Trail Spinners Fair Hill Classic

Race #6 in the series and I finally found the podium!  My first podium - I will be smiling for a week!  :-D

 

Cat 2 40-49.  3rd place in a field of 36.  Billed as a 20 mile race but came up as 17.5 on my GPS.  Fields are getting smaller compared to first few races but, again, all but one of the regular "fast guys" showed up to race so competition for me wasn't going to change much - it was going to be another tough day.

 

Rock You Like a Hurricane

I felt tired all week so I didn't pre-register for this race.  It was going to be a game time decision.  With a day off work Friday, (after the epic last show ever by the Scorpions and righteous meet and greet), I had plenty of time to rest and relax.   By the way...the Scorps were kick ass.  Some of the first songs I learned on guitar were Scorpions tunes - they are a bit cheesy but I dig a lot of their tunes and I have a soft spot for the different guitar duos that set the standards for stadium rock in the 80's.   They are awesome.   

Great seats for the last ever Scorps concert!

 

Bad Boys Running Wild

By Saturday I was feeling a little better so I did a road spin to see how I felt and to wake up the legs.  I threw in a few sprints to get some pain going.  Felt good.  Race was on.  I felt really good overall this morning - I slept good and ate a good breakfast.  Once again my legs felt like rubber waiting to stage but I could tell it was just nerves - I'm always nervous for some stupid reason.   I think it's getting better as I meet more guys and we chat it up at the line.

I got a terrible spot during staging - there really is an art to staging.  I came out of the gate around 20th but I wasn't overly concerned...the prologue includes at least a mile of double track.  This is a point to point race so no laps - the prologue just means the course passes by the spectator area after about 3 miles.  Working through traffic on the double track was tough and I went into the single track around 10th or 12th.  I've made friends with some cool guys this season including two of the fastest guys in my class.  I was glad to see Scott Slimm as I picked my way through the prologue and then Dan Vickery passed me.  I figured if I stayed with these guys good things would have to happen.   We were chatting it up a little and I think that set me at ease.  Suddenly the rubber legs were gone and I just felt strong...like I could ride through everyone.  I had Superman legs.  This happens sometimes on training rides.  I was more than stoked.  Scott made a mistake and I went around him and got on Dan's wheel.  I heard Scott crash behind me about a mile later...but I would see him again near the end of the race.

I followed Dan through the prologue and we emerged in 7th or 8th or so.  Dan was a real technician...picking through slow SS traffic and our own class as well.   I stayed right on his wheel and piggy backed on almost all his passes.  I was going pretty hard for the whole race so a lot of details are pretty foggy.  At some point on a climb we passed good old John Bobb...the 220 pound downhill wonder that descends like a runaway train and ascends ...well, not so fast.  But fast enough to place top 5 routinely and kick my ass in 3 races this year.  Dan and I talked about this after we passed him and Dan knew the drill as well.  It wouldn't be long and John would be buzzing our tire on a downhill.  It took him a while but he was back.  There is a section of killer downhill that leads to a right turn and more downhill that runs along the Elk River before the course takes a turn into the Up Crackhead Bob section.  John was on my wheel.  There is almost no passing in this area with a cliff on your left and steep rocks on your right.  I have to do better about not letting guys on my wheel get in my head.

 

The Zoo

There is a flat rock positioned to let you ramp or jump up over a big root a little before you turn up to Crackhead Bob.  Today it was in a different spot.   It was moved to the right maybe a foot...right in the middle of the trail.  "So what," I thought..."I always launch off this rock."  I have no idea what happened but suddenly I was laying on my side and John Bobb was running over my wheels.  Shit.  I hopped up pretty quick.  "Haven't we done this before I said".  John laughed and pushed on by.  I jumped on my bike but the chain was dropped.  I jumped off and fixed it.  I lost a spot to John and one other...and I no longer had Dan's wheel.  Fuck.  Fuck, fuck, fuck.  Having Dan's wheel was working really well.  I got a little negative.   I found myself all alone on Crackhead...passing SS'ers and the tail end of the younger classes.  I started daydreaming and would catch myself just thinking about shit...different rides, other stuff.  I was not focused.  I had lost Dan's wheel...I knew where Dan was heading - to the front.  I thought I might catch John Bobb because of all the climbing on Up Crackhead.  But John is so good at technical bike handling that he was gapping me.  I had him in sight for awhile but when I came out of Crackhead I actually had a guy from my class burning my wheel.  He stayed behind me piggybacking on my passes for the next few miles through the Five Bridges and South Park sections.

We were now in trail sections that I know well and really like.  On Five Bridges and for most of South Park I was pretty solid.  I would lose the guy on my wheel whenever there was a little climb but then he was back.  I wish I was faster on downhill.  Just going to take time I guess.  I crash enough as it is.  I really didn't know what position I was in at that point...I kind of thought I was close to the top 5 - but I was actually more like 9th or 10th at that point.

I made a mistake and hit my bar end on a tree near the end of South Park.  The guy behind me got around.  I had traffic to pass coming out of South Park but managed okay and I could see the guy ahead.  There is a short but steep climb headed back to the double track away from South Park.  I caught the guy there and blew by him like he was sitting still.  I was just flying up this climb.  I realized I still had the Superman legs - they were feeling just awesome.  Nice!  Then I saw David Fitzpatrick ahead.  Now my spirits really lit up.  I had caught David...definitely one of the faster guys in our class.  I gotta be in the top 5 right?

Dynamite

Four days earlier I had taken 2nd Overall on the Strava segment for Roller Coaster.  I like the climb and I know how to handle it.  David was leading me into Roller Coaster.   I passed David in the first 200' before the inital tight switchback.   I was gone.  I looked back once and he was nowhere.  I caught up with Jim Thistle with Action Wheels that I seem to be racing all the time.  I couldn't get to him before the end of Roller Coaster.  I don't know the trail names very well, but there is a steep double track downhill through a creek then straight up a 10 or 12 degree climb on double track.  It leads up to the start of Drunken Sailor.   I always do well climbing this in training rides.  I caught Jim and passed him coming up that climb.  My Superman legs were still feeling invincible.  I was getting my second wind.  Maybe I was outlasting these guys.  I wonder what position I'm in?  I gotta be top 5, right?

I worked through Drunken Sailor without incident and the Sport course then takes you back across the Elk River and toward a section called Two Fields - it pretty much signals 4 miles to go or so.  On my way to Two Fields I hear, "Left side".  It's Scott Slimm.  He comes right around me climbing up.  Seriously?  I hadn't seen him since the Prologue. 

 "Where have you been?" I said. 

 "Chasing you, man.  You're killing it today." 

 "Well, why are you passing me then?", I said.
 "Just come on."  He said.

Blackout

I started to get on Scott's wheel.  Uh oh.  The Superman legs weren't responding.  Oh shit.  I think about this for a minute as I grind my way up the climb...Scott is riding away.  They were so fresh five minutes ago!??   I think about this.  Shit, when was the last time I took a drink from my Electrolyte Fizz?  Oh man, way back after Five Bridges.  I had opted against the pack today and the trails were too technical to reach for the bottle.  Same for the Gu pack in my shirt pocket.  Gotta make it to Two Fields.   Fortunately Scott was not familiar with this section...and it is pretty technical.  You can endo in heartbeat coming through the downhill section that leads to the Two Fields climb.  I almost caught Scott starting the Two Fields climb but there was no way I was going to close the gap let alone pass.  My legs were screaming and I was maxing my heart rate.  I start chugging from the Fizz bottle and chased it with some water.  I let out a big burp and then I heard, "Nice, dude" as Jim Thistle went by.  Shit.  When did he get his second wind?  At the top of the climb I grabbed a cup of water from the aid station and chugged some back.  Now David Kirkpatrick went by.  Shit.

I was feeling pretty positive just a few minutes ago and, somehow, that feeling was kind of carrying over making me feel like this was not a big deal.  "I got this", I thought.  "These guys have to have blown themselves up running me down - I was busy recharging with Fizz and water and they were killing themselves up this hill.  Meanwhile, Scott Slimm had all but checked out.  I didn't think I would see him again.

Now...I have no idea how fast 1/4 bottle of Fizz and a few gulps of water can really restore...whatever it restores in your body.  But by the bottom of the downhill that follows the Two Fields climb it was either confidence or Fizz or pure will.  My superman legs were back.  I took David on the first climb.  Now we were doing long rolling quasi double track climbs back to the start/finish.  I know these trails well.  I took Jim on the next climb...and was stoked to see John Bobb up ahead spinning his cranks like 120 revs per minute going up a steep climb.  You cannot imagine the feeling of accomplishment I had at that moment.  I knew I was going to overtake John and I knew I was going to hold him off.  I went by John and wisecracked through my gulps for air, "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll crash in a minute."  Now I know that is extremely bad karma but it was pretty damn funny at the time...given our history in races.

Coming Home

As I crossed the field to the last bit of singletrack that leads to the doubletrack finish I saw Scott Slimm entering.  He looked like he was soft pedaling and unaware of my approach.  I stood up and got myself spun up as fast as I could then got back in the saddle and found a good gear to really mash it.  I went by Scott just rolling.  There was probably no way he could react.  He shouted something congratulatory which made me feel really good.  I came out on the blacktop road just flying.  I was riding scared.  I didn't know if John Bobb or David or Scott...or whoever was back there.  But I wasn't going to look...I was going to go as hard as I could go.  I was out of the saddle now, sprinting hard.  I just kept going...up over the bridge.  I was running out of air...I felt a little suffocated.  I didn't care...only 150 more yards and I could collapse on the grass.  I saw a rider up ahead.  My class?  I mashed harder and I could tell I was going to catch him before the pavillion.  It was going to be close but not that close...as long as he didn't look back.  He looked back.  He got up out of his saddle.  He was going to be too late.  I went flying by him into the pavillion and through the finish a couple bike lengths in front of him.  The spectators must have thought I was a crazed maniac.  Everyone was just dragging ass back in and I was coming through like I was being chased by Satan himself.

It was a good thing I made that last pass work...that last pass was for position.  The guy was in my class.  I won my podium spot by 1.136 seconds.  Kick ass!

I have two more races this season to try for a win...but I don't really care.  Winning this 3rd place....reeling in 5 fast guys with 2 miles to go....that was just awesome.  It will be hard to top that experience.  The four guys behind me were all within 20 seconds of me.  To once again quote Fatmarc, "Racing is rad."   It totally is.

Strava ride.  I got the Extreme Sufferfest rating again for keeping my HR pegged.  Guess that's what it takes.   http://app.strava.com/rides/13476156



Finally!

 

Why does the 3rd place finisher look so much happier?  He might be a little nuts.

 

Ridin' Dirty: Choosing a Bike

Mountain bikes come in a lot of different flavors.  When Tyler and I walked into the bike shop for the first time we had a pretty short list of criteria.  Real short in fact.  Here’s how I remember it.

Super Happy Sales Guy:  “Hey guys!  How’s it going?"

Me:  “Going great, thanks.  How are you?”

SHSG:  “Super!  Thanks for asking.  What can I do for you guys today?”

Tyler:  “I’m getting a bike.  But I don’t really want one.  Well, unless it has training wheels.”

SHSG:  “Ohhh, I’m sure we can find a bike with training wheels.”

Tyler:  “And blue.  I want a blue bike.”

SHSG:  “Aw, no problem buddy.  Blue is our specialty.”

So for Tyler’s bike we had a whopping list of exactly two requirements: training wheels and blue.  My list was not much longer.

Tyler:  “And my Dad wants a bike too.  But I don’t know what color he wants.”

SHSG:  “And what kind of bike are you looking for Dad?”

Me:  “Well, I have some buddies that like to go mountain biking and I’ve wanted to try it but I also want to be able to use the bike around the neighborhood with Tyler.”

SHSG:  “Okay, do you know how much you are looking to spend?”

Me:  “Well, I want a decent bike.  I was thinking something in the $500 to $800 range.”

At the time I thought my budget was pretty fat and would afford me a lot of options.  I didn’t realize until later that my price range covered two, maybe three different models in that store.  Everything else was well north and beyond.  So my requirements were:  mountain bike that was also good for riding in the neighborhood and cost around $500.

Looking back, there was a lot the sales guy could have done to educate me on mountain bikes.  Instead he showed me an aluminum frame bike with a suspension fork that was under my budget and $420 later I was taking it home.  Within 3 months I was a mountain biking addict and had swapped out the rim brakes for disc brakes and many more upgrades would follow until the bike no longer had a single original component.  Not even the frame.   Here are some mountain bike basics that you might find helpful in choosing your first or next bike.

Riding Disciplines and Bikes

In general there are four kinds of mountain bike riding styles which are also the names for the different types of bike.  My interest is primarily cross country but I know enough to give you the basic scoop on the others.

All Mountain or Trail:   All-mountain riding is the all day sort of riding where a rider will encounter a bit of everything in extremes from long steep climbs, rocky rough terrain, technical downhill descents and everything in between.  With trail riding the riders pedal to and from their destination and there are no lifts or rides to the top of a mountain.  Trail bikes have full suspension, (both front and rear suspension), to soften the rough terrain on descents, are fairly lightweight and are designed to climb well.  These bikes are something of a combination of cross country and downhill bikes – but more toward cross country.

A Niner brand 29er full suspension.  This bike would be categorized as
all mountain due to the longer 5.5" suspension travel front and rear.

Cross Country (XC):  Cross country riding is basically the same as trail riding except that the riding style is more focused on a faster, race like ride and riders usually forgo the comforts of longer travel soft suspension in favor of light weight and agile handling.  Like trail riding there are no lifts to the top – the rider pedals to and from the destination.  Cross country bikes can be either full suspension or hard tail (front suspension fork but no rear suspension).  The choice of full suspension or hard tail depends entirely on the terrain but many cross country racers and enthusiasts ride hard tails because they are lighter in weight and climb more efficiently – even though they do not afford as comfortable a ride or as fast a descent.


Downhill:  Downhill riding and racing is exactly that – all downhill.  Riders catch a ride on a lift or vehicle to the top of the mountain and let gravity do its thing.  Downhill bikes are the heaviest of mountain bikes, have stout frames and components capable of taking a good beating and a long wheelbase and long travel full suspension.

Freeride:  Freeriding is all about jumps, drop-ins and aerial tricks and, like downhill riding, often includes catching a lift to the top of the mountain.  Freeride bikes are medium weight with durable components - particularly the wheels which tend to take a beating.  The seats are usually mounted low and are the frames are more often hard tail than not.

Wheel Size

A 29er wheel on the left and 26 on the right.  The difference
looks bigger than it really is but you get the idea.

Before the early 2000’s there was really no question about wheel size.  Pretty much all mountain bikes had 26” wheels.  But a new breed of bikes with 29” wheels emerged and now dominates the scene in the U.S. and it’s catching on around the world.  Called the “29er”, (twenty-niner), these bikes are based on the 700c wheel size used on road bikes which are pretty close to 29 inches in diameter.  These larger wheels take some getting used to and feel a little clumsy at first but roll over rocks and roots easier and keep their momentum going a lot better once up to speed.  26” wheels are intended for use only on bike frames and forks designed for 26” wheels and, likewise, 29” wheels are intended to be used only on frames and forks that are 29er specific.

While we are talking about wheels – most riders will tell you that this is absolutely the best place to spend money to reduce weight.  Lower weight wheels spin up faster and therefore accelerate faster.  It’s hard to express just how impactful a lightweight set of wheels can be for a new bike or as an upgrade to an existing bike until you have actually experienced the difference.

Suspension

We talked a little about suspension in the previous section but here are a few more details.  Before we move on it’s worth noting that there are mountain bikes without any front or rear suspension.  These are called rigid hard tail bikes.  The front forks on these bikes are, well, rigid.  Usually made from a material that is slightly compliant like steel, titanium or carbon fiber, the forks flex just a bit to take the harshness out of the ride but are otherwise rigid.

Front suspension forks come in coil and air sprung.  Coil spring forks are just like they sound - a coil spring provides the suspension action.  Air sprung forks are pressurized with air that compresses to take up the bumps like a coil spring only with a smoother more controllable compression and return.  Air sprung forks afford a better ride and are priced accordingly.

Rear suspension designs vary and generally use a coil spring or air shock.  The rear triangle of the frame has pivot points that allow the rear wheel to travel up and down with the bumps.  Downhill bikes will often use a large heavy coil spring.  Cross country and trail bikes use an air shock.

Typically measured in millimeters, the amount of travel for the front and rear suspension are usually closely matched for a particular bike.  Common travels for front and/or rear are:

• Cross Country:  80mm to 100mm (4")
• All Mountain: 120mm to 160mm (6")
• Downhill:  160mm to 208mm (8")

Frame Material

Frame materials are steel, aluminum, carbon fiber and titanium.   I've read articles about bamboo bikes but that is really just a tree hugger novelty, (joking, take it easy), and isn't a mainstream choice nor are they widely available.

Aluminum:  Aluminum is the most common and the best value in terms of light weight and strength.  Discerning riders might say that aluminum frames have a harsher ride but a lot of that depends on the design.  A well designed aluminum frame can have good compliancy characteristics. 

Carbon Fiber: Carbon fiber affords the lightest possible frame with amazing strength.  A good design has just the right compliancy and strength and is just stupid light.  Carbon frames are really strong but thrashed around they can crack and are more likely to develop a creak than a metal frame.  

Steel: Steel frames seem to be more of a niche following than a budget purchase.  In fact, many steel mountain frames are very expensive.  Steel frames are have relatively small diameter tubing so they are lighter than it would seem -  but still the heaviest of all frame options.  Aficionados prefer the feel and compliancy of steel over other frame materials.  

Titanium: Titanium frames combine a strength closer to steel and weight closer to aluminum for a frame of outstanding durability and low weight.  Many titanium riders swear by this material as the best of all worlds.   Full disclosure: I own a titanium frame bike and it totally rocks...but I'm not necessarily going with titanium for every future purchase.

Drivetrain

Single speed mountain bikes are very challenging and require better than average fitness – there are no gears!  When you run out of energy or pedal power….you simply stand up and hammer it out…or you don’t.  I built up a single speed mountain bike after about 18 months of regular riding and as a training and workout tool it is top notch.  Once you establish the fitness to ride a single speed it is great fun.  They are super quiet (no chain slap like you get on a geared bike with a rear derailleur), super simple, (no shifters!), and super light weight.  (Clearly I am a big fan).

My Specialized 29er single speed.  This bike is a hard tail with 100mm travel
front suspension fork and would be classified as a Cross Country bike.

For geared bikes the most common setups are 2x10 and 3x9 meaning 2 or 3 chain ring sizes on the cranks and 9 or 10 cogs on the rear wheel.  In recent years 3x9 setups have been the most popular for XC and trail bikes as they provide a lot of options, but recently, 2x10’s have begun to show up more often as riders realize they only use 2 of the 3 rings up front anyway.  Downhill bikes will often have only one ring up front - 1x9 downhill bikes are pretty common.

Give Me a Brake

Even though I somehow managed to buy a Trek mountain bike with rim brakes, (v-brakes), in April 2010 virtually all mountain bikes in your local bike shop will have disc brakes these days.  Disc brakes are either cable actuated or use hydraulic hoses, brake fluid and calipers.  Cable actuated are easier to service, (hydraulic service requires some brake bleeding know how and a few special tools), but hydraulic brakes have better stopping power with less effort on the brake lever.  Disc rotors range from 140mm to 208mm diameter.   Disc brakes provide smooth, strong stopping power even after long descents where the power of rim brakes would fade long before due to excessive heat.  In addition, disk brake rotors are in the center near the hub so they don’t get wet as easily as rims going through puddles and creek beds and recover faster when they do.

Let's Wrap it Up

This is more than enough info to ask the right questions at your local bike shop.  All I can say is go in, look around and, when in doubt, ask questions.  Oh, and have a gnarly ride dude.

Tyler Needs a Bike

The date was April 9, 2010.  I don't remember why but I was off work that day so Tyler and I were just hanging out, running errands around town.  Tyler was five at the time and would normally be at day care all day.  Kindergarten wouldn't be starting until September.  I'd been thinking it was time for Tyler to learn to ride a bike - but he didn't have one yet.  In the back of my mind I knew that I would need a bike too.  I hadn't owned a bike since I was 15 years old.  But I would need one now - to ride along with Tyler while he learned, progressing from training wheels to fearless rider with skinned up knees.

Tyler on the bike that started it all.

Our errands complete we pointed the Jeep towards home - and there it was.  Bike Line.  Almost an impulse decision.  I threw on the turn signal and wheeled into the parking lot.

February 17, 2012.  Not even two years have passed since that April day in 2010 yet three mountain bikes now hang upside down from the ceiling in the garage.  Each one more technologically advanced than the next.  A fourth is temporarily stationed in the basement, affixed to a training roller for winter exercise.  I built each bike, one piece at a time.  Accumulating special tools and extra parts along the way.  I watch the weather every day, calculating the next day when my busy schedule and suitable weather will align.  I am 42 years old and I'm in the best shape of my life.  I look forward to mountain biking like I used to look forward to the many hobbies of my past.  Golfing.  Fishing.  Hunting.  Metalworking.  Biking has become all that - but with a killer work out. 

This blog will take a ride through those past 21 months.  A guy who knew nothing about bikes and riding to building four bikes and riding twice a week.  I scoured the Internet and magazines.  I hung around the local bike shops.  I tapped the knowledge of some good friends that are long time mountain bikers (this is really their fault in a way).  And I hope to capture the high points and valuable nuggets here.  Hopefully it will be a gnarly ride.  Dude. 



Hiking my bike across a ledge in Jim Thorpe, PA.  Never said I was smart.