The forecast looked good on Saturday night. There was a chance of rain late on Sunday afternoon, but it looked to arrive well after all the races. Chickasaw has a weird format with Pro and Cat. 1 races going off at 9:00am, then all other classes going at 1:00pm. With me having the morning race, I would surely be seeing dry conditions. I checked the radar Sunday morning to see a huge blob of green heading towards Columbia. It looked like it would reach the course around 10:30am. Great. We would still be racing at that point. I really did not want to drag my newly rebuilt bike through a mudfest.
My trail was tacky, so I expected Chickasaw to be completely dry. But when I arrived, I found a slick, slimy trail. The flatter River Trail was slick in the turns. You really had to ride high on the berms to find some grip. I rode a half lap for my warm up to test the trail. It was good to see a few freshly-cut sections. I liked all the new trail, but it was still soft and hard to ride. I found it funny that the race promoter congratulated me at registration for "finally moving up to race with the big boys." You know that people don't pay attention to you when you have been Pro for five years and nobody knew it.
I did not feel very good at the end of the week. Actually, I felt terrible during my ride on Saturday. That is not always a bad thing. Sometimes you feel great the day after a bad day. I was better on Sunday, but the legs were a little stale. I would say I was at 90%. I expected to get dropped on the start as I have lacked speed on the mountain bike for the past two or three years. After a half lap, I figured I would make up some time, then fade halfway through lap 2 and survive lap 3. The main goal for the day was just to make the distance and hopefully not have any pain in my leg. I really did not care how I finished. I just wanted to race and feel healthy.
I was pleased to see 11 riders on the start line. Or actually 10. I rolled to the start at 8:54, just in time to hear the official fussing about us being late to the line. He said we were missing one rider still as I was getting my leg marked by the race promoter. Next thing I know, the official yells "Go!" and everybody takes off the line. It was five minutes before our scheduled start and there was no pre-race instructions or warning of any kind that we were about to start. I didn't have either foot on the pedals. I chose a terrible start spot, right in line with a huge tree. Getting smoked off the line at least took dodging the tree out of the equation. I was last off the line and last into the woods. I didn't panic though. I was expecting to get hammered in the opening section anyway. It could have been worse. At least I didn't miss the start like Michael Edens, who rolled up to the line to find we were long gone.
There was a crash in one of the early corners and I picked up two spots to 8th. The pace was very fast around the River Trail. The group split on the first rocky climb, which was treacherous with the dampness. I cleaned the hill, but did not pick up any spots as those running were blocking the trail. The group reformed before we got next to the Duck River. We had many young riders in the group, riders in the 17-19 age range that were racing in Pro/Open for the first time. They were going so hard early on and kept things packed up. I was working hard, but I stayed with the group with no real difficulties. My confidence was building by the minute.
In the first long field there were some big attacks. The leader was Cory Rimmer. He had gotten a gap before the rocky hill chaos and the chase was on behind him. The younger riders were attacking past Cayce Tiesler, who was riding his singlespeed today. He was spun out in the field and going much slower than the rest. All the riders in front of me got by him before a big mud puddle, but I had to wait behind until after the puddle. That opened up a gap that I could not close. I knew I couldn't go that hard or I would blow up. The pace was just too high right now.
A rider passed me before the entrance to the singletrack and I got a quick draft. I was happy to let him lead, but once into the woods I was about to run him over. The group ahead was still in sight, so I chilled behind this guy and watched how he rode. Everyone seemed to be having trouble with the slick corners, but I was having no problems. The group began to pull away on the next climb, so I passed the rider ahead before the technical descent of Rick's Trail. I offered to show him some lines, but he said that this was his home trail. I guess he didn't need me to show him any lines. He should have watched though because I quickly pulled off and caught another rider who had blown off the front group.
The hilly part of the loop comes on the Trail of Tears section. I started this section in 6th, about 30 seconds off a group of four. Rimmer was still out front solo another 30 seconds up. I gave it my all on the hills and tried to close the gap. There's a big double jump halfway through this section. I have never been brave enough to launch the full jump. It's a fast section and coming up short could be a disaster. I forgot about it the first lap and got just enough air to be dangerous. I plowed into the landing jump, but luckily my fork soaked up the impact.
On the biggest climb of the course, I caught another of the young riders who had blown sky-high from the pace of the first five miles. I was now top 5 and the group ahead was splitting. Despite my efforts, I made no dent into the size of the gap. After lap 1, Rimmer was up by 20 seconds over two chasers. Fourth place was 15 seconds further back and I was a minute behind him. That put me 1:42 down to Rimmer. My hope was that I could make up some time on the River Trail where I was cornering so fast, but the trail was much drier on lap 2. I could not believe the difference. It was barely slick, so everybody was able to push hard in the turns.
I got the gap to fourth down to 30 seconds at one point, then started to lose time. I could feel my legs fading before I got to the Trail of Tears for the second time. I faded even more through the hills and was very tired by the end of lap 2. I expected to fade this lap, but not quite so much this early. Then again, I didn't plan to start that hard either because I didn't think I could run that pace at all. I attempted the big double this lap. I braked just a little before the jump and came up just a few inches short, but I made it!
On the biggest climb of the course, I caught another of the young riders who had blown sky-high from the pace of the first five miles. I was now top 5 and the group ahead was splitting. Despite my efforts, I made no dent into the size of the gap. After lap 1, Rimmer was up by 20 seconds over two chasers. Fourth place was 15 seconds further back and I was a minute behind him. That put me 1:42 down to Rimmer. My hope was that I could make up some time on the River Trail where I was cornering so fast, but the trail was much drier on lap 2. I could not believe the difference. It was barely slick, so everybody was able to push hard in the turns.
Me in one of the rocky sections
photo courtesy of Columbia Cycling Club
I got the gap to fourth down to 30 seconds at one point, then started to lose time. I could feel my legs fading before I got to the Trail of Tears for the second time. I faded even more through the hills and was very tired by the end of lap 2. I expected to fade this lap, but not quite so much this early. Then again, I didn't plan to start that hard either because I didn't think I could run that pace at all. I attempted the big double this lap. I braked just a little before the jump and came up just a few inches short, but I made it!
After two laps, I was now over five minutes off the lead. Rimmer had not faded at all and was still leading the race. Second and third were still together. I lost more time to fourth place, and I now trailed him by 1:58. I knew I was not going to gain anything the last lap. My legs were gone! I just kept hammering with what I had left and tried to conserve my 5th place. I was pumped to be in the top 5 with 11 strong riders being present! The last lap hurt and my legs were completely shot after the long Dump Climb, but I held on to get 5th place and collect a little prize money. And I cleared that big double the final lap. I almost jumped over a course worker that was packing down the trail in between the jumps.
My lap times were nothing spectacular, but I showed I can run race pace in the Pros and can make it through a full race without blowing up. Most importantly, I did not have any pain in my gastroc! Despite being off the mountain bike all winter, my skills felt fine. Only my power was lacking. I was a bit off on the flats and on the climbs, but less so than in the past three years. I am VERY pleased with the effort today and feel I am starting with a very solid foundation this season. My lap times were all faster than last year. It was slightly more muddy last year, so I would say my times were even. I'll take that considering the off-season I have went through this time around.
Pro/Open podium
Video: Chickasaw race footage
My lap times were nothing spectacular, but I showed I can run race pace in the Pros and can make it through a full race without blowing up. Most importantly, I did not have any pain in my gastroc! Despite being off the mountain bike all winter, my skills felt fine. Only my power was lacking. I was a bit off on the flats and on the climbs, but less so than in the past three years. I am VERY pleased with the effort today and feel I am starting with a very solid foundation this season. My lap times were all faster than last year. It was slightly more muddy last year, so I would say my times were even. I'll take that considering the off-season I have went through this time around.
After my race, I hung around to watch the Cat. 2 and 3 races, cheering on my friends, like Rick Harmon and Angela Lee, and just having fun watching a bike race. It was awesome to see Rick on a bike again after several bouts with cancer. The rain stayed away all day. It sprinkled a few times during our race and then again near the end of the Cat. 2 and 3 races. The rain stayed just to the south of the trails. And I do mean just. We could see the rain falling in the distance when we left the park. The temp was perfect for bike racing. It stayed in the low-60s all day. You were neither hot nor cold when racing. I jumped off Chip Purcell's car before leaving. His battery had died, so I gave him a boost. At first it did not work, then we checked the water levels in his battery and all cells were dry. We filled them up and the car fired right up. I guess you really do have to keep water in your battery! I was glad to help out an old teammate and catch up with him while we worked. Chip raced with me on the Piney Flats and Bike Shop teams in 2006 and 2007.
I tried the local group ride on Tuesday and got dropped like a bad habit. I had no legs. Sunday really kicked my butt! I beat the group through the hills, then did a big pull. When I moved to the back of the line, the pack was exploding and I got gapped several times. I was too tired to be putting in those kinds of efforts so I'm glad I got dropped. I needed to get dropped. I turned around and rode towards the house, eventually meeting up with my Dad for a few miles.
Nothing makes my legs feel better than a long, slow ride, so Wednesday I made a long loop on some of my favorite roads. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. I cannot stress that enough. It was 78 degrees and sunny. It was the best day of the year this far. I actually got hot a few times on the climbs. I kicked up the pace on some of the faster roads. Crawford Store Rd. is my new favorite road. It is super fast, twisty and narrow. You actually have to pay attention to make the corners and that is rare for an open road. I found some gravel for my dose of Vitamin G, and even passed by J. Bourne road again for some secret-ninja training motivation. I knocked off a slow 71 miles, then did a little fishing behind the house with my Dad. We both caught only one fish, but mine was a huge largemouth bass, definitely the biggest I have ever caught.
Vitamin G
Fast, one-lane roads in southern Kentucky feel like riding in Europe at times.
Next up on the calendar is Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, AL tomorrow. I'm on the fence as to whether or not I will actually go. The forecast is again sketchy. There's a cold front in place bringing cold temperatures and a chance of rain. I'll make the call in the morning. Right now, I'm 90% in. I'm ok with cold, but I am not into getting sick at this point with a cold and rainy race. I'll save my money for a race later in the year that I am actually prepared for. Even if I do go, I'm not staying for the road race on Sunday because I don't think my leg is ready for back-to-back races like that just yet. The road race is 80 miles for us. That would be a tough day after a hard crit. A livestream from the crit. is supposed to be up for nearly all the races. You can watch it here starting at 12:00pm CDT. I'll be in the Cat. 2 race at 3:50 if I go. I'm a little nervous about racing in the pack. Tuesday's group ride was the first time I have ridden with more than one person at a time on the road since Gateway Cup last September. It will be exciting! If I don't go to Anniston, I will get back to it in two weeks with the Cedar Hill Criterium near Nashville.
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