Been looking forward to racing for a few days now. Thunder showers and up to 10 mm of rain expected for the day clearing in time for the race. Perfect conditions for me as I like it sloppy as my technical makes up more ground than the climbing motor on days like this.
Got to the hill around 1 hr and a bit before race start. Had the van today as the expected muddy bike was not something I wanted to stuff back into the sports car. Setup was pretty fast, pop on the plate and throw on the kit, top off water bottle. Took about 5 minutes. Was tossing the idea of water in the bottle so I could spray myself as I only seem to drink half the sport drink. It seemed cool enough but the sun came out and the rain went away and it started to get hot and muggy. Next race for sure, sport drink before I pull up to the start line but water and ice in the bottle on the bike.
Warmed up with a couple laps of the last part of the course. Legs felt like lead and was loosing my interest to race.
Chatted with a few guys at the start line and ended up on the second row. I got a good start as I consistently clip in fast. Was a bit tight on the first two turns with everyone bunched up. The road was freshly graveled and very smooth, for gravel. I was in the middle ring as we started to climb and had some trouble shifting down and lost a ton of places. As we turned 90 degrees up the steep climb I grabbed 5-6 places back and was onto the wheel of a few guys. Took it easy here for the next minute as we will hit a bottleneck shortly and always slow through there til the next climb which really spreads out the groups. At the first bottleneck was a few guys crashing as it was a bit slippy. Had to dismount and re-mount but actually passed two more guys.
Next up was the long set of semi steep and loose access road climbs to the final really steep technical sections to the top. I was started to stretch it out over the few guys behind me. I had a couple teammates just in site before the turn in to the technical sections but was now behind a couple of struggling guys and I lost site of them for the rest of the race.
I was now behind a couple guys on hard tails slowing me down on a faster technical section. There is a split just past a bridge and they both took the left lane and I bombed downed the right passing one and almost had the other but elected to ease up. I called for a pass and the young lad stepped on the gas only to crash in front of me. I rolled onto his bike, dismounted and jumped past him and started to pull a good gap from the kayos behind me.
For the most part I was on my own for a while, during lap 2. I had a battle with two of the ladies. One was slow technically and let me pass. Put on a good gap in the technical but I knew she was slower technically and fast on the climbs. We traded places a few more times. Another girl closed up on me just before the top and we started the technical and I looked back to let her by and I had dropped her and didn't see here any more.
On the final lap I was all alone with no guys in site ahead or behind on the first climb. At the top of the first climb there is a long switch-back and just at the last possible moment I saw thru the trees the guy that I beat by 1 sec on the last race. He was about 45 seconds behind at that point. So much for having an easy 3rd lap. I knew that he saw me and would probably be motivated to catch me so out of easy mode and hammer time. I figured I would put the hammer down for a bit so to keep him out of site, out of mind. Things were working out great and every time I looked back I didn't see anyone.
Unfortunately, thus the name Came Fortune, I managed to flat right over the top of the mountain! I was pissed. I think I rode for 5-6 minutes on the rim. I will have some filing and sanding to do. I finally conceded the fact I would not be able to stay out front riding the bike on the rear flat.
I tried to put in my spare tube but alas it was leaking around the valve stem and the tube.
On a final note about the tire combo, Nev 1.95F/2.0 Karma R. I find this a pretty good combo for racing. I forgot my good tire gauge at home so used one on pump. As I knew Fortune is quite rough compared to Albion I added a bit of pressure for the race, up to about 30/30psi.
We had rain off and on all day with semi heavy rain from the storms but it had stopped and the roads were dry on the way up to the race. The course was basically perfect. No dust and not much water or mud except where it had puddled.
I found the front really felt good with very controlled sliding on the odd times it occurred. The rear spun a bit in the odd spot but was otherwise very good and I was still able to clear all sections.
On lap 2 I almost stalled, spinning, on a bit of a steep rocky section as they were starting to be covered with a thin layer of mud/sand/soil. On the 3rd lap on the sections I had problems with I paid more attention and cleared most sections really well. So I'd have to say I am very happy with the race setup. With a front tire of about 550g and a sub 400g rear I had overall great traction and what felt like a fast rolling tire setup. And also I think you can't always blame the tire for poor traction, there for sure is rider error in there :)
3 races to go and need 2 more finishes. Lets hope for no more flats. Getto tubless is looking like an option :)
Cheers,
Paul
