TUMBLING CREEK MTB RUMBLE XIII - A Different Perspective

As racers, we are often times selfish. We are concerned with how we feel, what we eat, what we ride, what we need, and how we perform. Preparation and racing becomes more of a routine or habit, than an enjoyable experience. We converse with one another before and after, but we are ultimately consumed with our own experience. We set expectations and no matter what else happens, we feel defeated when those expectations aren’t met. We are guilty of taking ourselves entirely too seriously. Out of want, obligation, and curiosity, I stepped aside this past weekend and took a look at racing from a completely different perspective.

Gainesville College was the site for the Tumbling Creek MTB Rumble. The course is primarily flat with small rollers. The single track is nothing too technical and other than a few turns, very fast. The actual trail is only five miles long, so the field transition area and some of the walk-jog paths were utilized to bring the course length to around seven miles in length. Recent rains had left portions of the additional sections very wet and SLOW. The field and the paths would prove to be the true leg burners, evident by the looks on rider’s faces as the trudged through the field.

As I said before, I was looking at this race from a completely different perspective. I voluntarily relegated myself to “Pit Boss” for this race to accommodate the rest of the team. I fudged on the decision several times late in the week. The need to race was burning, but I’d made a commitment, more to myself than anything, to support the team, and that’s what I intended to do.

The lemans start was the longest I’ve seen. The racers were forced to run down and around the lake before grabbing their bikes. The run was easily half a mile and to add insult to injury, once the racers were on their bikes they had to traverse the field. Ten minutes in and faces were red, folks were coughing, and some were already walking. I think I saw one guy puke. It was extremely entertaining to watch!

Unbelievably, Bill had the best run of our group. (That’s right . . . BILL RIDDLE.) He was in the top third as he grabbed his bike. One by one the riders grabbed, mounted, and pedaled away. Within minutes the pit area was somewhat quiet. I took a minute to grab some CAFÉ:INE and organize the pit for the chaos to follow.

Since I had given up the opportunity to suffer on the bike, I accepted the opportunity to dump 100% of my effort into supporting the team. If I couldn’t participate as a racer, I’d participate in support. After thirty-five minutes riders started entering the pits. The next several hours went like this; hand off bottle, hand out gel, wash bottle, clean derailleur, clean chain, fill bottle, run across field, check times, organize gear, clean glasses, mix electrolytes, adjust seat, tighten grips, unwrap energy bars, convince riders to eat and drink, give time alerts, block solo riders from sitting down, encourage fellow racers as they pass by, snap a few pictures, check on Cadence . . . . . and repeat.

As pit boss you have to be able to recognize the difference between pain and discomfort and know when to concede, encourage, or demand. Some riders need a break while others just want one. The less time spent in the pit equals more time on the bike. More time on the bike equals better results. Better results equal a happy racer, regardless of the pain.

As the race wound down, Suzy then Wooley had punished themselves enough and I allowed them to call it quits (ok . . . basically they decided to quit and my Jedi mind tricks weren’t working any longer). Cramp-monkeys had latched on and weren’t letting go of either of them any time soon.

Bill was in contention for a podium spot and I wasn’t going to allow him to even look at the pit. I was shoving food and drink at him quicker than he could think or react. Before he knew it, I was pushing him off back onto the trail. He finished the day 2nd in his class.

Tiffanie, participating in her first ever MTB event (6hr solo no less), had apparently made it through the “pain cave” and was determined to exceed all expectations. She came through after lap five, stopped for a twenty second rest, and was back off. She didn’t even have to be convinced to try another lap. She had found her own motivation. She finished the day 5th in her class.

Gene, after a short mental and physical break, reluctantly picked himself up and began preparation for a seventh lap. Before he could change his mind, I had loaded him up with bottles, got him on his bike, and pushed him off. I vaguely heard him mumble “I don’t wanna go” as he rode away. He completed his seventh lap looking stronger than he had the two previous. He finished the day 17th in his class.

Wade and Lyn didn’t need much encouraging. Working as a team is encouragement enough. Accountability is the biggest difference between the team event and the solo event. Teammates owe it to one another to push hard and continue riding. In the solo event, the only person you affect by quitting is yourself. I helped keep their chains clean and derailleurs straight. They just missed the magical cut-off time to try another lap. They finished the day after completing eight laps.

After the race, we broke down the pits and packed up the trucks. We hung around longer than intended for our much deserved podium pictures. By the time we cleaned up and ate dinner, we had already accepted that it was going to be late-dark-thirty by the time we pulled in our drive way at home. As we drove into the night, I had this strange sense of pleasure blanketing me. The regret of not racing had completely disappeared. I was simply high on the events of the day. It was a cool feeling to know that by sacrificing my own race, I had impacted seven other people’s race. For one day, I tried everything I could to make them feel PRO. I hope it was as beneficial to them as it was fun for me.

2010 TEAM KITS

It's that time of year again. Trial sizes will be available at CycleWorld by this weekend. They will only be available until November 1st. Order forms will also be available. Payments are due prior to ordering.

2010 kits will be similar in design to the 2009 kits, with a change in color. The change will be easier to coordinate stock shorts and accessories with. We're staying with Hincapie so sizes and quality will be consistent.

Take advantage now, because there may or may not be a reorder later. Jersey's are available to EVERYONE who wants one.

SPREAD THE WORD!

SGC RIDES AGAIN - Tom Brown Park 10/17/09

Steve, Josh, and Gene ventured down to Tallahassee this past weekend to compete in the FSC #4 XC races at Tom Brown Park. It was an early A.M. departure time for the guys and an early race time.

Gene flatted on his second lap and relegated himself to "Pit Boss" for the rest of the race. Steve finished 10th in the Single Speed division, just eleven minutes off the winners time. Josh finished the day with a 5th place finish in the XC-1 division and received a cash payout.

Well done boys.COMING UP - Several members of SGC will be traveling to Gainesville, GA this weekend for the Tumbling Creek Mountain Bike Rumble XIII 6hr race. Stay tuned for updates.

6 Hours of Unicoi - October 10th

This past weekend marked the return of the Helen Fat Tire Festival and Dirty Spokes was having their finale in conjunction. So we loaded up the truck and . .

As usual, SGC snagged a primo pit area on the finishing straight. We arrived around 8:30 am to begin the pre-race routine of setting up, filling up, kitting up, and warming up. The weather wasn’t looking very cooperative. Start time weather was 68®, overcast, and windy. While we were setting up, an easy-up just down from us was caught by the wind and blown over one car and towards the next row of pits and vehicles. Luckily it was intercepted before causing too much damage. (Stake your shit down! We know from experience.)

Because of the festival weekend, we had a huge support staff. We had all the Neals, McClungs, Julians, present and future Fixs, one Wooley, and a few Gibsons. (Bill Gibson was the original owner of Oconee Outfitters; Steve and I spent several good years racing for/with them.) A strong pit makes for good encouragement. 10:00 am sharp – Off we go!

Josh took his rightful place with the heads of state. He set the pace for the entire field on the first lap. I rode just behind Steve. He was looking strong on his single-speed, while I was having trouble getting my legs under me. It was good having him as a carrot. Wooley and Clark were in the field behind.

I was stoked to get the first lap over and roll into the field. Steve pitted which caught me by surprise. I’d planned on riding at least the first two laps without stopping and was hoping he and I could ride together for a while. I continued on and settled in to a comfortable pace.

Several laps in, a couple of sections became hike-a-bikes. The steepness of the climb combined with the deteriorating conditions made the trail unrideable, at least for me. I used these sections to walk and stretch the legs. I actually found that I was walking quicker than the people who were attempting to ride.

Unicoi is a demanding trail. It receives very little maintenance other than the occasional tree removal. There are several steep climbs, technical descents, one extended climb that takes you from a creek bottom to the top of a knob, and several slick-as-goose-shit switchbacks. One lap consists of about 1300 feet of climbing, which is the equivalent of climbing several of the local gaps. Recent rains had made conditions even tougher. The bottom areas and some of the climbs were sticky, black mud, which by the end of the race looked like twelve-inch deep troughs. The final quarter mile was a rude haul up a fire road that easily was a 7% grade which kicked up even steeper at an s-turn just before the top. Two more slippery downhill switchbacks, cross the bridge, and into the field back to the pit areas. Like I said, Unicoi is very demanding to ride, extremely demanding to race.

My third lap I nudged over the one-hour mark so I knew that six laps would probably be out of reach, but I also felt like I was riding fairly strong so I wanted to finish laps four and five respectably. You never know who’s in front or just behind you so you have to keep riding.

I rolled over the timing mat and dismounting my mud-covered steed. Tim, the owner/operator of Dirty Spokes, was there to remove my timing chip. Tim’s one of the best race promoters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. He’s friendly; he responds to emails and constantly updates information. He has results posted quickly and always has the racers best interest in mind. It’s no wonder people continue to flock to his events.

Tiff took my bike and I spoke to Nikki, a female racer who finds a way to beat me in every f@$#ing race. She passed me on the last half of my last lap when the cramp monsters were assaulting me.

Wooley and Clark had already called it a day and were cleaned up. Steve finished shortly after. He had an awesome result riding the single speed in hard conditions. Josh finished to a rousing round of applause a little while later. The people beside us even cheered for him. (I don’t think they know why, they were just following our lead.) Josh mastered everyone in the field except for his nemesis, Jafer, who has edged Josh out for the top spot on at least three occasions; two back to back.

We ended the day as we normally do, with some of Clark’s finest cuisine, some post-race debriefing, and beer. Some results were better than others, but at the end of the day, no one was hurt, nothing was broken, and the beer was cold.

Final Results
Josh Fix – 2nd Place; Expert; Solo 6hr (7 laps, 57.4 miles, 5:25:49, 9,100 ft)
Steve Julian –7th Place; Single Speed; Solo 6hr(5 laps, 41 miles, 5:29:25, 6,500 ft)
Vonnie McClung – 8th Place; Sport; Solo 6hr; (5 laps, 41 miles, 5:06:39, 6,500 ft)
Steve Woolard – 26th Place, Beginner, Solo 6hr(2 laps, 16.4 miles, 3:15:47, 2,600 ft)
Clark Neal – 28th Place, Beginner, Solo 6hr (1 lap, 8.2 miles, 1:24:33, 1,300 ft)


www.dirtyspokes.com

Closet training

Here is Tiff closet strength training with Chloe - Tiff is doing isometrics with Chloe as resistance. I know it appears that she is sleeping, but that's just an illusion.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Children of the Corn...

SGC is rolling North to participate in the Helen Fat Tire Festival, and the Dirty Spokes 6/12 Hour Series Finale at Unicoi Park. Vmac, Tiff, Cadence, Woolard and of course us, since we live here, went to the North Georgia Corn Maze just outside of Cleveland, GA, a couple of miles from Burnt Dog Lodge last night. Here's the aftermath!


Wonderwoman looking spooky up on the bridge over the corn.





Cadence, Tiff and Suzy.



Look what we found in the Pumpkin Patch!

The weather is looking typical for a race team nicknamed "The Rainmakers" - chance of rain today, 60% chance of rain for Saturday, which is race day. I blame Longtoe - he rolled into town late last night with Josh in the pop-up, and of course it rained last night. Coincidence? I think not!
-- Post From My iPhone

Houston-based amateur accepts doping suspension - VeloNews

WOW! As if we didn't already know that doping was prevelent in the amateur ranks . . . .
Houston-based amateur accepts doping suspension - VeloNews

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