Mountain Bike Racing - Anybody racing Revenge of the Rattlesnake?

Just wondering if anyone here is going to be racing Revenge of the Rattlesnake (http://www.iplayoutside.com/Events/2006/06/7324.html)this weekend? About an hour ago I decided to head up on Sunday for it. I have never done it but from what I have heard it is an "interesting" race. My goal is to finish it. :rolleyes:

I have heard it is an "interesting" race. My goal is to finish it. Sounds like an interesting one - - my kind of masochism :D Is it one big 50k backcountry loop? That would be truly epic indeed.

Sounds like an interesting one - - my kind of masochism :D Is it one big 50k backcountry loop? That would be truly epic indeed.

As far as I know there is one bail out spot 8 miles into the race. After that you had better plan on making it. Check out the pictures for the year 2000 from that link. On page 4 there are some nice ones. From what I understand this is a very technical course that is going to wear my butt out. I am even going with some heavy tires for this one. I am using a Panaracer Dart front tire along with a Panaracer Smoke (wire bead) rear tire. Supposively flats and ripping sidewalls are a very common occurence in this race.

Hopefully apclassic9 will comment on this race. I saw a picture of her son doing the race a few years back. I imagine they had a short length course for juniors back then, not sure though.

I looked at some earlier year's writeups and it looks like it's been as long as 75k in the past. Better bring a little duct tape (for a sidewall 'just-in-case') - - shucks, I'd put in a little coil of baling wire and a chunk or two of hay twine for good measure if it were me :)

Saw the picts. MMMMMMmmmmm . . . fog and mud. Yummy. Reminds me of my motocross days. Or the mudhole at Ski to Sea last week (in fact here is my pict (http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=07Q6006H050366&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1)of my lame-o pushing-to-get-back-on. I tried to pass a gal by going to the right around the hole, which sunk me to my axles:mad: ).

Good luck! Sounds like an adventure for sure.

LowCel - You might also check out the past numbers for this race - it was usually held at the end of the season, and folks who didn't HAVE to race for the points, didn't! They would show up, however, to see the destruction wrought... Plus, it's raining... Plantation Trail with rain = mud bogs, and that canaan valley muck everywhere else. Dirty, muddy, hub wrecking conditions... You've been warned! I'm sure you'll have fun, though!

Gee.....thanks. Jason McD called me up today to see if I wanted to go. I figure if nothing else I will at least have a good time getting to know a fellow racer a little better. He mentioned to me that most people that have done this race before to not make it there a second time.

The kid was pulled from this race in 2000 - the course marshalls decided he's get sucked into a mud bog and wouldn't let him finish... and the older one stopped and took a 20 minute nap during this race - right at the top of the last climb - But anyway, I hear that Dr. S plans to make it, so it would not surprise me if most of the VetEx & Master Ex guys show up - they're obviously a bit masochistic anyway!

Ughh...... I'm a bit tired. :rolleyes:

Glad to know you made it!!

Yeah, I survived. I ended up just turning it into move of a ride than a race. I went out and made a couple of wrong turns. After getting back on track and having trouble in one of the many nasty sections Scott (puts on White Oak) caught me. We rode the rest of the race together and just had a good time. About two miles from the end we caught a few riders so I sped up then and passed five of them. That helped my placing quite a bit.

I ended up finishing fifth in Sport (no age groups). Total distance was 34 miles and it took me 4 1/2 hours. I'm pretty beat up from it, that was every bit as rough as everyone said it was. I spent a lot of time in hub deep black nasty mud. I'll be pulling my bottom bracket out and replacing my cables later today.

Oh, the winner of the sport class was a rider from WVU that normally races expert (at least we think he does). Jason McD finished second. Nick Wait won the expert class in 2:51. It's amazing how fast he is. TJ finished second.

Overall we had a blast. Pizza and beer after the race for all racers. Unfortunately I skipped out on the beer though. I'm just not a big drinker anymore.

That's Nick's home course, LowCel... you know, he has a little brother who is every bit as fast as Nick, but he doesn't care for racing....

I knew it was his home course but I had no idea he had a brother that was just as fast. That's just scary!

Glad you endured, LowCel. Sounds like it was a bogger, for sure - - and one that would call into play all the 'cross/duathlon/hike-a-biking skills one could muster. Good job!

Jason tuned my bike for the Captain Thurmonds Challenge Today. He was telling me about the race and it didn't sound fun. He said nothing but rocks, roots, and bottomless mud. Congrats on finishing it.

He said nothing but rocks, roots, and bottomless mud. Congrats on finishing it.Indeed! Sounds like something better done on an ISDE-prepped motorcycle :D