don't: Scramble in the AM to find the right gear
Do: Get a proper warm up for at least 10 minutes before the race starts
Don't: Arrive cold in the start chute and blast off on a 28 MPH roll out with the group leaders and hang for the first two miles when you body is telling you it's unhappy.
Do: Maintain a heart rate that will let you finish well
Don't: Hold a 185 hear rate for the first half hour an expect to do well for more than the first lap
Overall, a learning experience and still a fun race. I owe Jim's friend Doug big time for giving me that tube when I punctured mine and the core came out of my other. I got to the start with less than two minutes to spare.
The synopsis, ten miles of flat, fast non technical single track with a half mile of uphill hell and a super fun blast weaving back and fourth across a ski hill. Overall a total roadie course, no leg rest, a total burner. Even if I had been ready and not blown out my legs early I don't think I could have moved up more than a position or two. I'll take my 18 out of 52 in my age group and be happy to finish nursing a wounded bike back.
The best part of the race? Two giant climbs that felt like I did something, post race beers with friends, and Ali getting a strong second place.
Thanks again Doug for the tube, Jim for the beer, and to Ali for not laughing at me throwing my tire and slamming my car door. :)
3 comments:
I can appreciate your thoughts on what to do NOT do... but, you really would have been quite OK that morning IF the alarm went off at 6am rather than later that evening - 6PM!!!!!!!! That 8am sunshine wake-up call was just silly. Crawling from bed 2 hours before the start of a race with a 40 minute drive ahead of us. Lack of breakfast I'm sure didn't help matters.
Oh, and I'll say it again. I loved the way you threw your tire. I mean, you usually aren't the one throwing the fits ... ;)
I wish I could've seen the tire thing. ;-)
Interesting start! Still, not shabby at all and you drew positive!
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