On the morning of Sunday November 7th I drove out to Cove Creek Campground in Pisgah Forest to ride in the last race of my season. Don't let the name fool you (It's metric). The SWANK 65 is a 42 mile race set in the Pisgah Mountains outside of Brevard, NC. Like other races organized by Todd Branham it was very well, marked, supported and organized. Here's how it went.
The race sold out with 100 riders signing up long before the event and 97 of those who planned ahead showed up for the running start. Approximately 25 riders out of those 97 took off like they were running the 100 yard dash at the local track meet. I started somewhere behind those guys (and girls). After running about a third of a mile of rooty, rocky single track in hard sole race shoes, the ride started.
We quickly started a fairly long steep climb on some technical single track traveling away from the campground. I had ridden my Bandersnatch 100 miles the week before at the TreeShaker and had hoped my legs would heal enough to feel well this week on the Jabberwocky (Vassago SS/Stay tuned for a full review and pics). I quickly realized I was at about 80% and decided to pace the begining of the ride knowing there were several hours left to go. Arriving at the first rest stop, I realized I was somewhere in the top 25 and my legs were starting to feel better. Rest stop 1 and 2 were the same so I skipped this stop and rode on.
This section of the race was rolling SS and double track that was covered with leaves and rocks. It was hard to get into any kind of a groove on the SS in these conditions, but the 29 inch wheels and steel frame definately took off the edge and flowed well through the loose rocks and roots. I rode on, trading spots with several other riders who I would continue to see throughout the race. I arrived back at the rest stop, checked my back pack for a water level, quickly grabbed some food and rode on.
This part of the race was the hardest of the day. The ups were long with intervals of steep sections. For the first time in the race I was forced to walk the SS. This happened on 3 occassions and I shared each one with other single speeders. After reaching the top and briefly riding a ridge line I started my descent down Farlow Gap. In my opinion, this is the hardest trail to ride in the Forest. The beginning and end of this trail is ridable and I rode most of it out, gaining several spots. After approaching the middle section of the trail and seeing 2 riders go down hard I decided to play it safe and walk where it was questionable. In my mind it was questionable for about a mile. This was slow walking with loose rocks, leaf covered roots and steep slippery drops. The trail dumps you out on the easiest and fastest part of the race with a short section of road and double track that took me back to the last rest stop. I quickly ate a few bites and filled up with some water.
The end of the race was much easier than I had heard and I was disapointed in myself for not knowing this. From rest stop 3 there was about 3 miles of gradual dirt road climbing and then 5 or 6 miles of fast single track back to the camp and finish line. I finished the race in 5 hours and 9 minutes which was good enough for 7th in the SS class and 31st overall.
Congratulations to the Open Men's First and Second, locals Sam Koerber and Marshall Hance of Endless Cogs; First and Second of Open Women's Trish Stevenson and Paula Burks; and First and Second in SS Jason Chapman and Gary Chambers (who I spotted smoking an after race cigarette by the race postings). Is that there secret?
Thanks to Kris and Misty at Vassago, WTB, White Brothers, George at Bike29 and Cane Creek for a great season. I managed to get through 7 races on products by these companies this season with zero mechanicals or flats. It's time for winter riding in the mountains. See ya next season...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
2007 Tree Shaker
Last weekend I ventured out to Ann Springs, SC to meet up with some old riding buddies from Charlotte, NC and few other Vassago Teammates for the 2nd Annual Tree Shaker 12 Hour Race. Here's my view of the event.
This was my second 12 hour solo race of the season and I planned to use what I learned from the First, to make this experience a little more enjoyable.The fact the temperatures were 30 to 40 degrees lower also "seemed" to assist with this a little. From the beginining, I had decided to use this event to challenge myself more than the other riders. My goal was to complete 10 laps hope that this would be good enough to put me in the top 10. That may not sound like much of goal for some readers but for someone who has had to cut back his riding to 3 days (approx 7-9 hours a week) this year, top ten in any race is a great reward.
The course was approx. 9 miles of well maintained singletrack at Anne Springs Close Greenway in SC, with the last 3 miles proving to be the most technical and hilly of the course. The weather couldn't have been better and the trail conditions were just as nice.
The race started promptly at 9am with a running start and as everyone who was there knows, this really didn't do much to break up the pack. The first lap was probably my slowest lap of the race, due to the congestion and varied levels of riders on the trail. I decided to keep the pace down, pass when it was safe and save energy for the end. Laps 2 and 3 got a little faster and I began to become comfortable with the course.
Laps 4-6 continued to go well. There were times when I felt I should have given a little more. However, I continued to ride smart knowing that you can't train hard for 9 hours a week and then ride 12 at race pace in one day. Somewhere during these laps I met up with Teammate Brian Archer. After changing places several times we lost touch and I rode on. Somewhere in here I was hooked up with a well awaited cup of starbucks iced mocha by my Vassago Support and her anonymous assistant. Thanks for the boost!!!!
A couple of local riders, Scott Trotter and Joe Recore came to provide some support and company for lap 7. This lap went fast and I continued to feel good. After being unable to talk them into another lap I decided to take a few minutes to eat some lunch. After some sweet potatoes and watermelon I was off for lap 8. It was approx 4:30 and I was well on my way to hitting my goal of 10. In fact, at this point I decided to shoot for my first 100 mile trail ride and increase my aim to 11.
5:30 was the cut off time to add lights and I was determined to complete laps 8 and 9 before stopping and mounting up the evening wear. This was accomplished, and sometime around 6pm I stopped to mount lights and put on some dry clothes before starting laps 10 and 11. This long stop was the biggest mistake of my race. It cost me 3-4 positions in the line up. As I stated before, I was racing against myself and never bothered to look at the standings. Had I taken the time to do this I would have realized there were several riders, including me, that would end with lap 11. Those extra minutes cost me.
By this point in the race, the Starbucks had run it's course and I was becoming physically and mentally drained and looking for something to keep my going. That something or someone, was Rebecca Tomaszewski who quickly rode by me during lap 11. I immediately picked up the pace and jumped in behind her. After stalking her for approx 2 miles and entering into conversation I learned that she was riding a SS with a 32 X 17 gearing and she was one lap up on me. Suddenly, I had the energy to finish strong.
I rode across the finish line around 8:45pm, with 11 laps completed, 10 hours and 24 minutes of ride time and about 100 miles posting on the computer, I finished 8th in the solo male category. Once again, as in every race this season, I finished the race with no mechanical and no flats.
Thanks to my sponsors, Vassago, WTB, White Brothers, Bike29 and Cane Creek for building and providing me with dependable and comfortable parts for another long hard ride.
Congratulations to the first place solo female Rebecca, First place solo male David Hall, First Place Solo SS Rich Dillen and to Teammates Kevin Clark and Brian Archer for finishing 3rd and 7th in Solo SS.
See you all at this one again next year...
This was my second 12 hour solo race of the season and I planned to use what I learned from the First, to make this experience a little more enjoyable.The fact the temperatures were 30 to 40 degrees lower also "seemed" to assist with this a little. From the beginining, I had decided to use this event to challenge myself more than the other riders. My goal was to complete 10 laps hope that this would be good enough to put me in the top 10. That may not sound like much of goal for some readers but for someone who has had to cut back his riding to 3 days (approx 7-9 hours a week) this year, top ten in any race is a great reward.
The course was approx. 9 miles of well maintained singletrack at Anne Springs Close Greenway in SC, with the last 3 miles proving to be the most technical and hilly of the course. The weather couldn't have been better and the trail conditions were just as nice.
The race started promptly at 9am with a running start and as everyone who was there knows, this really didn't do much to break up the pack. The first lap was probably my slowest lap of the race, due to the congestion and varied levels of riders on the trail. I decided to keep the pace down, pass when it was safe and save energy for the end. Laps 2 and 3 got a little faster and I began to become comfortable with the course.
Laps 4-6 continued to go well. There were times when I felt I should have given a little more. However, I continued to ride smart knowing that you can't train hard for 9 hours a week and then ride 12 at race pace in one day. Somewhere during these laps I met up with Teammate Brian Archer. After changing places several times we lost touch and I rode on. Somewhere in here I was hooked up with a well awaited cup of starbucks iced mocha by my Vassago Support and her anonymous assistant. Thanks for the boost!!!!
A couple of local riders, Scott Trotter and Joe Recore came to provide some support and company for lap 7. This lap went fast and I continued to feel good. After being unable to talk them into another lap I decided to take a few minutes to eat some lunch. After some sweet potatoes and watermelon I was off for lap 8. It was approx 4:30 and I was well on my way to hitting my goal of 10. In fact, at this point I decided to shoot for my first 100 mile trail ride and increase my aim to 11.
5:30 was the cut off time to add lights and I was determined to complete laps 8 and 9 before stopping and mounting up the evening wear. This was accomplished, and sometime around 6pm I stopped to mount lights and put on some dry clothes before starting laps 10 and 11. This long stop was the biggest mistake of my race. It cost me 3-4 positions in the line up. As I stated before, I was racing against myself and never bothered to look at the standings. Had I taken the time to do this I would have realized there were several riders, including me, that would end with lap 11. Those extra minutes cost me.
By this point in the race, the Starbucks had run it's course and I was becoming physically and mentally drained and looking for something to keep my going. That something or someone, was Rebecca Tomaszewski who quickly rode by me during lap 11. I immediately picked up the pace and jumped in behind her. After stalking her for approx 2 miles and entering into conversation I learned that she was riding a SS with a 32 X 17 gearing and she was one lap up on me. Suddenly, I had the energy to finish strong.
I rode across the finish line around 8:45pm, with 11 laps completed, 10 hours and 24 minutes of ride time and about 100 miles posting on the computer, I finished 8th in the solo male category. Once again, as in every race this season, I finished the race with no mechanical and no flats.
Thanks to my sponsors, Vassago, WTB, White Brothers, Bike29 and Cane Creek for building and providing me with dependable and comfortable parts for another long hard ride.
Congratulations to the first place solo female Rebecca, First place solo male David Hall, First Place Solo SS Rich Dillen and to Teammates Kevin Clark and Brian Archer for finishing 3rd and 7th in Solo SS.
See you all at this one again next year...
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