Briar Patch XC - CycleMountain Biking


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Chapel Hill, North Carolina
United States
Triangle Off Road Cyclists (TORC)
80F / 27C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 1h 19m 7s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = CAT3 M30-39
Age Group Rank = 6/14
Event warmup:

EZ ride up the first section to make sure shifting was good. Then a little trip down the first part of single track to verify tire pressures. Lowered them a bit based on available traction.
Bike
  • 1h 19m 7s
  • 12.5 miles
  • 9.48 mile/hr
What would you do differently?:

Learn how to ride a mountain bike on rocks. Much better mental focus than at Burn. I found myself chanting my son Marshall's favorite phrase..."Hocus Focus".
Post race
Warm down:

Volunteered at the finish line until all racers were in from my heat.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Mountain bike knowledge.

Event comments:

A fun first official mountain bike race for me. I hope to do more! Need to fix the bent (now broken) front brake lever.




Last updated: 2011-06-19 12:00 AM
Biking
01:19:07 | 12.5 miles | 9.48 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/14
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
First lap about 41 minutes (included the pack separator first hill before entering single track). Had only one fall, but it was a doozy. Rock garden just past the halfway point on the first lap, I lost momentum, didn't clip out (COULDN'T, AGAIN!),and down I went hard on the rocks. Tweaked the steering, but bent the front brake lever majorly. Brakes still worked, so on I went. Second lap was MUCH better. I could anticipate where I wanted to be, and began making some passes back. Was having fun, but was glad for the end. Caught a rider about .25 mile from the finish. He waved me by, but then sat on my wheel as we exited the woods. I jumped on the pedals and outsprinted him to the finish, drew a few cheers from the crowd. I certainly had the legs and the lungs for this race, but my technique is AWFUL. Once I learn how to ride this thing, it's going to be fun.
Wind:
Course: First lap has a gravel road out-n-back to string out the field a little. I managed to find myself entering the woods in 4th place, and quickly decided that was way too far up in the field. When I found opportunities, I pointed folks by to begin learning the woods lines. Very fun.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4