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Gory Hole MTB race - Race Report by Doug Jorgensen The Quick Facts 12 place Sport Vet, time 2:12 This is the Iron Angel course in reverse; with about 2 mile of new virgin single track scraped together...No! There was not any evidence that any tool of agriculture or excavation had touched this trail, 2 miles of weed-whacked grass. (Can you imagine using a weed whacker to clear 2 miles of open grassland, most of it on a 45-degree slope? Velo Promo continues to astonish...) Anyway... The start was less than well thought out, moved at the last moment to the finish area. This left about 50yards of sprint before the first single track trail. The ATB slinky started vary early. The first lap was OK. Special Note about the climb that almost nobody made, I had the opportunity to (misfortune) to do it on foot and on bike. First lap, some guy if front of me biffs trying to get his loudly protesting front deralleur to move over to that small chain ring. The choice was use him for additional traction, or do my best cyclocross impression and run up. On bike is easier. The second lap was the fun lap, my crank started making cracking noises, and I thought my pedaling was getting sloppy after about 5 miles, progressively worse, I could no longer rationalize that this was old age. After stopping to inspect the crank, I discovered my left crank arm had about 10 degrees of lateral movement to it. I decided to make a pit stop and tighten things up. I realized that this was a pit under the green and my race was over. It is hard to get the adrenaline up when you are not in the hunt any more. Then I thought that this not a good way to finish one's first Sport class race, I would finish the race, do the last lap. I did not dive 2 hours, wait 1 1/2 hours for the start, eat 3 power bars, ride 4 aimless miles around the parking lot to be thwarted by a cheep Shimano crank. Off to complete the second lap and start the third with Allen wrench in hand. Of all the laps the last was the easiest I would find another rider ahead, pass them stop and re tighten the crank as the rider re passed me, MTB leap frog, sort of like intervals... Doug
Race Report by Dave Longinotti (sorry Dave, I tried including your long report, however, something in your e-mail message was jacking up my html and I couldn't figure out why - so you only get this). 6th in Vet Sport. The fastest beginner averaged (1:21/2) 40 min:30 secs per lap, I averaged 40min and 3 sec per lap.. At least I can take credit for not sandbagging Dave
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