Return on the Jedi and other races

Since my last post I have raced Spring Thaw in Ashland, the Jacksonville short track xc series and the Return on the Jedi race weekend. I was having trouble deciding on Cat 2 or Cat 3 at Spring Thaw but went with Cat 3 since they have cut off times that I might not have made. It was very enjoyable. I'm happy with the decision.
Then it was the 4 race series in Jacksonville. They had two new courses along with the old one. The new courses included some steep climbs so I rode my geared bike. I rode the two races on the old course with my single speed.

This is one of the new courses on my Orbea Alma 29er.


















I camped in the same site as last year at Return on the Jedi.












The only difference in the picture is Jake's new ramp. He blew out his ACL and had surgery to repair it. He can't jump into the back anymore. I suspect that's how he injured it in the first place.










I raced STXC on Saturday. There were only two single speeders so here I am with my second place ribbon. I raced XC on Sunday and, again, raced Cat 3. This is the course that I bonked on last year and had trouble finishing. This year it was hot but not as hot as last year. I paced myself on the long climb and thoroughly enjoyed the Jedi trail to the finish. I have decided that I am a Cat 3 racer. I would rather enjoy the races than suffer on the longer and more technical courses.

I don't have any races scheduled in July. The Pistis Racing Team STXC series starts in August. It is a five race series in Grants Pass. That should be a good workout for me to start getting ready for cross season. I'm looking forward to racing cross this year.

Mudslinger

Maybe I really am too old to do this shit. I raced the Mudslinger mountain bike race on Sunday in the Oregon coastal range between Corvallis and Newport. I raced Cat 2 for the first time. About 24 miles, about 4,000 feet of climbing. Hard packed gravel logging roads and slick, muddy single track. I jogged most of the single track if it was uphill or downhill. The uphill was too much effort with no traction and the downhill was too scary, crashing and getting back up is too much effort. I had to stop and clear out the mud from time to time or my wheels would just lock up and skid. At about 1 hour and 30 minutes into the race I came to a junction with course volunteers directing the Cat 3 racers to turn left for 1.8 miles to the finish and the Cat 2 racers to turn right for another 14 miles. I was really tempted to bag it and turn left but I didn't. It was then more than 3 more hours before I finished. That's right. I was out on the course almost 5 hours. Toward the end I was walking the uphills even on the roads. I was able to ride the final mile uphill to the finish though. It took me 4 hours and 40 minutes. The Pro winner took 1 hour and 40 minutes, on a single speed.
I'm racing Spring Thaw in Ashland in two weeks. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to race Cat 3 or Cat 2. It didn't kill me. Maybe it wasn't so bad.

Racing and Drive in the Mountains

I haven't written anything since the Southern Oregon Time Trial Series got over. Some might think that I am bummed out because Vern beat me again. Not true. I'd rather beat him but it doesn't bother me to lose to him on the road. I was surprised though, in the last race when he caught me and passed me, on an uphill. I knew he was faster going downhill but I thought I was faster going up. I learned something that kind of explains why he's as tough as he is. He told me he went to college on a swimming and water polo scholarship. WATER POLO! Those guys are animals. That's got to be the most physically demanding sport there is. He may look like a softy, but he's not.

I'm racing the mountain bike next weekend at Mudslinger up west of Corvallis. Should be better than last year when it snowed. I'm racing the sport class this year. Three years as a beginner is pushing it.

Yesterday we went on a ride into the mountains with Frank and Sally. We drove up highway 199 to Patricks Creek, turned up Patrick's Creek Road and drove up Shelly Creek and over the mountain to Obrian, OR. Nice drive.
This is what it looks like up on top.


















We came across a Darlintonia bog. Interesting plant.

Racing Again

Somebody mentioned, at the race today, that I haven't blogged about the Southern Oregon TT Series. Okay Vern, I'll tell everyone that you've beaten me two weeks in a row now. I have raced the first two out of three races in the series and my times have improved over last year. Unfortunately Vern's times have improved as well. During cyclocross season if the course is mostly uphill I can usually beat him and if there are a lot of fast downhills he can usually beat me. These TT courses are up the hill, turn around and come back down the hill. Today he started two minutes behind me which has been his usual margin of victory over me. When I turned around at the top of the hill and started down I saw him coming up too soon. I knew that he would catch me and that would mean a two minute victory for him. I pushed myself beyond my comfort level going downhill and he didn't catch me until right before the finish line. What fun though.

New Single Speed

I finished the single speed today and Susan Roberts came over to take some pictures before it gets dirty. I felt pretty ridiculous when working on it because I had to wash my hands so often. It was fun though.








Lots of white parts.












I don't know when I'll ride it. I wouldn't want to get it dirty. Maybe when it quits raining.

















Cool Nitto components.












Shimano Sante. Brand new, twenty years old.












The build is:
Soma Delancey frame and fork
Cane Creek headset
Nitto CT-80 stem
Nitto Raundoneur bars
Shimano Sante brakes and levers
Shimano Sante crankset
MKS pedals with Soma toe clips
White Industries bottom bracket
Velocity Fusion rims on Paul high flange hubs
Vittoria Randonneur tires
Nitto 65 seatpost
Selle San Marco Zoncolan saddle

I forgot to mention:
Shimano Biopace (oval) 42 tooth chainring
White Industries 16 tooth freewheel

I'm Back

I'm always slightly upset with other people who don't post to their blogs and now I haven't posted to mine for over a month. Not since my birthday. It's not that my birthday upset me. I just haven't been doing much of interest. No racing but I've been putting a lot of miles on my bikes. I'm hoping to start the season in better shape than last year. Speaking of birthdays, I've learned that your racing age for cyclocross is your age the following year. That means that I'll get a new age group a year early, just in time for the Nats in Bend. There have only been 6 racers in the 65-69 year age group the last two years at the Nats. If I work really hard maybe I'll have a chance for a podium position.
I really can't afford to be buying more bikes but I couldn't resist this one. I've been gathering components for a single speed road bike and this is the frame that I wanted. I scored a complete bike. It has the same bars and pedals that I have already purchased so I guess I'll sell the brand new ones to help defray the cost. It has a flip flop rear hub and I rode it fixed the first day I had it. I don't know if I'll ride it fixed again. It's a lot more comfortable with a freewheel. Consider this the "before" picture. I'll post lots of pictures of the completed project.

Birthday

When i get older losing my hair,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine.
If i'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm sixty-four.
You'll be older too,
And it you say the word,
I could stay with you.
I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride,
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm sixty-four.
Every summer we can rent a cottage,
In the isle of wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera chuck & dave
Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm sixty-four.

I remember when that song came out. I liked it. I didn't think it had anything to do with me though. I had a birthday today. Guess what.