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10-09-11, 07:26 PM
Entered my first ever mtb race yesterday. Was extremely apprehensive prior to it thinking it was going to be a crash course, and as it turned out I was correct. On the first 5 turns, there were 6 crashes, then about 1 mile into the first 4 mile lap, I went down on a fast descent. Took a guy with me he was right behind me and hit my bike, smashing his face into my wheel, losing quite a bit of blood.
The race was 12 miles (three 4 mile laps) on Phoenix's McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The track is basically rollers, but with the number of people on it, it was tough. I never realized how many people don't know how to carry momentum into climbs. Sheesh! I would be making quick work of a climb while the guy in front of me struggled up it because he wasn't pedaling in the downhill section that led up to the climb. Inevitably, I wouldn't be able to pass up the hill, and would have my climb effed up because of him.
I finished 18th out of 35 overall, but my room mate and I took 1st and 2nd respectively in our age category so that was pretty cool, especially considering the 2-3 minutes I spent on the ground, LOL.
The damage after getting home and dumping peroxide all over it:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d60/haulasshyena/03f6f6c7.jpg
And my roommate and me standing on the podium... not many people stayed for the award ceremony since it was almost 2 hours after our cat3 race finished:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d60/haulasshyena/071329fe.jpg
And the Strava for the race - forgot to turn it off afterward for a few minutes:
http://app.strava.com/rides/1904233
The race was 12 miles (three 4 mile laps) on Phoenix's McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The track is basically rollers, but with the number of people on it, it was tough. I never realized how many people don't know how to carry momentum into climbs. Sheesh! I would be making quick work of a climb while the guy in front of me struggled up it because he wasn't pedaling in the downhill section that led up to the climb. Inevitably, I wouldn't be able to pass up the hill, and would have my climb effed up because of him.
I finished 18th out of 35 overall, but my room mate and I took 1st and 2nd respectively in our age category so that was pretty cool, especially considering the 2-3 minutes I spent on the ground, LOL.
The damage after getting home and dumping peroxide all over it:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d60/haulasshyena/03f6f6c7.jpg
And my roommate and me standing on the podium... not many people stayed for the award ceremony since it was almost 2 hours after our cat3 race finished:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d60/haulasshyena/071329fe.jpg
And the Strava for the race - forgot to turn it off afterward for a few minutes:
http://app.strava.com/rides/1904233