Trail to Trail Race -Aug 19th

[Guest]

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[FACTORe]

that is fine - a late start is ok - what is the bike space on your vehicle? 

[EllsRider]

FactorE said :anybody have an extra space in their vehicle?  not wanting to drive out there alone

Whasssup wit dat? It's OK for you to drive to the backwoods of Georgia but you won't go into Polk county?    They're people like you  and me, nothing to fear.        Just joking.  I can understand you wanting to minimize your carbon footprint. 

[treadlight]

that is fine - a late start is ok - what is the bike space on your vehicle? 

I have a civic with saris for trunk that can hold up to two. Let me know

[FACTORe]

i might have to drive myself - i am doing the 2 bike thing...is anybody else using 2 bikes?  if so how does that work - they have a staging area to switch?

[SmartRider]

i will be right...well maybe furthur than right behind you fellas - doing it solo clydesdale stlye

FACTORe, whats clydesdale??..... is that a race classicifcation?  I've seen it before somewhere.. I'm trying to figure out how to classify myself.  Any info is much appreciated..

-Andrew

[slowfatguy]

i will be right...well maybe furthur than right behind you fellas - doing it solo clydesdale stlye

FACTORe, whats clydesdale??..... is that a race classicifcation?  I've seen it before somewhere.. I'm trying to figure out how to classify myself.  Any info is much appreciated..

-Andrew

Clydesdale is for us big boys that weigh 200+. If you qualify you can run that, or they will have a beginner category. Don't let it fool ya though, some of the big guys can lay it down!

[treadlight]

i will be right...well maybe furthur than right behind you fellas - doing it solo clydesdale stlye

FACTORe, whats clydesdale??..... is that a race classicifcation?  I've seen it before somewhere.. I'm trying to figure out how to classify myself.  Any info is much appreciated..

-Andrew

Clydesdale is for us big boys that weigh 200+. If you qualify you can run that, or they will have a beginner category. Don't let it fool ya though, some of the big guys can lay it down!

Hey Bro, I am doing this on all mountain and planning to pre-ride Saturday around 10am, can you show me around your playground? I only been there three times all of them after work, maybe you can show me a couple of good lines.
Thanks

[slowfatguy]

I'd love to be out riding Saturday, but I'll be at work instead.

[treadlight]

I'd love to be out riding Saturday, but I'll be at work instead.

Sucks.
So when is the lotto hits 10mil so we can quit our jobs.
I guess I'll be riding alone unless anybody will preride Sat. am pm me.

[treadlight]

Pre-ride Sat. 9:30a? Anybody?

[treadlight]

This is just my guess guys, from what I know of LHP since I ride there every week. You are probably looking at 8 miles or so of singletrack, with some dirt road thrown in, maybe 1/2-3/4 mile. From what I've heard the road section is around 35 miles, but I may be wrong on that. Most of the road should be fairly flat though. For the singletrack the hardest parts are being taken out as the summer rains have eroded those sections. They are rideable, but putting large numbers of riders on them at race pace would be bad for the trail, and the riders. Someone would get hurt badly, and I know the folks at RTR don't want that, nobody wants that.

I did my pre-ride this morning and you are right most of the drops looks really gnarly especially the 'fingers' and 'big momma's' even the 'the moe' and 'the beast' has all the roots pretty exposed and loose rocks were all over the place (probably due from pre-riders like me).
At least I know where I need to dimount and walk. LOL.
See you tomorrow guys. Good Luck and Be Safe.

[treadlight]

Where was everybody this morning?

Most of the participants are serious riders I thought I was out of place. The trail was great pretty much we did everything except 'sneaky snake' and we only did the second finger and all 'big mamma's'.
Learned a lot today.

Lesson 1: Pace yourself. On the first 8-mile lap I was trying to keep up with the 'big boys' not a good idea if you still have 35-mile road and another 8-mile lap.

Lesson 2: Hydrate. After the first lap I stop by the transition and grab foods and 3 bottles of water drunk the two and spilled the another to my head went to the car and brought a 16oz water bottle. So I was leaving to finish a 35-mile road with fat tire on 92deg with one stinking water bottle. 10 miles after I was started cramping so I was forced to stop and went to a gas station to beg for a tap water. Got back to the bike and saw two guys on the same class, what was I suppose to do, duh! chase them! (again stupid, refer Lesson 1). Made it to the halfway and feeding station, but the cramping just won't go away. I pretty much just dealt with the pain but when I stop at a red light my whole legs just locked up and I feel to the road. I just sat there and try to revive my legs at this point I know I am close back to the park so I did most of us will do 'dig deep' (I know now how it really feels). I saddle up and started to pedal slowly my legs still does not want to cooperate but I know Walmart will be just after “that traffic light”. Amazingly my legs started loosening up and managed to maintain 15 mph to get back to the park. Got to the transition area and refilled my water bottle and brought two extra. Did the rest of the 8-mile off road with no crashes but was cramping until the finish line.

To sum it up, it was a good ride I have no excuses only things learned. Now I am on a crossroad, do I need to invest more time in the saddle or just stay with the weekend rides?

[RiskEverything]

To sum it up, it was a good ride I have no excuses only things learned. Now I am on a crossroad, do I need to invest more time in the saddle or just stay with the weekend rides?

I suppose you could do longer, more intense weekend rides...
Any reason you can't make the Tuesday or Thursday evening rides?

You could also cross-train- run, skate, swim, etc.

[chiselchest]

If you finished that race in that heat you should be proud! The heat out there was ruthless! Lots of suffering was going on out there.

[SandPine]

Threadlight,
Good job sticking it out through the pain.  Just reading your description sounds painful.  Adrenaline can make you forget your gameplan. 

How did everyone else do at this event?  Come on, let's hear your story.  Is always good to read other participant's description of a race/event.  So much to learn...