Two-Wheeled Revelations: November 2009

This weekend, we were very fortunate to have 2 races. On Tuesday, we found out the the idiotic City of Seattle revoked the permit for MFG to host the Saturday race at Lincoln Park. I'm not going to go off on a tirade here. Maybe I'll write up more details later. The important news is that, incredibly, MFG was able to find a new venue and pull off the race anyway.

Saturday I arrived early to Evergreen H.S./Lakewood Park for the "relocated" MFG Race #5. I got in plenty of warm-up and was at the headed to stage for the start with plenty of time to make sure I got a good starting position. That's about where the good news ends. As I finished up my last lap around the track, I felt my rear tire getting low. Not a good time for a flat. They were just starting the staging for my race. I had no time to get over to the pit area and grab my back-up wheel. Luckily, I was right next to the Cucina Fresca tent. My friend Brad rides for the Cucina Fresca team and I thought maybe someone there could help. Cole was there. I had not met him before, but he was really helpful. In seconds, he had the valve core out of my tubular tire and was pouring Stans sealant in. I was not confident that the Stans could seal it up immediately and handle a race, but at least it got me going. I made it to the start and still had a great position, right behind the front row.

I got a good start and was part of the front pack of riders. After heading down the straightaway of the track, the course hopped up over a low curb and onto to short section of pavement turning to the right before we hit the grass. I had pre-rode several times and was prepared for the turn. I started into the turn, and suddenly the rider in front of me came off his line and moved to the left. With no chance for any reaction, his rear wheel came across and hit my front. BAM! I was on the ground with riders toppling over me. OUCH. Quickly back up. Pain, but nothing too bad. Grab the bike. Handlebars are pointed off at a 45 degree angle. Jump to the front of the bike and pinch the wheel between my legs and try to hammer the bars back to straight. They are not budging. Ride to the pits, get a multi-tool and loosen my stem to adjust the bars. Tighten the bolts and get moving.

I am dead last in my start and the next group (age 45+) is already passing me. I push as hard as I can to try to catch back up to the back of my group. I'm actually going pretty well and getting past a lot of the 45+ field. I try to pass on a descent and go down in the mud at the bottom. No injuries, but frustrating as hell. Back on the bike, trying to make up more ground. About a half a lap later, my rear tire is going flat. AAARRRGGHHH! What else can go wrong!?

Nice to have tubulars. Certainly can't go fast, but at least I was able to ride the flat to the pits. More time lost changing my rear wheel. Now I am a lap down and just riding out of pride. For the first time this season, I did not finish on the same lap as the leaders. Stuck around to see some friends start their race, but then headed home to nurse my wounds.

Woke up sore Sunday morning, but at least there was the extra hour of sleep ;-) I had the night before to race, and I stuck with it. We managed to get the kids up and out and didn't even leave too late. Sunday's race was number 5 in the Seattle series. It was at Maris Farms, a family farm with petting zoo, corn maze, pumpkin patch, etc. Figured it would be a fun venue for the kids. As we drove up, it was really cool to see the course - set with pumpkins, instead of yellow tape.

I was riding on my wheel with tubes and Hutchinson Bulldog tires. I was actually happy about that, because the one thing I didn't mention about Saturday's race was how miserable my Vittoria tires were in the mud. I splurged on my tubular wheels and didn't know what tires I wanted. I got lots of recommendations for Tufos that cost like $150 per tire. I decided to get some cheap Vittorias to get started with until I figured out what good tires I wanted to invest in. Big mistake.

Most of the course at Maris Farms was muddy. For the most part it was the more "mashed potato" consistency, and not the "slippery snot" type (except in the corn). The Bulldogs didn't really help much, because my tires got so clogged with mud that it was just mud on mud. In case you haven't ridden a bike in these conditions, that is not a good thing. Mud on mud trying to go uphill is like ice skating on butter knives.

Call it being fat and out of shape, recovering from a cold, tired and bruised from Saturday...what ever you want. I was slow on Sunday. Then I got even slower. I got to the top of one of the run-ups, and put my bike on the ground. It didn't roll. my rear tire was locked and dragging on the ground. I tried to free it, but the rear brakes were completely clogged with mud and grass. I gave up and shouldered my bike and resigned myself to running out the rest of the race. After a few minutes, I realized that I was going to drop dead trying to run the course. I stopped and went back to work on the rear brakes. After a couple minutes, I finally got the wheel spinning.

I started riding again, but there was no race left in me. I was tired, bummed, and ready to be done. Shortly after I crossed the finish line and headed out for another alp, I heard them announcing the leaders crossing the line with one lap to go. I knew that if they caught me, I would not finish on the same lap...again. I was proud of the fact that until the day before, I had been finishing pretty well in the races and always on the same lap. But for the first time, the really bad thoughts crept into my head. Wouldn't it be nice if they catch me, so that I can be done? I tried to push them out of my head, but I think it was too late. Sharon and Zach got a video of me right at this moment. You can hear them announcing the leaders coming through with one lap to go. It is pretty clear from the video that there is not much wind in my sails. Oh well, there's always next week.

I just dropped off my wheels at uBRDO to have some Challenge Fangos glued up. Word on the street is that they are the best mud tire that crosses over to dry conditions. For someone like me that only has one set of wheels, this is the ideal set-up for Northwest cyclocross, because we get a lot of mud. But as the first few races of season proved, we get our share of "California-cyclocross" conditions as well. My wheel will be ready Wednesday, and I'm looking forward to a better race out at Sprinker Park (where the infamous "Chicken-legs" and "Where's the Beef?" pictures were taken).