Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!!
OK, OK, enough already!!
Anyways....back to the race. For the most part the race is rolling gravel and rail trail (where I really have to learn to draft, if I want to do better than I have in the past)...have to learn to tuck in and be incognito...
Unfortunately, I kind of stand out...
Anyways...from my perspective...here are some significant points in the race....
The weather...so unpredictable for this race; there have been years of heat, wind, snow, sleet...all weather imaginable...but almost always wet, considering the time of year.
Kind of like this...
Seriously...this was my deck just last week.
The race starts off on road, but within a kilometre enters into railtrail...bottleneck city!! The wet railtrail always sprays you with a fine mist of mud coating your glasses...take them off and get blinded???
Then after about 10kms of railtrail the trail opens up into Sharps lane, a steep loose rocky hill, that if I am in front (unlikely), or if there is a gap in front of me (more likely) is rideable...otherwise it is off the bike to run up the climb with others. Then the hill is followed by about 1km of soul sucking false flat that is a great opportunity to attack and pass struggling riders. (Really, I do on occasion pass someone...).
I think I passed these guys once...
OKaaay...next...
Somewhere mid race we hit Rose Farm...a training area for horses...always slow, deep sticky mud...in a fairly open field where the wind and weather adds to the pleasure (not the ribbed kind of pleasure...that's different...). Often a decision whether it is faster to get off and run, or ride.
There are a couple of fun (sarcasm), mud slides...Powerline mudslide (about 100ms), and Jack's mudslide (about 25ms)...steep, muddy, slippery descents with rocks and roots hidden under the deep mud. It is not at all uncommon to see this happening here...
Have to give credit to Fig for drawing this pic of my skill level...
And these mudslides always have dozens of 'fans' watching...and photographers...wonder why?? (No it's not cuz EnglishJim will be hanging out naked...that's not till the end of the race...)
Anyways...next...
After passing through Georgetown, back onto gravel road there is a spot where kids set up a wooden ramp just outside their family's driveway...just so doofs like me can pull out of the race briefly to hit the ramp...the kids get a great kick out of it...
The Johnson's Farm. The raceway comes off the gravel road and runs through the farm where the paved driveway gives way to the loose gravely farmyard, where the Johnson family and friends cheer you on, beers in hand, and watch as riders get sketchy passing from the pavement to the loose gravel.
Finally, after 70kms of full on race pace, when the legs are beginning to cramp, and screaming to quit, comes Martin's hill. A long, steep, gravelly climb to the finish. Where fans on both sides of the road remind you of the great shame involved if you get off your bike to walk...don't do it...ride it until your legs scream at Jen's Voigt to shut up!! Never, ever, ever Fig out!!
(OK...let's explain that...Blaine came up with the term 'Fig out' to define a full on, I quit, fall over bonk...which Fig is often prone to. The term has since become synonymous with catastrophic failure. Sorry Fig...)
Don't get mad Fig....I'm not a fighter...
This is more my style...at least post race...and post race beers....
So...that's my preview....
As far as the group I ride with and keep an eye on...most of them will be in front of me ... maybe...
I will let you know with the post race review...so...
Stay posted!!!
Tribute to my sister's Frost...who is now enjoying the Rainbow bridge sitting on his dad's lap, and playing with his brothers Levi and Boothby.
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