Grampian Challenge

A cold, windy morning is what we had for the first Grampian Challenge start at Addison Oaks. I hadn't ridden since last weeks Rhonde and was feeling tight and tired. I arrived early and breezed through registration, then suited up for a 20-30 minute warm-up. I felt good, but not great. The legs were turning over well, but the power seemed labored. Maybe I just needed some racing motivation to get things going.

I lined up 2nd row behind my teammate Clint Verran. After a quick look around I noticed we had a different group than last weeks Rhonde. Some must be going to the Munson CX, Crybaby or resting up for the Brooksie. Any how, we are off and racing for the next 40'ish miles. The coarse starts on the traditional crosscountry route, but then transfers to 2 track grass after the initial climb. What would become the lead group, is already creating some daylight. Guys are moving forward and back, trying to find there comfort level and a group they can ride with. I manage to exit Addison with a strong group of 6-7. (Adam Naish, Tom Clark, Jim Colflesh, Jim Bonnell and Mike Dega) This group would stay together almost the entire race.

After a short ride down Winkler we turn West on Drahner and start a series of climbs up to Lake George. We can see the lead group and they have about a minute on us already. No big attempt comes to bridge, instead just good tempo and work by 2-3 guys. We make the turn South on Lake George and keep working together. The roads are very wet and muddy, but rolling well. (This is how conditions would be for most of the day.) We turn into the Bald Mountain Trails and some want to be upfront, so we have a bit of bumping and passing. The trail is slick, rooted and slow going. A couple crashes, near crashes and two wheel slides. The group exits the single track together and we are dirt roads again.

Climbing North, up Lake George, Jim Bonnell asks me how I'm doing. "So, so...It comes and goes" I was feeling better, but not great. I wasn't comfortable for sustained periods of time. Mentally I was thinking we have a long race left and will I hold on. Heading towards Markwood I was preparing for the first attack. Markwood is a deceptive climb. It starts of with well packed dirt at a shallow grade then slowly steepens and changes to gravel. About 2/3rds of the way up it's pure gravel and steep. It exits onto Drahner (Grampian Climb) and continues climbing to the highest point in Oakland County. The attack doesn't come? Instead another hard tempo and we hold together. A fast descent and across Lakeville to the Polly Anne Trail.

Once on the Polly Anne, Adam Naish organized a paceline. It wasn't the prettiest thing, but we held it together and made it to Curtis. We are now 20 miles in and things stay the same for the next 15 miles of dirt roads. Each of us takes our turn in the front and on occasion a hard effort gets a small gap, but no one wants to blow the group apart yet. Mile 35 changes that. We are crossing Lakeville Rd and staring up the 'ski hill'.

The 'ski hill' is private property and virgin trail for all. You start by riding through the 500-600 foot parking lot then up single track. This is were my race fell apart. Adam and Tommy were leading us, followed by Jim C, Jim B, 2 guys from O2 then me. We also started catching some 20 mile racers on the climb, which luckily didn't cause any problems for us. All the way up the climb our group was breaking apart and I kept sliding back. I got stuck a couple times. Once by a guy who had tire spin and went down, then again by a slower climber. That's racing, but the gap grew. I could see Adam, Tommy and the two Jims ahead while going down the service road and thought maybe they would regroup and not hammer up Drahner. They turned up Drahner for the last time and I was 20-30 seconds back.

37 miles, 2:18:00 minutes in and one BIG climb left. I saw the group ahead crest Drahner. I could see them making the left hand turn on the descent, but that would be it. I dug deep and tried to catch. I'm coming to the Lake George intersection and can see the volunteer. I'm 150' away when he gives me the big hand to STOP! I break and slow, but thankfully no complete stop. The car passes and I'm back on the gas. Right hand turn into Addison for some added single track.

The trails are slick and my goal is catch who I can. I manage to improve 2 more spots before reaching the finish line.

It was a tough race and I had a great time. The group of guys I was with worked well together and made the day that much more enjoyable. Thanks to Tommy, Adam, Jim, Jim and Mike.

Thanks to those who put on the Grampian and thanks for the glass. Next up is the 12 Hours of Addison Oaks. I've never done a 12 hr. before so let's see what happens. .

Potpourri (Rhonde van Stony)

This was my first, but not last, Rhonde. I knew the roads, most of the trails and a few of the players. I was given some bike and tactical advice by some of last years participants, so I was ready for the 9 a.m. start.

Racing in the expert 40-49 group meant lining up behind the elite group. This quickly blended together on the roll out and there was no distinction between anybody. The left hand turn onto the dirt reminded me of Iceman, as it shortly turned into two track. We are now on the trolley trail and the lead group is gone! The conditions are great. The previous nights rain packed the sand perfectly. I decide to follow the KLM train and hope I don't lose contact. Some riders are trying too hard and several crashes and overshot corners leave us moving forward. We pop out of the woods and hit the pavement. There are a few small groups ahead and we try and close the gaps before we hit the dirt roads. We succeed and the second group starts to take shape. By the time we turn North on Sheldon there are 15-20 guys. The roads are dry and fast, so the group speeds forward. About 5-6 guys take turns pacelining in the front while the rest sit-on. We turn North on Mt. Vernon still taking turns for another mile or so, when a ACF rider decides to attack on a small climb. It's easily brought back, but now the fight is to stay up towards the front. The pavement is about to end and things get rough.

Back on the dirt (mud) guys are fighting for wheels the next 200-300 yds. There are pot holes and the road is a muddy mess. There are two tire tracks that offer some smoother riding, but making any passes or changing grooves was sketchy. Conditions didn't improve for 2-3 miles until we hit Dequindre. The pack is on dryer roads and still holding together. Small attacks come of the front, but nothing sticks. By now the same faces are in the front of the pack and guys want to thin things out. We turn West down Taft and the first hard effoert comes from Kelly of KLM. He goes for about a minute or two then waves me through. I keep tempo until the 'climb', when Armando Vega and an ACF rider launch a hard attack. I manage to stay on and we crest the climb, decend past Dequindre, when Todd F. of KLM goes to the front and forces another hard tempo. He said," Let's Go! there's a split and we have five guys." He pulls, then it's Armando's turn. He didn't seem motivated or perhaps was tired from the previous attack, so I pull through. The road turns to soft, muck. It feels like you have a flat or someone is holding on. I search for a line up the left and keep going. I'm waiting for others to pass, but nobody does. I see the turn South and keep going. It's another minute before 4-5 guys pull around. I get in line and wait.

Heading South on Dequindre it's more of the same. Someone rides off and he gets pulled. This goes on until we pass 31 mile. A O2 rider goes and gets a good gap. Selle chaces and I get on his wheel. He pulls then it's my turn. It takes a while and help from others but he's brought back on Rush. The miles are whinding down and a few more attempts are made but the pack stays together. The pack is now bombing down Sheldon and guys keep launching off the front in hopes of being first into the two track at Stony.

We enter Stony and I'm sitting 8-10th in the group. I get by several guys in the next mile and I'm now 4th. Selle is yelling to keep speed for the climb that's coming. We make a turn right and I hit a large puddle. I make a good save and stay up, but the momentum is gone for the hill. They gap off about 30-40 yds. I can see them and give chase. I make another tactical mistake. While on the two track paralleling Sheldon I don't close the gap. I sit behind Armando thinking he will. A guy from ACF goes around us and makes contact in the single track before Sheldon. We turn on Sheldon and Armando has nothing left. I dig deep and try to bridge the gap, but I can't catch. I see them hit the grass at Baypoint and lose hope. I think the finish is a few hundred yards away. I let up too early. Not saying I would have caught them, but not knowing the finish was another mistake.

I had a great race. I learned somethings and believe I finished second in category. Final results aren't in yet. Thanks to Mike for putting this on. See you at Grampian.

Waterford Double Cross - 1 & 2 (Groundhog Day)

What a weekend! I don't know how it looked from the sidelines, but it was a full 90 minutes of racing excitement from between the ribbons.

Before I recap my POV on the racing I'd like to say THANK YOU! The list is in no particular order and if I didn't mention you, tough shit. Just kidding, I'm trying to remember it all. Thanks to.......
Tailwind Racing for a great experience. Things went smooth from registration-awards.
Tom Clark for the muffin.
DC for the kind words. Great job, both days. Glad you made the jump.
Dan Bannink for the great pull on day 2
David Johnson and John Osgood for the great racing and conversation.
Rob Selle for keeping it tough. Nice job on the Win.
Brian W, Tom Payn, Jason Cotter, Shaun Welch and everyone else for cheering.
Everyone who hung out and talked. It was a great scene. No attitudes, just people having a good time.
The whole Masters 35+ group. The racing was tough and clean. Respect too all.

Now for my bias opinion on the Masters 35+ Day 1 and 2. Both days went similar for me, so I'll make day 2 references in (...).

Having moved up to this class late last year I didn't know who to watch, so when I got to the line on Saturday my expectations were mid pack or slightly better. The field of riders was strong and I was marking a couple familiar faces (Osgood, Johnson, Selle, Bailey). The pace was fast off the line and guys were looking for wheels to get behind. Rob Selle (David Johnson) was off the front and had a noticeable gap. The rest of us rode mostly single file once on the grass and settled in for lap one. The lone leader was brought back to the group in lap 2/3 then the next attack would come. On both days this was the one to get on and  I managed to do so. On day 1 it was David Johnson, Osgood and me from mid-race on. We each took our share of the lead and managed to build a good gap on the rest. ( Day 2 was Selle and Me. We built a gap, but Osgood and Johnson weren't far behind). I lead ,both days, into the bell lap.

Once we hit the grass though I was passed and had to fight to get on the wheel.  Day 1 I was sitting 3rd and couldn't get around before the pavement. Osgood lead out and was the stronger sprinter. I finished 2 seconds back in 3rd.

Day 2 I had a short blow up and told Osgood and Johnson to pass. I didn't think I would recover so quick and Selle was pulling away. I managed to hold on and get past Johnson and was closing to Osgood down the final hill, but like day 1 I couldn't catch. 3rd for the second day and another 2 seconds behind Osgood.  Like I said in the beginning, What a great weekend! I raced for 2 days, finished 3rd both days and was only a combined 7 seconds from winning both days. This picture describes my weekend pretty well....Chasing Osgood. It's going to be a tough season and MR. T, I hear you. Time for some suffering! 

Stony Creek XC

It was a great day for racing and I was ready to see how it would go. I haven't raced since Pontiac Lake TT and knew the 2+ hours was going to be tough. I'm also racing in the 40-49 age group this year and didn't know all the players. The whistle blew and immediately I'm going backwards up the climb. The legs are heavy and don't seem to have any power. I get shuffled toward the back of the group and settle in for the ride through the 'coaster'. While winding in the single track, I have a change of focus and a calm enters my mind. It's time to get around these guys and see what happens. I make the first pass going down the gravel hill, then make the turn right onto the two track towards the pines. DC is having a mechanical on the trail side, so one more spot gained. My legs felt much better now and the power and cadence were back. I'm passing guys and moving well. Through the Pines, up some climbs and lap 1 is over.
 Laps 2 and 3 played about the same. I kept gaining ground and catching riders. I sat on some wheels though the two track (to recover) and attacked into the single track (maximize my perceived advantage). It was all going well leading into lap 4.
  With few riders having passed me I thought I was running 4th or so. I needed to keep fighting and try and catch other guys. Midway in the coaster I could see Rob Selle through the trees and thought I might have a shot to catch him? I stayed calm and once back on the two track I could see him in the distance, but this is when my body started struggling. The legs loaded up, the pedals weren't turning as fast and my mind was having doubts. The small climb upto the pines was way tougher than it should have been and now I was in survival mode, trying to hold my position. The last climbs came and went slowly. Making the turn for the sled hill I was shot! I went into my easiest gear and crawled slowly. A look over my shoulder and no riders meant I could soft pedal in.
 I finished 3rd and was happy with that, but I need faster stats and more endurance. The lap times were good, but falling off a minute in the last lap was not.