Area man is scrambling to meet his June 1 book deadline so here's the quick and dirty on the Stottlemeyer 30, which the Titanium Cowboys tackled on Saturday. (First up, thanks to Yumay Chang for all the great pics.)
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Photo proof (not Photoshopped or anything) that I at one time was actually ahead of Titanium Cancellara and John Clark in a race. Granted, this is about 100 yards into it but I'll take what I can get. |
A super day both weatherwise and race wise. The course (for us 30ers) was two 15-mile laps through lots of tight, twisty (in parts, muddy) trails, some fast crazy-fun flowy sections and some dirt road bits too. Not big long climbs or anything (nothing Tower Road or Fragrance Lake Road-esque) but certainly challenging in its own way.
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Mild-mannered Scott Young before he turns into ... |
Scott and I opted for Single-Speed of which he won and I was 4th. Way to go, Scott! (I think 4th place earns me a naugehyde medal. Or is it pleather?) Johnny Boy Clark rode geared and, sporting a sleek new sexy carbon Niner fork, took 3rd in the Masters division. Quite nice. Our times were something like 2:50 and 2:53 for John and Scott respectively, mine was 3:07.
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... Titanium Cancellara with a bit of Jens Voigt's "Shut up, legs!" mindset. |
I enjoyed the most cringe-worthy moment of the day when with about 100 yards to the finish , I commenced an all-out uphill sprint to catch the rider just ahead of me. I believe I caught him, but it was all for naught as, in my blind-rage sprinting fury I had no idea where the actual finish line was. Seeing an arrow pointing straight ahead, I followed it back into the woods as if I was about to start another lap. When I caught my error, I skidded to an ugly stop and, now crazily out of control, somehow ended up on my airse in the bushes, embarrased and exhausted, a rather interesting combo. Feeling rather foolish as I sat there, I finally spotted the finish line and watched as three four riders (who, unlike me, weren't sprinting jackasses) crossed it ahead of me. I think I finished 23rd but would've been top 20 had I not sprinted.
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The beginning of a very fun, if painful 3 hours. |
Truth be told, I learned nothing. I'd sprint again in a second. Though perhaps with an eye out for the finish line next time.
You guys are freakin' eye candy.
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