Race Series Recap Series

Last Sunday (here I am trying to be current) was the final of the Time Trial series that I have been obsessing racing in. Up for grabs was a sweet HI-VIS YELLOW winners thermal jersey and I have been coveting.

The final race was held at the Briar Chapel mountain biking trails, which I have a love/hate relationship with. I love them because I have raced very successfully on them, and I hate them because there are some technical rock gardens that I like to ride in a terrible fashion. Always. This was the second time we raced at BC for this series and I had already placed well at the first race and felt confident in my handling of the course. I had changed up things and put a harder gear on the singlespeed so I was only mildly concerned about how that would work out.

This was the first time I also was able to head straight to the race and not have to work beforehand so I enjoyed sleeping in and slowly making my way extremely lazily to the venue. I always take two laps so I aim to be there at the start and then do my second lap around an hour later.

So anyway I did a preride lap and proceeded to drop my chain (on a SS!), which added further to my concerns but I was like fuck it I’ll just have fun. It was a beautiful warm day, I was on my bike, who cares if I win or not?! (I do).

My first lap went off without a hitch and I was flying thanks to a better gear that I wasn’t topping out on. The only hiccup came when I lost traction on a seemingly tame switchback on a downhill and ended up going down and sliding into a bridge and a ditch. Saved the bike though! I checked myself and the bike over and took it a bit easier on the way to the finish and still was a minute faster than my previous time. I was covered in blood but you know, mtn bike stuff.

My second lap I took easy and planned to basically just get around cleanly but this was thwarted when I dropped my chain twice (on a SS!?!). I felt great and it was only about 20secs slower than my race lap. Oh well. My time was fast enough to easily secure myself the win today, and my overall series standing! The jersey was mine!

All in all I am very happy with how I preformed and the fact this gets my mountain bike season off to a great start. I was worried coming right off of cross that I would be totally burnt out and hate it, but I did enjoy getting back on the mountain bike. I miss the atmosphere of cross TONS, but I am hoping after another season of mountain I will get even strong and become an even better technical rider. Really staying happy on the bike is my main goal.