Today Mrs. Team BRAZO (3rd in her age group!!) and myself competed (loosely stated for me at least) in the Wisconsin Off Road Series mountain bike race in Sheboygan Wisconsin – Wigwam/Ultimax MTB Challenge . It was a great October day – in fact record temps in the high 80’s. We made our way down from our Cottage to Sheboygan in the morning with a race time of 10:00.
.
We both signed up for the Citizen class races which are held for the beginner type of racers and include two loops of the Evergreen Park trails which turns out to be around 10 miles of racing. The trail is probably 90% single track and 10% double track with many, many roots in the track. Included in the trail are a creek crossing, log jump, extreme climbs, and many twists and turns to get around the loop.
We went over to the start area at the same time that the Citizen Youth field was about to take the green flag to start their race. The Youth go on the same trail but only complete one loop. The starter of the race begins to give the youth field some warnings regarding the trail – I’m listening closely seeing that I have never ridden the trail before (or raced before). He tells them that there is a steep downhill drop leading into a creek with rocks in the creek which then requires a steep climb out of the creek – he tells the youth group, that they should feel free to walk this area. NOTE TO MYSELF – feel free to walk this area. Next he tells the youth that there is a 2 foot log jump that is at the end of a steep downhill – but there is a trail to the right that will bypass the jump. NOTE TO MYSELF – go right, go right, go right.
So, now that I have the youth instructions, I’m ready to go. Standing at the start line with the other 35 to 45 year old wave, I notice everyone is a bit serious regarding this race – what’s up with that. So, I decide to stay out of the way and start as the last bike in the pack. We make it up a hill on blacktop and then begin a long, long ride through single track trails that force you to make quick turns and fast inclines to get around. The hardest part for me was all the traffic that ended up on my back tire. The 18 year old and under went 2 minutes after I started and they were on my tire in no time. So, my thought was not to stop and let them go by – but at the same time make it easy for them to pass when possible. After a while, I got very good at allowing people to pass – had plenty of practice.
We both signed up for the Citizen class races which are held for the beginner type of racers and include two loops of the Evergreen Park trails which turns out to be around 10 miles of racing. The trail is probably 90% single track and 10% double track with many, many roots in the track. Included in the trail are a creek crossing, log jump, extreme climbs, and many twists and turns to get around the loop.
We went over to the start area at the same time that the Citizen Youth field was about to take the green flag to start their race. The Youth go on the same trail but only complete one loop. The starter of the race begins to give the youth field some warnings regarding the trail – I’m listening closely seeing that I have never ridden the trail before (or raced before). He tells them that there is a steep downhill drop leading into a creek with rocks in the creek which then requires a steep climb out of the creek – he tells the youth group, that they should feel free to walk this area. NOTE TO MYSELF – feel free to walk this area. Next he tells the youth that there is a 2 foot log jump that is at the end of a steep downhill – but there is a trail to the right that will bypass the jump. NOTE TO MYSELF – go right, go right, go right.
So, now that I have the youth instructions, I’m ready to go. Standing at the start line with the other 35 to 45 year old wave, I notice everyone is a bit serious regarding this race – what’s up with that. So, I decide to stay out of the way and start as the last bike in the pack. We make it up a hill on blacktop and then begin a long, long ride through single track trails that force you to make quick turns and fast inclines to get around. The hardest part for me was all the traffic that ended up on my back tire. The 18 year old and under went 2 minutes after I started and they were on my tire in no time. So, my thought was not to stop and let them go by – but at the same time make it easy for them to pass when possible. After a while, I got very good at allowing people to pass – had plenty of practice.
I continued on the trail just having a blast – many riders right on my back tire caused me to go much faster than a normal person in their first race would want to go. Never did I feel like it was dangerous, but let me tell you this – it was dangerous, at least for a 42 year old. A little bit of a miss to the right or the left and the handle bar rams right into the tree and problems would occur.
So, reviewing my NOTES from the starter – I did not follow my own advice on the creek crossing and I just kept up my speed and down the steep downhill over the rocks in the river and up the steep incline – DID IT!! Next the 2 foot jump – cruising down the steep downhill – now is the choice “right and safe” or “left and whatever”? I went right – just didn’t have it in me at that point.
A couple of things that I learned today:
- Buy some gloves – my hands became very sweaty and that made it very hard to hold onto the handle bars.
- Buy some Mountain Bike shoes – my Kayano’s were a bit slippery. Too bad my FREAKIN $250 road shoes won’t work – be nice to not have to buy more.
- Learn how to be passed – I was passed pretty much the whole first loop.
- Thank goodness for DNF’s (did not finish) and DNR (did not race) – I ended up 14th out of 16 in my age group. Number 15 DNF’ed and number 16 didn’t even start the race – gotta like that! But that being said, I was one of fifteen 35 to 45 year old males to line up on a FREAKIN possible death bike ...errrr... Mountain Bike and take to the course. So, if you include all the possible 35 to 45 year old males that live in that region – I kicked ASS….
- Check into the shuffle board league – might be a bit safer – HECK NO, THIS WAS A BLAST!!
Can’t wait until the next race!!
So, reviewing my NOTES from the starter – I did not follow my own advice on the creek crossing and I just kept up my speed and down the steep downhill over the rocks in the river and up the steep incline – DID IT!! Next the 2 foot jump – cruising down the steep downhill – now is the choice “right and safe” or “left and whatever”? I went right – just didn’t have it in me at that point.
A couple of things that I learned today:
- Buy some gloves – my hands became very sweaty and that made it very hard to hold onto the handle bars.
- Buy some Mountain Bike shoes – my Kayano’s were a bit slippery. Too bad my FREAKIN $250 road shoes won’t work – be nice to not have to buy more.
- Learn how to be passed – I was passed pretty much the whole first loop.
- Thank goodness for DNF’s (did not finish) and DNR (did not race) – I ended up 14th out of 16 in my age group. Number 15 DNF’ed and number 16 didn’t even start the race – gotta like that! But that being said, I was one of fifteen 35 to 45 year old males to line up on a FREAKIN possible death bike ...errrr... Mountain Bike and take to the course. So, if you include all the possible 35 to 45 year old males that live in that region – I kicked ASS….
- Check into the shuffle board league – might be a bit safer – HECK NO, THIS WAS A BLAST!!
Can’t wait until the next race!!
2 comments:
It was fun eh? I wanted to thank you again for the lunch tickets. After the awards ceremony, we fueled up on spaghetti and headed home.
BTW, your wife looks awesome on that podium!
XTERRA in Michigan...hmmmmm.
No problem at all -- it was a pleasure to meet you (again).
Yes -- you must do XTERRA Michigan -- now how fun would that be -- swim, Moutain Bike, and then a tough trail run!!
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