Hard Day

You'd think that the last day would be easy- well it would be if I'd actually ridden it. Woke with a hellish migraine and didn't ride today. Emotionally disappointed. Under statement. So looking forward to rolling over the finish line today. Jeff rode the last stage solo and strong- just bummed that I was there for him. Bugger.
Experienced a migraine for yourself- yeah you know the feeling!

The whole experience this week has been amazing. Have ridden on some great single track in some breath taking locations. The climbs gave been tough- almost epic. Everything has been well coordinated and the race support has been perfect. Top marks for Mike and his crew.

Going to try and ride the last stage before the summer is out.

Later, Lynx

Butt Pus

So once again, you may be wondering what Butt Pus has to do with anything.  We'll get to that.

Today was the Wheeler Pass stage.  Jon and I have been getting stronger through the week.  We took some time from the Belgians yesterday, and I was glad to see that this stage was going to be hard because we seem to ride better on the harder stages.

It started well, we were towards the front of the field with team 303 Racing in our sites and the Belgians behind us.  The field crawled along the first singletrack climb, and it was tough to stay on the trail at that pace.  Many racers started walking.  We were able to stay in the saddle and move up in the field.  This was going to be OUR day. And then the wheels fell off the bus.  

At first I thought I just over shifted, but when I looked down my chain was dragging along the ground like a limp noodle.  As Jon would say, "It's buggered."  Crazy f__king British.

Even though I had a powerlink, it still took a while to put the chain back together.  We watched the entire field pass us by as we fumbled with that greasy bastard.  Once we got back on our bikes, we super-crazy-legged it to catch up.  But that took a lot out of us.  Plus, my drivetrain was making a funny noise.  When I finally looked at it 10 miles later at the aid station, I found out that I had misrouted the chain through the derailleur, and it was out in a place where is should have been in.  After fumbling around with it again, I finally got it right.  Despite the chain calamity, we would have been okay, but then we hit Wheeler Pass.

I've actually been on Wheeler before.  Things looked eerily familiar as we began the climb, and then I realized to my horror what was waiting for us.  Ken and I had taken that same route a few years ago when we did the Breck adventure race.  On that day, I cramped all the way up, and all the way down the pass.  All I remember about that forced march was that it was absurdly steep, and that I suffered.   Today was no different.  It was still steep, and I still suffered.  As we hiked our bikes over the pass, I knew I should be taking in the breathtaking views, but I had no breath to spare.   The annoyance of the scrubby bushes overgrown into the trail scratching my shaven legs (Yes, I sold out and shaved my legs.  But no more ashamed than losing the baggies and riding with gears.  The Breck Epic will make you do insane things.) was a welcome distraction from the hurt in my legs, which were making my eyeballs swim.  

I often compare having to do painfully noxious tasks with draining butt pus in the ER.  You might say it's my measuring stick for unfunness.  Hiking Wheeler with dead weight (not you, Jon) makes draining butt pus seem . . . quaint.  At least with pus, you get immediate gratification (even if a little hits your shoe), and the victim, I mean, patient, is uually grateful for your efforts.  There is no redeeming quality to pushing your bike instead of riding it.   Huck did put a silver lining on the piece.  "Hey, it's a ride you wouldn't do otherwise."

Huck, there is a reason I wouldn't do it.

But enough bellyachin'.   The Epic has been really fun, so I won't do anymore complaining.

We ended up in Copper and took the rec path back to Frisco, conjuring up more memories from the aforementioned adventure race.  That path has what seems like a relatively benign (pleasant even) downhill grade all the way Frisco.  Unless you are on mothergrabbin' rollerblades!  And then it's an EZ pass lane straight to hell.  Wearing those squirrely boots on wheels, I could barely stifle my girly screams as I careened out of control at mach 2 towards Frisco.  All the while, seriously considering laying down as a means of slowing myself, and also thinking, "So this is how it's all gonna end?"

Riding my bicycle on the path today was by comparison a far more enjoyable experience.

We finished the ride on the Peak trail, and came in around 15 minutes behind the Belgians, losing all the time we gained on them yesterday.  At the finish, I felt far worse than any of the other days of racing.  But two loaded bacon cheeseburgers later, I'm feeling better and more optimistic.  I told Jon I want to Podium tomorrow.  I want my revenge.  If that means taking out some kneecaps, so be it.

Here's a pic of the rehearsal for our crowning tomorrow.  Those guys to our left look envious.

 33 miles and 4500 feet of climbing tomorrow.  Tomorrow is OUR day!

out.

The dust has settled

Wow, what a stage. Someone said at the post race "look on the bright side you've just done a ride you'd never normally do!" Yeah, you're right, that was a one off experience (until I race it again next year!) Views from the top of the climb are stunning and after a beer it was worth it.
We had one of those days that didn't quite go to plan. Started well, then 'POW', Jeff's chain popped. Put us back a bit and I think we pushed a bit too hard - rookie mistake. Travelled (if you don't speak the Queen's English drop an L) up the resort on single track to 11,200ft. Then back down to the base 9,600ft, and then back up to 12,400 ft with the hikeover the pass. Drew, thanks for the tip "walk fast" - got it too late. Rolled over the pass into Copper base area- buddy Mark Woolcott was over there clicking pics. Check out his site
http://markwoolcottphotography.com/
There's a good chance you've seen him at Front Range races.
Anyways we rolled the bike path back towards Frisco and cut up the Peaks trail. Now that had a few kicks waiting for my Butt! Some good stuff there to race along.
Popped out at the Peak 9 area in Breck and I have to say - those racers hanging in the tent looked battered and lightly fried. Perhaps that was the indicator I missed about food today "fish and chips, not fake mash stuff!"
Big shout out to the number of folks how asked "you ok?" when the chain popped. Good atmosphere here amongst the racers. Plus some awesome organisation (Queen's) at this race.
Tomorrow is the day. Podium would be nice for the stage. Dream on rookie!
later, lynx

footnote- please excuse the English- I'm English! Hence it's not Bastardised English, often called American English on your spell checkers

these shoes ain't made for walking

but alas they walked the walk today! 1000ft plus of climbing by foot. Killer. You may recall from yesterday, that's if you actually read this thing, that I'm a biker NOT a hiker- well I crossed over to the hiker side again today and it really really sucked. On a high note the views up that high are STUNNING. You could even say incredible. Enough ranting. The mad man is done, oh, one more thing- if you're an Irish pub you can NOT put packet "mash potato" on a shep's pie. Sweet! Will be back later as the rants truely done, lynx

tomorrow we're over this

going up

Today we've improved ourselves. Finished 4th (in our cat) in the 40 mile 'queen's stage' of the Breck Epic. A stage that crossed a couple of 12k passes, had some stunning views and singletrack in a remote setting. The stage included a killer 'hike a bike'- sure there are some pics out there on the web somewhere, some white knuckle section and a mind numbing climb up America Gulch. All good fun. Both rode really well today, although the hiker bike section didn't suit me- I'm a biker not a hiker!!




Weather, have to mention it as English, has continued to be great- clear skies and warm without the expected PM thunderstorms. Has resulted in drier trails.

Tried the cold water treatment again today. Key to success- keep your shoes on, sit down and keep the feet near the surface- the waters warmer.

Had some service work to do- new cables. Other than that both bikes are running well. Loving the 6 inches in the rear on the Yeti. Awesome on the descents and with the lockout it climbs just as well as the Superlight. Key is to flip that switch. Jeff is loving his 'bargain basement' Haro too, only BMX out there!

Been using squirt lube on the chains, one of the race sponsors, and real impressed. There has been a guy at each aid station ready to lube your chain and get you going. Loads of Hammer product too. Swag is great and there is a promise of loads more at the post race party Friday night. Pics to follow of the goodie bag

Couple more stages left- tomorrow goes over the ten mile range and spits you out near Copper for a gentle spin back to town. So need to hit the hay so I'm fit and ready for the morning.

As a side note Deb was in Winter Park today- pre riding the w/e race course and met a black bear on the trail.

Later, Lynx

Talent

Rah Rah Ree,  kick `em in the knee.  Rah Rah Rass, kick `em in the other knee.

Jon and I had a great day in what was billed as the toughest stage of the race.  We did a large part of the Firecracker Course, in reverse.   Went over 12,000 feet.  Big, steep climbs.  We rode the best race as a team so far--and we are still in 5th place.   We did manage to finish ahead of the Belgian team, which is an accomplishment since they've been whoopin' us from the start.  Though I'd like to blame my lack of ability on my lack of training, the truth is that I really have to blame my parents.  And their parents.  And so on and so on.  I never should have done that stinkin VO2 Max test.  I could have continued to live my life in blissful ignorance.  But nooooooo.  I had to go and quantify my cursed limitations.  "What do you mean I'm born with that number? Can I change it?"

"No"

"I can't make it better?"

"Maybe a little, if you work really hard."

"But I want to have been born with naturally superior ability."

"Well, you weren't"

So there you have it.  I just don't have the genetics to ever be better than a marginally better-than-average mountain biker.  But being a non-contender has it's advantages.  I can sleep at night knowing that all the genetically superior bikers out there are . . . .  oh hell, I want talent!

TALENT!  T-A-L-E-N-T. TALENT!

Or I at least want a separate category for a Chinese/British men's duo.

But I digress.

We actually did ride a pretty good race today.  Team 303 Racing (who are tucked comfortably into 3rd place) saw us finish shortly after them.  Their faces said it all. "You guys?!  No, really, you guys???!!!"

Jon and I switched leads pretty evenly throughout the race today.  He is stronger on the easy to moderate climbs.  I am able to stay in the saddle a bit more on the heinously steep stuff.  Yeah, man.  I'm really good with granny.  The truth is that I'm just such a slow and pathetic walker (Ryn and Ken can attest to that), that I'll do anything to avoid it.

The course had some pretty sketchy stuff.  Mike did warn us of a steep little pitch on the other side of French Pass.  He warned us that we might want to slow down a bit.   Um, that was scary.  It was too steep to change your mind once you were committed, so I had no choice but to ride it with my ass on the rear wheel.  I don't think I want to do that piece again.

As a side note, Spare Tire Cycling is looking for sponsors.  We will shamelessly include product placement pics in our blog (see Jon's contribution).   We noticed that Squirt has a pretty stout list of athletes on their brochure.  Travis Brown, Jay Henry, Ned Overend, Conrad Stolz . . . .  

One question.  Where the hell is Jeff Wu on that list?  I'll have you know that I am the reigning Colorado State Short Track Champion for sport men 30-34!  (It was a stacked field too.  I beat a guy on a unicycle and an asthmatic (barely)).  Plus, I could use Squirt in the ER.  Who needs Surgilube when you have Squirt?  I'll use it for things like . . . well . . . for "procedures" that require lube.  We won't go into that. 

Tomorrow is another big day.  35 miles, 6000 feet of climbing.  The Wheeler Pass loop.

We still feel pretty good.  As long as we don't have any major mechanical issues (or any number of potential disasters) the next 2 days, we should have second-to-last place locked up.

More tomorrow.

out.