Indie Series #5 (Methow Mountain Challenge)

Hi all,

Thought I would fire out a race report from Winthrop and Indie Series #5 (Methow Mountain Challenge) on Sunday:

I should have known something was up when I eavesdropped while visiting Methow Cycle the day before. I catch only snippets: "...dangerous. Some people are going to get hurt for sure", "...I don't know how you would ride that", "...old downhill course". Despite these ominous words, and the fact that I am racing an untested set of tires purchased the day before after rolling through some puncture vine, I line up to race under overcast skies and occasional drizzle.

Ten minutes from start I am in a no-man's land between a lead group and the rest of the field out of sight behind me. This loop hits a lot of trails I have ridden before, although you'd never have guessed it from my bobbling some of the more technical sections. Catch a couple of people on the first incline, then swap spots with a few folks on the gentle rise that concluded the lower loop. Generally pretty mellow. I think I'm around tenth.

Ends up all the talk in the bike shop pertains to the upper loop, which is new this year. I get caught by another guy early, but hang on his wheel up the lower pitches. Catch Cosmic from an earlier start group, then the trail turns right onto about four miles and a couple thousand vertical feet of brutality. I hit the granny with no shame, lose my lead's wheel, and wish I had another gear. Pass a single-speeder walking his bike, and take FAR too long to get around him. Back on the forest road at the top of the pass. Guy up the road dives off left. I think I remember that trail. Twisty descent. I must have topped out. Thank god. Closer to the turn, and...145 degree turn onto a bushwacked, sandy, 20% grade! I spin out near the top and have to PUSH MY BIKE for about 50 meters. Finally hit the summit and I understand the "old downhill course" reference. Catch my tire in a rut, and I'm over my bars. Luckily the slope is too steep for any trees to grow to interfere with my course to the ground. Knee throbs but works. Chain back on and clear my yard sale for a guy to pass. Confidence rattled, but the trail gets more rideable and I cover the last four miles at warp speed. Somewhere in the forest Cosmic screams "WHOOOO-HOOOO!"

Roll in bloody and dirty for thirteenth, to complain about (relive) the hell (glory) that was the "upper loop".

-jason

Mason Lake #1

Here's my sad little hack at a race report...

Mason Lake 1 (my first ever road race = lots of lessons to learn) was mostly sunny and pretty nice, with a nice turnout despite the dire forecasts. The only meteorological challenge was a nasty wind, which made a mockery of any attempts to get away in our race (despite what seemed to me to be some serious blocking efforts going on up front). The Joe Bar Two represented with a nice appearance near the front for most of the first lap of the Master C/D race (Lesson 1: Don't blow your wad on the first lap unless it is a 1 lap race). As J wisely settled into position to let others do the work of chasing people, I squeaked by a block in a sad attempt to join said people being chased. A minute of hammering resulted in little more than the pack getting a free ride for that same amount of time (Lesson 2: Don't half-ass an escape attempt). I did get an "atta boy" as I passed the other dude who made it by the block, so I got that going for me.

J positioned himself nicely in the front third for laps two and most of three, while I sucked wind for a lap and experienced the frustration of the accordion (Lesson 3: Don't sit in the back of the pack thinking it will be a nice place to recover). After finding the support vehicle right behind me in the early miles of lap three I managed to squirm my way back up next to J in the closing kilometers, and we both entered the sprint poised for top 20 finishes...

Unfortunately the sprint didn't work out too well for either of us. For me a lack of good position (Lesson 4: Don't to left like everyone else does in the sprint) quickly followed by the will to sprint for 30th being sucked out of me, while J positioned himself nicely but as he put it "was in the wrong gear or something". The sprint drills will commence until the results improve.

The Bottom Line:
J: 25th
Jason: 37th

Cheers,
Jason

Bike Club begins

Winter training has officially begun! Wilbur hosted the first Joe Bar Bike Club last Wednesday, our weekly indoor team trainer workout. Nothing relieves the tedium of the trainer more than being in a room with the team and Wilbur barking out workout command. Anyone who's heard him at a cross race knows that man can bark. In attendance were bunnies Wilbur, Matt, Jason and Thad (and briefly J, who forgot his shoes) and former bunnies Shawn and Peter. Dinner was Wil's famous veggie Buffalo hot wing pasta - don't knock it until you've tried it. Next week, more Bike Club.