2009 Race Season starts with the Snake Creek Gap TT

pics with FMers in em that I saw:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10841725@N00/3164612948/in/set-721576120671...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10841725@N00/3163824913/in/set-721576120671...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10841725@N00/3164701968/in/set-721576120671...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10841725@N00/3164756252/in/set-721576120671...
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287836396134547522
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287837097264510338
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287839252841295330
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287841136106884002
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287843021652473410
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287843033403815202
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287843052736134738
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287844418687359506
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287844435365170450
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287844863200121858
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287844885954024786

I was really looking forward to the SCG this year, I wanted to see how much of a time improvement I could make over last year. I was a bit dissapointed my legs were feeling tired during the day on Friday and Saturday morning. I decided to make a go at it anyway and started the 17 at a great pace and held it through about mile 10 when my legs started to fade on me. It started to feel like I was riding with my brakes on (and yes I did jump off my bike to check them). The last couple miles were painful and I was just spinning in a super easy gear. I got passed by a couple people in my class and at that point I was just holding on and trying to finish.

I ended up riding 1 minute faster than last year which I can live with considering my tired legs and the weather conditions. I'm in 9th place out of 31 and I'm hoping I can jump into the top 5 by March. I'm going to need to drop 20 minutes or so off my time to make it happen probably.

A few pics of me (I don't have an FM jersey yet, waiting on the sweet new kits)
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287840987676957090
http://picasaweb.google.com/caver101/TheSnakeJan2009#5287841012060100562
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfernan62/3165531327/in/set-72157609758124538/

On a funny note, I talked my friend Richard into riding the 17 miler as his first ever race. I had forgot how steep some of the trail was and told him he didn't need to put on his small chain ring. I couldn't remember from last year and I thought I had ridden all of it on the second chainring. On the first hill I was laughing because he needed it.

Highlights from my ride include:
Having my left cleat come off and re-attaching it
Every half mile to mile having to stop and clean my glasses since they were covered in mud/water
Falling and turning my seatpost 90 degrees (which I thought I broke and almost cried)
Hike-a-bike-a-thon through most of the rock garden on the last mountain (Cross dismounts and remounts came in handy)
Averaging 5.2mph through 17 miles on a 46.4"gain SS.
Finishing DFL in SS 17mile group :-D

I think I can do much better. I was really heavy on the brakes because of limited vis on the downhills, because of the fog and the constant water battle with my glasses. Towards the end I started walking up easily climbable uphills cause my nerves were so shot.

I have a new found respect for anyone who does endurance races. I also can't wait till Feb to destroy my first time.

Riding along the ridges in the fog was my highlight. A religious experience. The chili and beer at the end where also fantastic.

Seems 32x20 on a 29er was too hard of a gear for me. The muddy climbs in the first section where killing me. Like riding through glue. Had to take off my glasses and toss them in my camelbak. Scratched them. First muddy section, my front brake got jacked up and I ended up just loosening it so it wouldn't rub like crazy. I rode the majority of the second section but did it slowly. Felt fine but had no power. No energy.

I put some photos on my site.

Riding in the wet fog was way more fun than I was imagining as I rode in the bus to the start line. I had full sleves and tights so I never got cold, and I took my time on the first 30 miles, saving my energy and mental stability for the last 4. Except for a flat tire at mile 25 and some trouble getting it fixed (had to borrow some stuff from a couple generous riders since my replacement tube was also flat), it was a very enjoyable ride.

As expected, the 4 rocky, steep, long (there's so many miles in the last 4 miles!) miles at the end of the trail took everything I had left. Funny how, on the first half of the race, most everyone is friendly and talkative. Nearing the end, all you get is desparate, quiet looks. The fog made it seem even quieter, and kind of scary.

Snake Creek TT maintained its reputation, which makes me happy and proud of everyone who rose to the occasion, especially those who rode it for the first time! See you guys in February!

I thought this was a really fun race. The thick fog was gorgeous and made for a really beautiful riding experience. The weather was not quite cold or rainy enough to be really unpleasant and the mud was never thick enough to be unrideable (at least with the tires I was running). My finish time was not that great but given the circumstances I was happy just to get in a good day of riding.
I had some drama with my bike in the weeks leading up to the race, and arrived at the starting line not having pre-ridden the course (or ridden anywhere except on the road in more than three weeks). My mountain bike had been sitting in the shop waiting for SRAM to either repair or warrantee a destroyed right shifter. I thought I might end up riding singlespeed this time but managed to rig up a early-90s-vintage friction thumbshifter the day before the race. Having the derailleur skipping and not accessing the highest and lowest cogs during the race was annoying, but only a little. I didn't have any great expectations for my time given all these problems and went into the race intending to just enjoy the ride. I also lost a bottle cage bolt and had to remove the cage entirely and dump the water. That whole process only took a couple minutes and I left the cage back on the side of the trail as a nice bonus for someone to find.
It was my first time racing in the FM jersey which was cool. Although the jersey's white stripe may never be truly white again (sorry Kurt).
I havent lived in the region that long and hadnt ridden this trail before but I am psyched I get to race it twice more this winter. It was definitely great riding, the last section was challenging but not too much. I would not call it the hardest trail in the southeast or even the hardest trail I've raced on around here. It was plenty technical and I definitely hiked a few sections but I never felt like I needed a longer-travel bike (and maybe some body armor) like I did descending Farlow during Swank65.
I will try to be a little more Serious Racing for the second TT-- looking forward to February!!

Guy at the creek crossing has his photos posted, you can search by bib number
http://www.backprint.com/view_event.asp?PID=bp%19%7EAu&EVENTID=47777

I started out pretty strong, but I began to feel worse and worse as the day wore on. It was evident I hadn't been on my bike for a few weeks. I'd been fighting a cold all week and riding aggravated it. I had a headache and an upset stomach before finishing the first 17 miles.

I backed off for the last 17 miles knowing things were going to get much harder. I got a flat in nearly the same spot as the race last January and made the ultimate bonehead move while I was changing tubes. I turned my bike upside down and my water bottle cap was open, so my entire full bottle of water dumped out. Suck! Ten miles to go and zero water. Needless to say, I started cramping like crazy (thanks to everyone who checked if I was alright when I was writhing on the side of the trail).

By the end I was just trying not to die. I was happier to see the cell towers at the end of the trail than I have ever been before. Once you see those it's downhill all the way to finish line. One good thing about a terrible first ride is that it leaves plenty of room for improvement in February and March.

Thanks to all the NWGA SORBA people who run the race. They are a well organized and friendly group. The chili and pasta salad at the finish went a long way towards lifting my spirits.

See you guys next month

They added new age group categories.

http://www.nwgasorba.org/Snake2009/Snake2009_January.htm