LaCrossin'

I had a feeling when I read up on the HPT that I was going to be in over my head in this race. Human Powered Trails is an appropriate name for this trail system. Bring every ounce of power you have to these trails!

The day started when I woke up early but did that thing where you hit the alarm to turn it off but then close your eyes "just for a minute". 25 minutes (and some more sleep) later, I actually did get up. So much for my extra time "cushion" that I was shooting for. I could barely stay awake on the drive there, I almost had to pull over. Once in LaCrosse, when I saw the "mountain" on the left, I felt I had really traveled somewhere. I had the feeling that I had left the Midwest and entered some other zone entirely. I had forgotten about the bluffs and scenic vistas around LaCrosse, all I remembered was that it was hilly. When I found that we had to drive up the "mountain" to get to the course, the task that lay ahead really sunk in. There were a bunch of the singlespeeders driving down the hill, leaving, as I was driving up. I think I passed Rachael and John.

No time for a warmup but that was fine, it's a long race. Right before the start I lowered my seat, thinking that would be better for what was shaping up to be a technical course. I didn't have enough time to do it right and test it out. Mistake.

The running starts are not my favorite. Ugh. I usually have to walk them so as not to aggravate old injuries, but this time they said if we couldn't run we could wait for the last people to finish running and then go. I gladly took that option, and I was not the only one. So there I was, starting last into the prologue lap. Immediately I realized the seat was way too low to go fast in the open stuff. I felt like one of those old guys you see riding on Sheridan Road with their seat way too low and their knees sticking out. I passed one of the women on the grassy hill at the end of the prologue, but had to stop to raise the seat. Arrrgh. It still felt way too low for the wide open stuff but I knew I'd be getting off the bike alot, or at least dabbing, and I didn't want to end up tumbling down the side of a bluff.... I was the last one into the singletrack. Early on I encountered the woman I had passed before, and I could see Jan ahead. They were both walking, and soon I was too. Already!! Oh, and a monkey too. He wasn't walking, just hanging out, laughing at us.

I immediately felt better, seeing the others walking ahead of me. The bad part of that is that is that it encouraged me to keep walking stuff that I should have been trying to ride. Jan was joking that she didn't know she'd be going for a hike that day. And quite a hike it was. Ride some, get off, get back on, get back off, and so on. Uh, oh, I think I hear someone coming up, wish they would say something when they need to pass, pull off the trail into the leafy itchy vegetation so they can pass.... over and over we would pull over to let the fast guys pass. That's the most frustrating part when you are already struggling with the trail and are trying to focus - having the constant stress that you might not hear someone coming up behind you in the singletrack and you might not get out of the way fast enough. Looking back on that lap, I think that we shouldn't have let the other girl with us get away, considering that we both were faster than she was in the open. We weren't paying close enough attention. Too much talking and walking and not enough riding. It was fun though, in a miserable sort of way.

Readers, I have to say these trails are the kind of well-planned trails most of you dream about! They are the kind that keep me awake the night before a race, but we already know I need more practice in the singletrack! These are the trails that people who think WORS trails are too easy would absolutely love! But they are very demanding and you have to have great balance and technical skills. And you can't ever let your attention lapse. All singletrack - roots, log piles, a big rock here and there, bench cut stuff on the side of the hill, tight trees, super tight switchbacks, some off camber stuff - no room for mistakes! It was very slippery that day in places. I think it would have been alot easier for me had it been less slippery.

In the middle of the next lap, I rolled over some roots and heard that pingy noise you hear when there is a stick in your spokes. Errrrrrrrrk - the bike stopped cold in the middle of the trail. Would not budge. Huh? I got off to figure out where this errant stick was, and instead found something totally unexpected. There was a big hunk of rooty thing wedged in my rear wheel, keeping it from moving. Picture a giant fat sweet potato with a curly end. The curly end was wrapped around a spoke, and the fat part was wedged between the seat stay, the wheel spokes, the rear brake assembly, and the rear brake cable. The way it was wedged caused the brake cable to be shoved up at almost a right angle from where it came out of the caliper assembly (I don't know the real name for this part). Yikes. I couldn't get it out, being wrapped around the spoke was the kiss of death. Neither could others who came along the trail and tried. Wheel would not move. So, I started "walking" the bike, which involved lifting up the (heavy) rear and trying to roll the front wheel along. A really ackward process. A nice local guy stopped to ask if he could help - he had already done the singlespeed race and was just out riding this race for fun. He showed me a shorter way back to the start. It was still plenty long!! I'm guessing I had to drag that thing for a mile total, though it could have been a lot less. It just seemed like a long way.

The race volunteers were great and super helpful. One of them took me over to some guys with tools, and one of those guys was was able to dislodge the rooty thing right away by wiggling it out. That's when you really feel stupid - a bunch of people try something, can't do it, then someone else comes along and makes it look ridiculously easy! But I was happy he was able to get it out. It probably loosened up on the way out of the woods. But, my rear brake was shot. The guy squeezed the lever to see if the root had caused a leak, and sure enough the fluid came out where the root bent the cable. Ah, just what I want dripping inside of my car (and definitely not dripping on the roof paint!)......he took off the brake and wrapped it up in a bag. I put a few more bags around it just in case the fluid started to eat through the first bag. I am not really sure what hydraulic DOT fluid can eat through and what it can't, and how fast, so I ended up taking some cardboard and some newspaper and putting those under the brake area when I later put the bike in the car.

As far as the inflatable monkey counting contest, which was fun, I had trouble keeping count. You wouldn't think so, given that I wasn't going all that fast, but I did. My mind was focused on other things, I guess. I got 18 in the woods plus three more at the finish, for 21. The winner, Al B., counted 29. I don't remember what he won, but it was something good.

I hung out for a while talking to people and stayed for the various awards and the raffle, and ate some brats , that was fun. (thanks Ray, Jen, for sharing your brats) Didn't win anything in the raffle. The race was well organized. Thanks to the promoters for putting it on.. Nice day, much nicer than it was at home. The long drive home took even longer cuz I stopped for a couple of naps. Got home at 4 ish am, to bed at 5ish.

The bike shop called tonight (Monday). They are having to send the brake to the manufacturer, and have no idea if it will make it back in time for the race this weekend. The brakes are pretty old, so I hope they are still supported. I've been lucky, those brakes have worked really well for me over the years, with minimal problems.

It's really late, now I have to get to bed.