No this is not the new DCMTB outfit, but was supporting Family Bikes our new shop sponsor until the new Kit comes in.
The first race is in the books for DCMTB in 2009. Not the most stellar ride, but Darren showed that a DCMTB rider doesn’t quit when they are down.
From Darren Biggs
I drove down on Friday and got to the Blue Ridge School, about 15 miles northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia, just in time to do a pre-ride of the course. During the pre-ride, I was thought that it was the hardest mountain bike race course that I have ever done. And that was on the beginner loop which was around 7-8 miles long. The course had some massive climbs and lots of technical rock sections. It reminded me of a cross between Big Bear and Gambril but without the fast sections besides a lone doubletrack downhill.
After the 1st Lap
RaceDay
As usual, I got up with plenty of time but still didn’t leave on time. I got to the race site in perfect weather with just 20 minutes before my race goes off. I lined up at the back of the expert field and that was where I would stay all day. My game plan was to ride fast, but not to push myself like I did last year at Greenbrier. I am not in shape so I knew that I needed the miles, and a good hard effort would help my conditioning.
Lap 1
Course had cleaned up since Friday. There were only like three sections that I needed to scamper though. I was riding pretty consistently. I passed one guy on the trail but he was the last person I would pass.
Lap 2
For the sport and expert riders after lap one, the race course included another climb up some switchback with a bunch of rocks laying around. I kept a pretty good pace up the climb and, by this time, I am riding with the top sport guys. I was able to get through a tricky rocky section which had a cheering spectator. After that climbing effort, I was starting to feel my back so I started thinking about quitting after the second lap and calling it a day. I wanted to finish so I rode conservatively to have enough energy for the third lap and final.
Lap 3
After my second lap, I told my cheering section that I would need 1:10 to complete another lap. Boy was I wrong! On the third lap, it was all I could do to just keep pedaling. I no longer took the steep downhill sweepers as fast because I didn’t want to wreck. I had to walk more of the short steep grunters where I was able to ride before. My lack of base miles was really showing that last lap, I started to get muscle cramps. By half way through the second lap, I went from racing to riding and then, in the third lap, I went from riding to just surviving. It was right about this time that one of the two expert female racers passed me. I was almost done but the super slow grass section to the finish almost killed me.
after racing 3:45, ouch!
I don’t have my official results but here are the stats:
24 miles
4600 feet of elevation!!
Race time: 3:45
It was the longest XC (not enduro) race I have ever done. For reference, the Greenbrier NORBA Mid-Atlantic National qualifier only took 2:07.
Things that went well:
- The Vining Cabin was a great base for the weekend with the other couples. We did a winery, got to see the horses, and play some games.
- The pre-ride was beneficial because I knew that I was going to need to “save” myself.
- Making an effort to lockout the front shock and stand for parts of certain climbs helped.
- Not overly stressing my lower back and ruin my season.
- Actually got through the mental hurdle of doing the third lap.
- Putting in a just barely sub-4 hour hard effort in nice weather should help the conditioning.
- I rode two obstacles on the course I didn’t believe I could ride.
What I learned:
- I need to train on an indoor trainer or do spinning class in the winter.
- The Stannardsville area has some good biking (did a cross dirt ride here last year).
- I still need to work on my technical skills.
- I need to replace my cables and drive train soon.
- The course that I thought was maybe too hard for a race was actually a great course. If they put berms on a couple of turns and correct 2-3 approaches to rock gardens, it will be about perfect.