Vulture's Knob Race #1 of 2010

A long time has passed since you have heard from me.
It seems like no matter how I try to unclutter my life, each year is somehow even more busy than the last! I even took 5 months away from racing mountain bikes, it's been six years since I had a break of that length if my memory is correct. Anyway work has been my main focus in the "off season". A two week long trip to the desert southwest was in there somewhere, all the while I stayed on my bike in one way or another but was unsure about my race fitness until last weekend.
Saturday was the first of the Vulture's Knob series and the first MTB race in Ohio for 2010. There was much talk before the race about who was fast this year and who was already registered...everyone was freaking out with anticipation of the thrill of victory or the almost equal thrill of just finishing the race....or the possibility of disaster.

Personally I was anticipating my first race on my new bike, and on 29" wheels.

The weather was perfect, low 60s and sunny and the trails very dry. The start was very fast, with nearly 20 large class sprinting for the singletrack. I grabbed a textbook perfect start and was 2nd into the trails, then dropping to third shortly thereafter. The 3 of us grew a quick lead on the pack and things were looking very good until...

Flat rear tire on one the signature knob rocks had me stopping to change a tube...only I had grabbed the wrong size, a 26" tube that I could not get in my 29" tire. So walking back to the car I felt some sense of disappointment knowing I had a chance at a good finish.

15 minutes later I get back onto the trail and work my way through the 140 novice and sport racers, finally catching some experts late in the 3rd and final 7 mile lap. Needless to say I did not place high but after seeing my lap times I had some satisfaction knowing my fitness is good.


Thanks to my friend Jason Shaffer for the photos. He completed his first ever race on his Trek Fuel that day. He is already an accomplished photographer and I have a feeling he will be a fixture at more races in the future.

Next race will be Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Race #1 @ Mohican State Park. More on my new BIKE in a future blog.