First Mountain Bike Race, First Podium Finish
 

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/d6...a/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/d6...a/071329fe.jpg

And the Strava for the race - forgot to turn it off afterward for a few minutes:
http://app.strava.com/rides/1904233

Congratulations, homie! That's excellent. (BTW, there's a minimum carnage level that you must meet before you can actually post a pic of it...and that pic is far from qualifying:lol::roflmao::lol:)


:thumb:

Cheers

hahahaha yeah I know it's just some scrapes, but I feel the pain I endured while picking the rocks out and pouring all that peroxide on it makes it ok to post the pic.

How many in your age categ?

I think 10, he said 12 but I think 10... not many but I am still happy.

congrats- my first race was in Phoenix way back in like '94... it was the Cactus cup series held at a really sweet trail that has since become luxury homes...
hopefully that gives you some ganas to keep going... good luck!

Wow - Cactus cup, back when Deadly Nedly owned the course (and many others).

To the Op - sounds like my first race back in the early 90s - a little blood and a lot of fun - good job!

If you had been covering your brake levers, perhaps you wouldn't have crashed.

Lol.... Actually I was covering my brakes, hit a crazy bump and locked up my saint brakes. Went over the front of the bike.

Damn, good thing it wasn't a crazy jump or drop :eek:.

Congrats - - Way to go!
:thumb:

yeah, I know, right?!

Sandbagger!!!!

Crashed and still won.

Hahaha :)