Great race SpeedOne
After sucking down BBQ and scratching a few dogs I had to bolt to DC for a "social" event. Sorry I could not stay longer. You smoked that course
Folks and esp you D2R2 riders listen up!!! This is without a doubt one of the best run events I've ever participated in. Check points were precise and well run with attendants ready to fill bottles wtih (hammer nutrition) HEED or water. Volunteers at every road junction AND even standing at hidden/dangerous spots in the course to warn you. OMG they did a super job. No queue sheet was handed out and none needed...this is a race so the signage was outstanding.
OK the race....ouch. The race is about 60 miles long and *I think has 7000 feet of climbing. About 1/3 of the race is fire road and rough farm road, 1/3 is paved or good dirt road and 1/3 is wacko single track including portage sections (bike on your back and scramble, claw up a long hill etc.) and stream crossings. They include some rarely used trails that feel like bushwhacking too it was a HOOT
I started with the Team Fuji folks (Bobby, Tracey lea etc.) but we got separated. Looking for a friendly face to race with was a non-starter beacuse the pace was "on the gas" all the time no cruising ouch from the start to finish hehe.
Last yr. my teammates did really well and posted times around 4:45. Since I was "just riding" this for fun I still set a mental mark for a 5:30 finish and rolled in at 5:11. They had a 40+ class only for us old farts. !!! Keith Bontrager was in my field...kewl. There were tons of very talented riders. I spent much of the race surrounded by the battle for 2-4th place elite women. Holy crow these psyco-cross riders are good on single track...zing.
People did not know what to make of the Vanilla and I am very sure I was the only person riding a road bike. Funniest comment during the race was "dewd is that an old schwinn"
One cat did know the bike and said he was working as a mechanic in shop in Portland when Young Mr. White brought in his very first frame for sale. Wow. The bike was freakin awesome. I moved up to 32 mm tyres for the event because this course is the real deal, there is a true cyclocross start / finish and some serious single track (big rocks, logs etc.). The big tyres were a good call and boy can that bike go in single track which I fully expected
On the road sections I pretty much roasted anyone on a cyclocross bike with low pressure tyres. I had to resort (gag me) to clinchers for this event...no time to prepare tubulars and gotta say these Richey SpeedMax are not so bad. I had no flats and pretty good traction in everything except wet grass running 60/65 psi.
For next yr. I want to see some D2R2 riders ok? Just pretend it isn't a race and you'll be fine. You can ride this course on a classic bike provided it will fit 32 mm tyres or you are careful with 28s and we need to show these cats how it's done "Old School"
Man...I'm beat!!!!
http://www.yellowbreechesracing.org/ironcross/
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