tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6451351575450101042024-03-07T01:53:18.334-07:00Dave Byers, Cycling JunkieRamblings on riding, training, endurance mountain bike racing and cyclocross with short digressions into flyfishing, skiing and life in Boise, ID.Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.comBlogger594125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-65852366748594064982016-01-28T15:00:00.001-07:002016-01-28T15:29:08.929-07:002016 JayP's Backyard FAT Pursuit 200K Gear ListWinter ultra endurance races have been around since the first Iditabike took place on the Iditarod Trail in 1987. As fat bike technology has improved, the popularity of winter endurance racing has exploded and racers can now choose from the Tuscobia 150, Arrowhead 135, White Mountains 100, Susitna 100 and the Iditarod Trail Invitational. <a href="http://fatpursuit.com/" target="_blank">JayP’s Fat Pursuit 200K/200M</a> is the newest addition to this list of ultras and is destined to be a winter classic.<br />
<br />
Like most of the winter ultra races, the Fat Pursuit has a “Required Gear” list designed to keep the racers safe in case of emergency.<br />
<br />
<b>Fat Pursuit 200K/200M Required Gear:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Front and rear safety lights. White front, red rear</li>
<li>Headlamp or bike light</li>
<li>Ability to carry 48oz of water without freezing</li>
<li>0*F sleeping bag or colder</li>
<li>Insulated sleeping pad – minimum size 20″x 48″</li>
<li>Bivy sac or tent</li>
<li>Insulated jacket (puffy)</li>
<li>Stove, fuel, 16 oz. pot</li>
<li>Fire starter, lighter and / or matches</li>
<li>Extra batteries for both your safety lights and headlamp</li>
<li>Map (provided)</li>
<li>SPOT locator beacon</li>
</ul>
<b>Fat Pursuit 200K/200M Recommended Gear:</b><br />
<div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Gore Tex Jacket</li>
<li>Spare gloves, hat, socks</li>
<li>Ability to carry 100oz water</li>
<li>Calories</li>
<li>Thermos…nice treat!</li>
<li>Goggles</li>
<li>GPS, compass, watch, computer</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjGeoFi17sIQl2axGF54J5okhvE5XR0vN_PrfPjGrVEuDROeYOfXG2DT6UxHM1p5h_Sjh2-IgvNS6BFal1q27JJf_n6hXPdOpIF8xI0sBQehPgqt-QN5ELW0H6ofFrnIAqlY4qxrHIvg/s1600/IMG_20160108_162335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjGeoFi17sIQl2axGF54J5okhvE5XR0vN_PrfPjGrVEuDROeYOfXG2DT6UxHM1p5h_Sjh2-IgvNS6BFal1q27JJf_n6hXPdOpIF8xI0sBQehPgqt-QN5ELW0H6ofFrnIAqlY4qxrHIvg/s400/IMG_20160108_162335.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully-Loaded and front-end heavy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>What did I carry in 2016?</b><br />
<br />
In hindsight, I would say that I carried too much gear & extra clothing and I will look for ways to lighten my load in 2017. I intentionally did not weigh my bike when it was fully loaded but I am sure it was well over 50 lbs and probably closer to 60 lbs. I took a pile of gear with me to Island Park and then made my final selection based on the last weather forecast before the race. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Bike</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>2016 Salsa Beargrease </li>
<li>90mm Light-Bicycle carbon rims </li>
<li>26 x 4.0” 45Nrth VanHelga tires setup tubeless with 6oz of Stans in each tire</li>
<li>SRAM 1x11 Drivetrain with 26T front chainring</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZusA1x6sRMGtj23QurJqDH1cRZb6Tk4d29obImsniN-anEM4Z9dS3hocpuL-JhZevrPxYVVaVfohHeJtM3cPUCAk6Hzf2TpcAZeJ2Kqn2kL2Vcj80RNwAQ3cLlw6zYfyaQh3Jpsxis/s1600/IMG_20160105_110119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZusA1x6sRMGtj23QurJqDH1cRZb6Tk4d29obImsniN-anEM4Z9dS3hocpuL-JhZevrPxYVVaVfohHeJtM3cPUCAk6Hzf2TpcAZeJ2Kqn2kL2Vcj80RNwAQ3cLlw6zYfyaQh3Jpsxis/s400/IMG_20160105_110119.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing my load at home prior to the race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Bags & Attachments</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Expedition Pogies – <a href="http://www.revelatedesigns.com/" target="_blank">Revelate Designs</a></li>
<li>Frame Bag - Revelate Designs</li>
<li>(2) Mtn Feed bags – Revelate Designs</li>
<li>Gas Tank – Revelate Designs</li>
<li>Jerry Can - Revelate Designs</li>
<li>Harness (for sleep system) – Revelate Designs</li>
<li>Handlebar Pocket – Revelate Designs</li>
<li>BarYak rails & cross bar - <a href="http://www.baryak.com/" target="_blank">BarYak</a></li>
<li>Compression Dry Bag (for sleep system) – Granite Gear XL</li>
<li>Seat Bag – Carousel Design Works</li>
<li>Downtube Bag – Bedrock Bags</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeBEd8Ot1Aopyg6o9eNgQdGj1daXBCejc7uOsYcF7I60vNl-0-9i1YNSRf1CwBmPgbtlXqHskPAP2P6jJsbPTRVIpSkxAlY6wo3E-CVARbZKOOwD_xlIDuHVjr4nsWJZMu4zcH3dXNZE/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeBEd8Ot1Aopyg6o9eNgQdGj1daXBCejc7uOsYcF7I60vNl-0-9i1YNSRf1CwBmPgbtlXqHskPAP2P6jJsbPTRVIpSkxAlY6wo3E-CVARbZKOOwD_xlIDuHVjr4nsWJZMu4zcH3dXNZE/s400/IMG_1576.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repair Kit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Bike Repair</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>(2) Tubes</li>
<li>Lezyne Multi-tool</li>
<li>Lezyne hand pump</li>
<li>Tire lever</li>
<li>(2) 11spd Quick-links</li>
<li>Gorilla tape </li>
<li>Valve core remover</li>
<li>(6) Zip-ties</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWnXWtJg7FJMt0svSqIVASg57FRFfa4vNxvPmaAaYp6MYMzR27uoXkTdsTPNSCSZgzzThX4KhW4qmiufCKDb_6ysNz3hSxTYiHgt_7g2Qry1QgILxU0VG10WrG1D6HSWhUFYd8rP9V68/s1600/Spider-Gas-Stove-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWnXWtJg7FJMt0svSqIVASg57FRFfa4vNxvPmaAaYp6MYMzR27uoXkTdsTPNSCSZgzzThX4KhW4qmiufCKDb_6ysNz3hSxTYiHgt_7g2Qry1QgILxU0VG10WrG1D6HSWhUFYd8rP9V68/s400/Spider-Gas-Stove-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kovea Spider Stove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Gear</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Niteride Lightning Bug 3.0 & Stinger 10 - Front and rear safety lights</li>
<li>Lupine Piko headlamp with extra batteries</li>
<li>Osprey 3L hydration pack under jacket</li>
<li>24oz Polar Insulated water bottle</li>
<li>Western Mountaineering Puma MF -25F Sleeping Bag</li>
<li> Thermarest 20” x 48” sleeping pad </li>
<li> SOL Emergency Bivy</li>
<li> Kovea Spider Stove, Snow Peak 700 Ti pot, 110g Isobutane fuel canister</li>
<li>Aluminum folding windscreen</li>
<li>Fire starter, BIC lighter and storm proof matches</li>
<li>Lithium AA / CR2032 / CR2450 extra batteries</li>
<li>Garmin eTrex Vista Hcx GPS loaded with 200K route</li>
<li>Garmin Edge 500 (battery died at 15.5 hours)</li>
<li>Cue Sheet</li>
<li>SPOT Gen3 (rented)</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_QFFeFUvg4tH8xCmmiImKNfgpOisgD2lcF-KXKxnf9ifZjC302uZoKJJMlukbGdKIz7C6FzJsKfakG7n2AJ1Z5yZARfAasAMVaSaGV5_AekuYkq1nim_74R_jZRKTHUT6zzzJMsfFiA/s1600/IMG_20160128_140216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_QFFeFUvg4tH8xCmmiImKNfgpOisgD2lcF-KXKxnf9ifZjC302uZoKJJMlukbGdKIz7C6FzJsKfakG7n2AJ1Z5yZARfAasAMVaSaGV5_AekuYkq1nim_74R_jZRKTHUT6zzzJMsfFiA/s400/IMG_20160128_140216.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sock Layers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Feet</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Lake MXZ 303 shoes, size 48 Wide (3 sizes larger than my normal shoes)</li>
<li>Crescent Moon neoprene shoe covers</li>
<li>Cabelas poly liner socks</li>
<li>RAB Vapor Barrier socks</li>
<li>Bridgedale Summit Socks </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Body</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Bib Shorts</li>
<li>Toko Nordic Pants</li>
<li>Craft Mesh Tank base layer</li>
<li>Craft Pro Zero Extreme LS base layer</li>
<li>Merino Wool SS jersey</li>
<li>Cloudveil Softshell Jacket</li>
<li>Craft Active Skull Cap</li>
<li>Original Buff (on and off as needed)</li>
<li>Oakley sunglasses, clear lenses</li>
<li>Pearl Izumi PRO liner gloves</li>
<li>OR PL400 fleece mittens (at night)</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Extra Clothes (carried on bike)</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Feathered Friends down jacket</li>
<li>Patagonia Nano Puff Vest</li>
<li>Montbell Rain Shell</li>
<li>Extra pair of fleece mittens</li>
<li>Extra pair of fleece gloves</li>
<li>Extra Craft Active Skull Cap</li>
<li>Extra Original Buff</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Th82OXwkSgszXaahSXJoY6mgY_b9eGcE800Xl383TriNO0DAI5FIlowynoXRn6wfyGhfdDovrOEHkxdlpJhypg4Ra2x-SXTFH9lrmMef18B8V0ES8sRxi2gH0fs31LoB1lLb-e6OtfY/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Th82OXwkSgszXaahSXJoY6mgY_b9eGcE800Xl383TriNO0DAI5FIlowynoXRn6wfyGhfdDovrOEHkxdlpJhypg4Ra2x-SXTFH9lrmMef18B8V0ES8sRxi2gH0fs31LoB1lLb-e6OtfY/s400/IMG_1575.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Personal Items</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Personal Items</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>(3) Pairs HotHands hand warmers</li>
<li>(2) Pairs Grabber Insole foot warmers</li>
<li>Small packet of chamois cream</li>
<li>Dermatone</li>
<li>Advil</li>
<li>Vasoline </li>
<li>Ear plugs</li>
<li>iPod Shuffle w/single ear bud</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMw2yZeetSHONdBEIzKxoA4FRQVF0aZuOjnhTBeJpggRkYz86_sD_3fMLIc5t1JUryeZEHRmNfHz9xPR2ODSK0yKRSoQHs7KGfS36ipgCtBTXasi5JcvdwingA19c10ZDUNbJgiT7U7w/s1600/Lupine+Piko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMw2yZeetSHONdBEIzKxoA4FRQVF0aZuOjnhTBeJpggRkYz86_sD_3fMLIc5t1JUryeZEHRmNfHz9xPR2ODSK0yKRSoQHs7KGfS36ipgCtBTXasi5JcvdwingA19c10ZDUNbJgiT7U7w/s400/Lupine+Piko.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lupine Piko Headlamp - One of my gear MVPs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<b>Final thoughts on the gear I used in 2016</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My gear choices leaned to the side of comfort vs. speed this year. I can make a few changes to lighten my load and still meet the requirements of the race. If the forecast were to call for temps well below zero, my load would obvious get heavier.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Gear MVPs</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://salsacycles.com/bikes/beargrease" target="_blank">Salsa Beargrease</a>: This fat bike rides more like a “mountain bike” than any other fat bike I have ridden and the geometry is perfect. </li>
<li>Lupine Piko headlamp: The Piko has up to 1200 lumens if needed as well as the ability to customize the output and battery runtime by programming the PCS switch. I ran my Piko on the middle (4W) setting that produces 470 lumens and conserves battery power.</li>
<li>RAB Vapor Barrier socks: The RAB VB socks have taped seams, which prevent moisture from getting to your insulating socks & shoes. </li>
<li>Patagonia Nano Puff vest: The Nano Puff is a lightweight, compressible layer that adds a lot of warmth for its weight. I bought this vest one size too large so it would easily fit over my jacket + hydration pack. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Gear that won’t make the cut in 2017</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>45Nrth VanHelga tires: I love these tires…but I will choose something with more float next year.</li>
<li>Montbell Rain Shell: A full-on rain jacket is overkill & too bulky. A water resistant wind shell would be ideal and would pack down much smaller.</li>
<li>Western Mountaineering Puma MF -25F Sleeping Bag: This is not a camping trip. I will carry a 0F sleeping bag instead. </li>
<li>Thermarest 20” x 48” sleeping pad: Again, this is not a camping trip. </li>
<li>Osprey 3L hydration bladder: My bladder leaked at the first checkpoint and this could have ended my race prematurely. It is too easy to cross-thread the lid on the Osprey bladder when refilling at checkpoints. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Thanks for reading!</div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-4176274327720964922016-01-15T12:32:00.002-07:002016-01-15T14:12:41.879-07:002016 JayP’s Backyard FAT Pursuit 200K Race Report<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Stats:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place: T-6th</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time: 22 Hours, 57 Minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Distance: 122.9 miles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elevation Gain: 6,674’</span><br />
<br />
“Go as fast as you can while conditions are good” I said to myself as I rode alone in the pre-dawn darkness. I knew that the perfect trail conditions would not last. Traveling at 10 mph on a loaded fat bike is flying, and for the first 45’ of the 200K Fat Pursuit I averaged a blistering 10.5 mph. The lead group of 6-7 riders had launched off the start line as if it was a XC race and their red taillights were out of sight within minutes. Less than hour into the race, I was riding alone.<br />
<br />
With three checkpoints on the 200K route, the race is broken up into four segments. In long-distance fat bike races, it is almost impossible to accurately estimate split times because your speed is dependent on the ever-changing conditions. Temperature, recent trail grooming (or lack thereof), snow machine traffic, snowfall, and wind have a huge effect on your speed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01LNgD-mJOhzmSrWZA5eH2eXYO14dhw1KO6YtR_M-whZ_bTTASu4s_aPwXnHd2G5TN_Jy4EVwvUTO9jbGE30ALSLhav4kW2uHBNR7nJlzIenDrkYRjLatXphyYhgiHSC1L_UIAg-Ot6I/s1600/IMG_20160108_162350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01LNgD-mJOhzmSrWZA5eH2eXYO14dhw1KO6YtR_M-whZ_bTTASu4s_aPwXnHd2G5TN_Jy4EVwvUTO9jbGE30ALSLhav4kW2uHBNR7nJlzIenDrkYRjLatXphyYhgiHSC1L_UIAg-Ot6I/s640/IMG_20160108_162350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Salsa Beargrease ready to rock the evening before our 7 AM start</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Start to Checkpoint #1 – 31 Miles</span></b><br />
<br />
Having raced the 60K Fat Pursuit in 2015, I had seen the first 31 miles of the course and knew what to expect. As we waited on the start line in mild 20F temperatures, I was very calm and focused on what I needed to do in order to give myself the best chance to finish this race. <br />
<br />
The riding to checkpoint #1 was truly “as good as it gets” for racing a fat bike on groomed snow machine trails. However, riding a loaded fat bike on snow requires a lot of effort even under perfect conditions. As soon as the trail pitched up at mile 12, my average speed plummeted to about 5 mph and my HR shot up another 5 bpm. “Eat. Drink. Smile. Go.” was my mantra for the day and Michelle’s “secret weapon” cookies were going down nicely.<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNGz54BBWB3JTJ_skjPOuJXaf3BHw76q3EcHsGyRi7PtnJ-ykOWG9SwQPiDEC2uZMV-mOvSJgkKoAWsAHd6lC2h0G5jT57PchdAxLqI-bsnoMng0IS1vXDjjXau7lOmD2y-zo3GJVlSU/s1600/IMG_20160104_202353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNGz54BBWB3JTJ_skjPOuJXaf3BHw76q3EcHsGyRi7PtnJ-ykOWG9SwQPiDEC2uZMV-mOvSJgkKoAWsAHd6lC2h0G5jT57PchdAxLqI-bsnoMng0IS1vXDjjXau7lOmD2y-zo3GJVlSU/s640/IMG_20160104_202353.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Michelle's "Secret Weapon" cookies taste amazing and remain chewy in below-zero temps</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I rolled into checkpoint #1 in 3:15:00 feeling good. However, my biggest challenge in the first segment was not the riding…it was the transition at checkpoint #1. As part of our required gear, every racer must carry a stove, fuel, and a pot. The race also requires that each racer must use their stove to boil water when they get to checkpoint #1 before they can continue. I would give myself a C+ on my water boil. I got it done but I was not efficient.</span><br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yNLiyIOTTRFfC8ln5YTrRNMhDksJCzvEPpm7Pl8FofcKTpw9UFApCBHbvVknRT7H394FSQsp92HFxhZ9J6clZPkxQrXA1HsqHW78pXRESAy3BllRTMcL2QqgVpRGH5S1sOdzZYttwAc/s1600/12471494_462381083886765_3457718567007161422_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yNLiyIOTTRFfC8ln5YTrRNMhDksJCzvEPpm7Pl8FofcKTpw9UFApCBHbvVknRT7H394FSQsp92HFxhZ9J6clZPkxQrXA1HsqHW78pXRESAy3BllRTMcL2QqgVpRGH5S1sOdzZYttwAc/s640/12471494_462381083886765_3457718567007161422_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Staying warm while boiling water at Checkpoint #1</span></i></td></tr>
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As my water was coming to a boil, I found my drop bag and handed my hydration bladder to a smiling volunteer to fill with 84oz of warm water mixed with <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/">CarboRocket</a>. In a rush to get going again, I forgot to double-check the lid of my bladder and as I was about to ride away, Tracey Petervary yelled, “Dave, you’re leaking”. Shit! The lid was unknowingly cross-threaded and I lost over 60oz of fluid down my back due to the leak. I had no choice but to try to dry out my jacket and hydration pack before continuing. My stop at checkpoint #1 turned into a 35’ junk show. Lesson learned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEouA_5N1Zsl5kAGIp4A_qEMb3ZYWeSJH7NLWrscOjC8SgXbDaO7WmXBwUXgefqiuK0YNC97snLLY6HRvxvfEnzY6f8WWpN7_A_KQGBvwXUb8PgTwCrd_zFM7PmIY0cuIvelxffLixSjU/s1600/10636636_462381217220085_3007644000182417459_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEouA_5N1Zsl5kAGIp4A_qEMb3ZYWeSJH7NLWrscOjC8SgXbDaO7WmXBwUXgefqiuK0YNC97snLLY6HRvxvfEnzY6f8WWpN7_A_KQGBvwXUb8PgTwCrd_zFM7PmIY0cuIvelxffLixSjU/s640/10636636_462381217220085_3007644000182417459_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally leaving Checkpoint #1</i></td></tr>
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<b>Checkpoint #1 to Checkpoint #2 (West Yellowstone) – 35 Miles</b> <br />
<br />
It was almost 11am when I left checkpoint #1. This is significant because the busiest time of day for snow machine traffic is typically 11am to 4pm. Snow machine traffic churns up the trail and makes riding extremely more difficult.<br />
<br />
Eight miles after leaving checkpoint #1, the route turned right onto the Black Canyon Loop Trail. As I made the turn, an armada of snow machines descended the steep trail towards me leaving a soft, churned up trail behind them. I did not know it at the time, but my pace was about to significantly slow down. I was now climbing at an average speed of 3.5 mph.<br />
<br />
Cramp! Five and a half hours into the race, sharp cramps forced me off the bike as I tried to “walk it out”. The low-cadence, high-torque riding was taking a toll on my body and I tried to do damage control by walking whenever I felt a sharp cramp coming on. <br />
<br />
Mother Nature decided to throw us curve-ball as well. As I climbed up onto the 8,000’ South Plateau, the light snow that had been falling intensified and the tire tracks in front of me were quickly filling in. Visibility was tough in the flat light and the churned up trail required max effort to keep the bike moving forward. It was ridiculous how much effort it took to ride at 4 mph at this point in the race. <br />
<br />
Keep. Moving. Forward. I “thought” there might be some easy miles once I descended off the plateau towards West Yellowstone…I was wrong. Heavy snow machine traffic plus steady snowfall equals slow riding. The last few miles into checkpoint #2 took forever and I wobbled into West Yellowstone just a little after 5pm. The last 35 miles took me 6:41:00 and I was shattered.<br />
<br />
Riders of various physical & mental states were sitting around the large dining table when I stumbled through the door into checkpoint #2. Although I was in rough shape, I had no thoughts of quitting at this point but I knew I needed some food & time before I could continue. As I stripped off my wet layers to dry out, angels from Heaven, aka the checkpoint #2 volunteers, delivered a hot grilled cheese sandwich & chicken noodle soup. After a second bowl of soup and more water, I was slowly coming back to life. In contrast, several riders were pulling the plug on their races and this was affecting my mojo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Checkpoint #2, West Yellowstone</i></span></td></tr>
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One rider who was not about to DNF was Chris Estrem from Ketchum. Chris passed me on the opening climb and arrived at checkpoint #2 about 20’ ahead of me. As I slowly came back to life, Chris was gauging my motivation to continue and asked if I wanted some company on the trip over Two Top. After a much-needed layover, we rolled out of checkpoint #2 together.<br />
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<b>Checkpoint #2 to Checkpoint #3 (Man Cave) – 35 Miles</b><br />
<br />
<div>
Based on previous reports and the route profile, this segment is definitely the crux of the race. The Two Top Trail climbs to 8,300’ and includes some very steep sections. The weather can be notoriously bad and whiteout conditions are common. <br />
<br />
Chris and I got extremely lucky. The trail groomer had just hit the Two Top Trail and our spirits lifted immediately when we saw freshly groomed trail ahead of us. Freshly groomed trail needs to “setup” before it is firm & fast but at least we were riding our bikes instead of pushing our bikes…most of the time. As we climbed higher, the trail steepened and required pushing our heavy bikes despite the groomed surface. <br />
<br />
After four hours of slow climbing, I was ready to be off this mountain and onto the flats that led us into the Man Cave. The chilly descent off Two Top was over in the blink of an eye but the climbing was not. There were several unexpected climbs on our approach to the Man Cave and every one of them hurt at this point in the race. As we were climbing the Meadow Creek Trail, which looked flat on paper but climbed forever, we noticed a set of very fresh mountain lion tracks heading the opposite direction down the trail. This was cool and somewhat spooky at the same time.<br />
<br />
Approximately seven hours after leaving West Yellowstone, we arrived at checkpoint #3, aka the Man Cave. Two amazing volunteers greeted us as we wheeled our bikes into the warmth of the giant heated garage. They fed us sourdough pancakes, bacon, potatoes, coffee…and more potatoes as our damp clothes dried on the homemade clothes/boot dryer. In less than an hour, we headed out to finish this beast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Gearing up to finish the last 22 miles</i></span></td></tr>
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<b>Checkpoint #3 to the Finish – 22 Miles</b><br />
<br />
How hard could 22 miles on mostly-flat terrain be? Well, the “mostly-flat” trail turned out to be “pretty f’in hilly” trail. Damn you JayP!<br />
<br />
Chris was clearly stronger at this point and appeared to ride the punchy hills with ease while I had to dig deep to clean each one. After riding together for the past nine hours, I had no intention, nor the energy, to “race” Chris to the finish and encouraged him to go ahead if I was holding him up. Chris confirmed that we were in this together to the end. Classy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finished in 22 Hours, 57 Minutes. Epic.</i></td></tr>
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Chris and I rolled under the giant log arch at the Ponds Lodge at 6:03 am to a warm greeting by JayP, Gabe & Jenny, Eric, and Nikki & Jeremy. It was awesome to see so many friends at the finish. Our official time of 22 hours, 57 minutes put us tied for 6th place but that is not important. Finishing this beast is one of my proudest cycling accomplishments and is an experience I will never forget. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My new favorite beanie!</span></i></td></tr>
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Lastly, I want to thank Michelle for her unconditional support while I pursued this crazy-ass adventure.<br />
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Thanks for reading and stay tuned for a follow-up post on the gear I used during this race.</div>
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Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-72826137636189736342014-12-10T13:21:00.003-07:002014-12-10T13:21:56.726-07:00One To Go...<div>
The 2014 Boise cyclocross season comes to an end this Saturday, December 13th, at the <a href="http://idahowafflecross.com/" target="_blank">Idaho Waffle Cross Series</a> Kringle Kross race. With rain & colder temps in the forecast, there will be mud, beer, waffles, and Christmas costumes...and glorious suffering! See you there! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pain. SICX #6, Idaho State CX Championships. <i>Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeridianCyclesShop" target="_blank">Meridian Cycles</a></i></td></tr>
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<br />Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-38628459412862436142014-10-08T10:19:00.003-06:002014-10-08T10:19:29.397-06:00And so it begins...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SICX, Sandy Point. Photo by Andrew Harris</td></tr>
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<br />Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-60396562308947696142014-08-06T14:13:00.001-06:002014-08-06T14:14:41.943-06:002014 Pierre's Hole 100 PreviewThe <a href="http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-resort/news-events/1863/2014PierresHole50100BikeRace.php" target="_blank">2014 Pierre's Hole 100</a> is just around the corner and I am stoked! Despite living in Boise, ID for over two years now, Pierre's Hole still feels like "hometown" race to me and I absolutely love riding at Grand Targhee. It is my favorite event of the mountain bike season.<br />
<br />
As soon as the dust settled after the 2013 edition of Pierre's Hole, Andy Williams got busy building new singletrack in Rick's Basin and this year's race will feature all of that new singletrack. What does this mean? This means that the heinous Dry Creek / Bustle Creek double-track has been eliminated and replaced with sweet singletrack. It also means that a big hunk of pavement on Ski Hill Rd is no longer part of the course because we no longer drop all the way down to Teton Canyon. Does this mean that Pierre's Hole will now be a "kinder, gentler" 100-mile race? Not so fast my friend. While I do think the course will be about 30' faster than 2013 (just an educated guess), I think most racers will feel that the course is plenty tough despite being less than 100 miles.<br />
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In addition to an awesome new course, we can expect the same great course markings, race schwag, awards, post-race food & beverages, and event organization that Pierre's Hole is known for.<br />
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<b>2014 Race Facts:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>50K Racers will do 1 lap</li>
<li>100K Racers will do 2 laps</li>
<li>100 Mile Racers will do 3 laps</li>
<li>There will be two Aid Stations: Aid #1 - Start / Finish area, Aid #2 - Cold Springs</li>
<li>Not counting the start, 100-mile racers will go through the aid stations a total of five times</li>
<li>Lap 1 will use the Powder Reserve Traverse to spread the race out</li>
<li>Laps 2 & 3 will use the Lightening Ridge singletrack</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>The 2014 Pierre's Hole Course:</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Laps 2 & 3 Profile</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Grand Targhee base area</i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJF0rHoq1c-8VKaybOpq1mOGPmFPfbohyphenhyphenQKohmTgbkg6arignIAPi3_lGfSjTy3jnFrCyfM_WY5_LgEYpETWW_tiJP2dZPDp_xVXs-jQYHFYyQkKuETxCDJcc9x9owODpaY1ptwuQsGI/s1600/2014+PH+Course+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJF0rHoq1c-8VKaybOpq1mOGPmFPfbohyphenhyphenQKohmTgbkg6arignIAPi3_lGfSjTy3jnFrCyfM_WY5_LgEYpETWW_tiJP2dZPDp_xVXs-jQYHFYyQkKuETxCDJcc9x9owODpaY1ptwuQsGI/s1600/2014+PH+Course+Image.jpg" height="560" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2014 Pierre's Hole Course</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Kl0FHUFGDQ09k9-rras3hBZ6LDy44VvlBqIM9WICxFov873QoLu8Yq0exdTAG1-O6gbBRWJbgg62wy_V5mJpDtXIBHXJNu5UNcbgw76MSHfmH4E_u0HbgUgZgxtzlKJJjrrqtPQyr8M/s1600/2014+PH+Course+Teton+Canyon+3D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Kl0FHUFGDQ09k9-rras3hBZ6LDy44VvlBqIM9WICxFov873QoLu8Yq0exdTAG1-O6gbBRWJbgg62wy_V5mJpDtXIBHXJNu5UNcbgw76MSHfmH4E_u0HbgUgZgxtzlKJJjrrqtPQyr8M/s1600/2014+PH+Course+Teton+Canyon+3D.jpg" height="310" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Course view from Teton Canyon</i></td></tr>
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If you are on the fence about doing this race, JUMP off of that fence right now and get yourself registered. You won't regret it...unless you hate riding sick singletrack amongst wildflowers with stunning mountain views. <a href="http://pierreshole50-100.athlete360.com/" target="_blank">Online registration</a> closes at midnight next Tuesday. See you there! <br />
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<br />Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-85319639535018930752014-07-27T21:33:00.001-06:002014-07-27T21:39:16.668-06:002014 High Cascades 100 Race Report<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Stats:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place: 17th out of 116 finishers in the Men’s 40 -49</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time: 9:11:41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elevation Gain: 9,949’ (My garmin) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the single most important item of business prior to the early-morning start of an endurance mountain bike race? Eat breakfast? Drink coffee? Apply sunscreen? Listen to Hip Hop? While all of these are very solid options, I would argue that THE single most important item of business is POOPING! I cannot overstate the importance here. I often get up extra early to ensure that I have enough time to get things moving properly before I leave the hotel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seven minutes before the scheduled 5:30 AM start of the <a href="http://highcascades100.com/" target="_blank">High Cascades 100</a> my stomach gurgled…in a bad way. I had already “taken care of business” (twice) back at the hotel, but my system decided it needed to go again. I guess the combination of strong coffee, beet juice, and pre-race nerves were the perfect storm. Houston, we have a problem! One of my biggest fears is hearing the start gun go off from <i>inside</i> a porta-john. At 5:25 AM, the waiting line for the porta-johns was pretty long and I was sure I was going to miss the start…but “holding it” was simply not an option. Luckily Mike Ripley delayed the start by five minutes to give racers more daylight so I was able to take care of business, get re-dressed, and squeeze into the start grid for a decent start position. Phew! That was WAY more drama than I wanted before the race even got started.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVjN6iF9aUx8nCQdlnsEsfL2c9qEhBuQucwYedmm9JrdMKhwd1wzDVyMkLNO7YH0oSDmrfIIi8i9Mr88000CidduZ9BVJUl8WsoQ3IVaX0r2Iiun9-K3Qb4drq295wizr2MhGlY6wPJ4/s1600/Pre-Start+HC100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVjN6iF9aUx8nCQdlnsEsfL2c9qEhBuQucwYedmm9JrdMKhwd1wzDVyMkLNO7YH0oSDmrfIIi8i9Mr88000CidduZ9BVJUl8WsoQ3IVaX0r2Iiun9-K3Qb4drq295wizr2MhGlY6wPJ4/s1600/Pre-Start+HC100.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just before take-off</i></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Pavement</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The High Cascades 100 starts with a chunk of pavement and this year the pack rolled up the highway at comfortable pace in a big pack. There were a few nervous moments and a few tire skids but overall the pack was well-mannered. It was the calm before the storm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Early Miles in the dust</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a new twist for 2014, Mike Ripley sent us up dirt road 300 and then up the Duodenum Trail in the first 9–14 miles. This was a HUGE improvement over last year because it meant we were climbing dusty road/trail instead of descending and therefore the visibility in the dust was manageable. However, once the trail pointed down at around mile 12, the dust was insane and you simply had to use the force. I was not comfortable “sending it” and got passed by a few fearless riders. I am not exaggerating when I say that I could not see the ground in front of my bike. The dust is simply a unique aspect of riding in Bend, OR in the summertime.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first 25 miles went by very quickly and I was at Aid #1 under my projected 2-hour split-time. However, I was already having concerns about my physical state. My legs just felt heavy from the start and my nemesis, low back pain, started to fire up just one hour into the race. WTF? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Question</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s assume that you tapered properly for an important race. Is it unreasonable to expect to have fresh, snappy legs for at least the first couple of hours of an endurance mountain bike race? Or is it perfectly normal for your legs to feel crummy early on? Is this just part of racing and pushing yourself? I absolutely expect to have all sorts of body parts hurt as the race goes on but I would LOVE to feel good for the first couple of hours of a big race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite early physical concerns, I stuck to my plan and arrived at the first two aid stations ahead of my estimated splits. Michelle & Kenai were at Aid #2 and met me with a fresh hydration pack and reloaded my race fuel. Our friend Beth jumped in and lubed my chain and I left Swampy with new energy and a smile on my face. Stoke!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Off Course</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After leaving Aid #2, I fell in with a good group of four riders including fellow Boise racer Joe Feider. It was nice to have a solid group to ride with to help stay focused and on the gas. I remember descending some fun singletrack, and then coming out into a large intersection where I passed Joe. Evidently, there was supposed to be a large log with two arrows marking the turn onto the Skyliners singletrack. However, the log was gone and I blew by entrance to Skyliners and proceeded to haul ass downhill on a dirt road for five minutes. Sadly, Joe followed me as well. We caught two other racers who also missed the turn and we stopped to get our bearings. At the time, I had no idea where I had missed a turn but the others were sure that we needed to climb back up the hill we just descended. Fuck! I shouldn’t let things like this bother me so much but I really wanted to execute a perfect race and going off-course for 20’ was not in my plan. This was serious blow to my mojo. After climbing back up that fucking hill, I did see one orange & white ribbon in the tree above the Skyliner trail…but it was tough to see if you weren’t really looking for it. Mike Ripley later confirmed that this was a tricky intersection and that is why he uses a big log with two arrows on it to “funnel” racers into the singletrack. I would recommend a couple of wrong way "Xs" beyond the Skyliners turn if this intersection is used again in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPcsF2Am_qA2-_29aF2megRnscPP-u6LCPUrrcUrBnENM_Aj4pgmhNWYgnnscXua9rc0oasgxzK4QEaiXJmcYsXJpn-GAzXpLIWurGnfzarCr24ZW11IVIFsTCCsF5WeE1ft78XHQ-Co/s1600/HC100+OffCourse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPcsF2Am_qA2-_29aF2megRnscPP-u6LCPUrrcUrBnENM_Aj4pgmhNWYgnnscXua9rc0oasgxzK4QEaiXJmcYsXJpn-GAzXpLIWurGnfzarCr24ZW11IVIFsTCCsF5WeE1ft78XHQ-Co/s1600/HC100+OffCourse.jpg" height="195" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Off Course Adventure at Mile 48</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since my little off-course adventure occurred at mile 48, I needed to pull my head out of my butt and get back to business but I struggled for a while. Arriving at Aid #3 a few miles later, I took on more water and then was coated with mosquito spray by an awesome volunteer as I left. There were hungry mosquitos lurking in the woods ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Happy Valley</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During the 2013 HC100, Happy Valley was my happy place. I felt good, and the area was simply gorgeous. Last year I wrote the following about Happy Valley:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>We rode through giant Douglas Fir trees, huge green meadows, snow drifts just off the trail, high mountain river crossings, and loamy dirt. When I visualize riding my mountain bike in Oregon that trail is exactly what I will think of from now on.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For 2014, Mother Nature decided to throw us a curve ball. A heavy winter combined with less than normal spring rains meant that snow was still hanging around up high. The trail was intermittently covered with snow drifts and mud and was much, much slower than last year. Some snow patches were rideable but many required a cyclocross dismount, running/slogging, and a remount on the other side. This sport is called “mountain biking”…and it does snow in the mountains right? Ha! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Home Stretch</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The stretch from Aid #3 to Aid #4 took me 2:22:37…which is longer than it should have taken me but I was still in a funk from my missed turn for some of it. Arriving at Aid #4 was like hitting the reboot button. Our friend Sara Schafer was at Aid #4 volunteering and supporting her husband, Markzilla. Sarah was awesome and quickly helped me find my drop cooler and swap out pack and reload my calories. Most of all, Sarah was a bundle of positive energy. Thanks Sarah! Knowing that the majority of the climbing was behind me didn't hurt the mojo either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was surprised to roll into Aid #5 just 45 minutes later. Nice! I stopped just long enough to slam two Dixie cups full of cold Coke, aka liquid crack, and I was off to finish this thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only section of the course that I was somewhat familiar was the last 17 miles. The last section was similar to last year and used the Tiddlywinks + Storm King trails before sending us onto the pavement for 5.5 miles of road riding before the finish line. Tiddlywinks and Storm King are awesome trails…but at mile 80 of a 100 mile race, they can swat you down in an instant. Big berms, tabletops, and double jumps taunt you all the way down Tiddlywinks. I would love to say that I “shredded” that final stretch of singletrack but it would be more accurate to say that I “negotiated it safely & efficiently”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Finish</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew that the race finished by veering off the pavement onto a short section of mostly downhill singletrack before the finish line. I also knew that if I was “racing” anyone, the first one into the singletrack would probably win.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I entered the pavement, a group of three other racers were just ahead and I made an effort to latch onto their wheels. Our group of four quickly absorbed another rider, my friend Chris Gardner from Hailey, ID, and we rolled down the pavement in a little 5-person peloton. Joe Feider was also in the group and was drilling it at the front like Jens Voit at the Tour of California. I was third wheel and I kept waiting for the group to start rotating…but Joe just kept drilling it at the front.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Question</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When riding in a small group, is it A) your responsibility to accelerate to the front to take a pull? or B) wait until the guy in front decides to pull off to take your turn? Lastly, if the guy in front never pulls off to rotate, are you a jerk for not taking a pull?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With about a mile to go, a guy from the back rode to the front to take a big pull and relieve Joe. But the group still wasn’t rotating. There was no flick of the elbow or look behind to see if anyone was coming through. I will admit that I never spoke up and suggested out loud that we rotate. In hindsight, I guess I should have insisted we rotate. Basically, two guys pulled our group for five miles down the pavement. I was willing to do my share but I was still racing and trying to save energy where I could. When we got within 50 yards of the singletrack, I jumped the group, was first into the singletrack and rode across the line ahead of the group. It was a weird ending to less than perfect day on the bike for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrs2GHVEP2r5zpEFwKYLrTOXl8hbfdH-OJsMLHxbMuY2En7rpqMq5P4PVnCMp40V1WI3qSnaS6gr7VfUqxcBU9pCu-rIJFlYZaTB1rBlLOkEptSEFEgttsnENS7NlRyH_vrrRR9z2ThE/s1600/Before..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrs2GHVEP2r5zpEFwKYLrTOXl8hbfdH-OJsMLHxbMuY2En7rpqMq5P4PVnCMp40V1WI3qSnaS6gr7VfUqxcBU9pCu-rIJFlYZaTB1rBlLOkEptSEFEgttsnENS7NlRyH_vrrRR9z2ThE/s1600/Before..jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Before.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBXtXg0WQyEUz63JWKqYIgRVhftDZyvRAXTItw4P-BtR7RhO3tx6-4QVlmzt3qCeQpFvtOC6z9CIkw-FyuEUAtShm7zQttI7v7jlH4rFQGHQo30sbV92Pf_-AHn8BW1oZI5KogsfJz30/s1600/After..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBXtXg0WQyEUz63JWKqYIgRVhftDZyvRAXTItw4P-BtR7RhO3tx6-4QVlmzt3qCeQpFvtOC6z9CIkw-FyuEUAtShm7zQttI7v7jlH4rFQGHQo30sbV92Pf_-AHn8BW1oZI5KogsfJz30/s1600/After..jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: inherit;">Random Post-Race Thoughts</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will be back at the High Cascades 100 in 2015. It is a well-run event with great support and wonderful volunteers. And, I have unfinished business to attend to. Having said that, I do think the 2014 course was a letdown compared to the course we raced in 2013 and I hope to see a better course in 2015. I realize that Mike can’t control Mother Nature and I am certainly not blaming him for the snow & mud above 6,000'. However, the long sections of sandy Forest Service road absolutely sucked…and we got to ride them twice in 2014 since we used the same route in and out of Aids 2/5 @ Wanoga. I also feel like the course was too easy this year. I think the 94% finisher rate supports my feeling. I would like to see more climbing, more singletrack, AND the soul-crushing climb out of Lava Lake in the 2015 HC100.</span><br />
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Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-2582030588716230872014-06-21T10:45:00.000-06:002014-07-27T19:51:14.569-06:002014 Knobby 9 to 5 Race Report<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Stats:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place: 3rd, Solo Men 40+</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laps: 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time: 7:36:50 (New PR)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Miles: 91.5</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 14.949999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elevation Gain: Between 12.3k' & 14k', depending on whose Garmin you believe</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333;">
<span style="line-height: 14.949999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1q7_topErLudQ0ISdOSsznYE2CibDnCFLYFRb69-7KUtlj0KNe1KPCg9qI5f7MVi79ODw6BystRxISwhA15KofdLw-cbR5Yr3PGKbLCw3W74CcT24BKvArzGd03pHkE1LMgAKhTvcmYs/s1600/2014+9to5+40+Podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1q7_topErLudQ0ISdOSsznYE2CibDnCFLYFRb69-7KUtlj0KNe1KPCg9qI5f7MVi79ODw6BystRxISwhA15KofdLw-cbR5Yr3PGKbLCw3W74CcT24BKvArzGd03pHkE1LMgAKhTvcmYs/s1600/2014+9to5+40+Podium.jpg" height="367" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's 40+ Solo Podium, minus Joe Jensen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Fast forward to lap #8:
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Following a speedy pit stop, I tried to stay on the gas all the way up
the Spring Creek climb.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">By this point of
the race, I had been riding alone for a while and was just trying to stay steady
and focused.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Various body parts had been
sore for a while by this point.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Near the
top of the climb I spotted an Eastside Cycles kit and I knew the battle was
on.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Andy Filler had ridden away from me on
lap #3 but I had closed the gap.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">There
was a LOT of racing left so I didn’t allow myself to get too excited and I just
kept doing my thing.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Andy let me pass
and then jumped on my wheel where he would ride for the remainder of the
lap.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I had a feeling he was toying with
me but I was on my limit and couldn’t do anything differently.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">After another drive-by pit stop for fresh
CarboRocket and a Honey Stinger waffle, we were back it for lap #9. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Andy let me lead up the Spring Creek climb and
the silence was deafening.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">We were both
working hard but I was well aware of Andy’s climbing ability.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I was having flashbacks to many Thursday
Night Rides where Andy would drop me like a stinky sock on our local climbs.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I tried to open a gap on the rolling terrain
and any downhill I could…but he was like Velcro.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Three-quarters of the way through lap #9, on
the steepest climb on the course, Andy punched it and came around me.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Just like that, Andy put 25 yards on me.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I was able to keep the gap to a reasonable
amount but Andy had more left in the tank than I did. I had been on my limit
for laps 8 & 9 and I simply didn’t have another gear.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Andy’s 10</span><sup style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">th</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> lap time of 45:29 was very
impressive and secured his 2</span><sup style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> place in the 40+ Solo race.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">I tried to stay on the gas, but a 47:44 (my
slowest lap of the day) was all I had left for my 10</span><sup style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">th</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> and final
lap.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">That was a hard-earned 3</span><sup style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">rd</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">
place in the 40+ Solo race and I was very pleased with my race. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">10 laps in 7:36:50 was a new PR for me by 15’!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZcF0SePvQ3qGOALnunyUww_0Su40o_WI3xhyphenhyphenpTDQBjM71bNbEIdpa0xwZYZNJWUXUvkL8EWbUH3OZ4s8zWfJeQEVkwjgk_Rz27NBISmqFOdBM7WzBfy4Ca2B9YzbRbq7LolsT6izCXw/s1600/2014+40plus+Top+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZcF0SePvQ3qGOALnunyUww_0Su40o_WI3xhyphenhyphenpTDQBjM71bNbEIdpa0xwZYZNJWUXUvkL8EWbUH3OZ4s8zWfJeQEVkwjgk_Rz27NBISmqFOdBM7WzBfy4Ca2B9YzbRbq7LolsT6izCXw/s1600/2014+40plus+Top+3.jpg" height="29" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2014 Knobby 9 to 5, Men's 40+ Solo, Top 3</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Going into the Knobby 9 to 5, I knew it would be a
dogfight. The 2013 40+ Solo winner, Joe
Jensen, was returning and Andy Filler added to the small but talented field of
40+ Solo racers. More than anything, I
wanted to put down a solid race and see if I could improve on my 2013
race. I had a <a href="http://davebyers.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-knobby-9-to-5-race-report.html" target="_blank"><i>very</i> good race in 2013</a> so I knew this would be tough and I was
nervous leading up to the race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is always fun to race in your backyard against your
homies and this year was no exception.
Hal Miller and the <a href="http://www.knobbytireseries.com/" target="_blank">Knobby Tire Series</a> crew do a great job with the race
and Avimor is a great venue for a lap race with its plush soccer field for pit
row and fun trails.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I had a great race and set a new PR this year, my
race was not all rainbows and unicorns.
My nemesis, low back pain, was constant issue for me during this
race. I wonder what it would be like to
race my bike without low back pain. I
might need to re-evaluate my core & stretching routine…again. I am also going to take another look at my
bit fit and see if there are any small tweaks to be made there. This race definitely left a mark…I basically
felt as if I were in a XC MTB for 7:36:50 and I felt the effects several days
later. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through trial & error, I have settled on a handful of
products that I have come to rely on during every endurance race: </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Hydration & Electrolytes:</b> I continue to rely on the <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/#!online-store/c6bq/!/~/product/category=0&id=32260183" target="_blank">originalCarboRocket</a> mixed at one scoop per 24oz. I alternated between Tropical Orange
& Kiwi Lime for a little variety during the 9 to 5 race and tried to drink
24oz per lap. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Hands & Butt:</b> If
your hands & butt aren’t happy during an endurance race, it can make for a
long day. <a href="http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gs1twistshift" target="_blank">Ergon GS1 grips</a> & the <a href="http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/sm3pro" target="_blank">Ergon SM3 Pro saddle</a> kept my hands &
butt happy. Over the years I have
alternated between the original GP1s and the newer GS1s. The GP1s are heavier and chunkier, but have a
slight edge in comfort. The new GS1s for
single twist shift are a great option for XX1 users.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tires:</b> I didn’t
see too many flat tires during the Knobby 9 to 5 but I am always surprised to
see people running paper-thin tires at endurance races. Flats suck.
Getting a flat during a race that you have trained your ass off for, and
traveled along way to get to, <i>really</i>
sucks. I have had great luck with
Schwalbe SnakeSkin tires and I am more than willing to pay the slight weight
penalty (and ridiculous price) to have the extra protection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cockpit:</b> Anyone
who knows me knows that I am a geek when it comes to training, numbers, etc. I love the data. During the 9 to 5, I was constantly paying
attention to my split times…not only lap times, but split times to certain
points on the course. It was nice to
have my Garmin out in front of my bars where I could easily see it. The latest
<a href="http://www.acecosportgroup.com/shop/k-edge-computer-mounts/k-edge-computer-mount-for-garmin-edge-and-forerunner-gps-computers.html" target="_blank">K-Edge Handlebar Mount</a> for Garmin computers is rock solid, looks bad-ass, and
keeps the Garmin out front where it is easy to see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next up is the <a href="http://highcascades100.com/" target="_blank">High Cascades 100</a> in Bend, OR on July
19. Prior to that, I will be in Sun Valley for Marathon
Nationals to support Michelle and cheer on my peeps who are racing in the big show. Woot Woot!</span></div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-3832802382146401832014-05-28T21:12:00.003-06:002014-05-29T09:15:26.986-06:002014 12 Hours of Mesa Verde<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Quick Stats</b><br /> Laps: 8<br /> Place: 7th, Men's Solo<br /> Time: 12:31:02 <br /> Miles: 131.2<br /><br /><i>Bittersweet</i>. That is the word I keep coming back to when I think about my race at the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde this year. Before I jump into my race report, how about a little background first?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rockin' it through the Rib Cage</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was my 6th consecutive year racing the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde, solo. After several years of being stuck on seven laps, I finally broke through my personal ceiling and completed eight laps in 2013. My race at the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde last year remains of my best performances on a bike. Of course I wanted to improve on it. I thought about this year’s race all winter and it was the first “A” race on my calendar in 2014. My goal for this year was to make a small improvement over 2013 and complete eight laps in a little less time and hopefully move up on the podium. Realistically, I thought I could shave 10 to 15 minutes from last year’s time if I executed a perfect race.<br /><br />Why does bittersweet describe my race this year? I had high expectations. On one hand (the sweet side), I absolutely emptied the tank and left it all out there on the course. I honestly don’t know if I have ever gone that deep in a bike race. I really wanted to stop riding my bike after lap #7. However, I didn’t drive 11 hours to Cortez, CO to do seven laps…I went down there to do eight friggin’ laps! As a result, I am proud of the way I finished the race. On the other hand (the bitter side), I did not accomplish my goal of completing eight laps faster than last year and I finished two spots off of the podium.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what happened? There were several contributing factors but I keep coming back to one key factor: I was flat and got off to a slow start. The solo field is so competitive at Mesa Verde that every second counts. As a racer who needs to have a perfect race in order to have any shot at the podium, I cannot get off to a slow start and hope to make up time later on. I need to haul ass from the moment the cannon fires (more on the cannon in a minute) and then keep my foot on the gas pedal for the next 12+ hours. My race strategy was all about saving seconds everywhere I could. <br /><br />I had a great block of training leading up to Mesa Verde and my power meter was confirming that I was right on track so I had reason to be optimistic. However, with one week to go, things started to unravel. Let’s just say that tired & stressed is no way to go into a 12 hour race. It was the perfect storm of pre-race anxiety, work stress, and very poor sleep as a result. I left for Mesa Verde in a funk and lacking my usual high level of stoke for racing.<br /><br /><b>My Race</b><br /><br />The boom of the cannon caught me totally off guard….again! I should know better. I should have been lined up with my game face on much sooner. Instead of channeling my inner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Jackson">Bo Jackson</a> and running with the leaders, I was immediately swallowed up by the thundering herd. As a result, I stood (as in stopped, standing next to my bike) waiting to funnel out of the rodeo pen as the leaders sped off. Crap!<br /><br />The first lap at Mesa Verde is always an exercise in patience unless you are at the very front. There are only so many places to pass on a course that is comprised of twisty singletrack. I simply tried to conserve energy and go fast wherever I could.<br /><br />By the second lap, things started to open up a bit but I was still riding in heavy traffic for most of the lap. Although not horrible, my first two laps cost me any chance I had at a podium finish. For perspective, 5th place finisher <a href="http://jwookieone.wordpress.com/2014/05/11/knife-fight/">Jefe Branham</a> of Gunnison, CO put 11+ minutes on me during the first two laps. Yikes! Our lap splits for the remaining six laps were very similar. Nice work out there Jefe!<br /><br />By the start of Lap #3, I was roughly three hours into my race and various body parts were already starting to hurt. As usual, it was my low back that was the worst…no surprise there. On a side note, Mesa Verde hurt more this year than any other year I have done it. I must be getting old! I remember making a conscious decision sometime during Lap #3 that I was going do whatever it took to complete eight laps. Period. Before the race, I had written “FOCUS on the PROCESS.” on a piece of waterproof tape and stuck it to my handlebar. This was my mantra for the day.<br /><br />On a side note, I missed seing a lot of friends before, during, and after the race. Racing solo doesn't lend itself to a very social day unless you run into friends on the course...which I usually do at this race. I can't believe I didn't get to ride with Jefe, Shannon and/or Jen, Chris and/or KC Holley, or Brad Mullen? <br /><br /><b>What worked well?</b><br /><br />I feel like my hydration & fueling at Mesa Verde was the best of any endurance race I have done. I didn’t do anything crazy or totally new. I simply tweaked a proven formula with the help of <a href="http://lwcoaching.com/">Coach LW</a>. Lynda and I have been fine tuning my fueling plans for quite a while now and I think we nailed this one. The cornerstone of my plan was original <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/">CarboRocket</a> Kiwi Lime & Tropical Orange in my hydration packs mixed at one scoop per 24 ounces. I have tried all of the new drink mixes out there and I keep coming back to Carbo Rocket. It tastes great, keeps my tummy happy, and has a great electrolyte profile. Speaking of hydration packs, I think they are a key item for racing solo at Mesa Verde. There are just not many places to reach for a bottle on that course.<br /><br /><b>What’s next?</b><br /><br />Regardless of fitness, bring a HIGH level of stoke to the <a href="http://www.knobbytireseries.com/races.html">Knobby 9 to 5</a>.</span>Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-9776224523177305802013-12-22T17:47:00.003-07:002014-05-29T08:31:27.868-06:002013 Cross Season Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 2013 Cyclocross season ended with a whimper last Sunday at Kringle Cross. This was the BIG weekend for cross racing here in Boise. The Idaho State CX Champs were on Saturday, followed by Kringle Cross, the last race in the Waffle Cross Series, on Sunday. We had cold temps, snow, ice, mud, beer, a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoodTruckRally">Food Truck Rally</a>, waffles, costumes, and Waffle Cross Series championships up for grabs. There were plenty of reasons to be mentally and physically “up” for this weekend.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And they're off! Masters 45+ Race Start</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whimper? I simply felt flat and raced poorly both days last weekend and it is still eating at me.<br /><br />You know that feeling when you can stand and hammer out of every corner, easily stick to the wheel in front of you, or respond when a rider accelerates? Yeah, I didn't have that feeling last weekend. You know that feeling when you go into every corner with confidence regardless of the surface or angle? Yeah, I didn't have that feeling either. Feeling flat and lacking confidence is no way to go through a cross race.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Givin' her all I've got Captain...but it wasn't enough</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cat 1/2, 3, 35+ Race was muddy!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ok, let’s turn this frown upside down, shall we? In contrast to my racing performance, the State Champs / Kring Cross weekend was rad! The Idaho Waffle Cross crew did a great job with the “Big Show” and created an awesome atmosphere for cross racing. They took their already excellent event promotion & organization up another notch. There was a giant heated tent for registration, great course markings, sponsor & event banners throughout the venue, a dedicated timing tent, and of course plenty of good food and beer to keep the spectators happy...very PRO. Overall, racer attendance was a little less than I thought it would be which begs the question: Should the Idaho State CX Champs be held at the end of November? Just wondering out loud whether some folks lose their cross mojo once we get into December.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoZTNgMBgBx1oGoda2ysd0Tds1AQZIjQvsiCztl8dmS-5TWAzaYVHZFVKu6ejIGUfVbiJmMjwtDFwZvvH_8HocCTKjxnCI-wyoiW6G0p4giM9dDmHT7N52mjuqQje1Rfxe8PvNHJbaUc/s1600/KringleCrossB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoZTNgMBgBx1oGoda2ysd0Tds1AQZIjQvsiCztl8dmS-5TWAzaYVHZFVKu6ejIGUfVbiJmMjwtDFwZvvH_8HocCTKjxnCI-wyoiW6G0p4giM9dDmHT7N52mjuqQje1Rfxe8PvNHJbaUc/s400/KringleCrossB.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nancy Odle rocking the Gingerbread Cookie costume. Best costume winner!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj7fIhx4ImKoJ59ivGNn65yQz1qfyLP7fOs5UctByyzguvEcrWdDt3TPWw_46zxYDn4uBX5nA8IDgtz5bXtJOHDU_EVEg6wj1ZELOx2BgeJBR0_Yp_FEdvZVMF3bqQnIX3y7TOuCCxCs/s1600/KringleCrossC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj7fIhx4ImKoJ59ivGNn65yQz1qfyLP7fOs5UctByyzguvEcrWdDt3TPWw_46zxYDn4uBX5nA8IDgtz5bXtJOHDU_EVEg6wj1ZELOx2BgeJBR0_Yp_FEdvZVMF3bqQnIX3y7TOuCCxCs/s400/KringleCrossC.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kringle Cross was festive!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyOCWkTdFtjIR707-7loep50wyXj8V1vVkvXV9FURrlxvz3BeN1N5zE6ATObZ3Jg8y-IDg7XUlbl5xFQJ9oLnis8Z-ULRCRkpYRPTztHaPMaXxaxnlZOSvkRbab9tfvkbIqBKfRchvUw/s1600/KringleCrossD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyOCWkTdFtjIR707-7loep50wyXj8V1vVkvXV9FURrlxvz3BeN1N5zE6ATObZ3Jg8y-IDg7XUlbl5xFQJ9oLnis8Z-ULRCRkpYRPTztHaPMaXxaxnlZOSvkRbab9tfvkbIqBKfRchvUw/s400/KringleCrossD.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mike Kennedy sporting a Tu Tu, bows, and nipple bells! Nice!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We had an Abominable sighting at Kringle Cross!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to the State Champs weekend, we had several great weekends of racing to sharpen our skills and tune the engines.<br /><br /><b>Dec 7th - Eagle Island CX @ Eagle Island State Park</b><br />Snow! We woke up tp 2-4” of cold, dry snow on Saturday morning and temps stayed in the low 20s all day keeping things wintry throughout the races.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dOwXPm57Kr1m4o8OLDoOMNlySPulyr9cH48kl4f17pEl72YcRoZ7cPTwu1JqRGUgqc6INVQ4wia3SAzusrUCJLDXIUScu_Q4jnS4PilZfnrijwCFLjs7EIE3LS_Ia-zjSXiLzVBGZKc/s1600/EagleIslandCX+-+ByersB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dOwXPm57Kr1m4o8OLDoOMNlySPulyr9cH48kl4f17pEl72YcRoZ7cPTwu1JqRGUgqc6INVQ4wia3SAzusrUCJLDXIUScu_Q4jnS4PilZfnrijwCFLjs7EIE3LS_Ia-zjSXiLzVBGZKc/s400/EagleIslandCX+-+ByersB.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Conditions were cold & snowy for Eagle Island CX</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Team Real Theater put on a great event in challenging conditions and the venue at Eagle Island State Park is just gorgeous. I was excited to race in the snow and felt pretty confident ripping around the course despite the slippery conditions. The crux of the course was the steep run up and if you didn't have toe spikes, you were in for a long day. I had toe spikes. :-)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQufPZ8vG8Ko9vfcMuJe8fWPNN_S2es9GHbYxTrOPjfoIdH53mSdYnwwbBzeLP7E3htDEqa4w5WthjqvtRNv7_4QTe9MzlXCLWBBHQcxA_sa6cAh7cbGDjoIrQPzClbbaKIISa6x-6UKE/s1600/EagleIslandCX+-+ByersC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQufPZ8vG8Ko9vfcMuJe8fWPNN_S2es9GHbYxTrOPjfoIdH53mSdYnwwbBzeLP7E3htDEqa4w5WthjqvtRNv7_4QTe9MzlXCLWBBHQcxA_sa6cAh7cbGDjoIrQPzClbbaKIISa6x-6UKE/s400/EagleIslandCX+-+ByersC.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Twisting through the trees</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Masters 45+ raced with the Cat 4 men and we had a decent sized field sharing the course. My personal race sorted out very quickly at the front as I battled with three Cat 4 racers who I traded the overall lead with several times before opening a little gap on the last lap and taking the W. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xq7r7EeKcokolxmSJjYGR3gF6MvMuHhLoxcZeUoEr85lRPFtrYMieWFklzIRKEwiiass9K8MbW_SjQqCzSCz0HBFb_lQVR5MZVsVDdZwsBVNIxkhC2NzxBt_FYLlMpRqyAl4dlCULLY/s1600/EagleIslandCX+-+RonMiller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xq7r7EeKcokolxmSJjYGR3gF6MvMuHhLoxcZeUoEr85lRPFtrYMieWFklzIRKEwiiass9K8MbW_SjQqCzSCz0HBFb_lQVR5MZVsVDdZwsBVNIxkhC2NzxBt_FYLlMpRqyAl4dlCULLY/s400/EagleIslandCX+-+RonMiller.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ron Miller with a PRO shoulder-carry up the run up. Toe Spikes!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nov 23 - 24 - SICX #6 & #7 @ Sandy Point</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frozen grass and failing SRAM Hydros was the theme for this Sandy Point weekend. My goal was simply to race as hard as I could for 60’ each day and try to stay with the fast Masters 35+ group as long as possible. The timing of this race made it good training for State Champs.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7gl2ON6zm4MSHeTFlTPEjOAY-kG44ywQTh9EMnIvBqtZHe1UdKZjnvbDLd5KwnIONZ9CWR5DqmmZr8a56SSqNIG4zQ7-u1fN8PIC7W5H7XlnP_1rCjDFplk-TE-bKrnuwO1P3oOsz1U/s1600/SICX+6+Remount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7gl2ON6zm4MSHeTFlTPEjOAY-kG44ywQTh9EMnIvBqtZHe1UdKZjnvbDLd5KwnIONZ9CWR5DqmmZr8a56SSqNIG4zQ7-u1fN8PIC7W5H7XlnP_1rCjDFplk-TE-bKrnuwO1P3oOsz1U/s400/SICX+6+Remount.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Remount on top of the SICX Flyover</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As much as I love the venue at Sandy Point, I have yet to have a good race there. I struggled Saturday with a few off-camber corners in particular as well as the beach run up. I just never got in a groove and made several little mistakes that cost me time. As the sun got higher in the sky, the frozen grass began to thaw and things got increasingly more slippery with every lap during the race. <br /><br />When I got home from Saturday’s race, I noticed that my rear brake was a little mushy. Not bad, but not crisp either. A little voice in the back of my brain said “bleed it!”...but I didn’t. <br /><br />We had overnight temps in the low 20s and as I was warming up, my brakes were losing pressure. As we are now learning, <a href="http://sramroadhydraulicbrakerecall.com/">SRAM Hydro Road Disc brakes don't like sub-freezing temps</a>. With 30’ until my race, I had no rear brake. I was ready to call it day early but Steve (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DirtDartMobileBikeService">Dirt Dart Mobile Bike Service</a>) and I attempted a last-minute brake bleed but we missed a step under pressure (with no manual or YouTube available) and I was out of luck. I got SRAM’d...again.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsaG9WwFIcYZjgBtmqgih1BbEgI-1bFl8W6ZFPfgN4iXpBHEm0WTw5a3mMQp7gmQC3ee2IUw5ZvJYa6cZhA5Fd-M_twzqkMpj9F95cEWzOUzhBFKTuZ2Kfmy60KupAXavU-3yD0st5c4/s1600/DirtDart+Trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsaG9WwFIcYZjgBtmqgih1BbEgI-1bFl8W6ZFPfgN4iXpBHEm0WTw5a3mMQp7gmQC3ee2IUw5ZvJYa6cZhA5Fd-M_twzqkMpj9F95cEWzOUzhBFKTuZ2Kfmy60KupAXavU-3yD0st5c4/s400/DirtDart+Trailer.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Steve and his Dirt Dart Trailer are a regular fixture at the Boise Cross races. Thanks Steve!</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nov 9-10 - Idaho Waffle Cross Series, Turkey Cross </b><br />The theme of my Turkey Cross was chilly, dry, and one bunny-hop gone wrong. I had a solid race on Saturday and battled with Ron Miller and Rob Burke for the top three spots in the Master’s 45+ race. I was able to hold off Rob for 2nd place but Ron was too smoove (yeah, I said smoove) and rode off the front for the win.</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-28cd41d0-1b4b-563a-266e-18d4aed3fa7b">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Turkey Cross - Staging the Masters 45+ / Cat 4 race</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trying to hold off a determined Rob Burke</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A little post-race interview with Brian Price, co-organizer of the Idaho Waffle Cross Series</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday was new day and I was ready to rock. I got to the venue early and planned on doing several laps to get my lines dialed in. My first practice lap was mellow...just scouting things out and seeing what the Waffle Crew changed overnight. On my second lap, I came into the 10” double barriers and thought, “I am SO bunny-hopping these”. I backtracked a bit, and then got up some speed before hopping the first barrier...but I clipped my rear wheel and endo’d into the frozen grass. My left shoulder and head took the brunt of the impact. As I layed there in heap, Zach came down from the parking lot to help as he had seen the whole show from above. My left arm wasn't working. Ruh Roh. My first thought was “broken collarbone”, but Zach said my shoulder looked out of whack. Luckily, Dr. Lori Smith was in attendance to race and came over to check me out. She sat me on my tailgate, had me hold my arm at 90 degrees, and then calmly put my shoulder back into its socket. Holy Shit! I could immediately move my arm again. She must have seen a twinkle in my eye because she immediately said, “You are NOT racing today.” I was very fortunate to have Lori put my shoulder back into place just minutes after my crash because the swelling wasn't bad yet and this made it easier on both of us. </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-28cd41d0-1b4b-563a-266e-18d4aed3fa7b">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fidee Cent made the trip from Jackson to race Turkey Cross and took the Men's Cat 3 WIN on Day 2...in his sweet new Athlete360 skin suit.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a lot to learn about how to prepare for, and then race, a full cyclocross season. It is a tricky balancing act between resting enough to be fresh for racing and not losing fitness as the season goes on. I also have a long list of CX-specific skills that I want to work on before next season. I learned a ton this season and I am already looking forward to applying it next year. <br /><br />To everyone heading to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bouldercx14">CX Nationals in Boulder, CO</a>, best of luck and Hup Hup!</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-28cd41d0-1b4b-563a-266e-18d4aed3fa7b">
</span>Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-14794199779753121302013-10-24T12:46:00.001-06:002013-10-24T12:46:24.378-06:002013 Cyclocross Season - Week 4 - Waffle Cross #1 & #2<div>
The <a href="http://idahowafflecross.com/" target="_blank">Idaho Waffle Cross</a> series kicked off this past Saturday at the Eagle Bike Park under sunny skies and pleasant temps. Over 110 racers showed up to tackle a challenging course and enjoy the festive atmosphere created by the Waffle Cross crew. In addition to an awesome, technical course, we had <a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/" target="_blank">Bob's Red Mill</a> waffles and delicious adult beverages from <a href="http://www.payettebrewing.com/" target="_blank">Payette Brewing</a> to look forward to post-race.</div>
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My Waffle Cross almost didn't happen. I woke up the Wednesday prior with the first signs of a nasty head cold and I tried to nip it in the bud by taking Wednesday off of the bike and keeping the rides short on Thursday & Friday. I REALLY didn't want to miss Waffle Cross, but I also didn't want this cold to go "nuclear" on me and leave me unable to function the following week. Armed with a handful of Hall's Menthol cough drops and embrocation, I decided to give it a go Saturday morning.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzN62L_SD1jO9dpMBp6sFOgCqO4mMUtPGZGdKOGN3cK-QAlZwUSzoU4EkJDbGl1q0db9Z_Mi0f_Q11_MqshelLgU37v6DS0PqCN78RMfDIr7iNyS7Ml8VzYhuHK11hBHq0oF5IBdJytw/s1600/Byers-Sat-WaffleCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzN62L_SD1jO9dpMBp6sFOgCqO4mMUtPGZGdKOGN3cK-QAlZwUSzoU4EkJDbGl1q0db9Z_Mi0f_Q11_MqshelLgU37v6DS0PqCN78RMfDIr7iNyS7Ml8VzYhuHK11hBHq0oF5IBdJytw/s400/Byers-Sat-WaffleCross.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dropping In! Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ReedCycle" target="_blank">Reed Cycle</a></i></td></tr>
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<b>Masters 45+ Race - </b><b>Waffle Cross, Day 1</b><br />
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The Waffle Cross course at the Eagle Bike Park is no grass criterium race...and I dig that! This venue rewards bike handling on a variety of surfaces and forces you to think about what you are doing out there. After a couple of recon laps, I felt good about my strategy for racing this course. </div>
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With a front row call-up, I decided to step on the gas and try to stay in front of the inevitable carnage that was going to take place in the first tricky section. Rob Burke was glued to my wheel and made a quick pass when I bobbled in the sand early on. Rob and I would be locked in a tight duel for the remainder of the race. I was able to make a pass on the 2nd lap but Rob was always right there, waiting for me to make a mistake. And this course was a mistake waiting to happen!</div>
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As we rode through the finish line and I saw "1 Lap To Go", I got a little nervous. I am not used to being at the front of a bike race. I needed to stay smooth but also stay on the gas. I made it through the trickiest sand sections and steep hills just fine but Rob was still lurking a few bike lengths back. Into the grass section, I ran the big double barriers pretty well and was feeling good about my gap over 2nd place...and then I crashed. I lost my front wheel on a grassy downhill, left-hander and went down in a splat! Shit! I scrambled to my feet and remounted as quickly as possible and was relieved that Rob did not pass me in the process...but now the gap was tight. I stomped on the pedals, bunny-hopped the final section of short barriers before the paved finish straight, and crossed the line in first place. Holy shit, I just won my first bike race! </div>
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<b>Masters 45+ Race - </b><b>Waffle Cross, Day 2</b> </div>
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We would race the same course, but in reverse, on Day 2. The reversed course presented several new challenges because there were now several sections that were possible to ride, but potentially faster to run. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvYq-iMmsYoOoZ_KDDXt-cbypo5wLlKFZLLWJc-xySQSVQtnPHU0DXXyeODeKu8VYzjmUGHNvYEnKXhhJL43KQXFygRLyzJ_Mb1HJ0LqXnHIETFAPEHpHv1TaP3E5hRlBBmL3nxSZec/s1600/Byers+Pushing+-+Sunday+Waffle+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvYq-iMmsYoOoZ_KDDXt-cbypo5wLlKFZLLWJc-xySQSVQtnPHU0DXXyeODeKu8VYzjmUGHNvYEnKXhhJL43KQXFygRLyzJ_Mb1HJ0LqXnHIETFAPEHpHv1TaP3E5hRlBBmL3nxSZec/s400/Byers+Pushing+-+Sunday+Waffle+Cross.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pushing! Would a shoulder carry have been faster? Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ReedCycle" target="_blank">Reed Cycle</a></i></td></tr>
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We also had a new rabbit to chase. Ron Miller, who didn't race Saturday, line up with the Masters 45+ on Sunday. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7-RK3ZfSUAKvFAui7qH0rFLIPCyBklkd0OLPjtPVEzMoPQZLD2clFdX3lgkH7gvVoOFQ9JdCHsRvUXgNN7D2hpdY1z7QxYUsYpN1ryQkU63t57hIIW3oDYmvw8463ep7NO8fTCJZhAg/s1600/RonMiller+-+Sunday+Waffle+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7-RK3ZfSUAKvFAui7qH0rFLIPCyBklkd0OLPjtPVEzMoPQZLD2clFdX3lgkH7gvVoOFQ9JdCHsRvUXgNN7D2hpdY1z7QxYUsYpN1ryQkU63t57hIIW3oDYmvw8463ep7NO8fTCJZhAg/s400/RonMiller+-+Sunday+Waffle+Cross.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ron Miller, smooth like butter. Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ReedCycle" target="_blank">Reed Cycle</a></i></td></tr>
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I took a similar approach to the start on Sunday and was the first rider onto the grass and through short double barriers. I was able to bunny-hop these each lap and keep my momentum through the following corner. Ron was kind enough to let me lead through most of the grass but then flexed his quad muscles on the grassy climb-to-pavement and passed me handily. Ron is wily veteran of cross and was riding really smooth. I think he made one small mistake, on a very tricky course, the entire race. Speaking of mistakes, I tried to ride the steep, loose "S" turn on the first lap and paid for it. I bobbled mid-turn and had to dismount while losing all momentum. Ron's gap instantly went from 10" to 30"...and I would never get it back.</div>
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Lurking not far behind was my nemesis from Day 1, Rob Burke. Every time I looked back, Rob was not far behind so I had to stay smooth and on the gas. Day 2's course kept you on your toes and made you think on every lap. Should I try to ride this section? Should I run it? If I run it, should I push my bike, suitcase carry it, or shoulder my bike? I have a lot to learn in terms of which technique to use at a given time during a race.</div>
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Ron Miller opened a solid gap by the end and easily won Day 2. I finished in 2nd and Rob Burke placed 3rd on the day. I am looking forward to several more close battles when the Waffle Cross series resumes on Nov 9th & 10th. </div>
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<b>Random Gear Note:</b> The 10spd <a href="http://www.sram.com/sram/road/products/sram-s-700-hydraulic-disc-brake" target="_blank">SRAM S-700 Hydraulic Levers</a> appear to be more durable than the carbon 2012 SRAM Red Levers I rode last season. I crashed a couple of times over the weekend and I am happy to report that I did not break a lever! I broke two SRAM Red Levers last year crashing on grass and their fragility led Tim to nickname them "SRAM Breakaway Levers". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwihzj30EOHRdvUCFvWP48jpnVsnAwR25wDNYYUiM04wxHoraQ65M7hh6Z-2vT55qjA9gi_fAJ1vdmLD8h1vblSKe3iZjRdPZeiqzF-35ANZLl9TuMV41BjJPv0ZGDTNFhmGf_lpl9Qvk/s1600/Post-Race+Waffle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwihzj30EOHRdvUCFvWP48jpnVsnAwR25wDNYYUiM04wxHoraQ65M7hh6Z-2vT55qjA9gi_fAJ1vdmLD8h1vblSKe3iZjRdPZeiqzF-35ANZLl9TuMV41BjJPv0ZGDTNFhmGf_lpl9Qvk/s400/Post-Race+Waffle.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Post-race recovery waffle!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin55RSOUp7tJdw5m63_kuEB2-kGFZtU86zcMjFiBKszLKyP-tQlKkXFwIhhdXKT1yEhM-QQzmcEV6EqxFZjvjO5PjpcEkx5lg5eGHt1VaSSc7PYXq_v3yPMVTTE9knqsIUzd7l1vxAb58/s1600/WaffleCross+-+Athlete360+Tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin55RSOUp7tJdw5m63_kuEB2-kGFZtU86zcMjFiBKszLKyP-tQlKkXFwIhhdXKT1yEhM-QQzmcEV6EqxFZjvjO5PjpcEkx5lg5eGHt1VaSSc7PYXq_v3yPMVTTE9knqsIUzd7l1vxAb58/s400/WaffleCross+-+Athlete360+Tent.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The registration tent...PRO</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDNRS1qjAAkzHnGEOwP4gK1qz1ss2wWd9g1F72EPR2qat8kXpvDHLvSYYfTbEgWmdvFqrKr8pXVeKvJleyVkQJtFNkwio2TzifKvtIdNAInL0-aDgPwOWDIXuojoVeiQlXV1YsPMeGkA/s1600/WaffleCross+-+Eastside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDNRS1qjAAkzHnGEOwP4gK1qz1ss2wWd9g1F72EPR2qat8kXpvDHLvSYYfTbEgWmdvFqrKr8pXVeKvJleyVkQJtFNkwio2TzifKvtIdNAInL0-aDgPwOWDIXuojoVeiQlXV1YsPMeGkA/s400/WaffleCross+-+Eastside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eastside Cycles was onsite with a full arsenal of Ridley Cross bike to demo</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ51MK4hnMF1MPZpN1PdoKBL_55PAY-NHcOzfQXfrWR1YgIHndLsm19uF0FHh0SL6Gi3nXNUDdUVb5hHsPGQjswKJZKyzZWg5ZpC7rz9tVsUeb0FT1HeGA_M8eWPu08FlZhumZMXaih4U/s1600/WaffleCross+-+Donger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ51MK4hnMF1MPZpN1PdoKBL_55PAY-NHcOzfQXfrWR1YgIHndLsm19uF0FHh0SL6Gi3nXNUDdUVb5hHsPGQjswKJZKyzZWg5ZpC7rz9tVsUeb0FT1HeGA_M8eWPu08FlZhumZMXaih4U/s400/WaffleCross+-+Donger.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take your Cyclocross cheering to another level with a bell from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donger-Manufacturing/495970253792957" target="_blank">Donger Mfg</a></td></tr>
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Huge thanks to the Waffle Cross crew for putting on a GREAT event. This year's Waffle Cross was unofficially the biggest cross race to date in the Treasure Valley and I think that trend will continue. It would be great to see my friends from Sun Valley and Teton Valley / Jackson make the trip over for Turkey Cross in November.Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-39886912074611837462013-10-22T13:42:00.001-06:002013-10-22T14:20:31.382-06:002013 Cyclocross Season - Week 3 - Moose Cross<a href="http://www.moosecross.com/" target="_blank">Moose Cross</a> is a race that I helped start six years ago in Victor, ID. I remember planning the race that first year and wondering whether anyone would come to Victor, ID to race cross. Now the race draws over 100 racers from all over the west. I know first-hand that it takes a ridiculous amount of work to put on a quality cyclocross event and I sincerely appreciate the great job that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor-Velo/226665590712231" target="_blank">Victor Velo</a> and the <a href="http://www.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/" target="_blank">Fitzgerald's Bicycles</a> team did this year in putting on Moose Cross. <br />
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Heading into Moose Cross weekend, I was feeling a bit over-stressed and over-cooked. It was the perfect storm of "life stress" and fatigue. In fact, had it been any other race than Moose Cross I would have pulled the plug on the trip and stayed home to recharge the batteries. In hindsight, my perception of being over-cooked was dead-on because I came down with a cold the Tuesday after Moose Cross. Doh! <br />
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<b>Saturday's Master's Race</b> <br />
A big field lined up on Saturday to contest the Masters 35+/45+/55+ race and I had a first row call-up based on registration order. Woot! Why not pin it off the line and see what happens? I will tell you what happened: Sputtering, black smoke coming out of the tail pipe, and a massive slow-down halfway through the fist lap...that is what happened! As a result, I think most of the field passed me. And nothing kills your mojo faster than having most of the field pass you. I wanted to quit only 10' into Moose Cross, Day 1. Ha!<br />
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Everything changed when I saw Fitzy on the grassy knoll. In classic Fitzy-style, he had launched off of the front on lap #1 in an impressive display of fast-twitch ability and took the first lap preem but was now riding mid-pack. With about four laps to go, he had a good 30" on me. From this point on, all that mattered was catching Fitzy! It was ON!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9qsUcf9-6THjUVnISoXt-XNTabNCSSTrUQfqpdhrVLLTLkqaAeIpHTdDY-Bj5aDile2qw7Dgf6DUfNRH-7AmRNVs2fpqpaDml9m-nHXtQU0UZTXcHqE57FD3_s1jr3vN6LDKr_AJO70/s1600/MooseCross+-+Byers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9qsUcf9-6THjUVnISoXt-XNTabNCSSTrUQfqpdhrVLLTLkqaAeIpHTdDY-Bj5aDile2qw7Dgf6DUfNRH-7AmRNVs2fpqpaDml9m-nHXtQU0UZTXcHqE57FD3_s1jr3vN6LDKr_AJO70/s400/MooseCross+-+Byers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trying to shake Fitzy through he Grassy Knoll</i></td></tr>
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With two laps to go, I had closed down the gap and was on Fitzy's wheel. Strategies were bouncing around in my head as I calculated where I was faster vs. where he was faster. I really didn't want it to come down to a sprint between Mr. Fast-Twitch and myself if at all possible. Just before the end of the lap I made a pass on the short pavement section. As the lap bell rang signalling one lap to go, Fitzy was right on my wheel. I gave it everything I had up the railroad tie run-up because I know Fitzy has an advantage there with those long legs of his. And then came the grass. There was a tricky little single barrier on the grass that was hop-able but I chose to run that section while Fitzy hopped it. He was like a skinny piece of velcro...I couldn't shake him. With a hard right-hander before the finishing straight, this was going to be tricky. After clearing the final corner, I sprinted for the line and expected to see Fitzy pull along side for a bike throw...but I crossed the line alone, well in front of my nemesis. Evidently when Fitzy stood up to unleash his own furious sprint, he cramped. Doh! <br />
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That was some serious mid-pack drama and made for a memorable race despite not feeling my best at the start.<br />
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<b>Sunday's Masters Race</b><br />
Sunday's course was the reverse of Saturday, with a few minor changes. To make it interesting, we had rain overnight and the grass section was very slippery for our race.<br />
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Where's Fitzy? As I scanned the start line, the black Fitzgerald's Bicycles skin suit was suspiciously absent. Sunday's race would present a new set of adversaries shortly. I took a conservative approach to the start and didn't blow myself up right off of the line.<br />
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As the race quickly unfolded, I found myself in a battle with Pocatello Idaho's wily veteran of cross, Bob Walker, and a rider from Montana wearing a red jersey who, from this point forward, will be respectfully referred to as "Big Red".<br />
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Bob, Big Red, and myself were very evenly matched in terms of power. Whomever made the least mistakes would win this little mini-battle.<br />
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The slippery grass claimed its victim when Bob aggressively tried to ride an off-camber section that we had been running on previous laps. Bob lost his front wheel, went down hard, and Big Red and I squirted by on the inside.<br />
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<b>Note to self:</b> Just because you can ride a section doesn't mean that riding is necessarily faster. Try both in practice.<br />
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Big Red was a monster on the power sections and I could barely stay on his wheel. My only shot was to get around him on one of the technical sections and hope I could stay away. However, Big Red was having none of that. In fact, he had his own trick up his sleeve. Big Red was pinching off every inside corner through the grassy knoll and left no room to pass...none, zip, zilch, nada.<br />
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Once we got through the grassy knoll for the final time, Big Red dropped the hammer and I was not on his wheel when he dropped it. The gap went from one bike, to two bike lengths, to more than three bike lengths very quickly and that is how it ended. Good job Big Red!<br />
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After the race, Bob Walker and I relived our glorious duel and he jokingly accused me of taking him out on the grassy knoll. Ha! Fun battles mid-pack in the Moose Cross Masters Races for sure!<br />
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Be sure to put Moose Cross on your 2014 Cyclocross Race Calendar and "Like" the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/MooseCross/154033618652" target="_blank">Moose Cross Facebook Page</a> to stay in the loop.<br />
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Lastly, check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.591771970883159.1073741837.114607708599590&type=1" target="_blank">Moose Cross album</a> from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CodyDownardPhotography" target="_blank">Cody Downard Photography</a>.</div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-68946630405281701112013-10-10T16:32:00.001-06:002013-10-22T13:43:38.712-06:002013 Cyclocross Season - Weeks 1 & 2 - Avimor & SICX #1<b>9/28/13 - Boise Cyclocross Season Opener, Avimor</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avimor's grass was a touch wet</td></tr>
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This year's cyclocross season kind of snuck up on me. I had planned to race one more mountain bike race, the Draper 50, on Sept 21 but "life stuff" got in the way and I didn't make the trip. Since I had planned on being totally blown from the Draper 50, I hadn't really considered racing the first two local cyclocross races. With no Draper 50 in my legs, there was no reason <i>not </i>to jump into the season opener at Avimor.<br />
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The Avimor race proved to be a great kickoff to the season. There was an informal clinic on Friday that was good for some barrier practice and a course preview. One thing was immediately evident during the course preview; Avimor has some crazy-thick grass. I felt like I was in slow motion. As an added bonus, the course designer threw in a little section of buffed singletrack that was a nice break from the grass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaR-q2Z8nS6Jo-rRgFk-J14z_ceiYlyyRkEZ2IqDTEd5aA1JJLDyLfgY0vgnb9AhieXm40PjlhaU-zeLo-jYuNCGffxKhYaZU_ehymCjTFPe6fPD2FGSEDGLLXXlEHfRt97aYWvTnrPE/s1600/Avimor+Corkscrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaR-q2Z8nS6Jo-rRgFk-J14z_ceiYlyyRkEZ2IqDTEd5aA1JJLDyLfgY0vgnb9AhieXm40PjlhaU-zeLo-jYuNCGffxKhYaZU_ehymCjTFPe6fPD2FGSEDGLLXXlEHfRt97aYWvTnrPE/s400/Avimor+Corkscrew.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Corkscrew of Death"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Race</b><br />
My USA Cycling racing age is 45 this year and Avimor would be my first time lining up with the Masters 45+ group. This just in...these guys are fast! The twisty nature of the Avimor course allowed you to see where the competition was most of the time and it was fun trying to gauge the gaps and then trying to close them...or stop them from widening.<br />
<br />
Did I mention the mud? Evidently the sprinklers at Avimor run ALL NIGHT on Friday nights and nobody thought to shut them off so we had soaking wet grass, which turned to mud, on most of the course. The file treads that I thought were "money" on Friday afternoon were marginal at best on Saturday. Doh!<br />
<br />
My race was fun as I was locked in mortal combat with Troy Nichols for the second half and we traded positions many times. I had a little extra zip over the last barrier and was able to hold him at the line...barely. I think Troy and I will have some fun battles later in the season.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTOOk7W9GUv2PmHsfm_pvvC1OMMoufcLwBp6b7xX56I_tK9A2k0uBqb-SI-Pwt70lOZwa-0RKObNruo8hnN0XuKhv-5mQFh-Os7RvhFbPPr9ufOXAolCCbfR4COIUvPrFgr0niepxpik/s1600/Muddy+Raleigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTOOk7W9GUv2PmHsfm_pvvC1OMMoufcLwBp6b7xX56I_tK9A2k0uBqb-SI-Pwt70lOZwa-0RKObNruo8hnN0XuKhv-5mQFh-Os7RvhFbPPr9ufOXAolCCbfR4COIUvPrFgr0niepxpik/s400/Muddy+Raleigh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The CX bike was a little muddy after the Avimor race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>10/5/13 - SICX #1, Sandy Point</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtgA7nzxH6QjWv4_Ci7n_iVk5OsP9ck2NDDywNOUletzNt0YyAms2cmvK4sFkf49d4O8Q495kCIMuMv9DRExNOXflVtQzopff482LC63NMn5IaIu7ufPVPD2vxliZeqtRLrhpqCEp0t4/s1600/SandyPointFlyover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtgA7nzxH6QjWv4_Ci7n_iVk5OsP9ck2NDDywNOUletzNt0YyAms2cmvK4sFkf49d4O8Q495kCIMuMv9DRExNOXflVtQzopff482LC63NMn5IaIu7ufPVPD2vxliZeqtRLrhpqCEp0t4/s400/SandyPointFlyover.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SICX Flyover made an appearance at the first race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I typically love racing at Sandy Point. Ironically, I have yet to have a good race there and the SICX kickoff race was no exception. Captain to engine room, "Scotty, I need more power!" <br />
<br />
The highlight of my race was my little "race within the race" with Michael Shaw. "Shaw-Zam!" typically crushes me on the mountain bike so I was a little surprised to gain some ground on him and latch onto his wheel near the end. On the last lap, he dropped me like a bad habit and left me alone in no-man's land. That really wasn't very nice of him. I am looking forward to future rematches with Shaw-Zam! at future SICX races.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHLP7b7Z5067QtMdXzJ9ijg1jJlXpAG2ILJtWZqWdTY29IP44YwpFFA1JOXI7mFBKgFRqxcM7m6-UN9uRIIrw0tq9KWxGMY4uefhG_2CcqzObswL-fw7CX6GMoa6hnnMoePkZcEWSJXg/s1600/SandyPointsand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHLP7b7Z5067QtMdXzJ9ijg1jJlXpAG2ILJtWZqWdTY29IP44YwpFFA1JOXI7mFBKgFRqxcM7m6-UN9uRIIrw0tq9KWxGMY4uefhG_2CcqzObswL-fw7CX6GMoa6hnnMoePkZcEWSJXg/s400/SandyPointsand.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm...sand in the drivetrain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Gear:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
One of the coolest pieces of gear I have used in a while is the <a href="http://www.billieracks.com/" target="_blank">Billie Rack</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9H0JXBpsD1TAseEYJjbtpocFmk1sfzMIAyKd2VAmzQ19U9U7zbutw16Ja0d_Hrd92f2Ui8j2WWbxtHDEzxtsCrciQLr7hO3wRbGotHWULUnPuKq5vj_jX7dKCTrHD_Fcu2oyZh1N_9w/s1600/BillieRack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9H0JXBpsD1TAseEYJjbtpocFmk1sfzMIAyKd2VAmzQ19U9U7zbutw16Ja0d_Hrd92f2Ui8j2WWbxtHDEzxtsCrciQLr7hO3wRbGotHWULUnPuKq5vj_jX7dKCTrHD_Fcu2oyZh1N_9w/s400/BillieRack.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Billie Rack slides out to make access SO much easier. The hand-brake is to prevent the rack from moving while traveling or while parked on a hill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Billie Racks are made here in Boise by a couple of great guys who genuinely want to build an innovative product. The single biggest benefit so far is NOT having to crawl into the camper shell to load heavy items. I can simply slide the Billie Rack out, place the items on the cargo top, and slide it back in. The cross bar in the front is 1 1/8" so it is compatible with all Yakima crossbar accessories. Nice! <br />
<br />
I will do a Blog post on the Billie Rack soon.Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-74952234096048183922013-09-10T16:10:00.001-06:002013-09-10T16:10:24.489-06:002013 Park City Point to Point Race Report<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It has become evident that <a href="http://thepcpp.com/" target="_blank">The Park City Point to Point</a>
is my “Eleanor”. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the awesomely-bad movie 'Gone in 60 seconds' starring
Nicholas Cage, Eleanor is a beautiful Shelby GT Mustang. Eleanor is also the one car that Cage’s character
Randall “Memphis” Raines has never been able to steal successfully. Memphis had unsuccessfully tried to steal the
same model car numerous times in the past, but each attempt ended badly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHboARye1ypJITR_h98vUEQolSnp3FIWjjlDGHdNyhYcFEU73EigpDE0adrWc9VSwSXUS32pgV6v7dgiQ37Eu-sNAbm8sZG44aZMKa9HYseg5BCqXWSSURAR0X7bMflmsydTQW6M0g9UI/s1600/eleanor-mustang-Cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHboARye1ypJITR_h98vUEQolSnp3FIWjjlDGHdNyhYcFEU73EigpDE0adrWc9VSwSXUS32pgV6v7dgiQ37Eu-sNAbm8sZG44aZMKa9HYseg5BCqXWSSURAR0X7bMflmsydTQW6M0g9UI/s400/eleanor-mustang-Cage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholas Cage & Eleanor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eleanor Quote from ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Donny:</i> Eleanor’s Memphis's unicorn. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Freb:</i> What's a unicorn? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Donny:</i> Fable
creature… you know the horse with the horn…impossible to capture. It's the one car no matter how many times you
try to boost something always happens. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Freb:</i> What’s he doing? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Donny:</i> He's talking to her man…trying to get
reacquainted… they had a rough history. She almost got him killed a couple a times. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Donny:</i> Flipped one on the Harbor Freeway. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Kip:</i> He went off the long beach pier once.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Why is the Park City Point to Point my “Eleanor”? I have signed up to race the PCPP every year
since its inception in 2009. Out of five attempts, I have completed it only three
times. In 2010, I came down with the flu
the day before the race and did not start.
In 2011, I came down with the flu the week before the race (no, I am not
kidding), tried to race anyway, and pulled out at Deer Valley. In the three times I have finished the PCPP,
I have yet to execute a “perfect” race.
Leg cramps, small mechanicals, weather, and going off course are some of
the little things that have stood between me and perfect PCPP.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Have I mentioned that I friggin’ LOVE the Park City Point
to Point?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Going into the 2013 race, I felt ready to shake the
monkey off of my back. I had a good race
plan, felt rested, and had the extra boost of having Michelle there to support
me throughout the day. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Race Morning<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Conditions don’t get much better than they were this year
on race morning. Cool temps and tacky
dirt from thunderstorms earlier in the week made for perfect racing conditions. It was nice to start this race in shorts
& short sleeves for a change! However,
I did apply a nice layer of Mad Alchemy embrocation to take the edge off of the
morning chill. I love the smell of embro
in the morning! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOG3jbpK1D5dZthyVHRyCnQIVFlpA_l2ChuXvY6ebLXbVMzsjMjnOiirihfczqzfO1fOUGYBVJIK6uL9UABlz1H5VXT9bJL5v1n_-5dfv8HM_dfmdHqp_e7WAt_2Bzg9fAW2_FS0bn9A/s1600/Embro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOG3jbpK1D5dZthyVHRyCnQIVFlpA_l2ChuXvY6ebLXbVMzsjMjnOiirihfczqzfO1fOUGYBVJIK6uL9UABlz1H5VXT9bJL5v1n_-5dfv8HM_dfmdHqp_e7WAt_2Bzg9fAW2_FS0bn9A/s400/Embro.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm, embrocation<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Start to Deer
Valley Aid</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The big question every year for me at the Point to Point
is “which wave should I start in”? With
a revised course for 2013, I decided to err on the fast side and I lined up in
the 7 – 8 hour wave which started after the Open Men, Open Women, and Sub- 7 hour
waves. This was perfect. The Round Valley section takes about an hour
and it is important to settle into a good group of riders that can move around
the loop efficiently. The Round Valley
section flew by without incident and I had a blast!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0di9HrVgQHrzYRfR7WX28-xGVAO1B030w2wvS7-wYyb3tFORFw1N2Q_D3juscdkYjBBExiCHQksAPqz7q1n3JqKIC3P46dFdQPijjUOyql_KAkD2CnXZgmxnW59pis7ei8laS4cvWX1s/s1600/PCPP+Start+Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0di9HrVgQHrzYRfR7WX28-xGVAO1B030w2wvS7-wYyb3tFORFw1N2Q_D3juscdkYjBBExiCHQksAPqz7q1n3JqKIC3P46dFdQPijjUOyql_KAkD2CnXZgmxnW59pis7ei8laS4cvWX1s/s400/PCPP+Start+Line.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lined up with the 7 - 8 Hour Wave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once you leave the bike path and begin the climb up Skid
Row, the real suffering begins and this is where you will quickly know whether
you have it, or you don’t. The group I
was riding with was awesome and I was right at the top-end of my sustainable endurance
race pace. My friendly rival, Paul Nash,
had managed to get onto my back wheel despite my efforts to lose him in bike
path traffic. Doh! He wasn't bashful about telling me that I was
basically his “pace mule” and I was already wondering whether I could stay with
him beyond Deer Valley.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ping! That is the sound of a rear spoke breaking just
above the hub flange. I had to make an
evasive move in a rock garden and evidently it was more torque than that little
Sapim spoke could stand. My wheel went out
of true, but not fatally. However, now I had loose spoke whacking my carbon
chainstay every revolution so I decided I better stop and deal with it. I
stopped on a flat section and twisted the loose spoke around a good one, but I
lost contact with Paul and the group I was in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Leg Cramps! WTF? I was
only 2.5 hours into the race when I had my first twinge of leg cramps. My hydration and fueling were on track but I
think the steep climbing + race intensity were taking their toll early. I was able to lock out the shock & fork, drop
two cogs, and stand and pedal. This
changes the muscle groups I use to pedal and allows me to keep riding instead getting off the bike. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I rolled into Deer Valley a little frazzled and feeling
the hard effort of trying to catch back on to the group I was in. M was there and ready for me with a rice cake
& new hydration pack + fuel for the next leg to Park City. I took one big bite of a rice cake, a swig
of Pepsi, and got out of there in a hurry. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Deer Valley to
Park City</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I love this section of the race and was looking forward
to seeing the new-to-me trails: Corvair
& Sam’s. However, Eleanor was about
to deal her second blow of the day. In
the dark twisty forest before Flagstaff Loop I missed a turn. It was marked…I
simply had my head down, following <a href="http://www.notubesracing.com/womenselite/team-members/sarah-kaufmann/" target="_blank">Sarah Kaufmann’s</a> wheel, and
wasn't paying attention to the course markings. Several of us missed
the turn, caught our mistake quickly, backtracked to where we left the course,
and kept on going. We lost about 4-5’
total. Eleanor, you are a bitch.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Corvair + Sam’s descent, which <a href="http://ajplayingwithgravity.blogspot.com/2013/09/curse-of-park-city-point-2-point.html" target="_blank">AJ appropriately named“Carve-Air”</a>, instantly became my new favorite section of the race. I was fortunate to follow a speedy local down
it in the race…we were En Fuego!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4150lvCcrPngORXEMSkl_GDKQa3aB7bfnQ2NjUBnI43RancLjkiVbtWh8j35g8RGvDgJGAQEorTJTsHrVCNG2PuhVWcHRFEssonPAU0Twj9Eh_nAFev8geWlngd8ni1WEbzfTywX-n8I/s1600/Byers+-+Johns+Descent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4150lvCcrPngORXEMSkl_GDKQa3aB7bfnQ2NjUBnI43RancLjkiVbtWh8j35g8RGvDgJGAQEorTJTsHrVCNG2PuhVWcHRFEssonPAU0Twj9Eh_nAFev8geWlngd8ni1WEbzfTywX-n8I/s400/Byers+-+Johns+Descent.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The John's 99 descent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just in case you have done the Park City Point to Point in
the past, but your memory is a bit foggy:
Yes, the John’s descent is still hard on your upper body and makes you
wish you were climbing again. And yes, the Drift Road + Steps climb is still a kick in the
junk at the hottest part of the day. Ooofta!
I had to nurse my leg cramps on-and-off through this section of the course
and it definitely affected how hard I could ride. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then there is the greatness of Shadow Lake! I didn’t quite have the juice I was hoping to
have at this point in the race but I was able to stay on the gas AND thoroughly enjoy this
section. Woot!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jay Burke threw a nice little surprise at us just before
the PC Aid. Instead of descending the
shitty service road directly into the aid station, we descended the super-fun lower
section of Jenny’s (or was it Loose Moose?) and it was rad! Good call Jay!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT1CoakQd7HhoUKdUT0_y9UoDWoBj6huXtSA2pup_dVO2TwtFwGAjnPk7BaA6Z7ZolDJD6DLNedWHOwlljTsEE4d_JNTHIBWhVHmblTC_oFxh4sJR9qOyOa_B7sBXDxefj6XQ4wq-wOY/s1600/Byers+PC+Aid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT1CoakQd7HhoUKdUT0_y9UoDWoBj6huXtSA2pup_dVO2TwtFwGAjnPk7BaA6Z7ZolDJD6DLNedWHOwlljTsEE4d_JNTHIBWhVHmblTC_oFxh4sJR9qOyOa_B7sBXDxefj6XQ4wq-wOY/s400/Byers+PC+Aid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking water, eating rice cakes, NASCAR style, Photo by Grizzly Adam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
M was ready for me at the Park City aid and we had a NASCAR-like
pit stop. I had my mojo back and I was on a mission. I ate ½ a rice cake, took a
few big gulps of plain water, grabbed new hydration pack + fuel, and a stuck bottle of
Black Gold, aka Pepsi, in the bottle cage. This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Park City to
FINISH<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Armstrong climb is nice! It is like the Yin to Spiro’s Yang. Sorry Spiro, you have been replaced and I won’t
miss you for a second. The cruel reality
of this section is that you think you are done climbing once you are at the top
of Armstrong…Ha! You still have two,
that’s right two, substantial climbs left before the finish.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The section of Mid Mountain between Armstrong and Red
Pine Lodge can punish you. It is rocky, served
with a side of rocks, and a sprinkle of gravel.
This section of the race makes the choice to ride a full-suspension bike
an easy one for me. I was able to stay
aggressive vs. simply surviving this section thanks to my Scott Spark29.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1n5w0wOxLfHx-f8mXRWP4mlL5dq8i3P85V_Z47PNOvxyoJCQXC4xcU5NZgokdYooOohGxDpEgPvR6BdQQ9AK_K17g09Ggehx99eqOrRfP8tURk1Mn3v12KrYVVo9H0qZOjPKJOmOPcNI/s1600/Byers+-+Home+stretch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1n5w0wOxLfHx-f8mXRWP4mlL5dq8i3P85V_Z47PNOvxyoJCQXC4xcU5NZgokdYooOohGxDpEgPvR6BdQQ9AK_K17g09Ggehx99eqOrRfP8tURk1Mn3v12KrYVVo9H0qZOjPKJOmOPcNI/s400/Byers+-+Home+stretch.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home stretch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mentally, I treat "Red Pine Lodge to the FINISH" like my
home stretch. Jay Burke, thank you for
having a course marshal on the other side of Red Pine Lodge! This area has become very busy with increased
bike park traffic and we rode through the middle of it. Seeing a course marshal
on the far side waving a bright orange flag was a nice reassurance that I was on track
and aiming in the right direction. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, systems check: My legs have been cramping for the past several hours and my low back hurts,
but overall, not too bad. HTFU and let’s rock! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After ripping the Rob’s descent and shredding the
sagebrush singletrack of Rosebud Heaven, you know what is coming next. It has been in the back of your mind all
day. Are you going to go out fighting or
are you going to soft-pedal the last climb like a sissy-boy? I hate you Ambush! I swear that climb was longer this year. Did the trail beavers add an extra switchback
over the winter?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I really tried to finish with authority but the reality
is that I just survived Ambush. The leg
cramps prevented me from truly stomping on it and the body simply didn't have much
left. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I crossed the line in 8:25:17 and was greeted by M’s big
smile and hug, and high fives from Brandon & Sarah! How could I not smile? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt2w09Nw77EPuE-1z_0qm7lGAE2gcMFXjB8NGl9x2GhEnxAZ0G4Bva-opOAV6_YRYxk7RM1SZMUckMHtS6PRGEROj8IB6MiaK7DUMBc3Y2WrR0rgF8nb-OlUQgLOfenD1b9iFewwfC3Q/s1600/D+and+M+Post+PCPP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt2w09Nw77EPuE-1z_0qm7lGAE2gcMFXjB8NGl9x2GhEnxAZ0G4Bva-opOAV6_YRYxk7RM1SZMUckMHtS6PRGEROj8IB6MiaK7DUMBc3Y2WrR0rgF8nb-OlUQgLOfenD1b9iFewwfC3Q/s400/D+and+M+Post+PCPP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crew Chief & Best Friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wPqnlAIcbt4aNbtlrb7pH_E4MSvySWI8-ByCJGV6Jqa9bTj4Bz7r-8ttf0frqXUxIhQupGVgG132zuqIFjxjExTWoCDUaFfZpVSf3bXs7AOLGqEgYl4gfJ88clHDSwsnW3qQxjgsYTQ/s1600/Byers-AJ-M+Post-PCPP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wPqnlAIcbt4aNbtlrb7pH_E4MSvySWI8-ByCJGV6Jqa9bTj4Bz7r-8ttf0frqXUxIhQupGVgG132zuqIFjxjExTWoCDUaFfZpVSf3bXs7AOLGqEgYl4gfJ88clHDSwsnW3qQxjgsYTQ/s400/Byers-AJ-M+Post-PCPP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High five from AJ, who killed it at the PCPP!<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Close, but not quite...</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I finish an endurance event, I can't help but self-grade my race. This is not about my placing. I ask myself: Did I absolutely empty the
tank? Did I execute as well as I could
have? Was I able to go as fast as I think I should have been able to go (I realize this is totally subjective but I did say
I was “self-grading” here)?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I absolutely emptied the tank at the 2013 Park City Point
to Point. However, I would have to mark
myself down for execution since I went off course.
Lastly, I thought I could go faster on this day…I wanted to go
faster. I simply couldn't. My legs lacked the “depth” I needed to make a significant improvement relative to my category. For these reasons, I will have go back at
some point and try again. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>What worked for me?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Tires with
sidewall protection:</b> This is not a
race for flyweight race tires. I am not
exaggerating when I say that I saw at least 25 racers changing flats during the
race this year. It was so prevalent that
I thought someone put tacks on the course at one point. I ran Schwalbe tires with Snakeskin sidewalls
and fresh Stans. I also carried a small
roll of Gorilla tape, a Panaracer Tubeless tire repair kit, a tube, and a Big Air. Flats happen…be prepared to fix it when it
does. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>SRAM XX1: </b>I continue to be impressed by SRAM XX1. It is so quiet and simple and just works. I ran a 30T front ring and that was perfect
for me. I read that the “fast guys” ran
a 32T or a 34T. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Original Carbo
Rocket: </b>There is a huge battle for
your water bottle waging out there in the Sports Nutrition marketplace. The original <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/" target="_blank">Carbo Rocket</a> was one of the first
low calorie/high electrolyte drink mixes to the market and it still stacks up well against all of them. No matter what else
I try, I always come back to Carbo Rocket for race day. I used Kiwi Lime & Orange in my hydration
packs during the Point to Point and my tummy stayed happy the entire race.</div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-41443184046891939112013-08-26T21:53:00.003-06:002013-08-26T21:54:03.148-06:002013 Park City Point to Point Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2013 Park City Point to Point is this Saturday! Are you ready? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before you answer, you might ask yourself a few questions:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you trained hard enough? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you rested enough? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is your bike dialed in and ready for 75 miles of rugged Park City trails at endurance race pace?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you recently put air in your spare tube to verify that it still holds air? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you prepared for Mother Nature if she releases her wrath in the form of a hail-producing thunderstorm of biblical proportions? (That means really fucking scary shit) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you washed the funk out your hydration bladders recently? (Recently is not 3 months ago) </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
If you answered yes to all of the above, you may proceed to the "Course Preview" section of this post. There are a few changes in store for us in 2013. On paper, the 2013 race got a little easier...4 miles shorter with 814' less climbing. We will find out this Saturday exactly how much easier it will truly be. Will this translate into 15', 20', or 30' faster finishing times? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's break it on down, shall we?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>NOTE:</b> <i>In all maps below, the 2013 course is shown in <span style="color: red;">RED</span> and the 2012 course is shown in <span style="color: yellow;">YELLOW</span>. Where the two courses remains the same, <span style="background-color: red; color: yellow;">yellow is overlaid on top of red.</span> </i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Round Valley:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Round Valley section is unchanged for 2013. However, we never actually got to race the Round Valley section in 2012 due to heavy rain the morning of the race. I did pre-ride Round Valley last year and I thought this section flowed really well and allowed for more passing than previous years. Nice!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo63xv2LNYhhkcZOlS6Pgxh_YS2NJkw3soPAl8QnYIUMRF8rgjGPkLrNyPdTrTQcckv_rjyJu7lkJC55xXwuvaqE8mYad9a4hWRNSIXuRsvwkyqQ2hcXvCCy7Za97Yh-j1HIx79SYFGVY/s1600/1-2012+vs+2013+-+Round+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo63xv2LNYhhkcZOlS6Pgxh_YS2NJkw3soPAl8QnYIUMRF8rgjGPkLrNyPdTrTQcckv_rjyJu7lkJC55xXwuvaqE8mYad9a4hWRNSIXuRsvwkyqQ2hcXvCCy7Za97Yh-j1HIx79SYFGVY/s400/1-2012+vs+2013+-+Round+Valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round Valley Loop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Round valley to Pipeline Climb:</b><br />
This section is also unchanged for 2013. This is also where the course begins to noticeable go up!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxpdFA3M1kJaxuTw1_vKIybuYHzQePX5KBr-vSeithKCF4ySrnrIZ8AWs2b8oYsuNdN6fKNzMxf7m9_4ZYRoOqHgz8QYRfM0qOIvdplETY08UF_u9IkTwhpWufMY5g1sF_w3d9HqU95c/s1600/2+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Round+Valley+to+Pipeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxpdFA3M1kJaxuTw1_vKIybuYHzQePX5KBr-vSeithKCF4ySrnrIZ8AWs2b8oYsuNdN6fKNzMxf7m9_4ZYRoOqHgz8QYRfM0qOIvdplETY08UF_u9IkTwhpWufMY5g1sF_w3d9HqU95c/s400/2+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Round+Valley+to+Pipeline.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round Valley to Pipeline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Pipeline to Deer Valley Feed Zone:</b><br />
Here we find the first changes to the 2013 course. A nasty climb up Devo and Little Stick has been eliminated and we simply go up Pipeline to Outlook to Deer Crest. We don't lose a lot of mileage here but the trail that was eliminated was pretty steep.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XtQ-pYT_7FC-aF9exReg3ZlLRqAYg0B7gHkaXquKRC-sAxuCJp_fYAa70KlnvK7JbvFLLpiM7_r2sLeRl6U4jAN7n9_rUAOLSgSu9IOkxB0Gn21zcvO1HHW5FeJlUdWHrkbp-OrPfKc/s1600/3+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Pipeline+to+DV+Feed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XtQ-pYT_7FC-aF9exReg3ZlLRqAYg0B7gHkaXquKRC-sAxuCJp_fYAa70KlnvK7JbvFLLpiM7_r2sLeRl6U4jAN7n9_rUAOLSgSu9IOkxB0Gn21zcvO1HHW5FeJlUdWHrkbp-OrPfKc/s400/3+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Pipeline+to+DV+Feed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipeline to Deer Valley Feed Zone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Deer Valley Feed Zone to TG Water Station:</b><br />
There are BIG changes to this section in 2013. In 2012, this section was the cause of many racers going off course due to a confusing turn at the bottom of Boulder before Team Big Bear. Also gone for 2013 is Bow Hunter. I understand the logistical challenges with using Bow Hunter but I am still bummed it is no longer part of the race. I love that bumpy primitive trail with great views.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v8X6gfnNjdvdPXHOVX8edV9DZac3LJCvj9APDph0_3uyCqeZKPjJxlql6ONP58TnSZoTSVwphllcgyjhUS1f_0nDBW7VBNBnq58HDkXxPS500GOxnpO8IlxCsw44yX6H8PLuTd4n8bM/s1600/4+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Deer+Valley+Feed+to+TG+Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v8X6gfnNjdvdPXHOVX8edV9DZac3LJCvj9APDph0_3uyCqeZKPjJxlql6ONP58TnSZoTSVwphllcgyjhUS1f_0nDBW7VBNBnq58HDkXxPS500GOxnpO8IlxCsw44yX6H8PLuTd4n8bM/s400/4+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Deer+Valley+Feed+to+TG+Water.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Valley to TG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>TG Water Station to Empire Link:</b><br />
Holy Shake-up Batman! This section is very different in 2013. According to Jay Burke, we are in for a treat as the new route flows extremely well. I have never ridden Corvair or Sam's so I am looking forward to some new hotness! On paper, we gain a little mileage here.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbv2AntRF3OuS5bvipAtQnebLrUT5jJUxNAkr5RagNvcCNAXeBBULmSk1bG6zTV6pArvGj04P6AQ5dglYCjqq2ZWW08GHNBrrO-9dHwselHv8I9XqJhnFPUdI-g4Dc0Z7BoBxPe1BH0U/s1600/5+-+2012+vs+2013+-+TG+Water+to+Empire+Link.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbv2AntRF3OuS5bvipAtQnebLrUT5jJUxNAkr5RagNvcCNAXeBBULmSk1bG6zTV6pArvGj04P6AQ5dglYCjqq2ZWW08GHNBrrO-9dHwselHv8I9XqJhnFPUdI-g4Dc0Z7BoBxPe1BH0U/s400/5+-+2012+vs+2013+-+TG+Water+to+Empire+Link.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TG Water Station to Empire Link</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Empire Link to Apex Climb:</b><br />
This section will deliver the same ass-whoopin' as all previous versions of this race. No changes for 2013.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ctQWGYJmjCClGMYnHPXmw8CnQdVKdBpQW_6KW9t4aGFgxnSIycfaaVP9MndmhMTKr7F9_3VXxePIax2_wliF3dTly3uQ7iekCXvuQBHY_SE8nOYPox6WqLIZ6_bVrB9fQi5pRavfBmQ/s1600/6+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Empire+Link+to+Apex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ctQWGYJmjCClGMYnHPXmw8CnQdVKdBpQW_6KW9t4aGFgxnSIycfaaVP9MndmhMTKr7F9_3VXxePIax2_wliF3dTly3uQ7iekCXvuQBHY_SE8nOYPox6WqLIZ6_bVrB9fQi5pRavfBmQ/s400/6+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Empire+Link+to+Apex.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Keystone to CMG descent:</b><br />
The high point of the course returns in 2013 and this section is unchanged. Woohoo! I love the Shadow Lake Loop as long as I have taken care of myself well enough to enjoy it when I get there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUNwjbkVQXxaV98bfkOMpb_BY9V-bl_hEvZrPbo2UdJ0O7FIR_tiOFkWio3bYJSYBTKtRpwkkVruQgf-xrZNUyD57oq94A5lzGtNZ0rhW2Zu66PYmAqWsG17jsyOjtUHjlHqIHx8Up1k/s1600/7+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Apex+to+CMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUNwjbkVQXxaV98bfkOMpb_BY9V-bl_hEvZrPbo2UdJ0O7FIR_tiOFkWio3bYJSYBTKtRpwkkVruQgf-xrZNUyD57oq94A5lzGtNZ0rhW2Zu66PYmAqWsG17jsyOjtUHjlHqIHx8Up1k/s400/7+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Apex+to+CMG.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keystone to Shadow Lake to CMG descent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Park City Feed Zone to Mid Mountain Trail:</b><br />
Jay Burke really stirred things up with this section in 2013. One of the hallmark "kick-to-the-nuts" sections of the PCPP, Spiro trail, is gone for 2013. The Armstrong Trail replaces Spiro and gains the same elevation in a kinder, gentler fashion on our way up to the Mid Mtn Trail.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcipuE2LRBvsf7TntZ_jDc-n0yq97gD-mZ1hxo-HHmEyT7dccKBKmrvVqvrzkM7RwdcwtFMvIHKcdH4Ud8KDLi51-iPBENJI5Cy336H5gnD_hQp-58rZDFWGvDbZ2Qzfh6Mvi_lvKC00/s1600/8+-+2012+vs+2013+-+PC+Feed+to+Mid+Mtn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcipuE2LRBvsf7TntZ_jDc-n0yq97gD-mZ1hxo-HHmEyT7dccKBKmrvVqvrzkM7RwdcwtFMvIHKcdH4Ud8KDLi51-iPBENJI5Cy336H5gnD_hQp-58rZDFWGvDbZ2Qzfh6Mvi_lvKC00/s400/8+-+2012+vs+2013+-+PC+Feed+to+Mid+Mtn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park City Feed Zone to Mid Mtn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Finale - Mid Mountain Trail to the FINISH:</b><br />
Oh, you thought you were done climbing? Not so fast my friend. You are about to get "Ambushed"! After descending Rob's Trail and hearing the finish line festivities from Rosebud's Heaven, you still have to climb Ambush (away from the Canyons!) before descending Holly's to the finish line. This section is unchanged for 2013 and makes for a great finale to a great race.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX9emMBDwHzJPFgKxTDU8VI_BrxRFWaoA9jzS-8j5zmIPnziTau5bQk0Nh0YB4hL2f87-PMbFbuoUOm6KrMU7TQyAZz9PA0eS2u9Am1u6WgDztEJYvg4hgaiCdKHmcXCj4QjciisIrYw/s1600/9+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Mid+Mtn+to+FINISH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSX9emMBDwHzJPFgKxTDU8VI_BrxRFWaoA9jzS-8j5zmIPnziTau5bQk0Nh0YB4hL2f87-PMbFbuoUOm6KrMU7TQyAZz9PA0eS2u9Am1u6WgDztEJYvg4hgaiCdKHmcXCj4QjciisIrYw/s400/9+-+2012+vs+2013+-+Mid+Mtn+to+FINISH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Profile:</b><br />
You have to look pretty close to notice the differences.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNPYks3R00O64glqnuirWaf7QY6PNndjH8nPaOWbKNeFTOkNqI4-cKMUeYHzk6VPDYqzGrvXxUEfWgg1LY7uUmkIqIdE6_PCOkRcGLrQC9lpnfpuqYEU0cS2iXfzZ4xrYOl17CyefOAw/s1600/2012+vs+2013+-+Elev+Profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNPYks3R00O64glqnuirWaf7QY6PNndjH8nPaOWbKNeFTOkNqI4-cKMUeYHzk6VPDYqzGrvXxUEfWgg1LY7uUmkIqIdE6_PCOkRcGLrQC9lpnfpuqYEU0cS2iXfzZ4xrYOl17CyefOAw/s400/2012+vs+2013+-+Elev+Profile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 vs. 2013 Elevation Profiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One thing is sure to be unchanged in 2013: We are in for a great event! The crew behind the scenes at the <a href="http://thepcpp.com/" target="_blank">Park City Point to Point</a> know how to put on a great event and every year they seem to take it up a notch. Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-86514986484783545872013-08-09T09:40:00.001-06:002013-08-12T12:28:09.148-06:002013 Pierre’s Hole 100-Mile Race Report<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Quick Stats</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b><br />
</b></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Place:</b> 2nd, Solo Men 40+ </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Time:</b> 9:46:22</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mileage:</b> 91.5 (Many were thankful it was NOT a full 100 miles this year)<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><b>Elevation Gain:</b> Depends on your Garmin</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">13,743' (My Garmin 500)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">14,199' (Gabe Klamer's Garmin 500) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">12,841' (Dale Cook's Garmin 500)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #333333;">Pierre's Hole was my favorite race in 2012 and somehow it got even better for 2013. And, you're not going to believe this, it is going to be even better in 2014. How is that possible? There will be more singletrack in Rick's Basin and the the "death climb" up Dry Creek from the ranch is being eliminated. That is the inside scoop and you heard it here!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #333333;">My strategy for this year's PH100 was simple: <i><b>Focus on the process. Stay on the gas.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #333333;">When I am able to execute this simple strategy, a good race is usually the result and this day was no exception. My fueling plan was solid and my pacing was good. Most importantly, my head was the right place and I was able to stay positive and focus for every minute of this 9 hour & 46 minute race.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #333333;">Speaking of staying positive, the incredible views didn't hurt my mental state. I usually don't notice a lot of the scenery while racing because my head is down and I am just trying to survive. During the PH100, it is impossible NOT to notice the stunning views surrounding you in this race. From the views of the Grand Teton on Lightning Loop & the Peaked Mountain Trails to the gorgeous purple wildflowers in Rick's Basin, the course was visually stunning throughout. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333;">Although I am very happy with my performance and execution, this race will provide a lot of training motivation over the next year. I have placed 2nd in the Vet Mens 40+ 100-mile race at PH100 for <i>three years in a row</i>. That is all I am going to say about that.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;">The following video does a much better job of portraying the stoke factor than my ramblings could ever do. Watch it in HD, and then mark your calendar for 2014!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A6Qep5xu3ro" width="640"></iframe><br />
</span> <span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="color: #333333;">A few pics to wrap things up:</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwDr5nm8QoIAmNlk_gi35vnjWqBtl_BPaVC3_fRG5lpuNv9pUY3eBULYSitMCQDyxH_GHGLd_v9t75QpYEKlyRBTyzGdd7XbrBf0D7hhHxxQBZU9Mmgnh3lq2xRo99yxIfEfajFzNLE0/s1600/Byers+PH100+Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwDr5nm8QoIAmNlk_gi35vnjWqBtl_BPaVC3_fRG5lpuNv9pUY3eBULYSitMCQDyxH_GHGLd_v9t75QpYEKlyRBTyzGdd7XbrBf0D7hhHxxQBZU9Mmgnh3lq2xRo99yxIfEfajFzNLE0/s400/Byers+PH100+Start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For a very brief moment, I was leading Fiddee Cent!</i><br />
<i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFWbScLhea2vSDEZlbaJfSJ8HNkc_wr9k-MEK212XC2aVkicdz5ac1MgzJJ8G7qe5hb-WiUG9jDrP6YSvIlqi7z2wbFQ8hDKJRgcJroxLfoCE5_vUpiyPrYmNRFLS-9dbr9r7KmXPXDw/s1600/Byers+38Special.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFWbScLhea2vSDEZlbaJfSJ8HNkc_wr9k-MEK212XC2aVkicdz5ac1MgzJJ8G7qe5hb-WiUG9jDrP6YSvIlqi7z2wbFQ8hDKJRgcJroxLfoCE5_vUpiyPrYmNRFLS-9dbr9r7KmXPXDw/s400/Byers+38Special.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending 38 Special on the first lap...greatness!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT7tv35T9a7jEU9aFnZWlzlRcr950Ehvkeash3aU6AQLngeZApBCl93nnqmX8xq96AzenrW6qiiQtgrG2dy47JtmkyuzO5KSkPO02m7OgSPTgrr2vbbZSpeDADboJWM8Oqbqb9iu6pCs/s1600/PH100+40++PodiumB+1200w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT7tv35T9a7jEU9aFnZWlzlRcr950Ehvkeash3aU6AQLngeZApBCl93nnqmX8xq96AzenrW6qiiQtgrG2dy47JtmkyuzO5KSkPO02m7OgSPTgrr2vbbZSpeDADboJWM8Oqbqb9iu6pCs/s400/PH100+40++PodiumB+1200w.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Andy Williams, presenting the cool trophy to Dale Cook, Vet Men 40+ Winner</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfqp-DeG7d9Uv0lQJKU2vE2j_H_hmhbhrqQKlRSorHqvkOWwfU3bj2bNdlZL6jLtpESQsZy5Z2feDmRua13S9Ui2TfskaGjhR9RNVOKov4CQLtWm9n0Qu6_lZtClBjTkC-W6id7FbNdo/s1600/PH100+40++PodiumA+1200w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfqp-DeG7d9Uv0lQJKU2vE2j_H_hmhbhrqQKlRSorHqvkOWwfU3bj2bNdlZL6jLtpESQsZy5Z2feDmRua13S9Ui2TfskaGjhR9RNVOKov4CQLtWm9n0Qu6_lZtClBjTkC-W6id7FbNdo/s400/PH100+40++PodiumA+1200w.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Vet Men 40+ Podium</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC28i6y2Ab0HD9Utjnorj857rEADlthbmC2lvhfNR5CqvQo6V2HipjTSE7J-OHj84K9D6K2Xm0sZyU13o4nRs_sqsmc0z8TPQd5mZJ15NHt9nYKE1a_TH3cQTENFXBQXjHqr9WsW2NHCY/s1600/Team+Belt+BuckleB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC28i6y2Ab0HD9Utjnorj857rEADlthbmC2lvhfNR5CqvQo6V2HipjTSE7J-OHj84K9D6K2Xm0sZyU13o4nRs_sqsmc0z8TPQd5mZJ15NHt9nYKE1a_TH3cQTENFXBQXjHqr9WsW2NHCY/s400/Team+Belt+BuckleB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My stone-cold homies and I with the coveted PH100 Belt Buckle</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span>Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-4452702096906076212013-08-03T22:02:00.002-06:002013-08-03T22:13:34.897-06:00Pierre's Hole 100 Quick PostI had good day on the bike and LOVED the course changes for this year. Wait til you see the changes for 2014!<br />
<br />
Time: 9 hours, 46 minutes<br />
Place: 2nd, Men's 40+<br />
PH100 Belt Buckle: check<br />
Stoke factor: HIGH<br />
<br />Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-34185183822933566702013-07-30T09:01:00.002-06:002013-07-30T09:02:27.093-06:00Pierre’s Hole is this Saturday, August 3rd!<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To say that I am stoked for this one would be an
understatement. Sure, this used to be my
backyard so I am biased. Regardless,
Grand Targhee in August is pretty special.
Racing an <a href="http://nuemtb.com/" target="_blank">NUE</a> 100-miler at Grand Targhee in August is just friggin’ awesome! </span>The Pierre's Hole race continues to evolve and get better each year.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-m3MRtHuuYQ4paM-0UEMOxn6I6OB3ngBCxs4g4yVvfucdn-nZ9dgpa0JH1LGy3rJIyMbpGWcXhAg9na8e314SFks9AXMHSPP9qWEsXI6KTj1hL4LQwxcaY3vHzUUJy_LGX74nnLSUt0/s1600/2013+PH+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-m3MRtHuuYQ4paM-0UEMOxn6I6OB3ngBCxs4g4yVvfucdn-nZ9dgpa0JH1LGy3rJIyMbpGWcXhAg9na8e314SFks9AXMHSPP9qWEsXI6KTj1hL4LQwxcaY3vHzUUJy_LGX74nnLSUt0/s400/2013+PH+Logo.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sweet new logo for 2013 with a nod to the bears that live in the area</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s new for 2013?</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Sweet new Logo!</li>
<li>3 Laps instead of 4</li>
<li>7 miles of NEW singletrack on Peaked Mountain (built during late summer of 2012)</li>
<li>Over 2,300’ of nearly non-stop descending from the top of Peaked Mountain to the bottom of Mill Creek in Teton Canyon. Hell Yeah!</li>
<li>New rerouts around old, rutted trails in Rick’s Basin</li>
<li>Grand Targhee's own Andy Williams is now the sole race director, so you know it will be done right!</li>
<li>Better race flow through the base area</li>
<li>Aid #1 & Aid #4 are only a couple hundred yards apart so your support crew can easily take care of you while covering less ground</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">As of today, the </span><a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=43.7232522&lon=-111.11133259999997&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Driggs%2C%20ID%2C%20USA#.UffIO43viM4" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">race day forecast</a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> looks good! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i><b>NOTE:</b> This is the Tetons. Pack your rain jacket, wind vest, arm warmers, leg warmers, and puffy just in case.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><b>FAQs</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Does the 100-Mile Race really have 18,000' of climbing?<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>No. There has been some concern regarding the previously
advertised 6,000’ of climbing per lap. The
actual amount of climbing per lap is somewhere between 4,500’ and 4,700’ according
to the most recent Garmin files I have seen.
</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Will finish times be
faster this year?<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>This one is hard to predict with accuracy but I am guessing
that the Open Men’s winning time will be 45’ to 60’ faster than in <a href="http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-resort/news/307/2012TargheePierresHole50100Results.php" target="_blank">2012</a>. <a href="http://evanplews.com/" target="_blank">Evan Plews</a> won the 2012 Men's Open race in 8:44:56. Will someone go sub 8 hours in 2013? </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Is the Dry Creek Climb really that bad?</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Yes. Wrap your brain around it 'cause you will do it 3x.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">According to the Garmin Connect files, it looks like the race is less than 100-miles. Is this correct?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Yes. Andy Williams could have added some extra trail to make it 100 miles but this race is going to be plenty hard as it is. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">Is the 50-Mile course different from the 100-mile and 50K course?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>The 50-mile racers do not descend Bustle Creek or Climb Dry Creek. For both laps, 50-mile racers will climb Ski Hill Rd from Teton Canyon to Grand Targhee Resort. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Let's Break It Down, Shall We?</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">GPX files from Garmin Connect:</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/4280530" target="_blank">2013 Pierre's Hole 100-Mile Laps 2 and 3</a><br />
<div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/4280403" target="_blank">2013 Pierre's Hole 50 & 100 Mile Lap #1 PRT Climb</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/4280425" target="_blank">2013 Pierre's Hole 50-Mile Lap 2</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/course/4280523" target="_blank">2013 Pierre's Hole 50K (1 Lap) Course</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For Your Visual Stimulation:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZEsZYIcu__Fyp2I1cIE0rek3_Uo8q46t6C9PTF4mF0w-2QWT7-LCHRbGWaLHGyTrt3LYY0A3O-Z54cmrj_UhYlElQ2PJ3hcWfpuQxYW73UPpXF1SaGdSFV9ew-QAwQMjNYMFVKQk2TI/s1600/2013+PierresHole+50-Mile+Course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZEsZYIcu__Fyp2I1cIE0rek3_Uo8q46t6C9PTF4mF0w-2QWT7-LCHRbGWaLHGyTrt3LYY0A3O-Z54cmrj_UhYlElQ2PJ3hcWfpuQxYW73UPpXF1SaGdSFV9ew-QAwQMjNYMFVKQk2TI/s640/2013+PierresHole+50-Mile+Course.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kNvt0bmBOfdOr1jNndKnSpXQTS40LendLICb-UOlBGHL9JbvrbrVguJX3gIZKdE36zjcqIeidEJDYMNQP4zyZ7tmzORcu3tP4KiwOpr2neifHlNDdn8N0Pf2-PlE62MKlwPr8xWJIls/s1600/2013+PierresHole+One-Lap+Course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kNvt0bmBOfdOr1jNndKnSpXQTS40LendLICb-UOlBGHL9JbvrbrVguJX3gIZKdE36zjcqIeidEJDYMNQP4zyZ7tmzORcu3tP4KiwOpr2neifHlNDdn8N0Pf2-PlE62MKlwPr8xWJIls/s640/2013+PierresHole+One-Lap+Course.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Well, are you in? You have until 11:59 PM MST tonight to <a href="http://pierreshole50-100.athlete360.com/" target="_blank"><b>register on Athlete360</b>.</a> See you bright and early at the Ghee on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-80693925542210458162013-07-24T12:31:00.002-06:002014-07-27T19:51:33.933-06:002013 High Cascades 100 Race Report<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Quick Stats</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Place:</b> 11th, Solo Men 40+</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Time:</b> 9:40:43</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Miles: 97-ish (I don't know exactly because the Garmin 810 gets very poor reception in the trees…and we were in the trees a lot) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Elevation Gain:</b> 10,000-ish (see above)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I absolutely will go back to the High Cascades 100 in
2014. The 2013 edition didn’t go the way
I envisioned it would and I am going to need redemption. On one hand, the High Cascades 100 was a first-class
event, held in a cool town, and attended by a bunch of fun people. It was everything I look for in an endurance
mountain bike event. On the other hand, I
did not have the race I was looking for.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was an “A” race for me and I prepared
accordingly but for some reason, the “sparkle” didn’t materialize. I have no tales of epic bonks, no ass-over-tea-kettle
crashes, or mental melt-downs requiring post-race psycho-therapy. I was flat, my legs felt heavy, and I simply
was not fast on this day…and the “why” is bugging the shit out of me. Fast is a relative term. It would be more accurate to say that I did
not have “my fast” on this day. At least
I am stubborn. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH8lADSwkRIotd9sLQhTwST8SVgv8DYLk-EkVS9cVhtMJtZm7UK21yIwV72H_GHFDVgjmi4xBs_4GdSxVSrDuk-4oPS3_HBdID-wq3Ja_nZwF4SLJ9AKdFpGVlVyhCDOFW06NL3NQZNk/s1600/hc10013+Byers+Funner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH8lADSwkRIotd9sLQhTwST8SVgv8DYLk-EkVS9cVhtMJtZm7UK21yIwV72H_GHFDVgjmi4xBs_4GdSxVSrDuk-4oPS3_HBdID-wq3Ja_nZwF4SLJ9AKdFpGVlVyhCDOFW06NL3NQZNk/s640/hc10013+Byers+Funner.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The dust was brutal early in the race</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pavement</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 5.5 miles of pavement that start this race is
definitely the calm before the storm. In
this case, it is the calm before the dust storm. I really thought there might be some
aggression on the pavement to spread things out a bit but the pack just rolled
up the road in one big blob. It was
really strange to look down at my HR and see 120-130 bpm 20’ into it. I am not the guy to go to the front of a
100-mile mtb race and attack in the first couple of miles. Where was JayP when I needed him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Dust<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going into the race, I knew there would be dust
early on. I was not expecting the total solar
eclipse that occurred when we hit the dusty two-track as a giant peloton though. There was carnage immediately. Defending champion, Barry Wicks, broke his collarbone
at mile 8. Another rider piled it up just
in front of me and I am sure there were other countless near-misses. You simply could not see the ground and had
to hope that the guy in front of you could see…all while trying to go as fast
as possible less than an hour into the race.
Yikes! </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jdw31wGKdV8FshgaeRfQJnMfAylAB7SlDYXWcFbPYrk4a-Re_oLXJtcPPVN5HxTSyhyBuox6Po9o7PdUkwgOjLhK5edl_Aq-uWi1BfnaJmEqqkrzhrzWERLyxla-oCd5L9yPqEqHg3g/s1600/hc10013+Byers+Morning+Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jdw31wGKdV8FshgaeRfQJnMfAylAB7SlDYXWcFbPYrk4a-Re_oLXJtcPPVN5HxTSyhyBuox6Po9o7PdUkwgOjLhK5edl_Aq-uWi1BfnaJmEqqkrzhrzWERLyxla-oCd5L9yPqEqHg3g/s640/hc10013+Byers+Morning+Sun.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The riding in Bend, OR was awesome</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Funner</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I am not just describing the riding. The trail is actually named Funner…and it
is. We hit Funner about an hour into the
race and I was able to ride all but one of the tricky rock sections. If you were unlucky, you could easily get
stuck behind a conga-line of riders choosing to dismount frequently in this
section so I was stoked to breeze through it quickly. Pre-riding this section was a good call.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smiles at the Aid
Stations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had planned to be self-supported at the HC100 and
packed my drop coolers accordingly. Our
friend Beth Bolen was in Bend to support her hubby so I was pleasantly
surprised when she offered to help me with a quick transition at the Swampy
Aid, and every aid station after that.
It was super helpful and definitely an energy boost to see a friendly
smiling face at all of the aid stations.
Thanks Beth, you rock!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzvqAD2TPAinEN6Zahc9_S_r2QdxS9w9zvOkZi0LK3p-UD_8FzjJEqGb4ppeMUN4MQgt2G0RpPjcjB9Y3iWFMpCcPZXqSMSDiOWCRJaPrKcpfz__wXlT5dXtgVmeqPRm3IV4MEdRACiU/s1600/hc10013+Byers+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzvqAD2TPAinEN6Zahc9_S_r2QdxS9w9zvOkZi0LK3p-UD_8FzjJEqGb4ppeMUN4MQgt2G0RpPjcjB9Y3iWFMpCcPZXqSMSDiOWCRJaPrKcpfz__wXlT5dXtgVmeqPRm3IV4MEdRACiU/s640/hc10013+Byers+Rocks.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Check out my Sick Air!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Valley is a
Happy Place<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Holy shit, that area is beautiful. From what I am told, this part of the course
can only be used during years when winter snowfall is less than normal because
there is typically still snow on the trail in July. I got a little bit of mojo back around mile
40 and I distinctly remember thinking that the trail from mile 45 to 55-ish was
just incredible. We rode through giant
Douglas Fir trees, huge green meadows, snow drifts just off the trail, high
mountain river crossings, and loamy dirt.
When I visualize riding my mountain bike in Oregon that trail is exactly
what I will think of from now on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Final Leg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What little bit of mojo I had conjured quickly left my
body as I left Aid #5 for the last 21 miles.
On paper, we had already knocked out most of the climbing so how hard
could it be? Plus, there was 5 miles of
pavement to finish it off. No problem
right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My traveling buddy AJ and I had pre-ridden one of the
last pieces of singletrack called Tiddlywinks on Friday and I </span>couldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> wait to
get on those banked corners and table-tops and send it. For a little video of Tiddlywinks, check out
the </span><a href="http://dirtwire.tv/2013/07/high-cascades-100-staahtfinish-preview-with-ultra-enduro-dyude/" style="font-family: inherit;">Start/Finish
Preview</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by Dirtwire.Tv. In fact, the
entire trail after Aid #5 is great. The
problem is that you are so hammered by the time you get there you </span>can't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> fully
enjoy it. Ha! Having something left in
the tank late in a 100-mile race is usually my specialty but not on this day. I was crawling up the climbs after Aid #5 and
just surviving. In my mind, if I could
just get to Tiddlywinks I was home free.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tiddlywinks did not disappoint and I did, in my feeble
state, attempt to “send it”. Now for the
cruel twist to this part of my story. AJ
failed to properly describe the last piece of singletrack, Storm King, to
me. I had it in my brain that it was a
very short piece of trail used to get us onto the pavement and back to the
finish line. In reality, it is a long
damn trail. I don’t know how long I
descended but I have renamed the trail, “Storm King Never Fucking Ends Trail”. My triceps were on fiiiiire. Storm King did finally end and I banged out
the final miles of pavement by channeling my inner Jens Voigt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I rolled under the Kenda arch at the finish,
a smiling volunteer handed me an ice-cold wash cloth for my face (a very nice
touch by the way) and AJ gave me a high-five.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRw1CDUh7Nghcpwwi-c1N8LOSgkvPqYQ7gQUj6r6_lOpbfR3Cj8Fz1kDH94BdTtlWsYScVkpB7udkGUvmiy3cfqNj8w2BNV3HbPyuCvFgC1YoAWOtTJhcJNJd6Lv9SPe1aX3Ocm_n4aU/s1600/Finisher+Growler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRw1CDUh7Nghcpwwi-c1N8LOSgkvPqYQ7gQUj6r6_lOpbfR3Cj8Fz1kDH94BdTtlWsYScVkpB7udkGUvmiy3cfqNj8w2BNV3HbPyuCvFgC1YoAWOtTJhcJNJd6Lv9SPe1aX3Ocm_n4aU/s400/Finisher+Growler.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Finisher Growler </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Random Post-Race
Thoughts</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Ripley and Mudslinger Events nailed it. Having been to races of all shapes &
sizes, I truly appreciate it when a race director takes care of the
details: Great course markings, good
info leading up to the race, awesome aid stations & volunteers, good finish
line scene, free food for racers, free beer for racers, great schwag, and
timely results. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An added bonus to the trip was traveling and sharing a
room with my Fitzgerald’s Bicycles Teammate <a href="http://ajplayingwithgravity.blogspot.com/">AJ Linnell</a> from Victor, ID. AJ absolutely killed it and won the Singlespeed
Open race. AJ is getting to be kinda
famous and now has to do <a href="http://dirtwire.tv/2013/07/hc100-aj-linnell-1st-ss-hang-on-hamstring/">post-race
interviews</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Deschutes River is a glorious place to soak
immediately following a hot, 100-mile mountain bike race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oKfKkOH5XBJ7WxP7ouUaFSZ0VBVYGDvGpEmj7cQWbeQLtjSO6w2uNdbGwfpMG8qTokkn1YvoSsQr7VzxsEykOrq7DAjUQnl6K6siRB3uiJfDpEq64TztqAXhyRNF0E6c94Jlz32YeA0/s1600/SS+Podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oKfKkOH5XBJ7WxP7ouUaFSZ0VBVYGDvGpEmj7cQWbeQLtjSO6w2uNdbGwfpMG8qTokkn1YvoSsQr7VzxsEykOrq7DAjUQnl6K6siRB3uiJfDpEq64TztqAXhyRNF0E6c94Jlz32YeA0/s400/SS+Podium.jpg" height="400" width="343" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>AJ Linnell, so hawt right now</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-19473276931815934852013-07-19T20:01:00.001-06:002013-07-19T20:01:47.601-06:00Pre-Race Jitters at the High Cascades 100<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am feeling a little nervous as I sit here thinking about what else I need to do before I try to get a little sleep.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The bike is dialed, the drop coolers are prepped, and the map has been studied. It's almost showtime here in Bend, OR where the <a href="http://highcascades100.com/" target="_blank">High Cascades 100</a> starts tomorrow at 5:30 AM. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a new race for me and my first time riding the singletrack around Bend, OR. From my short pre-rides, it is going to be fun, dusty, hot, and fast riding...and did I mention dusty? More tomorrow after the dust settles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Shq_9ZXF733bY3IzmlaTPmi0u26YK_JyjvVZRD0q4W_16kcg3i6o2cClm1Ez4ZxrAaZ9UtgHn2vzWJFkovrEX8N4BuFBKo1Gb4E5M2CdH5yNr12289Q9C77x3iKJsMQi1ISUaLVKWE/s1600/HC100+PreRace+Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Shq_9ZXF733bY3IzmlaTPmi0u26YK_JyjvVZRD0q4W_16kcg3i6o2cClm1Ez4ZxrAaZ9UtgHn2vzWJFkovrEX8N4BuFBKo1Gb4E5M2CdH5yNr12289Q9C77x3iKJsMQi1ISUaLVKWE/s320/HC100+PreRace+Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clean bike is a fast bike. It will be clean for the first 6 miles of pavement at least.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcMCGZ6juvEkx1y_i3vMMNJ4o73IbwbJ984Q77Xp-sJZ5Kesesz9BQTZDzdyDJeTaksJSIzcUYoQgpbme1bxtMrjjUsv6KMc_lpvnl2GzrgB0oP_76OfEtuBXW4Vzr8S6EODIwZz_m0/s1600/HC100+Number+Plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcMCGZ6juvEkx1y_i3vMMNJ4o73IbwbJ984Q77Xp-sJZ5Kesesz9BQTZDzdyDJeTaksJSIzcUYoQgpbme1bxtMrjjUsv6KMc_lpvnl2GzrgB0oP_76OfEtuBXW4Vzr8S6EODIwZz_m0/s320/HC100+Number+Plate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PRO number plates </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXVirH2srMKeGBvSRyA1LFS0M21rKrtTboqlZmZz-95rlGbgm12e9DscuMUgeYwbwhCgX3rbhboZdMpw9SrLwDWp5b13wQvQDy_5GjzksFjBPKfxKb7h7vnfgcWOlURyIeOP8g_JiCEA/s1600/bendmap_hc100_13_official.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXVirH2srMKeGBvSRyA1LFS0M21rKrtTboqlZmZz-95rlGbgm12e9DscuMUgeYwbwhCgX3rbhboZdMpw9SrLwDWp5b13wQvQDy_5GjzksFjBPKfxKb7h7vnfgcWOlURyIeOP8g_JiCEA/s320/bendmap_hc100_13_official.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cover a LOT of ground in this race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-1725333326432770222013-06-11T11:08:00.001-06:002013-08-12T12:29:05.559-06:002013 Knobby 9 to 5 Race Report<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Stats<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place: 2<sup>nd</sup>,
Solo Men 40+</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laps: 10</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time: 7:51:49</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Miles: 90.4</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elevation Gain:
12,303’</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Race<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fast forward to the end of the first lap as I
came through the timing tent; the woman calling out numbers yelled, “Number 38,
42 minutes…” WTF? Did she say 42 minutes and something? Holy shit!
I was nowhere near the front of the race but that was much faster than I
expected. I had been racing
wheel-to-wheel with several fast folks for the entire first lap and was riding
at a pace that was above my normal endurance race comfort zone. It’s good to break out of your comfort zone
once in </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">awhile</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> right?</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiS1c3qu2Pt46Z5-qMs2Ct6Q55SSszlMmZ5HYgVFLSUN4gWCuYoJPS-PloAllxtmhgyrg2uGOPktDfklGSyUvGoVHR-nHABQNJQ3dK8pOKZryyc-MwFZMJIFV8E3zr9co8R_voAW-ON8/s1600/Solo40+Podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiS1c3qu2Pt46Z5-qMs2Ct6Q55SSszlMmZ5HYgVFLSUN4gWCuYoJPS-PloAllxtmhgyrg2uGOPktDfklGSyUvGoVHR-nHABQNJQ3dK8pOKZryyc-MwFZMJIFV8E3zr9co8R_voAW-ON8/s400/Solo40+Podium.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solo Men, 40+ Podium</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the <a href="http://davebyers.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-knobby-9-to-5-race-report.html" target="_blank">2011 Knobby 9 to 5</a>, I had a very good race and did
nine laps on my singlespeed. In 2012, I
DNF’d after three laps with severe low back pain. For 2013 I wanted to go “all-in” and see if I
could do ten laps. The math was
intimidating…I had to average 48’ per lap to finish ten before the 5pm cutoff. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Starting fast has never been my strength but I knew that
I needed to “bank” at least three fast laps to start this race in order to give
myself any shot at doing ten laps. After
that, I was simply hoping that I my endurance would kick in and I could sustain
a 48’-49’ per lap pace for the remainder of the day. I love it when a plan works! I was able to finish my 10<sup>th</sup> lap
with nine minutes to spare.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRS4fFutbVvlWPeEUqryDh1wdgrfWZJH6wBRwAy0SyVZTZ1QuQqJQdWEBFVUFM2jn5JCoiYwDqpPFk9U3XWDQecsayEezb1JA-s8dmkES_iVsYmYn5elhB2shXYMUEMX-6LZf_DmLp4A/s1600/Movement+Prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRS4fFutbVvlWPeEUqryDh1wdgrfWZJH6wBRwAy0SyVZTZ1QuQqJQdWEBFVUFM2jn5JCoiYwDqpPFk9U3XWDQecsayEezb1JA-s8dmkES_iVsYmYn5elhB2shXYMUEMX-6LZf_DmLp4A/s400/Movement+Prep.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pre-Race Movement Prep</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrII2q6p0ohrXNjyHAIzmqnQrFLelz4JAkS4fCriHlLs54exopper48FxWnKuWdKHVRs0XKMcT6vy_G8x3c4Z_NB6WYQZT6NejFNQSzOc3oZm7uIO6OOQBKmC3RpiNdfxWhTe29mjAjf0/s1600/9+to+5+Mascot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrII2q6p0ohrXNjyHAIzmqnQrFLelz4JAkS4fCriHlLs54exopper48FxWnKuWdKHVRs0XKMcT6vy_G8x3c4Z_NB6WYQZT6NejFNQSzOc3oZm7uIO6OOQBKmC3RpiNdfxWhTe29mjAjf0/s400/9+to+5+Mascot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Crew Chief was very calm before the race</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Things that worked:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>LW Coaching</i></b> - The
foundation for this race was laid back in March & April when <a href="http://lwcoaching.com/" target="_blank">LW Coaching</a>
dished out the pain prior to the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde. I didn’t do a lot of “training” between Mesa
Verde and the 9 to 5 and I was a little nervous about a loss of fitness. In fact, twitchy might be a better description. As usual, LW was right and her formula
worked. Thanks coach!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>CarboRocket</i></b> –
The original <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/" target="_blank">CarboRocket</a> was one of the first high-electrolyte drink mixes to hit the market. Most people have heard about
Skratch Labs and Osmo Nutrition these days.
Both companies make a low calorie, high electrolyte drink mix and preach
“food in your pocket, hydration in your bottle”. The <a href="http://www.carborocket.com/1-kilo-package" target="_blank">original CarboRocket</a> was ahead of the
curve with its 110 calories per 24oz bottle mixture and high electrolyte
content and I have been using it since the summer of 2009. The main difference between original CarboRocket & Skratch/Osmo is that CarboRocket uses a mix of Maltodextrin &
sugar instead of simply sugar as Skratch/Osmo do. The other huge difference is price. Original CarboRocket is $.82 per 24oz bottle
whereas Skratch & Osmo are $1.50 per 24oz bottle. Hey Boise bike shops, we need a local CarboRocket dealer. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here is the most important stat: <i><b>This stuff just works.</b></i> When I look back at the notes from all of the
races I have done using Carbo Rocket there is a common theme; no stomach
distress and very little cramping.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>Scott Spark 900</i></b> –
My <a href="http://davebyers.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-spark-900-hotness.html" target="_blank">2013 race bike</a> is pretty awesome. In
fact, it is the best race bike I have ever owned and I don’t feel like I am
giving up anything by racing a full-suspension bike 100% of the time. Based on my conversations with the other
<a href="http://www.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/" target="_blank">Fitzgerald’s Bicycles</a> team members currently racing this bike, I am not the
only one who feels this way. I use the
shit out of the Fox CTD Remote lever and I find myself using all three settings
equally as often. Having the Fox CTD
remote lever on the left side of the bars and the SRAM XX1 twist-shift on the
right is a sweet combo. In hindsight, I
wish I had run a 34T XX1 ring for the Knobby 9 to 5 but the 32T ring worked out ok. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Work to be done:<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>Low Back Pain</i></b> - My low back started to hurt on Lap #1. Seriously?
It wasn’t a deal-breaker but it was uncomfortable and forced me to stand
and stretch on the bike more than I wanted to. The pain crept up to about 7 out of 10 on Lap
#3 but then subsided a bit and leveled off for the remainder of the race. Sustained, seated race-pace efforts seem to
trigger my low back pain. I also think nervousness and stress manifest
themselves in my low back at times and I was pretty keyed up before this one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My visits to Dr. Nate at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TrailheadChiropractic?fref=ts">Trailhead
Chiropractic</a> have helped a ton. Dr.
Nate has used a combination of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graston_Technique" target="_blank">Graston Therapy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Release_Technique" target="_blank">Active Release Technique</a> on
me and my back has responded well. Most importantly,
Dr. Nate is the first doctor to accurately diagnose “why” I have low back pain
and prescribed a series of stretches & foam roller exercises that allow me
to work on the issue on my own. This is
obviously a work-in-progress but I am far ahead of where I was last year at
this time. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh030DuBIN8ibcDyhjbeFlDtZfSnDHWNLRvRPU_V_bvBqzYC0vb66ydghDaCkUlhyBgTW7lQ8OyGZMzbsTT0AHZYtF4S-OBNmkqKQcLJFyTEqGoPzKDRVAWbuBP-LmRhvFXASLZQA06bvI/s1600/2013+9to5+File.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh030DuBIN8ibcDyhjbeFlDtZfSnDHWNLRvRPU_V_bvBqzYC0vb66ydghDaCkUlhyBgTW7lQ8OyGZMzbsTT0AHZYtF4S-OBNmkqKQcLJFyTEqGoPzKDRVAWbuBP-LmRhvFXASLZQA06bvI/s400/2013+9to5+File.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Garmin500 Race File</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhW8u5yWyMBQHZM57hJrnHZihPLygeCi0qfck-1qAd6gG1idfXxsK7xlW8vnY_Ie9Nj6CQJgSzpXhRWGflSzFHnlYy6XffPyWjYbHXkCftX9S37-BrvaVv9evpsGvVC5WYAZJ5o84yD0/s1600/2013+Knobby+9to5+Splits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhW8u5yWyMBQHZM57hJrnHZihPLygeCi0qfck-1qAd6gG1idfXxsK7xlW8vnY_Ie9Nj6CQJgSzpXhRWGflSzFHnlYy6XffPyWjYbHXkCftX9S37-BrvaVv9evpsGvVC5WYAZJ5o84yD0/s400/2013+Knobby+9to5+Splits.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lap Splits</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-39302722709219419772013-05-14T16:36:00.001-06:002013-05-14T16:36:27.600-06:002013 12 Hours of Mesa Verde Race Report<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Stats:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laps: 8</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place: 4th, Men's Solo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time: 12:22:28 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Miles: 128 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Stoke Level: HIGH</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Boom! The cannon went off without warning and the thundering herd, 350 strong, was off. I was not at the front as I had planned. My chances of getting to my bike in the top 10% were gone faster than the smoke from the cannon dispersed so I simply tried to survive and not get trampled en route to my bike which was lying in the rodeo pen 500 yards away.<br /><br /> The 2013 12 Hours of Mesa Verde was underway and I was happy to finally be racing after many months of staring at “May 11th, 2013” on my calendar. In my previous four years of racing solo at Mesa Verde, I have had one bad race and three good races. A “great” race at Mesa Verde has eluded me and I signed up for 2013 in search of that great race.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjApv8G3gD1UrEkKp8Y3Tcyyx9cVWD12jLbatGNE1MKFCsj7Uw_gcKdfP9X-mcyLOyX-2h23JU2D_SAC0TSKnIvODAYr2iAr50aAvQ8omOEFSmE-YYTkdVs-EZ5lcnrGo-ViSwTeTbZY/s1600/MTBRaceNews+MV+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjApv8G3gD1UrEkKp8Y3Tcyyx9cVWD12jLbatGNE1MKFCsj7Uw_gcKdfP9X-mcyLOyX-2h23JU2D_SAC0TSKnIvODAYr2iAr50aAvQ8omOEFSmE-YYTkdVs-EZ5lcnrGo-ViSwTeTbZY/s400/MTBRaceNews+MV+Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Although I am standing in the middle, I took 4th place</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A little background</b><br /> <br />What is my definition a great race at Mesa Verde? 8 Laps. It looks so simple on paper but for me to do 8 laps at Mesa Verde meant that I needed to shave 42 minutes from my personal best in order to make the 6pm last-lap cutoff. I kept going back to the following stat: I needed to average 1:34:00 per lap, for 7 laps, in order to make the 6 pm cutoff. My all-time fastest lap at Mesa Verde, in four years of racing, was a 1:35:18. Yikes! Oh, and I was going to be racing self-supported too.<br /> <br /> Have I mentioned that I LOVE the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde? I love everything about it: The course is pure greatness, the overall vibe is festive, and the organizers seem to do a little more each year to make this race even better than the previous year. However, the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde is not all rainbows and unicorns. The course is like Jekyll & Hyde. Parts of the course will make your lower back, hands, and the balls of your feet hurt like never before while others parts will leave you with perma-grin…and then you do it all over again.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Lwxdr6TZja_bupAjzw-rpHvO9C8I6mBSzcAN2CDBeh6X9JrSEU8a9olZA-H9PWqXQfS2qcQEnz4aD7cmThfGw5Po-YpUR6uEmHfB1dOquTnGHIFrflA1OnJ6ZlCW_MXEfkA35T9RchY/s1600/Coolers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Lwxdr6TZja_bupAjzw-rpHvO9C8I6mBSzcAN2CDBeh6X9JrSEU8a9olZA-H9PWqXQfS2qcQEnz4aD7cmThfGw5Po-YpUR6uEmHfB1dOquTnGHIFrflA1OnJ6ZlCW_MXEfkA35T9RchY/s400/Coolers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pre-Filled hydration packs, ready to rock</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Race </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had no choice but to start faster than I normally do. I didn’t drive all the way to Cortez, CO to do seven fucking laps…again. I was either going to do eight laps or blow up spectacularly and I was ok with it. This was uncharted territory for me. As I mentioned above, the LeMan’s start didn’t go exactly as planned but I was surprisingly calm and I passed riders when I could without being a jerk or wasting a lot of energy. After riding all of Lap 1 in traffic, I was surprised when I looked down at my Garmin and saw 1:30:14. Ok, now I had something to build on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laps 2-4 were a blur for me but I do remember one thing; I was getting passed less than normal and I wasn’t getting passed by solo riders. This was encouraging. My strategy was working so far but I knew it was still early. My pit stops were fast: Drop off the hydration pack, grab 300-350 calories and drop them in my Mountain Feedbag, grab a new pre-filled hydration pack from the cooler, and roll out. This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the back of my mind was the threat of thunderstorms. I really don’t mind riding in the rain and I have good gear for it. However, dealing with a muddy bike while self-supported is not ideal. Plus, my low back seems to get especially grumpy when it’s cold. Halfway through Lap 6 it looked like we might be in for some serious rain. It started raining hard enough to make the trails greasy, the rocks slippery, and my body started to get cold. A lightweight rain jacket took the chill off but I had to slow way down in the grease for the 2nd half of Lap 6 and my lap time suffered. Luckily, the rain was short-lived and full-speed racing resumed for Lap 7.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I really wish I knew exactly what happened to my body on Lap 7. My brain said “go faster” but my body said “fuck you, this is all we got right now”. I probably got dehydrated AND a little behind on calories. I felt like I was going backwards and I was battling a little tummy distress. In hindsight, I should have been drinking a little more plain water throughout the day. Halfway through Lap 7 I realized that I was going to have plenty of time to go out for Lap 8 and that perked me up a bit. The other thing that perked me up was the 20oz bottle of black goodness that had been waiting for me in my cooler all day. Pepsi. Damn it tasted good as I rode away from my pit to start my last lap. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I wasn’t done. I still had 16 miles of Phil’s World singletrack to ride and hopefully retain whatever place I had ridden myself into by that point. My last lap was awesome for several reasons:</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun was setting and the post-thunderstorm light was amazing </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The realization that I was going to achieve my goal of doing 8 laps was sinking in </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several team riders, many of whom I had chatted with earlier in the day, were coming around me on their final lap and were full of positive energy as they went by </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mmmm, Pepsi </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, with only 3 miles to go, I had to pee. WTF? Who stops to pee on their last lap? I tried to block it out but it became evident that if I didn’t pull over I was going to have an accident in my bib shorts. I was so nervous that I was going to get passed by a solo racer while peeing…but that didn’t happen. I rolled into the packed timing building at 7:22pm with 8 laps and an empty tank. Perfect.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRjlIGRfOHfdLwJfQ1zhNtptr28Uu45qGi-FwHEBrvalKSurg60wmw2r2XIfYEud9BJUU3PpO-LmfZ9xIy96AVblc8Q1XwVEZ8XzIhZnRQyNciurjPeSX8YgtW14WMbRfCzaoByo-kfk/s1600/2013+MV+Lap+Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRjlIGRfOHfdLwJfQ1zhNtptr28Uu45qGi-FwHEBrvalKSurg60wmw2r2XIfYEud9BJUU3PpO-LmfZ9xIy96AVblc8Q1XwVEZ8XzIhZnRQyNciurjPeSX8YgtW14WMbRfCzaoByo-kfk/s400/2013+MV+Lap+Times.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Lap Times</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Although I traveled to Mesa Verde solo, this one felt like a team effort. <a href="http://lwcoaching.com/" target="_blank">LW Coaching</a> put together a great training plan for me leading up to the race, Dr. Nate at <a href="http://www.trailheadclinic.com/" target="_blank">Trailhead Chiro</a> has really helped me reduce my lower back pain (without traditional Chiro adjustments), and of course Michelle for her continuous support and delicious healthy cooking. Thank you!</div>
</div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-16650821357421779512013-04-30T20:57:00.002-06:002013-04-30T20:57:50.744-06:002013 Spark 900 HotnessWhen <a href="http://www.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com/" target="_blank">Fitzgerald's Bicycles</a> generously offered the team a chance to buy a 2013 Scott bike/frame on a "one-time only" offer" I knew exactly what my choice would be. I wanted to lighten up the race bike for 2013 and the <a href="http://www.scott-sports.com/global/en/products/227954007/frame-set-spark-900-pr-hmx-bb92-m/#.UYCB5bXviSo" target="_blank">Spark 900 PR</a> definitely saves some weight over my previous Giant AnthemX 29. I really like the way the AnthemX 29 rides so I was a little nervous about whether I would like the Scott as well as the Giant.<div>
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<div>
After four rides, I can say that I really like the way Spark 900 rides. It took me a few rides to dial in my position and the suspension (more on that later) but now its feeling groovy. As pictured below, the bike is not quite "race ready" but you get the idea. My sexy race wheels are getting a little love at the moment.</div>
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<div>
I think it is pretty crazy, in a good way, that I have a large, full-suspension 29er that weighs just under 23lbs without resorting to stupid parts that will break.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCrw6K37wrEwlG0AttwxyHeV4RrHhyphenhyphenaOBAPihjfEymTvdbGvUK4pQYESvjOc2wWFm9Zof6GuCRWMkdYngvgnRNs1BnPvHjSScZgFWlWsNB742jh9yrxM8-3HEtsO05BQ_Lnl1RkjDA6Q/s1600/Spark900+Profile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCrw6K37wrEwlG0AttwxyHeV4RrHhyphenhyphenaOBAPihjfEymTvdbGvUK4pQYESvjOc2wWFm9Zof6GuCRWMkdYngvgnRNs1BnPvHjSScZgFWlWsNB742jh9yrxM8-3HEtsO05BQ_Lnl1RkjDA6Q/s400/Spark900+Profile.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>2013 Scott Spark 900 with a mix of new & old parts</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAnp-iOfVr8j8DyWAIBBizHlJAvaX9CnbUHj4OvNT9kcZ0seM72kY-MuSc-Twoka2qCcr12ZejHQBWU76dpV98XDiYaLCtNzkw7Z_rpyX0wrLJLo2tRrOe1FKB1w_yeGVfexbX7jTvWc/s1600/Spark900+Quarter+Front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAnp-iOfVr8j8DyWAIBBizHlJAvaX9CnbUHj4OvNT9kcZ0seM72kY-MuSc-Twoka2qCcr12ZejHQBWU76dpV98XDiYaLCtNzkw7Z_rpyX0wrLJLo2tRrOe1FKB1w_yeGVfexbX7jTvWc/s400/Spark900+Quarter+Front.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pretty clean cockpit considering the dual remote</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj4pQ08pKNpRoAH5ck8ti4FQEHMAyvbRQ4CxSt8OEWer05A6AmeBgHD-jhXHpIzl7vcusEQ_lJajeQ0iAoVmXEOHos6t__pIRNeOHWry2k9pSFCm_Otdyv2r3hbDdfk0dtOJBaqk_yrw/s1600/SPark900+non-Drive+Rear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj4pQ08pKNpRoAH5ck8ti4FQEHMAyvbRQ4CxSt8OEWer05A6AmeBgHD-jhXHpIzl7vcusEQ_lJajeQ0iAoVmXEOHos6t__pIRNeOHWry2k9pSFCm_Otdyv2r3hbDdfk0dtOJBaqk_yrw/s400/SPark900+non-Drive+Rear.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First bike with a 142mm x 12mm rear axle, and I dig it</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYb5TCd4SnFB6NjN8CsFZW7hFKRqiKL988PwYiZL3IERfyvXRG48x49cZw95mF1q-zUks44I7kQEUhRZV01yZ0SRqTH0BUInlmUVj6pJJUz6Aq0VPKhT7SOXsmWpA1FMbtui05yNiGJ4/s1600/Spark+900+XX1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYb5TCd4SnFB6NjN8CsFZW7hFKRqiKL988PwYiZL3IERfyvXRG48x49cZw95mF1q-zUks44I7kQEUhRZV01yZ0SRqTH0BUInlmUVj6pJJUz6Aq0VPKhT7SOXsmWpA1FMbtui05yNiGJ4/s400/Spark+900+XX1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>SRAM XX1...does this cassette make my ass look big?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJTia7I-LcXEXUW2zXjII0gwj-4aA5Q3iurT6vAQvzuttSOD9-LKup_1K1u25mc-rAASWD4cMoK2HRbCvzmIg5t9fiZgiKoGBZULc0b4x33PG2LAGANdBqTQ3gWHiVP3ilVrtZXp5KPQ/s1600/Spark900+Cockpit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJTia7I-LcXEXUW2zXjII0gwj-4aA5Q3iurT6vAQvzuttSOD9-LKup_1K1u25mc-rAASWD4cMoK2HRbCvzmIg5t9fiZgiKoGBZULc0b4x33PG2LAGANdBqTQ3gWHiVP3ilVrtZXp5KPQ/s400/Spark900+Cockpit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cockpit Favorites: Enve Bar, <a href="http://www.acecosportgroup.com/shop/k-edge-computer-mounts/garmin-edge-gps-computers/k-edge-computer-mount-for-garmin-edge.html" target="_blank">K-Edge Garmin Mount</a>, Ergon GP1 Grips, and Thomson Stem</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rq3jYG0uW_86v0GZx3Zdih9tSLU9eX-WOP_qd7FSU3J_xDj6LozgBQXGa4ZWLWGg6uYSaqrtbtyJLk0HhkiY_5jSSHwleXbJpkDalAnWxRlrLd71drP3unEfBAei5laOAlbxtb9AEo4/s1600/Spark900+FoxCTD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Rq3jYG0uW_86v0GZx3Zdih9tSLU9eX-WOP_qd7FSU3J_xDj6LozgBQXGa4ZWLWGg6uYSaqrtbtyJLk0HhkiY_5jSSHwleXbJpkDalAnWxRlrLd71drP3unEfBAei5laOAlbxtb9AEo4/s400/Spark900+FoxCTD.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fox Float CTD Remote Shock replaces the stock DT Swiss Nude2</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNFsUX2NBXAlRQoz0U28v0U4EdJBcmx7ibfNW-UfIzlBZZYdmuLMJehL2ibj0Aog8hiiOQqscPXMloqOqfHrA6cHjE5z0pIbdOENT8FXR15b6gtYsJLaXJWLxKxtqwboQNZ1XkIZduGI/s1600/Spark900+Internal+Routing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNFsUX2NBXAlRQoz0U28v0U4EdJBcmx7ibfNW-UfIzlBZZYdmuLMJehL2ibj0Aog8hiiOQqscPXMloqOqfHrA6cHjE5z0pIbdOENT8FXR15b6gtYsJLaXJWLxKxtqwboQNZ1XkIZduGI/s400/Spark900+Internal+Routing.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Very clean internal routing and exit port.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLPe0FOb-NZ_WcLuVzXzcruDq-RQv7J65lvw-bnyxMPFtL4AypHFDf5wScEvzsoRUEGzVznKVEFHc-7m400n_-3JFWPyILEXiNdugMSqzmOiI-vS1WlcBi6P6k_qmHAbTTOR9A6Nsz2k/s1600/Spark900+Rear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLPe0FOb-NZ_WcLuVzXzcruDq-RQv7J65lvw-bnyxMPFtL4AypHFDf5wScEvzsoRUEGzVznKVEFHc-7m400n_-3JFWPyILEXiNdugMSqzmOiI-vS1WlcBi6P6k_qmHAbTTOR9A6Nsz2k/s400/Spark900+Rear.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This DT Swiss 190 hub is at least three years old and still smoove like butter</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBLr-cNUEkOYW19cxuNqgPpk1s50I5C03KnnOvSSmk9ASP9597ojgrEIsnR2F4O8qqDWb_yfVXi1U32u1y0pCc0XnQbB3yuN2em6KbmG0FQB0S3ubMsKpWu43dBMDjuoqAPEk_2eTCxw/s1600/Spark900+Remote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBLr-cNUEkOYW19cxuNqgPpk1s50I5C03KnnOvSSmk9ASP9597ojgrEIsnR2F4O8qqDWb_yfVXi1U32u1y0pCc0XnQbB3yuN2em6KbmG0FQB0S3ubMsKpWu43dBMDjuoqAPEk_2eTCxw/s400/Spark900+Remote.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fox remote is meant to be run on top of the bar, but works very well under the bar</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I will have more thoughts on the suspension and the SRAM XX1 drivetrain after a few more rides. </div>
</div>
Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-61383791388829497552013-04-08T09:32:00.001-06:002013-04-08T09:32:55.441-06:002013 Barking Spider XC Race - Nampa, IDBased on my experiences, there are now two mountain bike races I will <i>never</i> do if the forecast is calling for rain: True Grit in St. George and Barking Spider XC in Nampa, ID.<br /><br />The mud from the Hemingway Butte OHV Park is by the stickiest I have ever seen. My garden hose and spray nozzle wouldn’t touch it after the race. I finally had to load the bikes back up and find a self-serve car wash with high-pressure warm water to get our bikes clean. The real damage won’t be known until I pull the cranks off and check all bearings…I am expecting the worst. Oh well, shit happens.<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pINdnwBYDcI62-GcLp-_nRQsdj-i7_WZAl17kv6HVS5HLBygl9HRrPEwduibTpxEiVpzFQYtK7tmevXgfeZ0qSrCeMKz1tAsWUbacj-hPnNeAhqvItj9l_iLvfW-vtZMsgxzhpOqZjU/s1600/BarkingSpider+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pINdnwBYDcI62-GcLp-_nRQsdj-i7_WZAl17kv6HVS5HLBygl9HRrPEwduibTpxEiVpzFQYtK7tmevXgfeZ0qSrCeMKz1tAsWUbacj-hPnNeAhqvItj9l_iLvfW-vtZMsgxzhpOqZjU/s320/BarkingSpider+A.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Michelle and I were having good days until about 1:10:00
into the race when the rain started to come down. We had good warm-ups, the temp was pleasant, and
we both felt pretty strong after our respective first laps. Then Mother Nature dropped the hammer and the
course turned into a sticky mess like that of which I have never seen. If you poured peanut butter, maple syrup,
flour, gravel, and sand into a big-ass mixing bowl you might be able to
duplicate the mud that we encountered. Both wheels on the bike were locked in place and you had the choice of carrying or dragging your bike. I DNF'd after my second of three laps and Michelle pulled the plug after 1 3/4 laps. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz73EcS3cfPEFaqJD-CNISc0uZ7zBa31J9ekdj6bn_lMo0SY5y1cXmQpFOvV1bqEMOxEGEedRclZvgqmP2ZfcffcvT9pL9aDuLTn8GLrNikHyXGUiSgz6akdzWnqLfNAX_9W9y7v0J6Uw/s1600/BarkingSpider+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz73EcS3cfPEFaqJD-CNISc0uZ7zBa31J9ekdj6bn_lMo0SY5y1cXmQpFOvV1bqEMOxEGEedRclZvgqmP2ZfcffcvT9pL9aDuLTn8GLrNikHyXGUiSgz6akdzWnqLfNAX_9W9y7v0J6Uw/s320/BarkingSpider+C.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus8ZFksOusrjmGmK6MljArox-BH47PIocGEZsjQYNFaHvk5lNGcTJDB4BhNQtJeatxF9rvzGuP_c5vntUlN03beCrbWR_LmQ7b71-54wIkFPRRzcD-VEDObotYlhZ_Ow1GG2q-EPXGtM/s1600/BarkingSpider+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus8ZFksOusrjmGmK6MljArox-BH47PIocGEZsjQYNFaHvk5lNGcTJDB4BhNQtJeatxF9rvzGuP_c5vntUlN03beCrbWR_LmQ7b71-54wIkFPRRzcD-VEDObotYlhZ_Ow1GG2q-EPXGtM/s320/BarkingSpider+B.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIwjv0WT8Y3wvIRuO9UKYZcOLxnarSjjIqNebyeYUBO4eUIouLaC7I-SPr-YKoOY5vh4WRjky_GplkVAvpERZQrrx9cjI17BiyemQ4t5FSpwDHDtvjGV2u0smJZeg___p0A-R8EHkqpg/s1600/BarkingSpider+D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIwjv0WT8Y3wvIRuO9UKYZcOLxnarSjjIqNebyeYUBO4eUIouLaC7I-SPr-YKoOY5vh4WRjky_GplkVAvpERZQrrx9cjI17BiyemQ4t5FSpwDHDtvjGV2u0smJZeg___p0A-R8EHkqpg/s320/BarkingSpider+D.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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Lessons Learned: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Even for short races, throw a light jacket in your jersey pocket if it looks like rain.</li>
<li>Skinny tires are your friend in the mud. </li>
<li>The rear tire clearance on my Scott Scale29 is very poor and not mud-friendly. Grrr.</li>
<li>Gore Sealed Shift Cables work amazingly well. It is a bummer they are discontinuing them. </li>
<li>Being able to push fresh grease into a Chris King bottom bracket after a race like this (using the Chris King BB grease tool) makes me happy. </li>
<li>In contrast, trying to service Press-fit Bottom brackets after a race like this does NOT make me happy.</li>
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Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-49956153604865188212013-04-04T10:08:00.002-06:002013-04-04T10:08:29.800-06:00The Boise "Around the Block" RideI have a new favorite road ride and I have affectionately named it the Boise "Around the Block" ride. I am sure the Boise locals have a proper name for this loop but it reminds me of the classic Around the Block ride in Jackson, WY so that is what I am calling it. Both rides are a little over 100 miles, both have multiple smaller climbs, both travel along a reservoir for a while, and both have one big signature climb. I completed this loop last Sunday and it took me six hours (341 TSS) to complete it, solo. It feels good to be back in a training groove after a bit of an inconsistent winter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boise "Around the Block" Ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson Around the Block Ride<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645135157545010104.post-87668701818969972682013-03-14T13:39:00.001-06:002013-03-14T13:39:01.486-06:002013 Togwotee Winter Classic Race Video<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/61826335?portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/61826335">2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike Race</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4723342">Dave Byers</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>The 2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike race was held at Togwotee Mountain Lodge in near-perfect conditions with mild temps, clear skies, and firm trails. 44 racers took the start line and course records were set in the Men's & Women's 35-Mile categories. All video footage was shot using Drift Innovation cameras and K-Edge GoPro camera mounts. <br /> <br /> Special thanks to Jay Petervary for a great job filming from various points along the course.</p>Dave Byershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00992222148723757793noreply@blogger.com0