Powderhorn B race report
From: Jeff Ingham
Date: Oct 23, 2007 10:02 AM
Here’s my take on the B race. The start was a little unorganized. As
soon as the C race ended I went for a warm-up reconissance lap and at
the top of the run-up everyone is already lineing up for the start. I
force my way somewhere into the middle, definitely not where I want to
be, now we stand around for 10 minutes waiting, its cold. Gun goes
off and I’ve got a really crappy start.
I spend lap one moving up thru the field. For some reason its easy
for me to remember passing the women Sara, Margot, Linda S, Linda C,
Kyia. Halfway thru lap 2 I bridge up to a group of about 5 with Rich
at the front and some LSC guys at the back. Just after the BMX
section I move into position right behind Rich and I’m thinking Rich
and I can lose this group and work together and do some dammage, my
legs feel super strong today.
We approach the runup and we attack it without dismounting on the
right. About half-way up Rich slows and I move to the left to pass he
suddenly looses his balance and falls into my back wheel and we both
go down. We get up and run but clearly I have a problem, my rear
wheel wont turn. At the top of the hill I start screwing with my
brake which is rubbing on my tire. I can’t fix it. It feels like I
mess with it for 10 minutes when someone from the crowed says ‘Give it
to me!’ he screws with the brake, no dice, finally he opens the quick
release, the wheels had moved in the drop-out, and I’m off again.
Judging by the results I’m now somewhere around 60th or 70th position,
my right brake hood is bent in at a crazy angle and my left brake hood
is still attached but loose so I can’t put any pressure on it, the
brake still seems to work though. With nothing to loose now I just go
full throtle as hard as I can. I start focusing on each person in
front of me. Bridge up….pass….stand and sprint….repeat….a
lot, stay in the drops. I don’t remember much but I remember passing
the women. Sara, Margot, Linda S, Linda C, Kyia (man this woman is
fast!) I remember passing Adam Birr. For about 4 laps I felt great.
I overcooked a few corners, was in the wrong gear once at the small
staircase and I’ll go on record as hating the artificial mud pit and
BMX section. The rest of the course is fantastic.
With about half a lap left I’ve made it all the way back to Rich.
Somewhere on the back before the BMX section I pass him, but now I’m
pretty much cooked. Before the run up he passes me and on the home
stretch someone else passes me.
Results 32nd overall, 21st in B1
Super fun race, but my body took a beating, both shins scraped, left
knee, right thigh, right elbow, right shoulder all battered and
bruised. Thats cross.
Bring on Red Barn!
Jeff