Race #2 - Mudslinger!

The Mudslinger lived up to it's name with more than enough mud to cover each and every rider & bicycle from top to bottom. The course was a 'roady' course, with disappointingly small sections of single-track; it was mostly hard-packed fire-roads with some pavement thrown in.

The race started off as a climb ... a long gradual 5 mile climb of about 3000 ft. It was all on fire-roads; there were several riders on cross bikes. The start was fast; instead of trying to trick my legs i decided to be smart and pace myself for the climb that I knew was ahead. About half way up I started to catch some of the girls who blew by me at the start. My pacing was paying off. Once we got into the single-track I passed another girl ... and then it was back out on the road and climbing again. My fender was working well ...(thanks Rob!) and I was able to eat without eating too much dirt. As the climbing went on I started to drop some of the girls who were 'hanging on' and to catch another one ... I was starting to feel good and then out of no where some girl I don't remember passing went by me at mock2. I found out later that she had mistakenly cut the course, and most of the climbing!

Unknown to me, the final piece of single-track held some surprises. First I lost my front fender - it somehow came detached from my bike!!! Later on the same piece of trail I noticed that my front wheel seemed loose when bunny-hopping over a log. I looked down and sure enough ... the quick-release was undone - likely happened while surfing in the mud! Just as I noticed it, I went over a bump (that I didn't see since I was checking out my front wheel) and the wheel went flying. i am not sure how but I landed on my back wheel and managed to catch myself before going head over tea-kettle down the hill. I am still not sure how. I caught up to my front wheel, put it back on and raced down the single-track to the road; which eventually brought me to the finish-line.

Not knowing the girls in my category it is hard to tell where I finished (no results posted yet) ... but I was happy with my effort. I crossed the line smiling from ear to ear and knowing that I'd just had a great ride and a lot of fun in the mud. What more can you ask for?

My favorite part of the race were the fast down-hills and the single-track where we had to bike-surf on the mud!!

The OBRA series continues in the next few weekends but I need to spend my weekends putting miles in my legs in preparation for my 24 hour solo event. Fraser and I are heading to Bend for a mountain bike 'camp' (ie: vacation where we will get to play on our bikes all day, every day!!) next week ... and then it will be only 3 weeks until my big event! I am getting excited!!!

Thanks again to Norco and Kisslers Cyclery for all of the support ... Could not do it without you guys!

Commuting to/from work

I am not actually sure exactly how far my commute to work is. I've been meaning to install a bike computer on my bike ... one of those things. What I do know is that it takes me about 2 and a half hours, it involves several 8% and 13+% climbs, roads, paths, and crazy bridges. When I commute to work I can only go one way at a time (would love to spend 5 hours a day on my bike but when would I get my work done??). I drive to work, ride home; ride into work and then drive home!

Another tidbit: pannier holders weigh a lot ... and when they have panniers attached to them and they are full of stuff ... the bike is heavy! I think my commuter bikes weighs about 40 pounds more than my road bike. It's kind of weird having a bike that is 'back end heavy'. Good for training, bad for going fast up hills!

I've been lucky so far. I've been rained on, but it was more of a Northwest 'sprinkle' than rain (think rain in Ottawa). What I have learned is that rain is different here. What they call light rain, those of us from Ottawa call rain. What they call rain, we call a torrential downpour ... and when there is red on that little radar picture; well - stay inside.

I rode home on such a day the other day. Luckily I missed the hail fun and just caught the rain. I was soooo happy with my water proof pants and jacket. It poured. I had my glasses on but had to put my hand in front of my face to see ... it POURED. When the rain let up the streets were full of water, making the ride more of a swim than a ride! I was never so happy to get home!

My favorite part of the commute is the bike path along the river. It's beautiful. There are rowers out in the river every morning and evening ... and a lot of runners taking advantage of the warmer weather. There is a section of the bike path that 'floats' on the water - very cool! The other part of the ride that I like is a small field that I ride by on the Vancouver side of the I5 bridge .. it is full of bunny rabbits -- especially in the mornings! I also really appreciate all of the 'biker specific' lights (yes, we get our own lights!) and 'stand here' options to make the lights turn for us. Portland is so bike friendly!!! My least favorite parts are the crazy bridges ... the I5 and Sellwood.

In order to avoid traffic or get to work on time I get up at 5am each day. I get on my bike around 5:30am (with lights) and start my ride. It is a nice peacefull time to be on the roads! I am getting better at 'night riding'! Earlier in the year I also needed this light to get home ... but with the extra daylight I rarely need it anymore!

And that, my friends, is a summary of my commute to/from work! I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoy riding it!

The Race Season Begins ...

Well, the season race started early for me this year with the Horning's Hustle race here near Portland. I've never raced in March before and wasn't sure where my fitness was. It didn't take long to find out ...

The course had loads of short steep climbs and fun descents. It wasn't a technical course at all - no rocks or roots; just mud. The pre-ride had me anticipating a muddy race ... and I wasn't disappointed! Sunday morning I was hanging out at the race course, warming up and wondering how many women would be in my category. Finally warmed up in the chilly morning the racers headed to the start. After 20 minutes of instructions we were told that the beginners would start right away and that the rest of us would start 40 minutes later.

At the start line I ran into a few girls I knew; which is always fun! Karen Dewolfe (from Canada) consistently places top 3 in the Canada Cups and Sue Butler from the area is also a very strong racer. I met her a few years ago at the Trans Rockies event. After seeing them at the start line I knew it would be a fast, tough race. We were chatting amongst each other when the start gun went off --- the race started! For the first minute I managed to trick my legs and body into going into my zone 5 (which, with my switch to endurance training is non-existent). It was great. I was up with Sue and Karen leading the pack. And then the pain started. My legs were rebelling. They weren't used to this. They were struggling to recover. I had to back off. As the leaders slipped away I settled into my own pace ... the race was supposed to be 4.5 laps and I knew that in the current conditions it would take a while. It was a great day to be racing ... the weather was perfect, the people were friendly and I was having fun in the mud!

Sometime in the first lap I lost my baby ring -- i am sure pretty much everyone did. It was sooooo muddy. So I was off and on my bike; running and riding; running and riding. I am improving my cyclo-cross mounting skills! I have to say I enjoyed the downhills the most. I was flying down them ... most of the girls around me were walking ....and I was having fun surfing the mud. Riding in the snow and ice really trains you for that type of thing! It was the highlight of the race loop.

I have to say that my pace was more like an 8hour pace than a 2 hour race pace. I kept on trying to remind myself that it was a short race and would push it for a bit and then would slip back into my 'forever' pace. I need to work on the mental switch between the short and long races this season! I was very disappointed when they pulled me after 2.5 laps.... What? I had only been racing for an hour 45 min! I can't express how disappointed I was. I start slow and finish fast so had been planning to step it up a few notches each lap. I had been eating and drinking for the longer effort. Lesson learned... as I watched the leaders come in (they were able to finish their 3rd lap) I saw how exhausted they were. Karen was telling me afterwards that one more lap would have killed her. Something else to work on this season ... go so hard you are barely holding on.

All in all, the race delivered a nice, not-go-gentle kick in the butt! All of my endurance training had given me good legs, but not fast ones! I am going to continue to do all of the short races I can ... it is a good interval workout if nothing else; and hopefully my legs will remember how go fast as the season goes on. :-)

I was happy to find out that my legs were faster than I thought; I had placed 4th in the Pro category.