FRIDAY: Travel Day
Stopped in Kansas City at Harrah's to get some grub...and to let Scott go after his dream of being the top poker player this side of the Mississippi.
Ah, Yes. Harrah's. One of the many casinos in the KC area.
Scott played his poker, the rest of us grabbed some grub. Nothing like fesh veggies and pasta to fuel the muscles in 2 days time.
Kragness. Consumer of bananas
SATURDAY: Pre Ride
We got to Arkansas about 2:00 AM on Saturday. We slept in, and go up around 10 AM to head over to the race site to spin arond the course.
The Ozark Mountains.
Scott Cave and myself chilling on course.
Chuck Jacob's weaving.
Kragness being Kragness.
Scott coming through your screen!
What do the kids of Oden, Arkansas do to pass the time? They master their Jedi powers. These kids where mastering their lightsabers next to our car after the pre-ride.
SUNDAY: Race Day
Race day started early. We got up at 4:30 to go get some breakfast at Perkins only to find out it didn't open till 6 AM...which was the time we needed to leave for the 8 AM start...DAMN! So we ran across the street to the Walgreens and I had about 3 packets of instant oatmeal and a bunch of coffee. I topped that off with a Clif Bar Builder Bar to get some protein in my system.
Next up was the drive to the course which was abot 40 minutes away. We got to the course, and I instantly started my routine. I filled my flasks. I filled my hydro pack. And I grabbed about 3 extra tubes, cause flats are a huge thing in this race.
While getting ready, I eyed the competition. There were some familiar faces, and some not so familiar faces. So of the guys that I knew would be a factor in the event I put and "X" on their back...Cannondale riders Cully Todd and Garth Prosser, a Trek Regional Rider, last years 2nd place rider, the local Jelly Belly pro road rider, and a few others.
The race started with a rolling lead out down a black top road. Myself and Cully Todd were leading the pack to the start of the race course behind the lead vehicle. After about 2 miles, we got to the fire road where the vehicle stopped and let the group come back together. In about 5 minutes the race vehicle pulled away, and we were off. I was a the front leading a pace line down the fire road at 26 mph. I pulled for about 1.5 miles, then Cully came to the front. The pace continued and I was very comfortable. This fireroad went on for 'bout 5 miiles. The pace stayed in the 20 mph range. Next the Trek rider came to the front, and pushed the pace up one of the hills, this broke apart the field and there was only about 30 of us in the group. The pace coninued till we got to a steep pitch in the road the led to the start of the single track. From there the field just blew up. We went from riding in a pack of 20 to riders every 20 yards. I busted ass up the climb to be the 10th or so person into the singletrack.
Now it was time to adapt to the trail. I just went my pace trying to pick my line through all the rocks . It took me a while to get in the groove and because of that i lost a few places. I set my pace and just went with it. After abot 45 minutes of riding and climbing I came to the first rock garden. These things are HUGE! 29er riders had the advantage and i was passed by many. I just went through the gardens as best i could. At one time i lost momentum and layed the bike down at about 18 mph. The result is in the pictures below.
After the long section of roack gardens and rock hike-a-bikes, we came to a road where I was able to get some food in my system then head off to the next section of single track. I went my speed, catching riders, and making up time. Everything was good. My legs were snappy, and my body felt awesome. I just tried to maintain as high of speed as i could with out flatting. I came to another rocky downhill, where i was caught by 3 guys on 29ers. I let them by them got on their wheels. I followed them till I got to the next fire road section. From here we worked together at a speed of 25mph till the next section of singletrack.
Once we hit the single track, one guy attacked and got way. One guy was then shot ou the back. Now it was just me and a 29er rider from Houston, TX. We road togeter for a long time sharing the workload through the trail. AFter more single track we came to a long section of fire road and paved road. I was love'n this cause I had done a lot of training on the road with my mnt bike. The 2 of us road together for about 15 minutes. Once we got to the pavement I attacked him! I pushed the pace and got time on him. I then came up on a check point area, and instead of stopping like everyone else, i just blew through and kept going. I could see Cully Todd up the road about 600 yards, but couldn't catch him. This would be the last time i would see a rider.
For the last 20 miles I was on my own taking chances trying to gain time and yet not flat or kill myself. I felt good and pushed as hard as this Iowa boy could. There was still lots of climbing and singletrack left. The Womble Trail is at the end of this race, and is worth the price of admission. i was like a video game. Flying thru the trees at aomost 20 mph is a rush!
Finally, I cam to the last fire road section. I knew I was about done. So I busted ass to get home. In the process I caught another rider who happed to be last years 2nd place rider. We rode togeher for a bit then I attacked him. Little did I know that there was a hugh ass gravel climb with a grade of about 11% at the end. I turned the corner and popped! The guy then caught me. I dug down and managed to not let him get to far ahead. He crested the top for the down hill finish. 15 seconds later here I come. I got to the top and used the down hill to get up to 35 mph to go after him. For some reason he sat up. So I blew past him for the 4 mile road ride to the finish. I stayed away and ended up finishing the race in 10th place.
Results should be here soon. Also, I think the Trek rider won...and set a course record. There was also 2 Iowan's in the top 10!
This race rocks! Do it if you can. The trail is some of the best I have EVER ridden! I will be back.
SUNDAY: Post Race
Crash in the rock gardens and get cuts and swollen legs.
Another result of my crash in one of the first rock gardens.
My 10th place award.
11.8 mph is all I could average!
Iowa's very own corn fed Squirrel. Check out his blog for race details.
Slingshot Super Chick, Danielle Musto, put the hurt on the womens field for 2nd place overall!
Race many miles. Eat Cheesy Puffs.
Thanks to the New~Mart guys for a great weekend!
Stopped in Kansas City at Harrah's to get some grub...and to let Scott go after his dream of being the top poker player this side of the Mississippi.
Ah, Yes. Harrah's. One of the many casinos in the KC area.
Scott played his poker, the rest of us grabbed some grub. Nothing like fesh veggies and pasta to fuel the muscles in 2 days time.
Kragness. Consumer of bananas
SATURDAY: Pre Ride
We got to Arkansas about 2:00 AM on Saturday. We slept in, and go up around 10 AM to head over to the race site to spin arond the course.
The Ozark Mountains.
Scott Cave and myself chilling on course.
Chuck Jacob's weaving.
Kragness being Kragness.
Scott coming through your screen!
What do the kids of Oden, Arkansas do to pass the time? They master their Jedi powers. These kids where mastering their lightsabers next to our car after the pre-ride.
SUNDAY: Race Day
Race day started early. We got up at 4:30 to go get some breakfast at Perkins only to find out it didn't open till 6 AM...which was the time we needed to leave for the 8 AM start...DAMN! So we ran across the street to the Walgreens and I had about 3 packets of instant oatmeal and a bunch of coffee. I topped that off with a Clif Bar Builder Bar to get some protein in my system.
Next up was the drive to the course which was abot 40 minutes away. We got to the course, and I instantly started my routine. I filled my flasks. I filled my hydro pack. And I grabbed about 3 extra tubes, cause flats are a huge thing in this race.
While getting ready, I eyed the competition. There were some familiar faces, and some not so familiar faces. So of the guys that I knew would be a factor in the event I put and "X" on their back...Cannondale riders Cully Todd and Garth Prosser, a Trek Regional Rider, last years 2nd place rider, the local Jelly Belly pro road rider, and a few others.
The race started with a rolling lead out down a black top road. Myself and Cully Todd were leading the pack to the start of the race course behind the lead vehicle. After about 2 miles, we got to the fire road where the vehicle stopped and let the group come back together. In about 5 minutes the race vehicle pulled away, and we were off. I was a the front leading a pace line down the fire road at 26 mph. I pulled for about 1.5 miles, then Cully came to the front. The pace continued and I was very comfortable. This fireroad went on for 'bout 5 miiles. The pace stayed in the 20 mph range. Next the Trek rider came to the front, and pushed the pace up one of the hills, this broke apart the field and there was only about 30 of us in the group. The pace coninued till we got to a steep pitch in the road the led to the start of the single track. From there the field just blew up. We went from riding in a pack of 20 to riders every 20 yards. I busted ass up the climb to be the 10th or so person into the singletrack.
Now it was time to adapt to the trail. I just went my pace trying to pick my line through all the rocks . It took me a while to get in the groove and because of that i lost a few places. I set my pace and just went with it. After abot 45 minutes of riding and climbing I came to the first rock garden. These things are HUGE! 29er riders had the advantage and i was passed by many. I just went through the gardens as best i could. At one time i lost momentum and layed the bike down at about 18 mph. The result is in the pictures below.
After the long section of roack gardens and rock hike-a-bikes, we came to a road where I was able to get some food in my system then head off to the next section of single track. I went my speed, catching riders, and making up time. Everything was good. My legs were snappy, and my body felt awesome. I just tried to maintain as high of speed as i could with out flatting. I came to another rocky downhill, where i was caught by 3 guys on 29ers. I let them by them got on their wheels. I followed them till I got to the next fire road section. From here we worked together at a speed of 25mph till the next section of singletrack.
Once we hit the single track, one guy attacked and got way. One guy was then shot ou the back. Now it was just me and a 29er rider from Houston, TX. We road togeter for a long time sharing the workload through the trail. AFter more single track we came to a long section of fire road and paved road. I was love'n this cause I had done a lot of training on the road with my mnt bike. The 2 of us road together for about 15 minutes. Once we got to the pavement I attacked him! I pushed the pace and got time on him. I then came up on a check point area, and instead of stopping like everyone else, i just blew through and kept going. I could see Cully Todd up the road about 600 yards, but couldn't catch him. This would be the last time i would see a rider.
For the last 20 miles I was on my own taking chances trying to gain time and yet not flat or kill myself. I felt good and pushed as hard as this Iowa boy could. There was still lots of climbing and singletrack left. The Womble Trail is at the end of this race, and is worth the price of admission. i was like a video game. Flying thru the trees at aomost 20 mph is a rush!
Finally, I cam to the last fire road section. I knew I was about done. So I busted ass to get home. In the process I caught another rider who happed to be last years 2nd place rider. We rode togeher for a bit then I attacked him. Little did I know that there was a hugh ass gravel climb with a grade of about 11% at the end. I turned the corner and popped! The guy then caught me. I dug down and managed to not let him get to far ahead. He crested the top for the down hill finish. 15 seconds later here I come. I got to the top and used the down hill to get up to 35 mph to go after him. For some reason he sat up. So I blew past him for the 4 mile road ride to the finish. I stayed away and ended up finishing the race in 10th place.
Results should be here soon. Also, I think the Trek rider won...and set a course record. There was also 2 Iowan's in the top 10!
This race rocks! Do it if you can. The trail is some of the best I have EVER ridden! I will be back.
SUNDAY: Post Race
Crash in the rock gardens and get cuts and swollen legs.
Another result of my crash in one of the first rock gardens.
My 10th place award.
11.8 mph is all I could average!
Iowa's very own corn fed Squirrel. Check out his blog for race details.
Slingshot Super Chick, Danielle Musto, put the hurt on the womens field for 2nd place overall!
Race many miles. Eat Cheesy Puffs.
Thanks to the New~Mart guys for a great weekend!