Night of the Living Bubba/Dawn of the Bubba

#1

With my legs and fitness feeling decent, despite a two week aversion to the bike due to ailments and exams, I put myself on the front line of battle for the B race, intent on finishing well. After an unjustifiably delayed starting whistle, my foot immediately found the pedal and I shot off the front leading the pack into the sweeping first descent. Having last led a race at the State Mountain Championships a number of months ago, I found it to be a surprisingly odd sensation. Remarkably, I managed to hold my position for most of the first lap before realizing that I was rolling at a non-sustainable pace given the soggy, energy-sucking conditions.

Sitting up just a bit, a few riders came around me on one of the long slow uphills. I managed to hold the third place wheel and stick with 2nd & 3rd for the majority of the race. As I started to fade, a couple second gap began to form in the group as the pair up front dropped me going through the barrier/run-up section. Shortly thereafter on the same lap, a Manchester rider exploded past me coming out of the off camber mud section. Within two subsequent straights and turns, I reeled the fellow back in and put some distance on him that would stick for the rest of the race.

With the pass garnering a bit of adrenaline and nearing the bell lap, I put in one last effort to reach the 2nd/3rd party. Hitting the hairpin turns just before the finish straightaway, I managed to catch the two, but was one turn behind. This small gap allowed the two to open up into a sprint a few seconds ahead of me and disappear down the hill to the finish. With no one contesting for fourth, I sat up and rolled across the line in ease. Awesome race for me, earning some series points, but sadly no podium or payday.

#2

Talk about a tale of two races. With the exception of the few XC/Short Track combos during the collegiate season this year, I have rarely done back to back races. After destroying an Imo's medium and half a box of bran, I passed out Saturday for 11 hours. Kicking my alarm off Sunday morning a half dozen times, I was resolute in not racing again. However an early morning wake up call from the parents indicating they were coming out to watch the race motivated me to throw on the spandies for another hour of field racing pain. With some accrued expert advice from birthday boy MJames and Boss Hoss Russ, I once again found myself on the front line hungry for a destruction sandwich.

Off the line, I eased my way up the pavement start, entering the grass fourth wheel. Picture perfect opener. Hitting the quagmire adjacent the officials table and the ensuing upward pitch, my momentum dwindled and a string of riders floated by. Suffering up the climb and hitting the second road section, I caught my breath and caught a wheel on the freight train. Going through the barriers on lap 1, a shouting spectator indicated that I was sitting in 7th. Somewhere in the mix-up, a couple other dudes sneaked past, knocking me back to 11th. Trading places with the same Manchester rider from the night before, we rolled into the mud pit near the end of lap 1; me with functioning chain, him without.

Over the following laps, I bridged up to a Dent Wizard rider and proceeded to swap spots for the remainder of the race. Details remain dim with less than ample lighting adorning the pain cave. For five laps, I could see a small group of riders a few seconds ahead and a couple of stragglers trailing us. Despite multiple solo attempts to gap up, and failed persuasion to get the Dent Wizard to take pulls with me, we continued our mini-battle for 6th. Honestly, after both racing last night, I am not sure either one of us had gas in the tank to close the gap.

Either way, on the bell lap, DW hit the afterburners on the first pavement section, putting a few lengths on me. Catching my breath, and maintaining a steady cadence, I put in a hard effort once we hit the grass again. Two lapped riders found their way between us, spelling disaster for my efforts. Hitting the climb on the backside, I swung around one and caught the wheel of the other. Three of us - DW, lapped chucko, and myself - snaked around the low stuff, wheel to wheel. Climbing towards the barriers, I found some power from deep within and blasted around the two fellas on the inside. We remained in formation for the last half lap of the race.

Going into the mud pit and the following hair-pins, I stomped hard ensuring that I was first in, first out. Hitting the last road section, I shifted into the big ring for the only big ring action of the weekend and made my ninth place stick. Despite the less glamorous overall spot, the head to head racing on Day 2 was undeniably more enjoyable. Still in the base/build phase of my fall training, I am really looking to come on strong as the season winds on. Hopefully by December I can win one of these things (maybe even cat up).

Burnin' Sechs

Full body chafe, neck feels like it's been karate chopped, & enough lactic acid in my legs to make a quart of cottage cheese; aftermath of my weekend with the dragon lady known as the Burnin' at the Bluff.This weekend marked my third crack at the indisputably best mountain bike race in the midwest.

BURN

Two years ago, I was a mere Burnin' virgin, getting my sh1t tossed in the 1x1 class. At that unenlightened point in my life, having just discovered SPDs, but not yet embracing the tight pants, I managed three 1:30 laps. Pretty sick D for my first ever mountain bike race. Last year, I returned to the Bluff with a seasons worth of sport racing experience accrued, now fully embracing the tight pants, and once again chomping at the dingle speed competition. After puking out a balls out 1:15 lap, I triple flatted on lap 2, and inserted beer into face for the remainder of the day.

Exposition exposited, this weekend was big for me. Having become smitten with mountain biking after a ride at CBluff in the beginning, having left something out in the woods the previous year, and having this be the last fat tire race of my best season yet, I approached the weekend chuck full of piss and vinegar. Despite wanting to yet again try my hand at the no-gears class, my Mesa mates felt otherwise and divorced me from that notion. Ruffie-colada, Prince of Darkness, and myself enlisted in the incredibly stacked Wicked Fast category. MJames carried us early in the day with Con-Air and myself switching out for the afternoon and night laps.

Lap 1 for me, aboard the Karate Monkey, felt phenomenal. Despite a few bobbles on some of the slippery sections, I blasted around the lake posting a 1:12 lap. Besting my fast lap from last year and setting the fast lap for the team, I was incredibly pleased. For lap 2, wanting to save my body, I borrowed a S-Works Epic from the Specialized demo trailer. With $9,000 resting in my crotch, I managed to post yet another 1:12 lap. Hindsight, I am kind of bummed that I didn't jockey the Epic for my first lap while the legs were fresher, as my laps times were fast, but still not in contention with the fast cats. As has been my story for most of this season, still looking for minutes out there in the woods.

Sick Rips Bra!

Went out for a third, pitch black, night lap; this time on a Stumpjumper FSR. Loads of suspension travel allowed me to smash into every rock, twig, and obstacle on trail at full speed, and I did. Having some problems with my lights and with my legs, I rolled in for a 1:30ish lap, 15 minutes shy of the time cut-off. Tired, wet, cold; and with my mates already enjoying the Blue Ribbon tent, I grabbed a bowl of pasta and shrugged off the back-to-back night lap. Probably should have gone out for one more to avoid looking like a wiener, but as I write this today, my body assuredly appreciates the 13 mile deficit.

Round Up! Rad weekend as always; in fact, better than previous Burnin's. Really enjoyed camping with my Wash U crew (congrats to them for a 4th place co-ed finish) and racing with my Mesa pals (congrats to us, despite finishing 6th in Wicked Fast we still managed 10th overall). I totally owe Specialized and the Justin duo a Coke for supplying me with the most chi-chi bikes I have ever piloted. Above all, thanks to everyone at Mesa for a great event and a great year of mountain bike racing!

The Business End.

MWCCC Regionals

Wash U Cycling Team Fall '09

Traveled to Mizzou Saturday for collegiate regionals; synonymous with last cross country race of my season. Last minute rain and rain-phobia migrated the race venue from Rockbridge to Cosmopolitan Park. Kind of upsetting as I pre-rode Rockbridge a few weeks ago in anticipation of a strong race in Columbia. I also have never ridden well at Rhett's Run. Regardless, I entered the race somewhat listless and flat due to a heavy week of carb loading for my 23rd birthday.

Off the line, the expert field funneled from 20 wide to 1 wide, ejecting most of the periphery into a giant ass pine tree. The subsequent opening section of trail continued to be a crash up derby with kids flying off into the woods in every direction. Making it through the first techy descent and gaining a few places on the following climb, I encountered a fast Michigan rider looking for some CO2. As I rode past, I threw him my can, and settled into a group. At the top of the climb my rear end got loose then started the cobra hiss of death. Flat tire. No CO2. Middle of the Woods. Weekend over. Pay it forward my ass.

Anyways, not the way I wanted to end my racing season. Things have been up and down this year. I had a good opener with my Wors Sport win, followed by lots of time off the bike nursing tendinitis. Came back strong mid summer to win Mo States and place just out of the top 10 at Nationals. Catted up, and finished the season out with some lackluster performances. Looking forward to the upcoming Burnin' and putting in some miles before the cross season kicks off. Here's to the end of the fat tire season and the dawn of euro field racing.