Member Bio: Mark Drajem
Age: 40
Years Racing: 5 (cross) 1 (mountain)
Website: wwww.hotornot.com
Mountain Bike Category: Sport
Favorite Races: Iron Cross, DCCX
Least Favorite Race: Not racing
2007 Highlights: 32nd in 40+ category at Iron Cross, 25 minutes faster than 2006. 2nd in sport at 12 hours of Cranky Monkey. 26th in Masters category at DCCX.
2008 Goals: Iron Cross in 4:45; respectable showings in 12-hour mountain bike races.
Bikes: Scattante cross; Bridgestone RB-1; Mongoose mountain; frankenbike fixie
Giro de Coppi
By Darren Biggs
Cat 5 Race
My third road race of the season, the Giro de Coppi, I felt this was a race that was a good fit for me. The DCMTB team was trying to set up a plan to do something in this race. I felt great, and was riding in the front a lot with Wolfgang from NCVC who I know through PPTC. On the second lap I did a dig up the climb and really put a lot of distance between me and the peleton, I thought some others would bridge, but they didn’t so I didn’t go full bore and re-integrated to the group. The third lap I didn’t attack but brought the tempo up on the climb and still no one came with me. So I was like ok I will set something up for Matty on the final rise to the finish. Well it comes towards the end and I am itching to go, and I see an opening and I go, I thought it was the 500m sign but it was the 1500m sign(Doh!) So I get a good gap, I’m going 36 mph and Matt has gotten my wheel and shooting Go Go! Well I think I did about 1000m but then I was spent. So the group flew by me and I soft peddled coming in last of the first group which gave me 15th. Because of my bad setup Matt was only able to get 9th or 10th, I saw Tom V. in front of me so I believe he got 12 or so. I am going to do this race again someday, and I am either going to be part of a breakaway that works or just save myself and gun it at the line.