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Friday 26 June 2015

24 Hours of Summer Solstice MTB Relay Race - Riot's Review

I hurt.  It's almost a week later and I still hurt.  I hurt in my hands, my neck, my back, and in places you don't want to know about...(no, not Winnipeg...but similar).






This is why...


The 24 Hours Summer Solstice Mountain Bike relay race.  Well let's start at the beginning...ish.

Giant and I headed to Albion Hills, the race venue on Wednesday to pre ride the course (which we did for one lap), and to race in SuperflyRacing's weekly Wednesday nite Albion race (which we did for one lap).  It was all good.  Our first impression after only two laps, was that the course was relatively easy...not technical...and no significant climbs.

So on Friday, I head up to Albion with Matty Tee (my son and race support; as I was racing solo and would need that help).



We met up with CptSydor, and VVagabond who were already there (and were also solo racing), and got our camp and solo racer (Giant would also be racing solo) tent and table set up.  So far, so good...





John and Katrina eventually showed up and got the Rock & Road tents set up (I was actually poaching on their site...thank you guys and gals!!).  John was racing on a Rock&Road 5 man team...and his teammates were to show up Saturday morning.



Friday saw us meet other racer friends.  BobOfSwords racing his single speed as part of a 5 man team (The Trail Bullies).  Unglued, and 14Stone on a Lapdog's team.  mtbmeister racing on a team.  Jeremiah was racing solo, but I didn't see him all weekend!  Irishman up from the USA to race on a team.  EnglishJim had set up a 5 man team including Jamie, NewfieSteve, and PowerPaul.

Friday night was cold!  Got down to about 7 degrees.  We woke up Saturday hoping for better weather...forecast was for a low of 17 degrees for Saturday night....much better!  Much to his relief, John's teammates eventually showed up Saturday morning.  MattyTee got my bike and race food ready...as I tried to get myself prepared...





CptSydor, VVagabond, Giant, and I made our way to the start paddock.  It was starting to fill up quickly.  Once there we also met thedumbopinion (racing on a team), and Ross (racing on the Trail Bullies 5 man team).

Before we knew it the race was underway!  Giant was off like a rocket!  CptSydor, VV, and I took a 24 hour pace right off the start...actually there wasn't much real choice with a mass start of a gazzillion people (no exaggeration there at all either!)...(As my mother used to say, "A million times, I tell you, don't exaggerate!!  Booo...ahhhhh!!")...

About a half ways into the lap the field started to thin out enough I found my proper pace and made my way...trading places with CptSydor...making a few passses...letting a few faster pacers get by.  Through most of the first lap, pass our pit where MattyTee and the guys are cheering....pass the LapDogs Pit, where 14Stone was holding a sign that said '10 Kms to go!!'  (about 300 metres from the finish).  Almost made me quit...




Through the transition area, into lap 2.  Lap 1 in the books, just over an hour.  JeffS was at the start hill cheering me on for lap 2...letting me know I was currently in 3rd place...I know dskunk and JohnR (two of my faster-than-me competition) had both passed me on lap1 so I knew I was back some.  A brief stop at the pit after lap 2 to grab new water bottles and nutrition that MattyTee had all set up and ready for me...MattyTee informing me i was now in 4th...still not so bad...lots of time left...and on to lap 3.  And so it went...

Until lap 4.  Hit the first wall....which I typically do after 4 hours or so.  The body uses up its glycogen reserves....and is using faster than it can take in....and starts the process of gluconeogenesis (and that's all the science I will cover today)...all you can do is continue to hydrate, eat, and push through it...which is what I did...






Well...kind of like that...but not quite...

Anyways...kept going.  I had warned MattyTee ahead of time (as he had agreed to help me out), that as I get tired/exhausted I may get a little emotional...short tempered and even bitchier than normal.  However, didn't really happen...except maybe to Fig.  Fig made some comment as I stopped to rehydrate/eat after a lap...and I snapped back somewhat over the top.  Sorry Fig.  You may be a bit of a goof sometimes....but you are not a 'C-head'.

Lap 6 had to stop and install lights for the night laps (although it was so nice and bright out; summer solstice and all...that didn't need to turn the lights on till lap 8 or 9!).  MattyTee snapped the bar light into place and handed me the spare helmet he had set up with the headlight...Not quite like this spare helmet...





Matty was certainly on his game, helping me out!  As this went on Seth (who was racing on the Rock & Road 5 man team) grabbed my bike and re-lubed the chain...thanks Seth!!

Lap 7 and 8, something was wrong.  My hands were getting very beat up.  My fork had stuck on lock-out and I was riding rigid.  I pulled into the pit after lap8 and Kyle (who was racing for the Rock & Road team, and who is the shop mechanic) had a look at the fork and within two minutes had it functional again!  Thanks Kyle!

Something else was wrong.  CptSydor was in the pit in his civies (non mtb clothes).  He had to quit after 6 laps...his IT (Ilio-tibial) band was inflamed.  Too bad, man!




FYI...VV was still out there maintaining a steady pace and killing it!  Who else was killing it?  The R&R 5 man team was tearing it up!  With 5 fast dudes (John, Kyle, Seth, Fig, misconceptionz) they kept a steady lock on first place in their category!

And ApexTed and his team were also putting in a 24 hour shift!  Out on various different parts of the course taking pics....there are some great ones at ApexRacePhotography!!  Check them out!  I will be downloading a few to include in next weeks follow up post!  (psssst, I am plate 51).

Anyways...remember back at the start of this post when I said it seemed like there were no significant climbs on this course?  Well, at this point of the race it seemed like every hill was a full mountain.  That stupid rutted gravel hill passing GetGroen trail...baking in the hot sun.  That stupid never ending hill past the solo pit area.  That stupid rooty road hill with the mud pit sign on it.  That stupid rooty road hill with the 5km to go sign on it....just to remind you that the last 5k still had the hills of HotAugustNights trail, and HighRoller to go.  What were we thinking??  No real climbs my aching arse!!  Each one sucked a little more life out of you...every lap...

MattyTee informed me I was now in 5th place as I headed out for lap9.  Lap9 was my first lap of pain.  My hands were getting blistered, my arse was getting sore...but mostly it was my lower back.  A dull thud of pain was growing...and it was starting to cramp up.  Every climb made it worse...I had to pull into the pit after lap 9 and take some time to stretch out and try to ease the pain in my back.  MattyTee grabbed me some ibuprofens...good old vitamin I.  He also brewed me a coffee to put in my water bottle for lap 10....that coffee tasted like heaven on earth!!  So after 15 minutes or so of stretching and trying to pop my back...headed out for lap 10.  The first real night lap.

It was starting to cool off.  Blaze had lent me his R&R vest (he couldn't race due to his broken wrist)...I threw it on over my BicycleWorks jersey.  I just hoped no one mistook me for an R&R race team member...





Anyways...Lap 10 felt better...and the race results show it.  Lap 11 not so much...the discomfort in my back was becoming severe.  Every climb was a repeated stab to the lower back...  Adding to that, I was starting to fall asleep on my bike....very much like driving tired...and just as dangerous.  I had to pull into the pit after lap 11.  More stretching...a brief nap...more stretching.  MattyTee informed me I had pulled back into 4th.  I'm not sure how...must have been on lap 10.  If I had any chance at top 3 I had to keep going...I had already stopped too long.  CptSydor offered me some T-3s...I took a couple...as he lubed my bike chain again.  Thank you CptSydor!!

I wasn't the only one suffering.  Giant was pushing it too...his rocket-like start was now taking it's toll.  While he was in first place in his category early in the race, he had now dropped to second and was struggling to stay ahead of third.  However, this guy is one of the most competitive/stubborn people I know.  He was hurting...but he kept going...



Matty had put new fresh lights on my bike and helmet and I headed out for lap 12.  Excrutiating.  But the night song of the bullfrogs (where the course passed water there are bullfrogs, and at night they sing the strangest sounding songs) gave way to the early birds.  And with the first sign of birds, you knew day was coming...there was hope.  Lap 13, my back was cramping from my butt to my shoulder blades.  It was all I could muster to keep the pedals moving.  Then Giant caught me and we rode together for awhile, both of us so happy that the sun was coming up.  Within that one lap it had gone from night to day...but I had to pull into the pit on lap 13.

I stretched again.  Ate...took in fluids.  I really wasn't sure if I could continue.  I sat at the picnic table to stretch some more...and fell asleep with my face in my knees.  I'm not really sure for how long...but I woke up falling to the ground.  misconceptionz was in the pit sleeping in a gravity chair...my falling had woke him.  He said "Either get in a proper chair, or get back out there; after all this is the 24 hour of summer solstice race...not the 20 hour."  He was trying to motivate me, I think.  But in my exhausted painful confusion I wasn't sure if I should punch him in the face (isn't that what good friends do??  kidding of course)...or get on my bike and get going.





Yeah....something like that.  Not really...   Anyways, MattyTee said, "Here Dad, you can do it.", as he handed me my helmet with the light removed, and had taken the light off my bike.  So after an almost 2 hour break (far, far too long), I headed out for lap 14.  Thank you misconceptionz and MattyTee for spurring me on!!  I was still in fourth place....could I catch third??

On lap 14 I caught VV....she was steadily chugging on....well done!!  Lap 14 the pain was still there.  The back cramping repeatedly, the hands now well blistered, legs depleted of all energy, and the stomach actively fighting against any more food.  I was on the verge of vomiting several times.  Every climb was now in granny gear...a full on struggle to the top.  I passed by the pit...I knew if I stopped I'd be done.  On to lap 15...if I had any chance of making top 3 I had to keep going.  On lap 15 I ran out of water.  On the way past the solo pit area (where that stupid never ending hill is), I stopped at the pit where the lady who makes the orange signs was, and begged for water.  She very graciously gave me water and gatoraide!!  Thank you so much!!  I continued on...

I stopped at the top of the hill on Pinecombe Express to stretch my back again.  Then I continued on..
I passed the pit...on to the transition area.  I checked the results.  I may have had just enough time to get another lap in (I was moving so slowly at this point)...but I would not have caught third place.  Yes I was still in fourth.  In the interest of not doing long term damage to my back; I called it quits, I turned in my timing chip.

Fifteen laps, fourth place, not what I wanted, but not so bad.

How did others do??

Giant finished second in his category (solo male age 40 -49), with 20 whopping laps!!  That is just F'n amazing!!!  So impressed!!




SinglespeedSarah finished 1st in solo female with 19 laps (yes on a singlespeed...unbelievable!!), Juliette of Team R&R finished 3rd with 14 laps.  VV (R&R) finished 5th with 13 laps.  Well done!!




EnglishJim's team (4 good riders and one shitty one....yes that is what Jim named his team!!)...bounced between 1st and 5th during the entire race, but ended up with third place in the Five Person Team age 200-249 category.  Nice!!  Bronze medals for the boys in the BicycleWorks jerseys!




And the Rock & Road team destroyed their field in the  Five Person Team age 150 - 199 category with 27 laps to take 1st place!!!



This is what a gold medal and winners jersey look like (thanks for the pic misconceptionz!).





So another race in the books.  I will do it solo again next year.  I can do better.  With some adjustments to core workouts over the winter, and some adjustments to my bike set-up I think I can deal with the back issues, and compete better.  Let's see how it goes.

A huge thank you to the Rock & Road race team for their help in assisting me to survive this thing.

A huge thank you to MattyTee for his work, for 24 hours straight!!  You make a Dad proud!!  (Don't worry, hopefully you won't be pushing my wheels for a few years yet).  What an awesome Father's Day!!

In the meantime, I need to get to ApexRacePhotography site to download some pics for next weeks post....and there is another O'Cup race to get ready for.

Stay posted!!


Thursday 18 June 2015

Hardwood OCup4/CanadaCup3 MTB Race Review according to Riot




Well I survived this race.  But it took a couple of days of preriding to do so.  I prerode the course two weeks ago with CoachRob and his crew of family and clients, learning some of the lines through the numerous rock gardens, roots, and jumps.  Then prerode again with Giant on Saturday (the day before raceday).

Thank goodness I did!!   This course was not only an OCup, it was also the 3rd race in the CanadaCup series, and to top it off it was the course for the PanAm Games being held here this summer.  Which basically means there were features in this course (rock gardens, jumps, root, climbs, and descents) which were a little more extreme than normal, and required some practice.  At least by me....before going at them full bore, redlined exhausted, during a race.

In fact, it was extreme enough, that Giant...after a couple of practice laps (including a crash), decided he would not race it on Sunday.  If you remember (or go back to read the previous post/race review), Giant crashed in a rock garden and broke an index finger in the race last weekend.  So, with a finger that didn't quite fing, it was not a good idea to chance this course.

So Fig and I headed up on race day...it was raining at home as we left...but subsided as we approached Hardwood (about an hour 20 minute drive).  Fig was a little nervous because he had not pre-ridden the course.  And when we arrived, he got more nervous as more and more people told him that was not a good thing.  He was kind of starting to look like....













Of course, as good friends, we all reassured him...




Anyways, this is supposed to be a respectable MTB race review, right??  (Sorry...had to slip in cat pics, otherwise people...and misconceptionz...get upset).






Oh boy.  (or is it, girl??)

So....let's get back on track...To not make matters any better, as we started to warm up it started to rain....which would not make the slippy logs more grippy...and made the warmup almost cold!  Anyways, enough whining.  The rain let up in time for race start...we got into the paddock...I was in between Bob530 (who was Bob537 last week....so let's just call him BobM from now on) and serious.  Two of the fastest guys in my cat;  two guys to keep an eye on...the goal to be as fast as the fast guys.  We got called up to the start (except that they called me 'Michelle'...how do they mistake 'Riot' for 'Michelle'???...OK, there was quite a contingent of French speaking racers there, so that could explain it...)  And then we were off!!

Again, a very fast start...I'm learning to be more aggressive off the start...which was rather easy on the very wide start track.  However, I did not clip in cleanly and this cost me...losing some distance off the fast start.  So once clipped, I powered to keep up to the lead group, up the start hill.  The start at this race is a groomed 'road' 8 - 9 riders wide, but covered in very loose gravel...and it was 1 - 1.5kms of rather steep rollers, where if you tried to stand up and give too much power, you would spin out.  So the series of steep loose rollers shot the heart rate up, and had one gassed right off the start....and soon dipped into the first bit of single track.

And the first bit of single track started with an innocent looking diagonal log over (or rather, a fanned out collection of 4-5 little logs) on a curve, that was easy to lift the front wheel over, but if you were not aware (ie: if you didn't preride the course), and didn't clear the obstacle with the rear of the bike, it kicked your back wheel sideways with a jolt that could knock you off the bike.  Then the course continued into tight twisty single track...my greatest weakness.  All the lean, fast/quick leaders I had kept in sight off the start were making distance on me.

Then the single track opened out into a bit of double track, including a couple of steep rollers.  At the very top of the last roller, the course somewhat blindly dipped left into singletrack.  But at the very mouth of the single track was an obstacle with a slightly hidden around.  So if you were not aware it appeared that you had to ride the obstacle, and at first glance the obstacle seemed to be a rock drop that should have been possible to simply roll over.  However, the drop was not only taller in the back than it appeared in the front, but there was also a bit of a gap on the back....just enough to grab your front wheel if you tried to roll the rock...and that is exactly what two riders directly in front of me tried to do. And over the bars they went.  Luckily, they were able to pull off enough to the side, that as I launched the obstacle and cleared the gap I had room to avoid them.  Then into more twisty singletrack.

Here is Seth clearing a log drop in some of the singletrack...




Me...more singletrack through the forest...a pic by John (he raced later in the day, and had his camera handy).


A combination of more single track and double track eventually led into Coffee Run which was a bit more twisty single track, but with a couple of very steep short rooty climbs...enough to keep the heart rate up.  Then it led into a very sketchy, steep right-left switchback descent of rocks then sharp-dropping roots where a couple of riders were walking (one of them was MichaelL...one of the fastest riders in my category, which is why he passed me back on the next lap), allowing me to get by as I had previously scoped out a good line through.

A sharp climb out of coffee run dropped you into a short piece of double track that immediately dropped you into the JoyRide feature...a series of jumps that appeared a lot scarier coming into the first one than they were...and ended in a very slippery wooden berm.  Of course the younger riders launched it like they were bored...



John was snapping pics as we came into the feature, and yelled something I can't repeat here (see I have some scruples), that made me laugh when I should have been concentrating...




Yup, I know....I look like a goof again!  Luckily ApexTed caught a respectable pic of me clearing the thing...



Thanks Ted!!

Here is a racer on the wooden berm...(pic compliments of ApexTed once again).




Wait...is that...




Yes...that is Emily Batty...







Ooops!!  OK, that's enough!
Actually, although this is her home province, it is pretty awesome to have a world class racer attending the same event us weekend warriors are in.

Anyways, sorry....easily distracted here....back to the race report.

The course then led over a series of fun, small, wooden jumps then through the feedzone, then up The Big Z....a steep double switchback rock climb...here are some racers on the Z...

JeffS...




MTBmeister...


Guy....



Then the rest of the course included mostly twisty single track including features of EndoRock (one of the toughest features, and one I chose the around on), the BigRock&Bridge...






Then a loooong, steep, twisty, rooty singletrack climb called GruntUp, which came out to the BMX section....a long, fast, open downhill of dirt jumps, rocky berms, and wood bridges...

DanBan of the LapDogs Race Team rockin some wood...




Then it was up to the Start/Finish to finish lap 1...and as I approached I heard the announcer announce (as announcers do), that BobM had just finished his first lap in 5th place.  I looked up and could see him heading up the start hill.  I gunned it to catch him...CoachRob cheering me on at the sideline...up and down the rollers of the Start section...I pushed hard to catch BobM...and was within several metres as we entered the first single track.

But the effort cost me...I was trashed...and as we entered the single track, I recovered while BobM pulled away, and I never saw him for the rest of the race.

As I continued and recovered, a couple of riders passed me back...one of them a rider for the LapDogs Race Team.  I made him my target...and pressed on to keep him in sight.  Then another rider was on me...and for a while we took turns passing each other through lap 2.  He rode for Two Wheels Racing...and as we passed through the feedzone I heard others cheering him on "Go J.P.!", or "Vite, Jean-Pierre!"....I assumed it was the same guy.

Towards the end of the feedzone was thedumbopinion being all commissarey again...and telling me there was a guy right on my tail...I said, "I know...his name is JP....disqualify him or something!!"...but I think he actually cheered JP on.

And we headed up the BigZ again...with JP on my tail, and the LapDog in my sights.  Finished lap 2...on to lap 3.  This time I played it a little more conservative on the start of lap 3....hoping to save some juice for the finish.  JP passed me...but at least I wasn't spent....so I managed to stay on him.  And so went the 3rd lap....with me pushing and him daring me to keep up...

Then, on Coffee Run, the piece of singletrack with the sketchy switchback descent...(Note: Coffee Run runs alongside a section of road where other riders, racing in a later category, would warm up)...CoachRob and some of his family were riding up the warm-up road and cheered me on:

"Go Mike!!!"  "Catch that guy, Riot!!"  "Warrior!!!"

JeffS was riding down the warm-up road, and rode alongside us for several 100 metres cheering...very loudly and vociferously (that means more than 'more loudly' and with more gusto...or something like that...)...

"Go Mike!!"  "GO MIKE!!!"  "CATCH THAT GUY!!"  "YOU CAN DO IT!!!"  "LOOK I'M RIDING WITH YOU!!!!"  "PASS HIM!!!"  "MIKE, YOU'RE AWESOOOooommmeeee!!"

I was laughing...JP looked a little worried....coming out of Coffee Run and through the JoyRide features...

Then, through the feedzone I passsed him, and as I did he called...

"Go Mike!!!"  "Your friends scare me!!"
I laughed, "Yeah, they scare me too!"

I powered up BigZ, and for the last half of the 3rd, and last, lap I had energy for a strong finish.  I put some distance between JP and me, managed to pass a rider racing for Team Marin, then into the finish I could see the LapDog racer I was still chasing up ahead with a couple of lapped racers.  I gunned it to catch him...but couldn't quite do it...finishing about 15 seconds behind him...

I finished 8th...not quite as good as I was hoping for...but not bad.  I was about 3minutes behind first place.  BobM finished 2nd, MichaelL 3rd, serious was 4th....the top 4 were all within seconds of each other; well done guys!!  serious, that was a mighty fine race coming back from a back injury!!

Well another race....and one of the toughest OCups in the books.
We are still missing a couple of racers...
Blaze (shattered wrist)...where are you??  We miss you....stuck on a boat somewhere???
Oggie (broken collar bone)...where are you?  I know, you will be back soon, faster than ever...

So...what's next?
The Summer Solstice 24HR Relay Race is this coming weekend...yes 24 hours...starts at noon Saturday...ends at noon Sunday.  Giant and I went up to pre-ride the course yesterday (Wednesday)...it is not technical, somewhat climby, but mostly flowy and fast.  Should make for a fun 24 hours of solo suffering.  Giant, VVagabond, and CptSydor are also solo racing it (along with a whole host of other soloers that scare me!).

My son MattyT, and my loving, caring wife Lois (cuz apparently I am her Superman); will be my support crew.



Wonder if Emily will be there??

Stay posted!!






Wednesday 10 June 2015

Horseshoe Canada Cup/OCup Race Review

So it was up to the Horseshoe Valley Resort north of Barrie for the 3rd Race in the Ontario Cup Series, which was also the 2nd Race in the Canada Cup Series.




An uneventful drive up with Giant on Sunday morning (I think I actually slept half of the drive), prep and warmup.  Actually got to preride the course on both Saturday and the previous weekend with CoachRob and his crew.  The preride helped immensely as the course is quite technical, with numerous rock gardens, roots, and tricky climbs (huge climbs!!).  CoachRob helping us determine proper lines through some of the sketchier sections.

And then it was time to get into the paddocks...

Some of us did so pensively...(Spinner, posing as a new Greek god??)




Some were A OK with it...(nice new helmet!)...



Some were just happy to be (That's John....he's usually too fast to be caught on camera...)




What a goof!!





A paddock full of speed!!  If you look close you can see a CoachRob, mtbmeister, Giant, JeffS, Harding.  So glad not to be in that category!!



So we get called up the start....chatting with Bob537.  He looks fast, so I intend to keep him in sight if possible.  Especially considering that my friend 'serious' is not racing, still recuperating from a back injury.


Then bang....it was go time!!





Out of the paddock, up the rutted fireroad climb that was the beginning of the start loop.  Yup, Bob537 was fast....leading the pack up the climb.  I negotiated the mass of racers, and ruts, trying to stay in the top 5 or so, and keep Bob537 in sight.

Through the start loop, the feedzone, some doubletrack by the golf course then into a short but steep singletrack climb.  Bob537 was still in sight, but I got caught behind a couple of riders struggling up the climb...and lost sight of him.  The course dipped back down then over a huge rock over.  

Here is a pic of MarkR on the rock over. A great pic caught by ApexTed!!  




The  course then dipped into twisty singletrack, including a very tricky, rooted, steep up and over, and a series of rock gardens.  A short bit of steep doubletrack climb then brought you into more singletrack.  The remainder of the first half of the course then included mostly steep singletrack climbing, with the occasional steep, fast down, all connected by short bits of doubletrack.  

It was in here that I found myself in a battle with John586.  I would pass him on the climbs, but then he would be all over me on the descents.  

Then the course dumped out onto the fireroad climb.  A long, loose, sandy 13% grade that leveled off only to switch back into a steep, sandy 20% grade.  Dusty and slippery, quads burning, and the lungs not able to grab enough air to supply what the body was demanding...try to stand and power up the climb only to spin out in the sand and gravel.  But it was here that I was able to make up time.  Passing three or four racers.  I managed to pass John586 and I could see Bob537 halfway up the climb ahead of me....but I couldn't catch him.  He was on fire!

Then the trail dipped into a fast flowy singletrack descent....a steep up and down with a log-over that required hopping....and a set of sketchy loose sandy switchbacks...and John586 tight on my rear wheel through all of the downs.  Then towards the start-finish, a large rock garden with a loose sandy option around that led back up the hill to twisty single track with a couple of small but very tricky rock gardens....John586 pushing me...

Here's proof....




Then double track through the start-finish, and up into the feedzone to start lap 2...


Heading into the feedzone...



Lap 2 was much of the same...me passing John586 on the climbs...him passing me downhill...then again the damn gravel-sand road climb...I passed him and a couple of lapped racers...then dipped into the singletrack descent.  Then the steep down and up to hop over the log, and in a fatigue fueled fog I had mistakenly grabbed a fistful of front brake....just as I landed from hopping the log.  And, over the bars I went, landing hard on the hardpack trail; and John586 who had been tailing me toppled over top of me.  I told him to go by, as I gathered up my bike and continued.

So now Bob537 would be out of touch....and in fact I didn't see him again.  After the crash, I played it rather safe for the rest of lap 2, and worked to catch back up to John586.  Then through the feedzone I discarded a spent bottle and grabbed a fresh one.

Then into lap 3, John586 pushed to get in front of me....then worked hard to stay in front of me on the climbs...not wanting me in front of him on the downs.  I elected to stay tucked in behind him, and pushed and encouraged him on all of the climbs, then working hard to stay on him during the downs.  He fought hard on the climbs, including the gravel road climb....and eventually it cost him, blowing up on a climb on the last half of the lap.  I passed him, and pushed hard to make sure he didn't try to stay on me...dropping him.  Then I plowed on, as fast as I could push....occasionally checking behind to make sure I was clear...maybe pushing too hard, almost eating dirt again on one of the final rock gardens...

Then finally crossing the finish to the hordes of screaming fans...(OK that one guy officiating the race, and the girl handing out chocolate milk).

I assumed another mid pack finish for me, and toddled off to check the results.  WTF!!??  Second place in my category!!!  I peed a little!!(It's mostly an age thing).  A better result than I expected!  Bob537 had beat me by almost a full 3 minutes...but I managed second!  First podium of the season...

Here is proof...again...




In fact, misconceptionz didn't believe it so he had to take his own pic...





Other shite worth noting....

Ian of the DarkHorseFlyer (Jeremiah's teammate), came in second in his cat.





CoachRob...on the rocks.  He flatted, repaired with a tube, and still came in second in his cat!!





Der Komisar...thedumbopinion....keeping everything in line...




JennR with the evil plate... (another great pic by ApexTed).



Giant had two nasty crashes on the rocks, but still continued on.  Well done, sir!!




In fact, he didn't know it at the time....but he broke a finger on one of the falls...he got it checked the next day....to get this...





JeffS had help from family.




This may have been JeffS first race of the season that he was not on the podium.  He claims I stole it from him.  I am now taking thievery and lock breaking classes...

misconceptionz....almost missed his start time...forgot his yellow socks....dropped his chain twice....then just rode to finish...wise choice...




Oggie is recuperating from a broken collarbone, achieved when secretly pre-riding the course...




Get well soon sir...but don't come back faster!  We know you are still training on the trainer!!

Fig missed this race because he would rather compete in some silly road race...





There was however a cougar sighting this weekend...



(Yes....that's Shenia...)
Must have followed Jerehmiah....or the WolfPack Race Team;  I think they all hail from up in Northern Ontario...

See....I managed to squeeze in a cat pic....ish...

Anyways...what's next??  Well OCup 4/Canada Cup 3 is this coming weekend in Hardwood Ski & Bike...and the course is the PanAm games course.  Shouldn't be tough at all...

If I survive...I'll report....

Hopefully serious is back to race....and Bob537 I will be looking for redemption...

Stay posted!