Thursday, March 15, 2012

Subaru Mellow Johnny's Classic

This was a long journey and this is how it goes. I left from my house at about 2 am on Thursday and headed south to Tucson to pick up a couple of the AZ Devo Crew. Left Tucson about 6am headed east to Sonora, TX. the drive wasn't bad a few stops for food and gas. Driving past Ciudad Juarez Mexico made me realize how lucky we are as Americans and how much I love this country. Not to poke as the town but what a slum. A few hours later and about 10 miles from Sonora we stopped got out and jumped on our bikes and road in the rest of the way to are hotel. The frontage road we road in was great some climbing bust mostly flat. Very pretty country side. Had a good dinner and went to bed early.

Friday morning woke up early had breakfast and went to spin for a short time. Found a drainage ditch with banked walls and ended up playing in there for a while. Great training work on spinning and balance at the same time! Left late afternoon drove the last few hours to Flat Creek Crossing Ranch which is the venue site. About 3 hours later arrived parked and went to check things out. The venue was nice had good set up and location for everything to take place. Went for pre-ride and course was technical but awesome if I could race courses like that every race I would be in heaven. There was quite a few short technical climbs was able to clear all but stopped and looked at a few different lines. Course had one good climb double track  loose dry dirt and some single track dirt mixed with rock. Course was very similar to riding in the Ozark Mountains. Lots of great single track, really kept you at whits end. Finished hung out, talked some and headed out for the next hotel! thanks your Travis and his dad Damon for getting us the hotel. Went out for dinner and came home and rolled legs out stretched and hit the sack!

 Saturday Travis raced in the elite pros class. Had a good breakfast of oatmeal and lots of fruit. got everything packed up and drove to venue about an hour away! Got a great parking spot up front and set up everything in feed zone. Mark and I handed bottles to TJ, Graham, Travis probably forgetting someone. Feeds went great. Elite Pros were flying around course about 15 min per lap plus a starter lap that took only 3 min. After watching a great race got dressed and went for another ride on course. Check a few things out went back to hotel. After dinner was cleaning bike and found a crack in the face plate of my stem was worried but lots a companies at venue so was going to go ask for a loaner stem. Stretched rolled legs out, did some meditation and hit the sack race day was tomorrow!

Day of race didn't sleep that long but the sleep I got was great. I organized everything night before and filled bottles in morning. had good breakfast. Was really focused on race and was running through lines and mentally preparing myself. Arrived at venue with plenty of time to prepare and warm up. Went got a loaner stem thank you Shimano. Warmed up on road mostly but did start loop a few times. Time to line up got divided up into age groups and the wait for the gun. Open Cat 1 pro class went first then Jr's and finally my group. Gun and we were off. Didn't have a great start but wasn't in last. pace was fast just hold my line was in front group first couple miles. then we hit the climb. The guy in front of me slipped rear wheel and fell over taking me out in the process riders behind saw and ran past as I was pulling my bike from between bikes and was off again. Not so great to start a climb from a stop. but as is racing. got up and off again. lead group of 12-15 riders had broken up and first few was gone. Now it was pull back time. focused on trail and keeping my pace high as I could and maintained good lines, high cadence and climb fast. was able to pick off quite a few riders but most were Jr's, some of my group and a couple pros in the open class. Second lap was feeling good and then i heard a dreaded sound air leaking and Stan's doing its jobs sealing it up the whole. tire went flat stopped checked it out wasn't cut to bad, put some air in it and was off again still heard air leaking out of about half the lap finally nothing I just kept on going and pray for it to seal and not give out. Third lap I passed a few lapped riders and a couple others in my group and a pro that dropped back. As I was passing on the inside going way to fast for the loose terrain front tire slid out and took me and him out. I said sorry, my fault, as i jumped up and started up at a short step climb was not in a good gear and suddenly felt a great push from behind the guy I didn't even look as and crashed into gave me a push and said go get them there not fare. I made the climb not even clipped in and this all happen in front of about 15-20 people stand on the climb. they all cheered and was a great motivator. Going past the feed zone looked for Mark who was suppose to feed me but no wear to be found luckily the had neutral feed got a bottle of nasty bleach tasting water but still water. was putting in a good lap time and about half way through lap passed another in my group I could hear him staying behind me. I picked up the pace and attacked pulled away but also taking a lot out of me! I was able to maintain for the rest of the lap until I slipped my rear tire and put my foot down a couple times on climb and one short steep tech section. He was back I held him off as long as I could I was starting to cramp I eased up new the finish was getting close. took a rest behind him rounded a corner and the sprint was on he had about 50-75 yards on me I closed down to about 20-30 ft but legs were burnt to a crisp. Went spun my legs out for 30mins or so and packed up car and we where on are way back to AZ. We packed up another ride Ty who a supper fast U23 rider. Had a great trip back to Tucson dropped off 3 guys and then on to Phoenix to drop of Ty and back home to Clarkdale! Left Venue about 1500 arrived home at 0630 following morning.

Me at Finish

Sonora, TX

Only in TX

Mexico





Womens Elite Race

Womens Elite Race





Subaru Trek Women Elite Race





Crank Brothers Elite Women 

Emily Batty putting the hammer down to move up after flat on first lap

Cranks Borthers Women Elite

Yes that Is the Womens World Champion killing everyone

Rabobank Elite Women

Elite Women

Emily passing another place 

Finish 

Emily Batty

Elite Mens Start Loop
Elite Mens Start