Cat 3 30-39, my first H2H race. Was kind of nervous cause I put a 19T cog on last night and I had only rolled with a 20T before. Pre-riding the loop confirmed 19T was ok. I could clear everything except the steep hill at the top. Also I decided to run the end of the next climb where you have to make the quick left then right on the to the single track.
Our group was the 1st to go. Lined up on front line with Capers and got off pretty fast, but the geared guys blew me away to the single track climb. I was maybe in 8th going up the climb. Right away I could see I could climb better than these guys and decided to take the rootier part to the right. Mistake, I got kind of hung up and 2 guys passed me to the left.
Heard Dustin say "go soundz" then headed into the single track where it was pretty impossible to pass. There were 3 guys in front of me all bunched up together. Unfortunately, the guy up front was going kind of slow for my taste and I couldn't really attempt to pass 3 guys at the same time. Started to panic a bit as I couldn't see anyoe past the 3rd guy .. looked like Capers was long gone. I said "c'mon guys" and the 3 in front of me seemed to pick it up a bit.
Eventually I saw my opening on a slight uphill with some grassy area on the side. Was able to pass 2 guys then hit a root and fell .. Probably should have waited until the double-track to pass. After I get back on and start pedalling, I hit some other rooty stuff and my only water bottle goes flying off the holder - note to self: get a bottle holder that's not 20 years old. Guy behind me says I dropped my bottle. I feel like I'm far behind enough already, so I just say "it's ok" keep going. Haven't had a sip of water yet, but don't feel too bad at this point.
Panic'ing more at this point and start mashing on the pedals and pass another guy on the single track climb. After that I'm out to the double track climb. I pass a few more people and sense of relief comes as I see that Capers is not too much ahead. There's maybe a group of 5 guys. Then we get to that crazy climb I can't make. Pedal up as much as I can then dismount. All the 5 guys in front of me are walking. I'm like what the hell, I can run this thing. I run on the left side and pass all of them. All this recent hike-a-bike / bush wacking I've done recently has paid off in full.
Go up the climb after that into that tight left and right. Clear all the logs up front. I see Luke and ask him "what place"? He says he thinks 1st and calls me sandbagger. Back at the start line now .. I hear some others say "go soundz". My SS is hurting me on the gravel road .. I think 1 guys goes past me. I see Capers right behind me. I beat him to the rooty climb. I can really use some water now, but I have none. After the climb, it looks like Capers has more in the tank, so I let him pass. I think 2 other guys passesd me at some point. Mouth is feeling really dry at this point and kind of light-headed. I hope I don't faint. I look for the water bottle where I think I dropped it, but don't see it so I keep going.
Once past the single track and back on the climbs, I can feel I'm gaining on the leaders again. But f*ck I need water. Just suck it up and head to the climb I can't clear. I see Capers walking (his 40lb bike is probably hurting him) and someone else ahead of him. I do my running man thing and pass both of them. Once I get to the next climb, I can see the NYCmtbStyle guy at the top. Maybe I can catch him. I clear the 3 logs, pass Luke and can see that I'm not gonna catch him. I come in 5 seconds behind him and 15 behind the 1st place guy. I drink a bottle of the best luke-warm tasting water I've ever had.
p.s. I wasn't planning to do all the H2H races this year, but now I'm thinking I could have a shot at the overall. I already missed Waway, so .. hmm..
p.p.s. MattyB's Misfit is crazy light. I think I may need one of them aluminum bikes. My XT wheels should be coming soon, so they should help.
Our group was the 1st to go. Lined up on front line with Capers and got off pretty fast, but the geared guys blew me away to the single track climb. I was maybe in 8th going up the climb. Right away I could see I could climb better than these guys and decided to take the rootier part to the right. Mistake, I got kind of hung up and 2 guys passed me to the left.
Heard Dustin say "go soundz" then headed into the single track where it was pretty impossible to pass. There were 3 guys in front of me all bunched up together. Unfortunately, the guy up front was going kind of slow for my taste and I couldn't really attempt to pass 3 guys at the same time. Started to panic a bit as I couldn't see anyoe past the 3rd guy .. looked like Capers was long gone. I said "c'mon guys" and the 3 in front of me seemed to pick it up a bit.
Eventually I saw my opening on a slight uphill with some grassy area on the side. Was able to pass 2 guys then hit a root and fell .. Probably should have waited until the double-track to pass. After I get back on and start pedalling, I hit some other rooty stuff and my only water bottle goes flying off the holder - note to self: get a bottle holder that's not 20 years old. Guy behind me says I dropped my bottle. I feel like I'm far behind enough already, so I just say "it's ok" keep going. Haven't had a sip of water yet, but don't feel too bad at this point.
Panic'ing more at this point and start mashing on the pedals and pass another guy on the single track climb. After that I'm out to the double track climb. I pass a few more people and sense of relief comes as I see that Capers is not too much ahead. There's maybe a group of 5 guys. Then we get to that crazy climb I can't make. Pedal up as much as I can then dismount. All the 5 guys in front of me are walking. I'm like what the hell, I can run this thing. I run on the left side and pass all of them. All this recent hike-a-bike / bush wacking I've done recently has paid off in full.
Go up the climb after that into that tight left and right. Clear all the logs up front. I see Luke and ask him "what place"? He says he thinks 1st and calls me sandbagger. Back at the start line now .. I hear some others say "go soundz". My SS is hurting me on the gravel road .. I think 1 guys goes past me. I see Capers right behind me. I beat him to the rooty climb. I can really use some water now, but I have none. After the climb, it looks like Capers has more in the tank, so I let him pass. I think 2 other guys passesd me at some point. Mouth is feeling really dry at this point and kind of light-headed. I hope I don't faint. I look for the water bottle where I think I dropped it, but don't see it so I keep going.
Once past the single track and back on the climbs, I can feel I'm gaining on the leaders again. But f*ck I need water. Just suck it up and head to the climb I can't clear. I see Capers walking (his 40lb bike is probably hurting him) and someone else ahead of him. I do my running man thing and pass both of them. Once I get to the next climb, I can see the NYCmtbStyle guy at the top. Maybe I can catch him. I clear the 3 logs, pass Luke and can see that I'm not gonna catch him. I come in 5 seconds behind him and 15 behind the 1st place guy. I drink a bottle of the best luke-warm tasting water I've ever had.
p.s. I wasn't planning to do all the H2H races this year, but now I'm thinking I could have a shot at the overall. I already missed Waway, so .. hmm..
p.p.s. MattyB's Misfit is crazy light. I think I may need one of them aluminum bikes. My XT wheels should be coming soon, so they should help.
