RECAP!!
I always hate figuring out how to start writing something, so I'll just start.
Rolled up with ReggieHammond and JohnnieOxford, both SSAP veterans. Got in nice and early, plenty of time to get sorted. I picked 32x18 on Saturday but was THIS close to swapping it for 32x19. With my setup it's a semi-big deal to do so I stuck with it, but was nervous about it. This was my first SSAP and the longest MTB ride I'd ever done. What could possibly go wrong?😀
Lined up with Burke, mcim29, Juggernaut, and Wonderturtle, NJ Sport was second to last group out. At this point the plan is to pace myself for the long haul. But I'm not really wired that way. We take off, long fire road run. After I couple minutes partly due to my gearing I start going a bit faster and working my way through some of the crowd. It's pretty chill, I'm talking to peeps and stuff.
First singletrack is a giant mess. Ugh, I hate mud, and I'm worried about getting my feet cold and wet. It was cool in the AM but I dressed lighter for the later temps. All this kinda stuff in the back of my mind. I'm slowly working my way past guys here and there with the odd fatbike ripping past. Around mile 6 I start thinking less endurance and more racy.
Going to switch gears from play by play to impressions. Like a dog chasing a rabbit, as long as there's riders ahead to pass I keep doing so. Passing is bizarre here. I'll work my way up to someone, roll around with them for a bit, get past and suddenly they disappear, like gone. It's really odd because it's not like I upped the tempo. It happened enough times that I noticed it. I sometimes will push the pace if I have a rider behind me, maybe it's something like that. One guy I rolled around with was really strong on the flats, I thought I was going to lose touch with him. Then he bobbled a climb, I went past and never saw him again. Weird.
As it turns out I'm not bad at full power out-of-the-saddle steep climbs, as I make some moves on some bigger hills. I kinda suck at seated lesser inclines. On the fire roads my gearing is great flat or downhill, just as sucky as everyone else on the steeps. So good enough. I had completely the wrong impression of the place, really didn't expect as much singletrack so I was determined to make the gearing work for me. Big power climbs don't seem to really wear me out, more the grindy ones.
Around mile 12 I started to get a little bored. That might not be the right word but I lost focus. Also my knee, which was hurting when I had a SS bike a couple years ago, starts to act up a bit. So now I'm worrying about that. Just before the aid station (I think) is a really tough section of ST. Tight, rocky, and muddy. I'm behind a Dark Horse jersey which is good as he knows the lines but he pulls off about 3/4 the way through. With my rigid fork this is frankly the toughest part so far. Too much more of that and I'm going to be done for. I spend the rest of the race fearing the appearance of similar sections.
So I grab a couple beers (Dixie cups, I'm not a drunk!) at the aid station around mile 15. Bonus sweet SSAP bottle opener is proffered. Nice! Beer seems to help. A word about nutrition. I don't have any. I brought a Cliff bar but just don't want it, and only have straight water in my bottles. I had cereal and a bagel for breakfast. As again this is my first of these deals I have no reference. You hit the backside of the aid station at mile 17, so I top off of my waters and grab a couple chocolate pretzels. Did I mention I ralphed up dinner (bad sushi I presume) at 1 am? Probably not the best plan for carbo-loading.
At this point I start to feel pretty good. Just being past the halfway mark is a big morale boost. I'm pretty sure now that I'm going to finish and try to keep a decent pace going. It's strange but often I'm by myself. One section of the course goes through an open higher elevation field and I was absolutely alone front and rear, maybe a 1/4 mile visible each way. I found it very peaceful and restoring. Up until mile 23 or so I'm still firing pretty well. My hands and arms are getting sore, my right tricep especially, and my calves are burning some, but nothing bad. I've never had cramping issues and fortunately this seems to hold true.
Then I flatted. Dug out the CO2 and inflator, filled it up to semi-normal feel and unscrewed the CO2. This is dumb as I should have A. filled the tire up more. B. Left the CO2 set up for next time. So now I'm thinking about the tire a lot. It holds ok from mile 24 to 28 and I am really counting the miles down now hoping nothing else happens. I didn't realize it but the last section of the course re-runs the start. It looks awfully familiar but I'm tired and there are no other riders around. I contemplate turning around to check if I missed the turn, which had three foot long yellow arrows pointing the way but hey, maybe I'm hallucinating. I'm really dragging along now as I'm not sure if I should keep going this way. Fortunately another rider happens along and says yeah, this way.
Part of the dragging is the tire is flat again. Crap, I'm so close to the finish but it's bad and I have to do something. It goes quick, I grab another CO2, jam it on and remount just before another pack comes along. It was only maybe 1/4 mile to the finish so I probably could have left it. I stand and sprint across the line because. Position is 27 of 41, 3 hours six minutes. Initially I was disappointed, I made quite a few passes but most of those were probably NY Sport racers as that field was much bigger and started ahead of us. But A. I've never done this long a ride before. B. Never been here before. C. I built my bike in the basement out of spare parts for cheap (with a little help). So if I do this again I've got some ideas what to revise.
The race was run very well, food and drink were great, a really fun vibe to the deal and the weather couldn't have been nicer. The park is super fun, would definitely ride there again. Thanks to JDgang for the spot and ReggieH and JohnnieO for putting up with me!
