This is my first report of any kind. I welcome the harsh criticism and the
Well, there's actually 3 race reports I could give... only one of which was relatively recent. I'll
give that one.
So this is my third race in my collegiate career at Florida State University... I'm feeling pretty
confident that the first two got me going up the ladder in terms of endurance and managing the
technical stuff. The first day yields the time trial, short track (dirt crit), and dual slalom. Time
trial felt great for the first ten minutes - hitting all the lines, avoiding the bad stuff and
generally doing well. Then the lactic acid sets in as expected, and I slow down a bit, but I manage
my effort better than before.
Before, I had gone balls-out at the beginning, then crashed as I hit my performance ceiling. After 5
minutes or so. Would labor on the uphills and rest on the downhills, not pedaling. Pathetic. Not
that I'm not pathetic now... I still suck pretty bad compared to most. But always making progress.
Now I found I could keep a good clip on the uphills and then kill the downhills at max speed,
resting in the last 300 or so feet before the next big turn. I found that low gears were my friend,
and spinning is so efficient.
Technically, I did well too. Only one bar clip, and it didn't take too much time. I was able to see
obstacles well in advance and plan the whole unclipping-hold rear brake-pull up on pedals to throw
bike over-move (logs).
11/19 in my class... Better than the 22/23 like last time.
Then came the dirt crit (short track). I hadn't run the course before and didn't notice the rut
in the center of the line. I figured speed helps... but it didn't. Well, unless you count the
impact strength... yes it helped that. My brakes got a little bit off and began to rub against
the tire. Rules state you can't fix your bike during the race unless you had the tool at the
start - I was out.
Mild concussion (I wanted to sleep so bad!!!), scraped up shoulder and bruised other stuff. So when
it came around to the dual slalom, I figured I'd run my bike or just go around the obstacles really
slow. It wouldn't be as embarassing because the first round is against the clock while the
subsequent ones are against another person. I guess I had some courage at the last minute and I ran
it for real, doing some wild unintentional stoppies down the far sides of tabletops and such. I
wanted to be eliminated after the first round so I could go home, so when it came time to announce
the riders for the second round, I said, "Please don't say #92, don't say it, don't say it!" And of
course, he did and I was the first to go. Fortunately, I ran against one of my teammates, and he
blew me away and I was done.
I skipped the next day's XC (I know, I know) and went home early. Couldn't turn my head too much
without mad pain. Healed up fine in a couple days, but of course I rode my bike to class each day. I
think there's been 1 day in the last 2 years that I walked to class, and it took FOREVER. Vowed
never to do it again.
In all honesty (flamesuit on) I would rather wrench on bikes than ride them. Somebody hire
me damnit!
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training