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WAW#3 Photos

Wednesday at Wakefield #3 Photos

Photos by Gary Ryan

Gary’s Blog 

raced in the single speed and in the clydesdale division on that day
giving me two different numbers
explaining two different bikes

Cranky Monkey: Wakefield (Cross Country)

Date: July 30, 2006

Location: Wakefield Park, Annandale, VA

Website: http://www.ex2adventures.com/cranky-monkey.php

The Cranky Monkey is quickly becoming one of the best race series in the DC area. This year the series expands to 4 races at 3 venues, kicking off with the Wakefield cross country race on June 25th and concluding with the return of racing to Quantico. Series Dates:

Wednesday At Wakefield II (WAW#2)

summer rain post poned the second evening race at wakefield
having to head into work early the day of the race made it no issue getting out early to battle rush hour traffic to get from downtown dc to suburban virginia
managed to get out so early that I brought my camera along

had been wanting to take some pictures of some people at the races
wakefield was perfect as there as the early single speed class action to capture with the camera

I got there early enough to register and try and take some photos
was not sure where I wanted to be to get some shots so I just meandered about

at the end of lap one I witnessed the top four coming the line
it is always good competition in the single speed class

in addition to seeing the the riders blur by
there were also some people marching by
well, pedal shop’s nick daniels came strolling in with a front flat on his new and cool Kona single speed 29er
then evan came rolling along with one leg dragging as he spun by with one leg and a broken pedal
camps and cargo mike were top five
redlack looked top ten

I went into the woods for some of the tail end of lap two
it is a short lap and these guys were moving fast so it was not a long wait
the racers blurred by and showed me that I need to learn how to take action shots with my fancy camera

a few more failed photo attempts and it was time to focus on my race
focus on my race
I crack myself up

the bike was tunned
well, the bike was tunned and running well enough when I rode it several days prior
with no worries about having to touch anything up I jumped on my skid mark brown rigid surly karate monkey single speed and I warmed up for a few minutes

as I went up and down the powerliines I filled up on some energy drink that was being handed out at the start
then gathered with the clydesdales as scott scudamore gave some pre-race words over a megaphone that was not carrying as far back as the clydesdales line up
had considered asking to start before the sports
but… was not feeling like asking for special treatment
tried to accept the passing of the sport men as an exercise of the day
after all… this is not a time trial

the usual suspects stood at the line along with a few new faces
quiggley and junkins are out their racing themselves
and the others are unfamilar to me
tried not to focus on anything but myself

the scream of the megaphone starting things off with a surprise
on the gravel I anxiously pedalled, clicked in, and started up the loose climb
as I tried to find a hard packed like I was not feeling it
as I dropped in the singletrack towards the first stream crossing, I was not feeling it
over the man made stone path and then the boardwalk then into the singletrack
things were pretty fast and feeling dry
I started to get into it

thinking that so much energy is spent on trying to make a pass I thought about pace and tried to think about effiecient passing
just as I started enjoying the singletrack I was stuck in a line of racers
six or seven racers

I started to try to make polite and safe passes
some passes more polite
some passes more safe
some sections got frustrating
so passing just had to be done when it could be done

used the double track and the path along side the trail for passing when I could

lap two started with just as lap three ended
with transfer to transfer from one singletrack catepillar to single track catepillar

it is a tight course
passing is tight
never asking anyone to pull over and stop
but I am asking that they do not accelerate and close the gap as I am trying to make a move

lap two was going well enough
was frustrated with the passing
was having a good time with the course
was having a good time with the race
wakefield rocks
racing at wakefield rocks

early into the lap I was making a pass on the side of the double track that was a little less friendly
in a sloppy and strong way I blindly made my pass
trying to muscle my way past a number of riders before we entered the sandy singletrack along side of the creek

was able to pass another rider or two on the sandy single track
things got a little squishy in the sand
sort of sketched in the sand on the side of the creek and laughed at the excitement of it all
smiled and laughed as I accepted my front flat

like a fool I was riding bare back
no tools, no tube, and no pump
I ran a few steps frustrated that all the people I passed would get to pass me right back
there was no way I could run a lap and a half
so I pulled over and chatted with Mike Patissall

oddly I chatted with Mike in the same spot where we had chatted just a week and a half prior
it was that day that I was riding after dropping my dog off at the vet
I updated Mike on the death of my dog
then I gave Mike a line by line review of an article for SPOKES magazine that I had just written about Wakefield
after ten minutes of chatter I decided to accept Mike’s 26 inch tube for my 29 inch wheel and ride out the rest of the race

it was good to be back on the bike
it is always good to get on the bike

I should have put a little more air in the tube
it was a tad more squishy than I feel comfortable
but i was riding
and riding without a pump or a tube
flatting again was not an option
crashing was also not an option

as lap two finished and lap three started I felt good about the idea of not ending with a DNF
DNF is not an option
came to ride
with lap times I would have two of three laps to measure my efforts for the day

the last lap had its assortments of passes to make
caught a number of clydesdales… had fun passing quigley and junkins
enjoyed rolling with the fast and fluid leading sport women
accepted rolling at other’s racers’ paces

finished the lap
finished the race

felt confused with easy acceptance with quitting
felt good about overcoming my malaise

hope to get out to wakefield this wednesday
will try to get my head around the concept of the race
the notion that wakefield (or racing as a whole) should be fun can be a confusing way to approach things
testing one’s personal limits
personal best
trying to win
these things are fun

remember…
riding without pump, tube, and tools is like having sex without a condom
it may seem like it feels better
it may seem like more fun
but
you are really taking your chances

W@W #1/#2

By Matt

This was my first Wednesday at Wakefield after having missed the real first W@W due to a heavy workload back in early July.

My training plan calls for a big day on Wednesdays, so naturally this race fits the bill. However, last week my big day was a zero because skipped my normal morning ride to stay rested for W@W but then the rain came and washed my plans away. I normally join the Squadra Coppi team for their HON ride (Hills of North-Arlington) on Wednesdays which is a tough 4-hill sprint workout over about 1.5 hours. Yesterday’s weather called for 40% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, so I went to the Coppi ride hedging my bets so that if W@W got cancelled, I’d at least have a strong 2.5 hour workout in the AM. That set the stage for no rain and a tired me. I didn’t fuel up during the day very well, but was psyched to get back on dirt after several weeks of riding only on the road.

I Made the commute to Wakefield in a respectable 45 minutes (still can’t believe people do that every day). Warmed up for 20 min and lined up. I started blathering to Evan, pre-gaming with excuses as to why I would do poorly when the siren sounded.

We plowed up the gravel, I didn’t feel like I would die which was new for that start. I Was in a relatively good spot for much of lap one. I rode close to Kent for most of it, sometimes behind, sometimes in front. I did some friendly encouraging as some guys pulled away from us.

Then I ate it on a very easy flat curve in the straightaway along 495. The fall was fast and hard. I smacked the crap out of my knee and was bleeding. A blade of grass was stuck in the wound, I kept looking down “is that bone? is that bone?” no just grass, it didn’t hurt that bad. I caught back up to Kent and one of the other 5 people who passed me after I bailed. 

After lap one, I started feeling tired. Not the ‘wow this is tough tired,’ rather the ‘yawny- I have no energy for this’ tired. I managed to stick with Kent for about 1/3 of the second lap. He egged me on with words of encouragement along the creek but I was cooked, and then I just cracked and dropped back. I blundered through the woods, and fell again on a switchback, SUPER lame. I just rolled off the bike and onto the ground like a goofball.

At some point I took off my super dark glasses because the woods sections were to dark for those. In a shaky ungainly way, I stuck the glasses into my rear jersey pocket. They’re gone now, if anyone finds some nice Smiths on the trails at Wakefield, hook me up? I rolled through laps 3 and 4 at an ‘endurance’ pace and finished happily in lucky 13th after 3 falls, a lost pair of sunglasses, a bloody knee and pleasant cruise through the woods.

I think it might be good to skip the Coppi ride next time, but then, what would my excuse be? Did I mention that I had a lot of fun? It was great riding with fellow CBers as well as the usual folks out there. Next week I’ll hit Killroy’s post race. 

Just One of Those Days

by rickyd

I’m bumming. Last night was the second of the Wednesdays @ Wakefield races and I didn’t have a good run at it. I had high hopes for this race since I did fairly well for myself at the first of the series a month ago. Instead, I’m sporting a sore face, black and blue leg, scraped knee, but mostly, a bruised ego.

The start was crowded. Seems most folks have figured out a good holeshot usually means good endings because you don’t crowd up as much. The hillclimb that is supposed to string us all out, didn’t. We were clumped together tighter than a clusterf*ck. People were running into each other. Ten seconds into the race and it was already not going so good. I get cut off so badly on the right side that I veer all the way to the left to get around and I almost get taken out by a stationary pole in the middle of the trail.

Then two minutes into the race there was a crash on a short downhill where there was no option of riding off to the side, so guys started piledriving into each other. Someone rammed into me and I could hear the smashing of bodies and bikes. I didn’t look back. I just untangled from the mess, and sprinted to try to catch the lead pack. I spin my ass off in the stream section then pop out onto a fairly wide trail that will soon spit us back into the woods, followed by some tight singletrack with little opportunity to pass. This is my chance to get up there to contend.

I rev the legs up to get by as many people as I can. I pass one guy. Then another. When I tried to pass another guy on his right, he assumed folks were trying to pass on his left. He veered right. We locked bars. We both kersplatted on the trail. I took a digger with my face and chest.

We both jump up apologizing profusely. He for cutting me off, me for not giving warning. Neither of our faults. It’s racing. I get the wind knocked out of me so I hunch over my bars for a few seconds to catch my breath. I feel dripping on my face, wondering if it’s blood. I’ve had at least 30 stitches in my mug from faceplants before. Wipe, look, and it’s clear. Just sweat. A quick glance over the rest of my parts and I notice I’m bleeding a bit from the knee. Whatever. Gotta keep moving.

I jump back on the bike. Ouch. Bruise and charlie horse, left leg. Must have hit it with the end of the Jones bar. I step off to massage it a little and get it moving again. I hop back on. Oh wait. Stem facing 30 degrees from North. Out comes the Allen wrench to straighten it out. I get it figured out quick and jump back on. Wait again. WTF? Major rubbing and bike won’t go. I hop off again and look at the rear wheel and spin it. Looks good. Wheel’s straight and brake pads didn’t shift out of place. Pick up the front and try to spin it. It doesn’t move. The tire is steadfastly held in place by the left fork leg. I unclamp the skewer, set the front of the bike down, and reclamp it. I noticed it shifted a lot. Good. No problems with it bumping out of true (or so I thought). Hop back on bike again and try to go. No dice. Wheel spun about a quarter turn and is stopped abruptly by the tire hitting fork again. I know what I have to do.

I take the wheel out, spin it briefly to find the high spots. I place it on the ground and step on the opposing sides of the wheel where the high spots are. I pick it up and spin it to see if it improved. Barely. I flip the wheel over and try the bounce-truing again on the high spots. I throw the wheel back into the fork, clamp down and try to take off. Tire still hitting fork solidly. Left leg cramps from where the bar struck it. Dammit! Race over. I hoof it back. The second DNF since I started racing a dozen years ago. Bummer.

Up next? The ORAMM (Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell) down in North Carolina this Sunday. 11,000 feet of climbing in 55 miles. I did no research on this race, but for comparison’s sake, the SM100 is 14,000 feet of elevation in 100 miles. Just figured I have vacation and I might as well use it. Why not do a race 10 hours away? Heh.

I just hope my legs’re not smarting as much as they are right now. Three days to get over it and get the bike back in working order. Buck up, Ricky, buck up.

Beaten Eggs

Crank Brother pedals suck. Last night at the W@W race I had my 2nd encounter with a pedal coming off it’s spindle. Last year it was at a Cranky Monkey race with my Eggbeaters - this time with my Candy pedals. At least I was gorged like last year - a scar that remains on my calf to remind me to get rid of these things.

That said, although I only did one lap in the single speed race, the folks at Potomac Velo were sympathetic to my situation and let me jump in the expert race for free. Luckily, I had brought my road bike with me to work in case of another rain-out at Wakefield - at least I could still get a ride in and last week the Greenbelt race was a go despite the momentary thunderstorms. So with my road shoes strapped on and my speedplays mounted I road off into the proverbial sunset. It was brutally humid and I soon returned to the tropical-like canopy of the Wakefield trails. This time at least I finished and had the company of fellow CBers, Kent, Matt, Joel, and DT to suffer with.

Evan

Wednesdays at Wakefield - Race 3

The DC area’s classic mountain bike race series.

You’ve got to deal with Beltway rush hour traffic to get there, but it’s always so fun once you’re there. short and fast laps and tight singletrack mean no recovery, no rest, no respite from the competition. 1 to 4 laps of a ~3 mile course. Expect to see City Bikes riders in the mix in the singlespeed, masters, sport, and expert races.

Dates: June 21, July 12, July ??
Time: Singlespeed, Beginner, Masters, and Juniors start at 6; Sport & Expert at 6:55

Location: Wakefield Park, Annadale, VA

Website: http://www.potomacvelo.com/2006waw.htm

Wednesdays at Wakefield - Race 2

The DC area’s classic mountain bike race series.

You’ve got to deal with Beltway rush hour traffic to get there, but it’s always so fun once you’re there. short and fast laps and tight singletrack mean no recovery, no rest, no respite from the competition. 1 to 4 laps of a ~3 mile course. Expect to see City Bikes riders in the mix in the singlespeed, masters, sport, and expert races.

Dates: June 21, July 12, July 19, ??
Time: Singlespeed, Beginner, Masters, and Juniors start at 6; Sport & Expert at 6:55

Location: Wakefield Park, Annadale, VA

Website: http://www.potomacvelo.com/2006waw.htm

wakefield #2

- Joe Foley

the delayed 2nd race of the wednesdays at wakefield series takes place on wednesday at wakefield park in Annandale, va. the folks from PVC, MORE, and EX2Adventures have done a great job repairing significant damage to the trails from the torrential rains we had a couple of weeks ago and all reports indicate the course in now in great shape. we’ll have a bunch of riders out tommorow in both the 6:00 pm (ss/masters) and 6:55 races (sport/expert) including yours truly. i’m going to be making my return to the racing after a couple of months off due to a collarbone injury.