Weekends go by too fast
Since my Mom has now moved to a nursing home in Manitowoc I decided that Dave and I should check out the trails at the Brown County Reforestation Camp near Green Bay. Susie McGinnity was raving about them at 24-9 and I had to see if they were as cool as she said.
The verdict is that the trails are awesome. Lots of fabulous smooth singletrack that flows with lots of twists and turns. It's the kind of trail that I dream of having in Madison since beginners could ride the trails but advanced riders could also have a blast riding with them. That would be so perfect for Mad FORCs rides--not that I don't like Blackhawk but it is challenging for beginners.
Anyway, the ride was kind of funny. On the first lap Dave told me to go in front as he wanted to go slow as he was tired from a long week of training (classic roller ski, WORS race, more roller skiing, alt-bomb, mtb time trial, ski school testing). I wanted to go a little harder so I took off. Then Dave started riding a bit harder to keep me in sight so I went harder to dry and drop him. That was pretty much how the first lap unfolded although at the end I could tell Dave was starting to get warmed up because I coldn't really get much of a gap.
After a refreshment break we headed out for lap two and it was clear from the start that Dave had his riding legs back. I told him that I wanted to take the second lap a bit slower as my legs were starting to feel my hard week of training. However, that wasn't to be the case. Dave ratched it up a notch, then I did, then he did, then I did. And I felt like a kick ass mtn bike racer chick as I nailed all the twists and turns trying to keep Dave in view or at least with in hearing range. Of course, all of this was going on as Dave tried to drop me so he could stop at an intersection and rest while he waited for me. I was not going to let that happen after gapping him at times on lap one. We passed two guys who looked like seriously casual riders and they must have thought we were nuts as we whipped through the trees chasing each other at full speed (for the record, we were nice and slowed down to say hi before we took off).
My legs were very glad to finally see the parking lot. I need to work on riding like that in races because I never really do. I tend to do my best "racing" on the alt-bomb or just out with Dave but this year I'm going to try and race at the races a little better. If I could ride like that at a race or two this year I might not be last all the time!
Sunday was spent visiting with my Mom. I'm off to the WEMS race at the Underdown Rec area next weekend for a 6 hour duo with Dave. I last was at Underdown back in maybe 1991 for a race--it was called Thunderdown in the Underdown then too. I need to find my tshirt from that race!
Anyway, I did a longer than normal Sunday visit with my Mom on Sunday which was okay since I was pretty tired. I'm not sure how cross season is going to work out but I may have to do fewer double race weekends. Hmm, the start of the season is going to be a problem - Sept 16/17 is Chequamegon, Sept 23/24 is Michigan, Sept 30/Oct 1 is Badger Cross Weekend, Oct 7/8 is Gloucester, Oct 15 is Ohio. My Mom is not going to like that!
Oh yeah - all you mountain bikers out there need to watch for Chris Strout who will be making his WORS debut at Devil's Head. I think he should probably go to the Chainsmokers Learn to Race clinic on Saturday (just teasing Chris!).
The verdict is that the trails are awesome. Lots of fabulous smooth singletrack that flows with lots of twists and turns. It's the kind of trail that I dream of having in Madison since beginners could ride the trails but advanced riders could also have a blast riding with them. That would be so perfect for Mad FORCs rides--not that I don't like Blackhawk but it is challenging for beginners.
Anyway, the ride was kind of funny. On the first lap Dave told me to go in front as he wanted to go slow as he was tired from a long week of training (classic roller ski, WORS race, more roller skiing, alt-bomb, mtb time trial, ski school testing). I wanted to go a little harder so I took off. Then Dave started riding a bit harder to keep me in sight so I went harder to dry and drop him. That was pretty much how the first lap unfolded although at the end I could tell Dave was starting to get warmed up because I coldn't really get much of a gap.
After a refreshment break we headed out for lap two and it was clear from the start that Dave had his riding legs back. I told him that I wanted to take the second lap a bit slower as my legs were starting to feel my hard week of training. However, that wasn't to be the case. Dave ratched it up a notch, then I did, then he did, then I did. And I felt like a kick ass mtn bike racer chick as I nailed all the twists and turns trying to keep Dave in view or at least with in hearing range. Of course, all of this was going on as Dave tried to drop me so he could stop at an intersection and rest while he waited for me. I was not going to let that happen after gapping him at times on lap one. We passed two guys who looked like seriously casual riders and they must have thought we were nuts as we whipped through the trees chasing each other at full speed (for the record, we were nice and slowed down to say hi before we took off).
My legs were very glad to finally see the parking lot. I need to work on riding like that in races because I never really do. I tend to do my best "racing" on the alt-bomb or just out with Dave but this year I'm going to try and race at the races a little better. If I could ride like that at a race or two this year I might not be last all the time!
Sunday was spent visiting with my Mom. I'm off to the WEMS race at the Underdown Rec area next weekend for a 6 hour duo with Dave. I last was at Underdown back in maybe 1991 for a race--it was called Thunderdown in the Underdown then too. I need to find my tshirt from that race!
Anyway, I did a longer than normal Sunday visit with my Mom on Sunday which was okay since I was pretty tired. I'm not sure how cross season is going to work out but I may have to do fewer double race weekends. Hmm, the start of the season is going to be a problem - Sept 16/17 is Chequamegon, Sept 23/24 is Michigan, Sept 30/Oct 1 is Badger Cross Weekend, Oct 7/8 is Gloucester, Oct 15 is Ohio. My Mom is not going to like that!
Oh yeah - all you mountain bikers out there need to watch for Chris Strout who will be making his WORS debut at Devil's Head. I think he should probably go to the Chainsmokers Learn to Race clinic on Saturday (just teasing Chris!).
posted by MadCross at 12:44 PM
1 Comments:
Ouch! You're mean. I don't like you any more. I thought MadFORCs was all about being inclusive and friendly, since aren't they co-hosting the Learn to Race clinic? Do they know how mean you are?
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