Maximus Michaux 2013

Race website
Race results 
My Strava data

Ever since the beat-down I suffered last year (2012) at the Maximus Michaux 20 miler and Shenandoah 100 I made it my goal in 2013 to improve my mountain bike skills and endurance.  I love tough/epic courses even though they aren't my strength.

Over the last two weeks everything in life aligned very well for me to make a great run at the Maximus 40 miler.  There wasn't another race I wanted more than this one.  My mountain bike skills are the best they've been.  My fitness is the best its been.  I was loaded up on sleep.  And I feel full of the life that comes with peaking.

My Setup:
For nutrition I continue to go with Cerasport for hydration and Probar nutrition.  I carry my spare tube, levers, and pump with my Backcountry Research - Awesome Strap.  It totally works (take the time to adjust it correctly) and I recommend no one uses a saddle bag ever again (man i hate saddle bags!).  If you are worried about your stuff coming loose and falling all over the place, well stop worrying.  Get the right awesome strap for the location that you want (stem, seat post, seat rails, etc.) and go Awesome.  Also, watch this video because its fun Awesome Strap baseball bat test.  Every time I've crashed, the worst thing that happens is that my stuff has rotated some on my seatpost.  I nudge it back to the ideal location and am back on it!

I continue to ride tubeless on my Stans ZTR Crest wheels.  These wheels have been fantastic but I wish I had gone with a Crest front wheel and a stronger Arch rear wheel for Maximus.  More on that later.

For tires I chose Maxxis Ikon 2.20, with EXO sidewall protection at 590 grams.  I trained on these tries all winter and spring.  They survived 13 hours of Bakers Dozen.  And it kinda feels like cheating since they are so light, but resilient.  I was nervous about them at Maximus since it is the rockiest, most flat prone course on the planet!  So I reduced my risk a bit and added 3 psi above my normal levels.  That put my front tire at 24 psi and my back at 26 psi.  Ya its high, but I really didn't want to flat.  My teammate Patrick Blair rode his normal pressure with Ikons and he had no issues and won the SS, placing 4th overall on time!

The weather:
Everything was perfect all week.  Race morning was chilly in the high 40's but ended up feeling perfect during the race.  The course was in perfect condition.

Prerace:
I slept perfectly the night before.  It seemed that nothing was going to stop me today.  Then as Pat and I rode to the course I realized I forgot my helmet.  CRAP!!!  As soon as we get to the race site Pat recognizes people, asks for a helmet and I get to borrow this super light and awesome Specialized Prevail.  The guy said apologetically "Its a small".  I have a tiny head (see podium picture), jackpot.

The Race:
Brian Patton, Pat and I move to the start.  They send the "Senior" geared guys off first and then thankfully call the single speeders up next.  This gives us a chance to go after many of the faster geared guys and means the first climb won't be too cluttered.
We're off!  Immediately a guy in mtb shorts and a loose shirt drills it.  I figure he's some young kid that wants to be first into the single track.  Good thing my legs are feeling amazing cause He, Pat, a guy with crazy amounts of hair, and I are flying up the mountain road.  I can tell we are pushing it but my legs are saying "no problemo".  My confidence is building.

We turn towards the single track.  Last year taught me that this section is super important for making the selection.  Its not very steep but goes on forever and is technical.  I give the three studs in front of me some room and watch things unfold.  They are all over the trail, running sections where they took a bad line.  I don't put my foot down once and I feel like I'm riding completely within myself.  Confidence at near max!  Except it's still just 25 minutes into a 4 hour race ;)

At the first road section, Pat latches onto a Vet geared rider who has now caught us.  He's flying and obviously out of my league.  So I let them go.  The loosely clothed SS'r and the ultra hairy SS'r semi-press after them but I'm pretty sure they aren't getting away so I stay on my pace (ah the advantage of confidence).

We travel through some winding technical trails.  Again I'm doing very well and can see the motley two not far ahead.  My handlebars are being squeezed at several tight tree-lined turns and I remember that I really want to trim some length off of them.

Out on a fire-road I close down on the two and see that Pat is away.  I know what is coming next and I figure this might be the last time I see these guys.  We are about to climb dead woman hollow, a pretty steep and long cat 3 gravely, non-technical climb.  These kinda climbs are my strength.  Even longer would be better :)

The loosely clothed guy drops back a little just before the climb.  He is actually a very good rider.  I think he is Montana Miller.  But at the time, I didn't know that.  The very hairy rider is "Topher".  He's also a very good rider, but I didn't know that at the time either ;)  I pass Topher at the base of the climb and we look at each other.  He says something like "good stuff!".  I say "All aboard the pain train!" and drill away from him.  I look up the mountain and see Pat about 40 seconds ahead.  We are both catching the spread out geared riders that started ahead of us.  But he's climbing faster and I don't even consider trying to catch him.  I know that I'm going plenty fast and Strava confirmed that later, listing me as the KOM until super stud Brandon Draugelis uploaded.  Pat's garmin didn't list him for the segment otherwise he might have been the KOM.

By the top I've left Topher and Montana Miller far behind.  I thought I was a lock for 2nd by this point since I still felt great.  I just need to ride smart and hope that my bike holds up.  Maximus and Montana and Topher still had plenty of tricks up their sleeves though.  And we are only 1 hour into a 4 hour race.

I descended 3 mile trail, a super rocky (boldery!) downhill that just twists and turns and dives and rises for a long, long time.  I still felt my skills were shinning but went down a few times with silly mistakes.  At one point I hear a guy up ahead shout.  I come around the turn and face some crazy technical stuff and go down.  So I shout.  Next time I'll heed the shouts of those who go before me.  This thing is going on forever!  and finally I'm out of that trail.

Something changed during that descent.  My body feels heavy and I'm not cranking the pedals as effortlessly.  Interesting.  A descent has battered me this early?  I shouldn't be so surprised since the hardest part of SM100, for me, was the final huge descent.  But I'm surprised.  I tell myself to relax and that the body will come back quickly.

In hindsight, the day after the race I realized that my rear wheel was not spinning well.  Did I bust it on this section during one of my crashes?  Maybe it was later on that I busted it.  I'll never know if I was just tired from the big climb followed by a very taxing descent or if I was also fighting a bad wheel.  But in the future I need to take a second and check my bike after I go down.  I had thought that I had damaged my Crest rear wheel when I first blogged.  But on further review the wheel had just shifted a little (despite the skewer being tight).  So just a little skewer/wheel adjustment has fixed the spinning issues.  I asked Danny Atkins (guru) about skewers and he recommends Shimano XT.  He says he's tried tons of skewers and beside the ultra-expensive DT Swiss ratcheting skewers, Shimano are the best.  Noted.

After some mountain road riding, the 40 miler and 20 miler split directions.  I am entering new unknown territory.  The trail started to get very raw, rocky, woody.  The size of the rocks grew.  I'm riding up rocks now, not over them.  On a steep switchback I catch site of Topher and Montana Miller, they're closing on me quickly in this super technical stuff.  When they catch me I try to hold wheels but they are riding stuff that I'm running.  I didn't really panic.  In fact I got pretty excited.  "This is going to be a battle!" I thought, amazed that after 1.5 hours of racing the three of us are all together.

Unfortunately this rugged stuff didn't end after 3 miles, or 5 or 7.  It just kept going.  I suppose if those guys hadn't dropped me I'd be blogging how raw and awesome this was.  But its costing me second place and I'm losing hope that the type of riding will change so that I can close the gap.  In fact, I'm getting so tired from bumping into rocks and trying to stay upright that I'm not sure that I can match those guys anymore.

The miles pass and I ride with various people but in general I'm descending more slowly than the people around me.  I really understand the advantage of dual suspension now.  In fact, I was wishing I had a little less pressure in my front shock and tires.  These are lessons that Michaux shouts at you loud and clear.  I'm learning a ton and actually still having fun.

With 12 miles to go Cheryl "Churtle" Sorenson rips past me on a crazy descent.  She started over a minute behind me, and I'm impressed.  I can't hold onto her either but then catch her at the aid station.  The trails are a little less mean and I feel pretty comfortable riding behind her.  She's really really good at this ;)

We get mixed in with some geared riders.  I leave them on the climbs.  They leave me in the rocks.  And I'm getting tired.  I can tell we're getting near the finish because no one is giving an inch.  I go down and loose them and again the fatigue is stomping down on me.  On a descent I see Montana Miller on the side of the trail, frustrated over a mechanical.  I've moved back into 3rd among single speeders but feel sad for him.  He was awesome out there.

I start to recognize trails from the finish of the 20 miler and know that I'm also almost done.  There isn't anyone to race anymore and I just dig deep up the final long climb.

At the finish I'm super happy.  Despite the struggles, this is Michaux and I've achieved what I had trained to do.  I rode well enough to race with some great Michaux riders.  I just couldn't seal the deal.  But man, I finished 3rd in the SS division and was really proud.  I've come a long way since the Maximus Michaux 2012 20 miler where I finished 5th in the geared division.

I'll post pics of my setup soon.

Tire talk with Dan Atkins

Dan Atkins (Race Pace cycling) gives good advice on tires.  How do I know?  I wouldn't have won the Monster Cross non-elite race on Sunday if I didn't push back my fears and take his advice.

I had questions, he had answers and I'm sharing:

me:  atkins.
me:  tread vs. volume.  lets say a 2.1 with more aggressive tread vs. a 2.2 with faster rolling tread.  bascially the same weight.

go.

Dan:  that's up to you

i like low tread tires usually

me:  are they equally grippy.  or does more tread mean more grip. or more volume mean more grip?

Dan:  they're not equally grippy

lower tread height tires typically have less grip

but that doesn't really mean its a worse tire

i like low tread tires on the rear because it helps me move the bike around with the brake a lot easier

me:  agreed.

alright

how about puncture resistance

any difference?

Dan:  not really

me:  ok, what is an advantage of volume?

me:  more valume that is.

and what is the advantage of less volume

Dan:  lower pressure, better traction for higher volume tires

generally

less volume is lighter and potentially faster

its hard to generalize

you really need to compare one tire to the next

me:  u ever go high pressure for something like cohutta 100 miler

like so much road

seems like u want like 45 psi

Dan:  no

never

me:  hah, ok

Dan:  it might make sense reading race reports and descriptions of the course

but in reality it's a terrible idea

me:  good to know

Dan:  just run whatever your regular tire pressure is

you will be MUCH more comfortable

i made that mistake the first time i did a 100

at wilderness

i rode like 45 PSI because i heard that there was so much stuff other than singletrack

and it was awful

me:  lol, ok i was def heading towards that mistake for wildcat 100

Dan:  don't do it!

me:  i rode 40 psi last night just to see.  seemed alright.  but only rode one trail in ccbc (over by my house) so tough to tell.  this helps

Dan:  you will regret it for sure

after 8 hours your back will be dead

me:  excellent info thx!  ok to post this to my blog "tire talk with dan atkins"?

Dan:  for sure

me:  jackpot

 

Monster Cross 2013, Race!

Race website
Race results 
My Strava data 

According to the "confirmed riders" list leading up to race day, Monster Cross 2013 looked like the unofficial February Mid-Atlantic off-road championship, with big names and a huge field (573 riders).  Normally at an ultracross race I would enter the "open under 40" field, but Monster cross had a unique set of divisions.  There was the Pro/Elite division that was choc-full of Cat 1 roadies and cyclocrossers, as well as pro mountain bikers who all crush me at their leisure.  I felt that field was too big for my britches.  So I signed up for a "non-elite" division, the cyclocross under 40.  Top 3 in this division get winners jerseys so that was a sweet prize to race for.  I felt if I raced very well I had a chance for 3rd-ish in that division.

My Setup:
For nutrition I continue to go with Cerasport for hydration and Probar nutrition.  This is a no-brainer.  No Camelbak Rogue this time, since the race is only about 3 hours.
For equipment I continue to use the Backcountry Research - Awesome Strap  to hold my spare tube, tire levers, and hand-pump.  It totally works (take the time to adjust it correctly) and I recommend no one uses a saddle bag ever again (man i hate saddle bags!).  If you are worried about your stuff coming loose and falling all over the place, well stop worrying.  Get the right awesome strap for the location that you want (stem, seat post, seat rails, etc.) and go Awesome.  Also, watch this video because its fun Awesome Strap baseball bat test.

I continue to ride tubeless on my Stans Alpha 340 Comp wheels.

For tires I chose to NOT use the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, Double Defense, 700x35 at 570 grams.  This course is one of the tamer ultracross courses with pretty fast avg speeds over 17mph.  Not to mention I had previously promised myself that I take Danny Atkins advice (he's right a lot).  I put on the Vittoria EVO XG cx 700x32 tubeless.  They are so easy to air up tubeless on the Stans wheels.  I took'm for a spin on my local cx course a few days earlier.  It was a rough and bumpy ride since the ground was all frozen and I am used to my comfy mtb.  I started to waffle towards the mondials again but then i saw this video which shows a lot of the course in speedy time:

Vittoria tires it is.  Thanks to Danny Atkins and articles like this article that helped me to step away from my fear of flatting, to go to a lighter tire for this years' ultracross experiences.

I am still using TRP CX8.4 linear pull brakes because cantilevers are rubbish and i can't afford to upgrade my cx bike to have disc brakes.  I still want a Cannondale SuperX with disc brakes ;)

The weather:
It was in the 30s in the morning but climbed to the low 50s.  The ground was wet but still fast after hard rain the day before.  The skies were clear (beautiful!).

The Race:
The pro/elite group went off a few minutes before us.  I was glad of that because I wanted to try to go with the lead group of non-elites.  But if they had all been mixed together it would have been chaos in the non-elite standings.  Pat was in the elite race.  Sug was on his single speed cx bike in the non-elite race with me.  I didn't have high expectations going in to this race so I was calm as a cucumber.  I chatted with my ultracross buddy Brian Patton at the start.  It was a good atomosphere.  We had a neutral start for a while and the crowds were thick.  The initial pace wasn't anything crazy.  It felt a lot like a group training ride. The double track was fast and gravely.  There were muddy spots here and there.  The lead group (pace-line) was huge!  Turns felt dicey with people all around, coming forward and moving back.  I was doing everything I could to stay calm.


The race is two 24 mile loops.  Winning times in 2012 had been around 2:47 so I expected this group would go 3 hours.  At an hour of racing I looked around and there were just tons of people in the pace-line.  The pace was fast enough that no one wanted to attack away from the group and tame enough with only a few steep hills that no big separations could occur.  In a way it felt like a dream because I am used to just burying myself early trying to stay with crazy fast guys.  But now I was around peers and was racing well within myself.  Its like all those races you read about, with tactics and strategy.  It felt really good.  I was having to exercise patience in a lead pack for the first time.

As we came through the start/finish around 1:20 I continued to feel great.  I hadn't spent much time at the front and started to wonder if people were hurting or hiding.  I took to the front, working with a rider from the Winchester Wheelmen.  The pack was still in tact.  So I made a small move on my next turn up front.  A gap formed.

pic

I wasn't really sure what to do.  Its still early, but that gap formed fairly easily.  I decided to go with it for a bit.  I didn't really step on the gas but just kept the pressure on.  I caught up to a pro/elite rider Zach Morrey.  He is a super good NUE mountain biker that is coming off a double collar bone break.  We chatted some and worked together.  I enjoyed not having the pack around me on the descents and turns.  But after a while the pack caught me.  And I tucked back in.

That effort might have lasted 10 minutes.  I'm not sure.  But it moved me from comfortable, to engaged. And now the pack is starting to turn up the pace.  I went from engaged to pushing in a short time.  In retrospect it was a tactical mistake to have gone it alone for a while.  Go or stay, but don't hang out.  I drank and ate and tried to prepare for some tough racing in the last 20 miles.  The smooth rolling double track was drying some and becoming thicker/slower.  The screw was tightening and I started wishing I never made that move.

With maybe 15 miles to go or maybe 10, the real attack comes.  It kinda happened, nothing immediately noticeable, but I was gapped.  I was feeling tight, a little out of energy.  Thoughts of "u blew it!" started creeping in.  Sug came by me and said "let's go!  get on my wheel!".  I decided that I would bury myself to stay with him in hopes that we could bridge.  He stood up out of each turn. I thought "I haven't really been standing" so I stood out of the turns.  The legs started to sizzle but it felt right.

The gap was holding to the 5 or so leaders.  They had maybe 10 or 15 seconds on us.  It seemed that we had been beat.  But Sug kept drilling.  And once he let up I moved to the front and drilled.  I got down in the drops and put my head down on the straights and just let it rip.  The legs kept giving so I kept asking.  A minute or so went by and I had done it!  I was back with the leaders (so I thought).

We hit the last big climb with about 5 miles to go.  I threw down all the way to the top.  The five of us crested together but it seemed that only 4 of us had anything left.  The road section was fast and I tucked in.  Small attacks kept coming and all I could think is how am I going to win this?  Where should I attack?  How close are we to the finish?

We entered a trail section that had people cheering and some one said "make your move now!" so I thought it was now or the final sprint.  I made some nice descending moves to get on the wheel of the leader.  We entered the park proper.  I tried to shift to the big ring but the mud had taken its toll and the small ring was all i had.  We sprinted through the muddy grass to the line!  I couldn't get around the leader.  I congratulated him on the win and he said "no i was in the pro/elite race."  Wow!  I think I won!

pic

I was super proud to have bridged to the group (thanks to Sug!).  And was stunned to have finished ahead of all the non-elites.  Unfortunately, the results show an over 40 cyclocrosser that has a faster time then mine.

Photo evidence has surfaced that #27 was not in my race, he started with the elites (he's towards the right in orange and light blue ;)
evidence (lol)

I won the under 40 cyclocross division and got a sweet jersey :)  Happy days!

(left to right) me, pat blair, and adam (sug) driscoll.

Don't play with floods

This morning started great, rise with the family, horse around.  Get on the bike to go to work.
Well it rained a lot last night.  I admired the raging Potapsco as I crossed the bridge from BaltCo. to HoCo (avalon).
River road had some shallow standing water.   I started pedaling through it and it got deeper and deeper.
By the time I realized that I was in a flood it was too late to turn around (will never mess wtih standing water again).
The water rose and rose until my entire bike frame became submerged.  I'm freaking out obviously.
Some how I stayed upright and made it to the other side... scary (i might have got it on video and will upload tonight).
My feet experienced an epic level of cold during the rest of the super windy 40 degree commute.
Fortunately I had overdressed so the rest of me was hot.

I was really looking forward to my shower at work, I crack my bag open and there is just work shoes, no clothes.
Ugh!
I guess I'm going to have to wear my flooded rain pants and my skinsuit to work today.
Then I checked Pat's unlocked locker, he has a pair of wrinkled jeans in there that seem to be 34w and 30L.  I was thankful for them.
Took a shower (no towel).
Got dressed in jeans and a skinsuit.  Got up to work and put on my sweater.

Happy to be safe and basically dressed.
Strava output

Iron Cross 2012, Race!

Race website
Race results (in ew! format, lol) 
My Strava data
CyclingDirt.org Video 

Iron Cross 2012 has been my Fall target race since doing Hilly Billy Roubaix 2012.  Hilly Billy showed me that I really enjoy ultracross because it plays to my adventurous side, and tests the limits.
Iron Cross 2012 was the final race of the American Ultracross Championship Series and is the queen stage (if u will) of the series.  That means deeper fields and hotter paces.

My Setup:
For nutrition I continue to go with Cerasport for hydration and Probar nutrition.  This is a no-brainer.  I also carry water and tools in my Camelbak Rogue.
For equipment I tried the Backcountry Research - Awesome Strap  for the first time.  It totally works (take the time to adjust it correctly) and I recommend no one uses a saddle bag ever again (man i hate saddle bags!).  If you are worried about your stuff coming loose and falling all over the place, well stop worrying.  Get the right awesome strap for the location that you want (stem, seat post, seat rails, etc.) and go Awesome.  Also, watch this video because its fun Awesome Strap baseball bat test.

I continue to ride tubeless on my Stans Alpha 340 Comp wheels.

For tires I chose Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, Double Defense, 700x35 at 570 grams, because I would rather take a weight penalty and have the extra flat protection.  The width is perfect for ultracross.  And the tread is great in dry conditions, gravel, and is even decent in wet conditions.  I would call it a winner if you're looking for some lower-risk ultracross racing.  But if you are willing to risk flatting for the chance to go a few minutes faster, then go with something lighter but with the same volume like the Stans Raven 700x35 at 360 grams.  I found this article enticing me to go to a lighter tire for my next ultracross experience (maybe all of 2013 to give them a fair shot).
In review:
1) they will last thousands of miles.
2) they are lighter (570 grams) than the bomb-proof continental cx plus (800 grams)
3) they are very flat resistant (gotta be the "Double Defense" version)
4) they seem to air up tubeless pretty easily on my Stans wheels.
5) the tread is very good on road, gravel, dry trails, and even decent on wet trails.

I am still using TRP CX8.4 linear pull brakes because cantilevers are rubbish and i can't afford to upgrade my cx bike to have disc brakes.  But I talked to someone with a Cannondale SuperX and I wanted it ;)

The weather:
Man, all week the weather reports worsened.  20% chance of rain and 53, then 40% chance of rain and 50, by Friday it was 80% chance of rain and 45.  The race directors sent out a doom-gloom/hypothermia email that was begging racers to be ready and encouraged them to even carry a Mylar blanket in case of an emergency.  Wowzer.  I was nervous.  I don't do well in cold/wet conditions.  Just like my tire selection, I decided I would rather play things safe, and take a speed penalty to be ready.  I wore an O2 Cycling Rain Jacket under my jersey.  Which worked pretty well despite NO RAIN!  Lol, I could feel the wind tugging on me a little so I focused on drafting during descents as often as possible.

The Race:
I lined-up front.  I wanted to try to go with the lead group.  Pat and Sug were up there, so why not?  It was pretty cold at the start and i was a little shaky.  Some of those shakes were nerves/excitement.  Garth Prosser(?), Gerry Pflug, are all up here.  That's cool ;)
The initial pace went out pretty hot.  It felt a lot like a 1 hour cyclocross race except a little less sprinty.  The first four-ish miles are on bike paths between 2 parks and so its gravel, a little sand, and some road.  A bit sketchy and I liked it a lot.  I could feel that I was a little above my limit but was happy to be following Gerry's wheel (see video)   

Early lead group:

As we approached the first cat 3 climb from mile 7 to 10, Piney Mountain Ridge Rd Climb, I hoped I could continue on with the leaders but that was a dream.  So I cut my early losses and decided to fall back.  Several of us kinda spread out behind the leaders throughout the climb and these would all form the eventual chase group.  Our organization out on the roads with rolling hills wasn't the best but we worked together.  I felt like one of the stronger of the bunch so I was happy with this group.  But in hindsight, when I was pulling i was doing a very bad job of pacing myself.  I go too hard for too long.  Then drop back in the group until the legs come to life and go again.  It was stupid excitement and just poor pacing.

Chase group being led by the eventual single speed winner.  Yes I am drafting on a single speed (43x18 on these climbs!):

The chase group whittled down to about 4 of us as we approached the Lippencote descent.  I felt pretty burnt by this point but hoped the descending would rebuild the legs.  I made sure to lead my group into Lippencote so that i could pick my lines in the technical trails.  I climbed the initial part well and then started descending.  I felt comfortable and didn't push it.  Then I see Pat with a flat and a little later I see Adam with a flat as well.  Damn, this trail took both AFC top contenders... out of contention.  Adam's flat kinda fixed itself via Stans liquid and some C02 so we continued out of the descent together.  I sprinted to grab the wheel of a roadie-looking rider that had a small gap on us... the legs responded with a resounding "I DON'T THINK SO!"  Hmmm, I'm not bouncing back as quickly as I had hoped.
Adam, the SS leader, and the roadie went on ahead as a group.  I rode moderately until I could catch a draft on the rider behind me.  We drilled some downhill (legs were coming back) but again I think I'm drilling too hard when I pull.  Bad pacing again.  On the Milesburg Rd climb at mile 28 I decide that its time ride my own race.  No more chasing people.  I've put too much hurt'n on myself and it's still too early in the race.  I climbed strongly and consistently (should have just ridden this way from the start) and prepared for the mighty WigWam.

Approaching the WigWam Run-up

Up WigWam I caught Adam and others that I had lost out on the roads.  I never ran, I just hiked faster.  According to Strava I'm the fastest on this segment.  Yay!  I'm tickled to be tops at something (although I would prefer to be the best pedal-er).  It was max heart rate for everyone and boy is it pretty up there ;)
I was getting thirsty heading into aid station 2 and thought we would all be stopping.  Negative, none of my group stopped.  I was surprised but took my time.  The mistake I made here is when the volunteers asked me how many scoops of Heed I wanted "1 or 2".  I'll take "4".  "4!" they say.  "Ya".  So what the hell was I thinking?  Well I'm not familiar with Heed other than drinking it at Hilly Billy.  The stuff tastes horrible.  At Hilly Billy they were digging it out with a teaspoon.  Apparently these guys were using a scooper (i wasn't watching them, i was eating).  I thanked them, jumped on the bike and grabbed my waterbottle.  I take a swig, "UUUuuuuugh!".  This is the nastiest sweetness of all time.  But i don't have much water left in my Camelbak so it'll have to do and I try to convince myself that some how the super sugary grossness is going to help me.  Please race directors, use Cerasport.  Heed is so gross.
So this first half of iron cross has totally shot my legs.  Time to regroup.  I have a lot of descending to do (i think).  So I just ride a comfortable pace.  Then hit some trials that I never rode in my recon.  Its some pretty tough climbing.  The legs are not happy.  I'm constantly looking for ways to cut my losses.  But then Brian Patton shows up.  He and I have become friends, meeting in Potapsco before SugarHill 2012 and keeping in touch via Strava and Facebook.  He told me he was in the hunt for the series win for under 40, having ridden Hilly Billy and Three peaks.  I wanted to help him but doubted I could.  He recommended that I draft on him through these gravel road descents.  I'm happy to oblige.  This helped a ton.  I'll take it too far and say that I was riding on the neon wings of an angel (for a while), Lol.

Thompson Hollow Descent, or maybe the descent after Thompson....i don't know.

After some fun gravel descending we head out on the roads.  Again I think my pacing during pulls was really poor.  I was extra motivated to help Brian try to catch the guy that he was battling for the series.  But it just wasn't any good.  Its like I am trying to go faster via a pace-line instead of trying to go the same speed with less effort.  I'll definitely improve on this in my next pace-line.  Anyway, I gave it almost everything I had out on those roads.  I planned to eek-out the last drops of effort at Hogshead.  As soon as we hit the loooong Hogshead climb Brian went ahead.  I didn't mind too much.  I knew at this point I would finish, and finish pretty well.

Hogshead Road Climb

I got passed by maybe 5 riders on Hogshead.  But made it to the top without cramps or any other problem other than being really tired.  I descended well to aid station 4.  There I ate a peanut butter sandwich which is now a new favorite aid station treat.  Also apple slices (mmmmmmmm PA apples!).  I got some water and headed into the final trails of the race.  I wasn't pushing but riding ok.  There was no one around.  After several miles a guy in a Cycleworks orange kit caught me.  I went with him, excited that we had about 5 miles left, and that I had some one to race.  I let him lead since he was obviously stronger on the pedals at this point.  His technical log hopping skills were pretty bad though.  I gave him some room and used my skills to absorb his efforts.  On a tougher log jump he crashed and I went ahead.  He came back after a while and we hit the run-up, me with a slight gap.  We also closed in on another guy.  This was getting painful but exciting!  After the run-up was a grassy trail climb.  My climbing legs are totally shot and I'm barely staying on the bike but I pedal, pedal, pedal.  I hear Pat come up behind me when he says "AFC!".  I say "finally!" knowing that he must have taken a long time with his flat and partied a bunch at the aid stations to just be catching me now with 3 miles to go.

At the top of the climb we all take beer hand-ups.  Yummy!  The cycleworks rider passes me on the final road section and I just settle in on his draft.  I feel bad racing this way but I decide that I will pretend he is rider 20 and my goal is to be top 20, so I'm going to beat him.  We make the turn to the finish and I take the sprint.  Whew!  That was a fun hard race.  2 thumbs up to the Iron Cross folks.  Their course is really well marked and top notch.

Awesome strap!

Iron Cross 2012, final pre-race notes

The IC course description is really good (in my opinion).  I add some notes from my recon.
2 days until race time!

from ic website:

We usually break this thing down into four "sektors" - as we're fond of calling them.  Each Sektor has it's own unique features and they are separated by our checkpoints making it pretty easy to figure out what's where - as long as you're not so oxygen depleted that you don't remember where you are, what day it is, or why the heck you're climbing up a cliff with a bike hanging off your back.


Sektor 1 - Start to CP#1
Features:  Start at Pine Grove Furnace State Park; KOM/QOM; rolling roads and two big climbs
This is fast fast fast for the most part with the start course sometimes playing a bigger role in the race than you might think.  A prologue loop of rolling pavement and rail trail brings you back through Pine Grove SP in about four miles. Find a group to ride with and hang on up the first dirt climb as you'll appreciate the help on the rolling roads that lead to the first major climb to the KOM just before CP1.  Up front the attacks usually start on those rollers after a long burn up the first climb has put a couple pretenders out the back.  The KOM climb will cause a selection or perhaps even a breakaway and small groups will solidify for the run to Lippencote with riders chasing hard to make contact.
--- I didn't ride this section.  Seems like a descent description.  This is cardio work, nothing really technical.

Sektor 2:  CP#1 to CP#2
Features:  Lippencote Tr. descent; Rt 30; WigWam "Run" Up
Rolling along the top of the ridgeline to Lippencote the front runners may test each other but alliances form here so that those who are off the back don't get the chance to get back on.  Then comes Lippencote which can be carnage or bliss depending on how smooth and light you can ride the rocks.  You can't hold back though because a minute lost here can prove very difficult to pull back.  Lippencote will almost certainly put paid to at least one front runner's day, but those who can float this descent can then fly on the flats of Rt 30 around the end of the ridge.  But awaiting all is Wigwam, IC's infamous run-up.  Often a decision maker in this race, it is not unusual to see groups enter the trail to Wigwam together only to emerge at the top scattered over minutes of trail as they enter CP#2.

-- The miles approaching lippenconte you will be riding a park road (gravel but smooth, nothing like hilly billy).

-- It is pretty much rolling hills and fast so u should be in a group.

-- At some point you will see a clearing coming, that is powerlines.  These powerlines are very close to the LEFT_HAND turn into Lippenconte.  I think it is super important to not get caught behind a bunch of technical slowpokes.  Get up front as best as possible at the powerlines and get ready for a semi-short technical trail climb.  I rode it on my single speed mtb with cx tires.  But it was dry.  Point being, positioning up front seems to be really important.  After the semi-short climb is the big descent.  This thing is classic michaux.  Take ur time and ride or run it as necessary.  But take comfort that you put a bunch of slowpokes behind u at the hole shot.

-- at the base of the descent u come to a road.  there is a lot of road from here so find a group and chill (lot of downhill for many miles).

-- eventually u will start getting back into the forest (on roads) and are getting near a biiig road/gravelish (smooth) climb.  Several minutes to climb this.  if u got gapped and are in a group that is kinda slow, this is where u make a move to catch the next group.  At the top of that climb the road will flatten out and the reservoir will be on ur right.

-- basically with the resevoir on the right u are approaching the Wigwam run-up.  But it really is four parts.

1) As you leave the reservoir a left hand turn is coming.  This turns immediately into some single/double track that is kinda a technical climb (very hilly billy-esqu).  steep and kinda loose.  It was totally rideable dry.  So u want to get into this section towards the front of ur group and drill this hill.

2) u come out to a powerline field and have to ride the flat (tall grass) field to the base of wigwam.  put everyone behind u that u possible can before this run-up.

3) Hike wigwam as fast as possible.  but avoid getting on ur toes and trying to run.  Overall u'll be faster if u hike quickly/smoothly.  Ur heart rate will be max.

4) At the top of the run-up u bike for a bit on double track but have another rocky run-up in about 1/4 mile.  hike (and possibly run) that one fast too.  At the top of that you have officially finished the run-up.  slog ur way in the field (tall grass) to the road.  IF u have a group to ride with from here u will probably never see people gapped behind u ever agian!
 
Sektor 3:  CP#2 to CP#3
Features:  Repeat climbs, Long Paved Section, Super Fast Descending
This Sektor would be a hoot except that is it preceded by that run-up and that makes things ruff for a bit.  Once you get your legs back under you you'll start rolling across a ridge top road that, if you're lucky enough to be with some buds, can be some fast stuff.  A short sweet climb leads to more rolling ridge riding and perhaps the fastest descent of the day - keep your head up and watch for the off-camber bit!  Hit the pavement along the base of the ridge; it is great to have friends to share the work on this bit of the course too!  Keep your head up for those turns though as there are couple of them to keep you on the right course, both on the ground and on the telephone poles (and if you don't see the confirmation arrow then you probably missed something!).  A final right off the pavement and a slight upgrade mean you're just about to CP#3 where they'll great you with a smile, a smile that hides their pity for what you are about to experience.

-- I didn't ride the first half of this section so take the description for what its worth.

-- The second half of this section is pretty tame and fast gravel road so u'll be happy to be in a group.

Sektor 4:  CP#3 to Finish
Features:  Hogshead Climb; Woodrow Descent; CP#4, Final Singletrack; Last Run-Up (?); Pavement Finish!
And now we come to it.  The final sektor of Iron Cross.  We don't take it easy on you so don't expect to coast home.  First it's Hogshead, probably the biggest meanest bitch on the course.  This thing is relentless.  You think you're at the top.  You're not.  Keep going. And then go some more.  Then swear at the guys that came up with this course.  Then rub out the cramps.  Then keep going and you're close.  Next up is the descent of Woodrow.  Watch those corners, it's loose and sketchball.  Down the descent to CP#4 and some fun double and singletrack a short road bit and more trail for next few miles.  If it's dry a lot of the folks up front will rip through this bit with a couple steps here or there and one last run up to get back to the ridge top.  The really fast guys ride that last run up in the dry.  If it's wet...YMMV.  From there you'll smell the finish.  Well, that's actually your stank but it does smell, I'll give you that.  Rip across the ridge and then it's down the paved descent (where it is the only time of the day you're wishing for bigger gears) and into the finish at Pine Grove Furnace and the Iron Masters Mansion.

-- Pat and Sug will destroy the Hogshead climb.  It pails in comparsion to SM100 climbing but its long and tough.

-- The woodrow Descent is where Sug/Alex/Goat crashed back in 2007ish.  So take these fast loose turns with care.  It really helps to have the course displaying in your garmin (i found).  I could see the hairpin or gradual turns coming on the map.

-- Survive the trails.  The description is very good though.  It is a lot of rideable stuff.  But definitely favor the run if ur unsure.

-- Goat and I missed the run-up they mention at the end of the trails so I've got nothing to add to that.

 

Charm City Cyclocross 2012, day 1 and day 2

Ahhhhh a little cyclocross to sooth the soul.  My last race was epicly epic, THE Shenandoah 100.  So its nice to be coming to a race that involves less preparation, less stress, less travel, and less... rac'n.

Charm city is nostalgic.  It was my first real bike race.  I did Cat 4 in 2010, then won both Cat 4 races in 2011 to get my upgrade, and did both 2/3/4 races this year.

Day 1 was not all I had hoped.  I started 4th or 5th row which was decent.  I liken a start with that many racers of different skill levels to escaping a burning building.  The first lap or two is the burning building.  Some escape easily, others not as easily.  Point being, you can't start racing until you escape the building and get with a group of riders that aren't holding you back and aren't going to wreck wildly.

The start was sluggish.  I picked my way through pretty well on lap 1 to move into the top 20.  My body wasn't too happy though.  I was nervous that my lack of cyclocross training would hurt me.  I was hurt'n!  I hung in there.  It was hot hot hot.  I didn't enjoy this race immensely but it was fun.  I think I finished 15th.

Day 2 was a totally different.  I start 3rd row this time and from the "go!" felt like my old cyclocross self.  I put in efforts to pass and was in the top 15 after lap 1.  But this time I felt that there was plenty of gas in the tank.  I caught up to a group including Jameson Ribbens and Andrey Doroshenko.  I'm pretty sure I can ride with these guys and I know they did well on Day 1 so I'm happy.

After a while I hear that we're in the top 10 and there are tons of guys just ahead.  I decide to attack and try to make it to the next group.  This was foolish in hindsight.  I had worked hard to catch these guys who mostly started front row.  I should have spent more laps with them.  The attack hurts me and I drop back to the back of the group. And I'm hurt'n!  But I think I can rally and still take this group in a few laps.

Approaching the sandpit it takes a lot of effort to ride it because I'm sitting at the back of the pack and have to deal with the riders in front of me swerving and slowing.   This became a recurring theme for my race.  Bale or crash in the sand pit.  Spend a lap to catch back up to the group.  But bale or crash again because they are all sprawled out in front of me (that's right, i could do it easily if it wasn't for them, lol ;).

But I'm loving this race.  I'm riding hard but within myself.  I'm competing.  I'm pedaling AND thinking.  Usually it's all pedaling for me.  I'm making mistakes and learning.  I'm measuring up the guys in my group.  I'm looking for ways to beat them.  I've never really been able to enjoy the tactics of racing.  This is awesome!

I end up in a group of 3 riders with a lap to go.  The body has been giving it all she's got and i'm in the mix for a top 10 finish.  I start thinking how I'm going to handle our last sandpit pass.  This sand has been killing me.  I'm going to run through it and go for the sprint on the road.

We come to the sandpit, and once again i'm sitting at the back of the group.  I immediately go for the run but stupidly go inside.  There is room but not much.  There had been plenty of room on the outside line!  The rider in front starts swerving and ends up coming into me and the tape.  I'm running full speed and just tear through the tape and kinda through him (sorry dude!).  Its a mess and I'm not proud of it but I make it through.  The guy at the front of our group is clear and I'm not catching him but the second guy is still close enough.

I close down the gap in the final turns and sprint on the road.  The guy makes an effort but he can't match.  I come close to catching the leader of our group but it was too much space.  Soooo FUN!!!
Super exciting and I think this is one of my first really tactical races (it showed).  There is something to be said for not just pedaling ur guts out the whole race.  It was a blast and I believe I ended up 10th.