Rust Shaker XC

Snows during the week and some rain on Friday left me with no idea how the trails would be for the Rust Shaker XC race at MMCC. As I've mentioned in previous posts, race day age had me racing in the Pro/Expert class (I am neither of those) rather than the 40+ Expert Vet class (I am at least closing in on ONE of those faster than a fat kid to a cheesecake buffet.

I knew the trails wouldn't be as bad as the trails can get back in PA, the soil is just different and drains a lot differently/better. But still, you never know. The morning temps were chilly for sure in the high 40s with a nipple erecting breeze, but I knew that once my lard ass and thick DVT inducing blood got warmed up I would be hot as hell, so I made sure not to overdress, and just went with arm/knee warmers. That as a good move on my part.

Since there was a pretty popular time trial race this weekend, there was only like 9 guys racing Pro/Expert today, so I thought I would surely be bringing up last place. One advantage was that we got to go off first and that was sweet. A half mile or so paved section through the MMCC campus led us to the first section of single track for a short start loop that would then dump us back to the start/finish and on to two full laps. This meant doing the 2 short power line climbs on the course three times and would bring the mileage up to about 25 miles for the race, which I dug for an XC course.

Mid way through the first lap I settled in behind my friend Chris. Chris was racing his single speed in the Pro/Expert class rather than the Single Speed Class. He is generally faster than me, so I was happy to be able to hang on his wheel for a few miles until I misjudged a shift and he (with only one gear and no shifts to miss) pulled away from me as I grunted up the short climb.

Now I was pretty much by myself just barely able to see him up ahead as we headed towards the Start/Finish and the end of lap one. Then we cross the line, and do a short section of power sucking grass and back onto the single track. I felt so good when on the single track but the grass was a kick in the junk. A mile or so back into the single track I saw Chris again, and worked to get back up to him. I finally made it and clung to his wheel a couple miles. He asked me if I wanted a pass, but I feared that I would blow up PDQ if I made my pass now after working to get back up to him so I hung on longer.

About 17ish miles in we hit a flatter section, I figured, "what the hell?" might as well try now rather than wait longer and look like a jerk for sucking his wheel for the whole race, and passed on his left. Then I tried to use my gears to gain some time on him. I was shocked when after a couple miles I looked back and didn't see him. Strange. So I just kept up the pace, passed another dude (not sure what class, but he was either Pro/Expert or Expert Vet (again I was shocked to have made a pass that stuck). I just wanted to keep up my pace, not do anything stupid and see what I could do about not finishing last.

Soon I saw another racer up ahead, but didn't think I had anything to catch up with him. Well he must have jacked something up in a greasy little uphill grunt, 'cause the next thing I knew he was asking me if I wanted a pass. I declined until I thought I could make a move that would stick and not have me IMMEDIATELY getting passed again (which usually happens to me).

As I rode behind I noticed he had what looked to be a PowerTap hub. Nothing against PowerTaps, or the dude, he seemed cool, but I have to admit I did get some motivation to pass a dude with a PowerTap. Sort of a "win" in itself for aging, waist expanding, talentless racers like me everywhere who are fueled by good beer and bad Mexican food! LOL! Again, I thought "what the hell?" and made a move. I was not confident at all that this one would stick, especially since it looked like he weighed about 30 pounds less than me and we still had those power line climbs to do. So I made the pass, and soon found myself on those climbs. I was less concerned with him and more overjoyed that I only had about a mile or two to go to the finish. I was sweating like a cow getting on the USDA Grade A Bus to the city, and felt a slight cramp in my leg as I powered up one small climb- "NO, NOT NOW!" But as luck would have it, it faded just as fast as it came and I was closing in on the last bit of single track.

Grunting up a muddy false flat there were some spectators yelling and I got motivating slap in the ass as I spun by. It appeared that the PowerTap dude was not going to get me as long as I didn't do anything stupid. I mean I had no idea what class he was in, he could have been Sport for all I know, I just didn't want my passing effort to go for not. Now I was done with the single track, and just had a few turns through a short grassy section to the line.

I was done. Sweet!

I crossed the line in 1:59. I was pretty stoked with the effort since last week when I rode there my time was about the same and I had only done 20ish miles. Today there was a few extra miles and the trails were not as dry. Best of all I did NOT finish in last place. Sure there were only like 9 starters in my class and I finished 5th, and a good 20 minutes behind uber fast Jorden Wakely, but that dude is literally HALF my age and about half my weight! LOL!

Afterwards the Rust Shaker folks treated us to mounds and mounds of free Hungry Howie's Pizza (I helped myself to seconds of course), and had a raffle. I won socks. Super cool, black, surely to make me faster Sock Guy "Big Earl" dragon socks! All in all a good day. My 3rd race on Michigan soil... another good time, I saw a lot of (already) familiar faces and friends, and I continue to sort of enjoy this XC thing. I suck at it even more (or at leas the same as) than at XXC racing, but still fun. There is still about 3 or 4 weeks until the first endurance race of the year. Pretty sure that's a six hour one, but hell, who knows?

One thing I wanted to add: I used the Spearfish today and my God it was the PERFECT bike for this course. This course doesn't have a ton of climbing, but the trails are not that forgiving. To be able to sit and just hammer was titz. How the bike would have been on a climbing course I can't say, but for THIS course, today, it suited ME just fine. Falling in between the Dos Niner and the Big Mama, it has proved really damn good to me so far and for most endurance races it will probably get the nod. I'd like to knock about 2 pounds off of my build, but it would be cheaper and better to knock 30 pounds of ME!

Time to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Later.