Race Report WORS #2: Rhinelander

Here's the quick and dirty:
Tires: Bontrager XR2s front and rear. The course was partly dirt roads and partly super rough technical singletrack. Lots of pumping and body-english. A five-mile stretch of singletrack with little to no passing room. Tons-o-fun!

Things that went better than they did in Iola: I nailed the leadout and stuck with the group. I didn't crash, my nutrition was spot-on (1 Hammer Gel per 45 minutes), I felt good on the power climbs, and I paced myself pretty well for a 2-hour (25 mile) race.

Things that didn't go so well: This was a 2.5-hour (33 mile) haul. Ouch. After 27 miles I felt a little low in the gas-tank, and when my group started attacking at 4 miles to go, I wasn't able to keep up. Losing 5 spots in the last 15 minutes was frustrating.

However, I did manage 30th ,which felt pretty good. I'm starting to wrap my head around the way these kids race, and I know what I need to do for next time: Long mountain bike rides.

Race Report: Iola: WORS #1

May 2nd was my first cat 1/Pro XC race. I didn't get the result I was hoping for, however, I learned a lot.

When Don called "Go" we hauled out of the start chute faster than I'd imagined we would. I hung in mid-pack for the first lap and even managed to get into a group I could comfortably ride with.

I definitely didn't have the climbing legs these guys did, but I stuck with them through the first few burner hills, and into the sweet singletrack. We rode together for one lap. I was sliding corners and 3-pointing turns to make passes where I could. I was probably in the 40s in terms of positioning.

Then I crashed on lap 2. I don't know how I did it, but I planted my front wheel into a stump or something, and went over the bars. My back landed on something hard, which I soon learned was a tree stump. My group soon left me dazed and out of breath. My back hurt.

Although it took a moment, I got back on the bike and caught onto the second group that was passing. It took about a lap to get back into my groove, and then another lap to feel like I could race.

I bridged up to my previous group, back still hurting a bit, and latched on. Unfortunately, that was when the attacks started. A few guys started going off the front and I was dumb enough to attempt to go with right after I had bridged up to them.

Pop.

Soon I was at the back of the group, and losing a few spots here and there. It was the last lap and we were catching lapped traffic. I missed a few opportunities to pass. I got stuck behind some lapped traffic. I didn't go aggressively when I should have.

When I rolled across the line I thought I'd be DFL. I hadn't seen any other elite riders in a while and I knew I was off the back.

65th of 90 riders. My goal was top 30, which I did not get.

This race did, however, teach me a few valuable things:

1. Do more core work. Lots more.

2. Lose some weight. The fast guys are VERY lean, and you gotta get lean if you wanna be fast. That little extra on the core isn't doing anything for me.

3. Do more climbing. Hard climbing.

4. Eat less during the race. The 3 Hammer Gels were very filling. Time to try something with faster energy. Maybe Gu.

Tonight: a practice crit.