Friday afternoon we hooked up the trailer and drove to Ashland. Frank and Sally hooked up their Casita trailer and came with us. We stayed in an RV park out by Emigrant Lake. It is a nice park and we had spots next to the creek. I raced the Spring Thaw race on Saturday morning and we went out to dinner Saturday night to New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro. Excellent food. Google it and read the articles.
The race started in Lithia Park and climbed up the hill, and climbed, and climbed some more. I raced the beginner category so I only had to go part way up the hill and only one lap. I don't know if I could have done more. I probably could have. My chain came off the big sprocket on the rear wheel and jammed up against the spokes on the first hill out of the park. It took me several minutes to get it loose. The guy riding sweep helped me. That tells you what place I was in. It didn't happen again and I couldn't get it to happen later in the repair stand. Once I got to the top of the hill it was mostly fun single track all the way back down. There is one section that is pretty technical and I crashed once. I actually just fell over because I was being cautious and going too slow.
Here's a chart from Motion Based showing elevation and heart rate. It was pretty difficult. Motion Based says the average ascent grade was 10.7% and the average descent grade -7.4%. Total elevation gain, and loss, 1,930 feet.
The short track cross country series in Jacksonville, Oregon started Monday evening. I raced it. The big news is that I raced my single speed. The course is perfect for this bike. It starts with a climb up a gravel road for about 1/2 mile and then single track back down to the start. The single track is a little rocky but generally pretty fast. Two steep, short uphills. One I rode each lap that someone wasn't stuck walking up in front of me and one I coasted up until I slowed enough to have to walk. I think next week I'm going to attempt to ride them both. There is also a fast creek crossing. Big splash. Lots of fun. It's a four race series. I think I'll do better next week. It's kind of crazy, though, that I drive over two hours each way to race for thirty minutes. I'm racing the sport class now.
On a sad note, our beagle, Buddy, got run over while I was away racing in Jacksonville. Even though we live basically on a gravel driveway with only one house beyond us there is some traffic. He chased cars and that was his demise. Rest in peace Buddy. Drive all your neighbors crazy with your howling up in doggy heaven.
The race course was a loop up the drag strip and back the return road which was about half way up the hill at the end. The finish line was at the top of the hill. It was only three laps, about 3.3 miles but it was a killer. I was last place. Even the kids beat me.
I got a new frame for my mountain bike. An Orbea Alma 29er. I swapped all the components off my Orbea Lanza. Isn't it pretty? I'll eventually upgrade the components to match the bling level of the frame. I'm going to race the single speed again next week but I'll take this one along to show off.
Friday afternoon we hooked up the trailer and drove to Ashland. Frank and Sally hooked up their Casita trailer and came with us. We stayed in an RV park out by Emigrant Lake. It is a nice park and we had spots next to the creek. I raced the Spring Thaw race on Saturday morning and we went out to dinner Saturday night to New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro. Excellent food. Google it and read the articles.
The race started in Lithia Park and climbed up the hill, and climbed, and climbed some more. I raced the beginner category so I only had to go part way up the hill and only one lap. I don't know if I could have done more. I probably could have. My chain came off the big sprocket on the rear wheel and jammed up against the spokes on the first hill out of the park. It took me several minutes to get it loose. The guy riding sweep helped me. That tells you what place I was in. It didn't happen again and I couldn't get it to happen later in the repair stand. Once I got to the top of the hill it was mostly fun single track all the way back down. There is one section that is pretty technical and I crashed once. I actually just fell over because I was being cautious and going too slow.
Here's a chart from Motion Based showing elevation and heart rate. It was pretty difficult. Motion Based says the average ascent grade was 10.7% and the average descent grade -7.4%. Total elevation gain, and loss, 1,930 feet.
The short track cross country series in Jacksonville, Oregon started Monday evening. I raced it. The big news is that I raced my single speed. The course is perfect for this bike. It starts with a climb up a gravel road for about 1/2 mile and then single track back down to the start. The single track is a little rocky but generally pretty fast. Two steep, short uphills. One I rode each lap that someone wasn't stuck walking up in front of me and one I coasted up until I slowed enough to have to walk. I think next week I'm going to attempt to ride them both. There is also a fast creek crossing. Big splash. Lots of fun. It's a four race series. I think I'll do better next week. It's kind of crazy, though, that I drive over two hours each way to race for thirty minutes. I'm racing the sport class now.
