JDurk
Well-Known Member
For many of us, this was the first mtb race of the '26 season. Please share your experience.
I'll go first. Usually not too excited about this race. But, it's close to home and good to see how the winter training went. Since it's been a shitty weather winter, most of my time was spent inside. Normally I've had a few very long Pine Barrens rides but weather, family stuff and the human GPS that puts together the rides had some surgery and was off the bike.
Raced last year in the Endurance 45+ class on the IndyFab rigid SS, which again was the plan this year, running 34x17 gearing. After bothering the promoter to add Endurance SS, it was finally added last week and there was 7 pre-reg. 2 familiar names that included @Matt_ so I knew the pace would be quick at the start. Lined up with Matt and his teammate on the left side of the start, the other familiar face Kevin Claus was on the right side of the start a few rows ahead. Once in the ST, noticed I was on Matt's teammates wheel for a bit until he pulled away sitting in what I assumed was 4th place. On the 1st or 2nd lap, had a rider pass me on the DT road on a FS Santa Cruz with a tensioner. Now I'm in 5th place. Pretty much rode alone with an occasional pass. Only remember being lapped by a few Endurance Open racers, at least the top 3. Course was pretty much the same as last year except for a new ST section that was loamy, twisty and rolling up/downs. Trail wasn't packing down the longer the race went on and sapped a bit of energy.
Did 6 laps last year and the goal with to try for a 7th this year. Doing math in my head after 4 laps, figured I could, however the body was telling me otherwise on Lap 5 when I started feeling crampy but able to pedal out of that feeling. On the 6th lap it was worse. Came into the finish gates and could see I was under the 4hr mark. With both timers cheering me on to go out for another, I slow rolled, braked before the line to let the clock run out and called it a day to their disappointment. Nutrition and hydration for the day was three 22oz bottles with 2 scoops of Perpetuem, one 20oz bottle with 1.5 scoops of Heed and a banana. Worked out well for me.
While gathering my feed area stuff, met @Hair Face and had a conversation about how our day went. Checked out results and while talking to Kevin Claus he razzed me about not going out for a 7th lap, because official time was sub 4hrs. Finished 5th of 7. Later in the evening Kevin informed me via Strava comment that I was "3rd in the AARP SS race" as 5 of 7 racers were 50+.
I'll go first. Usually not too excited about this race. But, it's close to home and good to see how the winter training went. Since it's been a shitty weather winter, most of my time was spent inside. Normally I've had a few very long Pine Barrens rides but weather, family stuff and the human GPS that puts together the rides had some surgery and was off the bike.
Raced last year in the Endurance 45+ class on the IndyFab rigid SS, which again was the plan this year, running 34x17 gearing. After bothering the promoter to add Endurance SS, it was finally added last week and there was 7 pre-reg. 2 familiar names that included @Matt_ so I knew the pace would be quick at the start. Lined up with Matt and his teammate on the left side of the start, the other familiar face Kevin Claus was on the right side of the start a few rows ahead. Once in the ST, noticed I was on Matt's teammates wheel for a bit until he pulled away sitting in what I assumed was 4th place. On the 1st or 2nd lap, had a rider pass me on the DT road on a FS Santa Cruz with a tensioner. Now I'm in 5th place. Pretty much rode alone with an occasional pass. Only remember being lapped by a few Endurance Open racers, at least the top 3. Course was pretty much the same as last year except for a new ST section that was loamy, twisty and rolling up/downs. Trail wasn't packing down the longer the race went on and sapped a bit of energy.
Did 6 laps last year and the goal with to try for a 7th this year. Doing math in my head after 4 laps, figured I could, however the body was telling me otherwise on Lap 5 when I started feeling crampy but able to pedal out of that feeling. On the 6th lap it was worse. Came into the finish gates and could see I was under the 4hr mark. With both timers cheering me on to go out for another, I slow rolled, braked before the line to let the clock run out and called it a day to their disappointment. Nutrition and hydration for the day was three 22oz bottles with 2 scoops of Perpetuem, one 20oz bottle with 1.5 scoops of Heed and a banana. Worked out well for me.
While gathering my feed area stuff, met @Hair Face and had a conversation about how our day went. Checked out results and while talking to Kevin Claus he razzed me about not going out for a 7th lap, because official time was sub 4hrs. Finished 5th of 7. Later in the evening Kevin informed me via Strava comment that I was "3rd in the AARP SS race" as 5 of 7 racers were 50+.
