Ruby 50 Miler...

 

Things are finally feeling right again. After a good O2S, a week of vacation in the U.P. on some of the best single track trails in the world, it was time to focus on building up the endurance miles again before CX. And it just so happened that the Ruby 50 would be taking place in my own back yard and back roads! So instead of riding for hours on back roads by myself on a Sunday afternoon, why not do it with friends? After repeatedly saying "I would never do this race, because I don't like endurance mountain bike races, and 50 miles at Rudy is a suicide mission", I found myself at the start line.

After doing the race I stand corrected! First of all, this race is still very low key, but has a great grassroots vibe, and a really cool format when you look at it. 50 miles of flat hard pack fast as hell dirt roads for 4.8 miles, and then 5.2 miles of some of the hardest most technical single track trails in the state! This is truly a race that has something for everyone, but refuses to cater to no one! The mix of great old school trails, with the fast group racing of a gravel grinder all wrapped up in a 5 lap, 10 mile loop race format truly makes this a great race to compete, to watch or just challenge yourself at completing. Think of  races like "Cone-Azalia" and "Grampian Challege" all rolled up into one! I'm glad I did it, and hope it sticks around and continues to grow.

The goals for the day were simple. Complete 50 miles. Give it a go at the front if I was feeling good. So all the racers in every class assembled for the start on the dirt road at the front of the campground. Brent Walk yelled go! and you were off and running. The pace went off like a rocket ship! And soon a sharp point formed at the front. Several of my TSB team mates were right in the mix. Instinctively anyone that could hang, began to pace line like a metronome. The pace stayed really high for the entire 1st lap. We hit the single track and it began to spread out. I found myself in a group of 4 with a small gap forming behind us. Chris Hansen, Tony Bastuk, and Scott Vermullin were all in this group. We railed through every corner and stuck together like glue. On the 2nd lap we were all together, and began the pace line again. This helped grow our gap to almost a minute to the rest of the race. Into the single track again and more of the same. At the top of  the big climb called "Lance", Scott dropped his chain. He was able to claw back on, but we soon found our group down to 3. Chris, Tony and myself pushed on. We continued to put out the same effort lap after lap. This was the fastest I ever raced for this distance, but I was surprised how well I was feeling overall. By the time the 4th lap rolled around, the beginning of fatigue was setting in as the trees seemed a lot closer, and a few bobs and dabs of the feet were becoming routine from all of us. My legs were just starting to get that special feeling of the first signs of cramps, but I still felt strong. Half way through the single track and Tony took a header in front of me. I had to brake, and Chris continued. Tony went down hard. So I stopped all together to make sure he was Ok. Chris now had a gap, and it was difficult for me to put out more power to close down. He remained within my sites and when we started to climb again, he yelled for me to catch up to help pull on the road. During this time, Tony was chasing as well. I tried to make one more push to Chris, but the legs had nothing left. About 2 miles into the last lap, Tony was able to make his way back. But we could not pull Chris back together. We worked for each other for as long as possible, and were both happy to be battling for 2nd and 3rd overall. When we made it to the first river crossing, I decided to try and ride it again thinking I could open up some room on Tony before the end of the race. I made it all the way. Tony decided to run. It was enough for me to get a gap and hold it to the end. I finished up 2nd overall and only 2 minutes behind Chris. This was good enough for 1st in my age group as well. Not a bad day in the woods just looking for some good training!

Congrats to Chris and Tony. It sure was a lot of fun, and you both worked your asses off!

Also, congrats to TSB! We had some great results, and a lot of personal Goals were met, making for a perfect tough day.

Thanks to Todd and Kevin, for pushing to get this event in our back yard again, and wiping the trail into great shape year after year!

Finally, thanks to Mike's Mix for fueling me through such grueling events like Ore to Shore and Ruby 50!

Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic

 

This season has been a struggle for me. I don't know what started it. Like many things, it probably stems from different reasons, and each compounds the other. Motivation has been lacking, and just trying to have fun with training and racing was a chore. So finally a few weeks ago, I decided to pull the plug. I regrouped and enjoyed the time off my bike. During this time, I also tried to solve a nagging injury in my hip with the help of Dan Bannink's PT experience and Ryan at Apto Cycling Studio for a proper bike fit. I can't think these guys enough for pointing me in the right direction to figure it out and get the issue corrected. Finally, I also buckled down and focused on correcting my diet.

2 weeks after, it was time for Ore to Shore (O2S). My hip was feeling better, I was back in the saddle enjoying training again, and I was already over 10 lbs lighter with a lot more energy when I needed it.

I headed up the day before with Brad Lako for what was going to be another classic road trip! We got to Marquette early to do a quick preride. During the ride I realized I was feeling the best I have felt all year. And I was feeling something else I haven't felt in a long time.... I was excited to race! Finally I was feeling like myself.

We woke up early the day of the race to make sure I got a good starting position and so we did not feel rushed before the start. I killed time chatting with several friends and  just trying to stay loose. I was able to get in the 2nd row just behind the preferred starters but in front of 750+ other 48 mile Hard Rock Racers. What a great way to start such a cool race right in the middle of downtown Ishpeming! The gun went and we were off!

Just like last year the start was fast and crazy! 2 riders went down before we even left the pavement. Nothing like 750 mountain bikers elbow to elbow exceeding speeds of 30 MPH! We finally hit the dirt roads and rode past the iron ore mine. This is the cue that you need to start making sure your getting through traffic as the first big 2 track climb is just around the corner. I was in a good spot and lit a match to push through the traffic up the climb. I was picking off riders one by one. By the time I made it to the top, I was already free to fly. I bombed down the hill and began to go into TT mode to play leap frog from group to group. I could not believe how strong I was feeling and was making up a lot of spots. As the course leveled out a bit, I was ready to open up and take advantage of my strength try chase down a few more big groups ahead. I knew if I could reach them, I could increase my chances to make a top 75 or even possibly a top 50. As I was increasing my speed and reeling back more and more riders, I began catching and passing several riders that were in the preferred starting group. This stoked my motivation even more! And just as I was getting into my groove, I looked up around the next corner, and a train was crossing the tracks about 50 yards in front of me! I could not believe it. At first I panicked not knowing what to do. Then I was angry that it happened. Then realized it was actually funny. But then the trained stopped. We thought it was backing up to let us by. But it backed up and stopped again. People were going through the cars and all kinds of cray stupid shit! By now, about 5 mins had gone by and about 500 racers had joined us. The only ones that made it through before the train were about the top 75 or so. I was so close to bridging that gap I thought! Damn it! We all decided to ride down in front of the engine and safely cross to get back into the race. This took us about .25 miles out of our way to get back on course. As soon as I was clear, I had to light a few more matches to try and make up any of the ground or positions I had lost.

I continued at a good pace and felt strong the rest of the way. I was now near the front of the 2nd group and knew I was within striking distance of hanging onto a top 100. I settled into a fast group of about 10 riders that were all willing to share the work. This really helped keep the pace and motivation high. As we rolled into the last bits of single track and last 2 miles of 2 track, I was able to lay down one more hard effort and pick off a few more riders in the process. I crossed the line at 2:53 and some change! A
bout 2 mins faster than last year's time with a 5 min train delay. This was good enough for 97th overall and 21st in my age group. So I was really happy with this. My Garmin time was 2:48. I know this time doesn't mean much, but it sure gives me some motivation to shoot for that top 50 mark in the future...

Congrats to;
Joe Seidl for 3rd in the single speed class!
Brad Lako for breaking top 50
Brian Matter for 2nd overall! and thanks for letting me hang out the day after to ride the South Trails.

From this to this...

Lets see if the second half is any better than than the first. Time for change, focus, and commitment.

Brighton Rec XC...

7th...

Bloomer Daze XC Mountain Bike Race!

Back at Bloomer Park, so that means back to some old school twisty, technical, out of the saddle mountain bike racing. Bloomer has typically been a good place for me to race despite the terrain not catering to my strengths on the bike. So here we were again. I have not been feeling the racing and training bug as of late, so I was happy to learn that the course was going to be rerouted and shortened a bit. Anything to try and stoke the fire again.

The Class was a bit smaller than normal, but the usually suspects were there. Brad, Jon, Roger, Aryn, Todd. So it was going to a another tear each other legs off kind of race. We were called to the line and before we knew it, we were off on the grassy up hill into the woods. The pace was a little slower than usual at the start, but by the time we got to the first big steep climb, Brad was already taking his digs. Roger and Jon followed. I reacted and was only able to keep them in my sites. As I tired the push, I felt like I was pedaling squares. Todd, eventually came around and I hung onto his wheel for as long as I could. He would pull away through the tight single track, as my legs wanted nothing to do with applying power need to attack. I tired to make the time back up on the flat 2 track and grass field sections, but it was not going to happen. He dangled in front of me by about 30 seconds for almost the entire race. The good news was I was able to maintain pretty consistent lap times, so I know the endurance part is there. And I was able to come home with hardware by taking 5th place, so sniffing around the fringes of the podium sure is a lot better than not standing up there at all. So I got this to build on.

Congrats again to Brad on another win, Roger for keeping him honest and taking 2nd, and Jon rounding out the podium.

Time to decompress and get refocused for Brighton in a few weeks.

Addison Oaks XC

Well, it was bound to happen I guess. What I would call a poor race that is. From the time the word go was mumbled at the start of the Addison XC Mountain Bike race on Saturday, I just didn't have it. Legs were heavy, and if I tried to push, my body would not respond. Very frustrating, but I will move on because there are bigger races ahead.

Overall, my training plan has been going well, so at least that's what I have been thinking... And then to get a result like 6th, makes me wonder. Keep on keeping on...

But hey I had fun overall. Racing with all everyone, enjoying the sun and spending time on one of the best single track trails in MI. It really doesn't get much better than this!  And its great to see Brad Lako on such a tear this year. Another win! It's really cool to watch his season of dominance knowing all the struggles, experiments, disappointments, and successes he has had over years. All his patience and hard work is finally pay off. Keep it up bro.

Also, great job to JTP for 2nd., and the rest of the KLM boys. You guys are on a roll.

Congrats to Marc Z on another Sport SS podium! Awesome.

Time for a quick rest week and break from racing so I can regroup a bit. See you all in a few weeks.

Hanson Hills XC Challenge Mountain Bike Race

 

If you never been on the trails at Hanson Hills, do yourself a favorite and go! These trails are fast and flowy. With a fair amount of climbing and enough technical sections to keep your fingers on the brakes! Since doing this race last year, I was looking forward to getting on that sweet single track again. So I loaded up the car and made the 3 hr trek up north to Grayling.

When I left my driveway, I had on shorts and t-shirt. It was about 67 degrees and looking to be a great day for racing. When I arrived and opened my car door, it was 43 degrees and windy! What the hell? How could there be such a difference only a few hours north? Oh well, I thought and suited up. I soon found myself on the line waiting to go off with the rest of the Elite/Expert Single Speeders. I only recognized Steven Blake, who I knew was the one I needed to mark as he was last years winner. I never seen any of the other guys. Which is always the case in a single speed race. There are always some one coming out of the wood work to spoil the day. And that is usually the case.

We got our count down and we were off! We took off onto the long 2 track flat section all spinning our single ring cranks around 130 RPMs! Steve took the hole shot and I followed. We hit the single track and the course then tilted up. We climbed hard and already were picking off several folks that started in classes ahead of us. The pace was hard, but I was comfortable. Near the end of the 1st lap, Steve, myself and one other guys I never seen before had put a huge gap into the rest of the single speed class. We began the 2nd lap and I was still in 2nd place. Then the guy behind me jumped ahead. Not a big deal. I followed and we soon caught a large group of 40-49 yr old guys. Steve was able to get around and the guy in front of me forced his way around as well. I was stuck behind a group of 5 as the trail got more technical, and I lost my place to pass. I struggled a bit to get around as the trail would not open up, and Steve and the guy chasing were growing a lead. Damn it I thought. I tried to get around a few times but got boxed out by trees. Then the guy that was tailing Steve made his move to take the lead. There was nothing I could do. I finally got around the group I was stuck in and had to work to bridge my way back up to Steve. I could no longer see the leader, and I lit a few matches trying to get back on. So now was not the time to try and attack and find the leader. We finished the 2nd lap and I was still feeling strong. Steve appeared to be struggling a bit up the long climb on the back of the ski hill at the end of the loop. I thought I need to get in front, lead the lap, and attack him on this last climb to claim 2nd place. Plan was set and I was ready to roll.

We crossed the start/finish area of the race for the 3rd and final lap. I pulled around Steve in the beginning 2 track. I lead the entire lap trying to keep the pace high, but conserving energy for the last climb. As we hit the base of the last climb, I accelerated and pushed my 1 gear for all it was worth! I could still hear Steve behind me. As we approached the summit, my legs were filled with lactate acid, Steve started to pull around and passed me. I thought I was done, there was my chance. I hit the summit, and realized that he may have put in too big of an effort himself as I was able to latch back on his wheel quickly. There was still a chance if I played my cards right. All that was left was some fast and bumpy whoop-de-doos, a 90 degree turn out of the woods and a white knuckle decent down the face of the ski hill into the finish. We made it through the whoop-de-doos, and came up to the last turn. To my surprise, Steve biffed the turn to early and started to go off the trail! He tried to correct it by cutting off the corner and getting back on the course. When this happened. I accelerated as hard as I could through the turn, and took every risk I could to use max speed down the hill. With a little luck, and not giving up I turned a given 3rd into 2nd place.

Great job Steven and thanks for another awesome battle!

Congrats to Jordan Wakely for 1st in Elites! Jason Bowne for 2nd in Expert 30-39

And Congrats
to my Team Mate Jordan for taking his first win in a Mountain Bike Race!

Thanks Mike's Mix for fueling me through another race! This stuff is awesome!