Big Wheel Racing

EMILY ROCKS HER FIRST HUNDIE!!!!

(Fat tires, not skinny)

Traffic the night before (all of I5 through Tacoma is under construction) put us in our tent hours later than expected, adding to Emily’s nervous preoccupation with upcoming race. Two laps; 90 miles of singletrack, 10 miles of forest service road climb. Time cut-off’s to consider, made more worrisome by the late start (too foggy to see at the designated start time) and the knowledge that the sun is setting earlier with each day (she carried her Ay-Ups light, determined to ride 100 miles regardless of cut-offs or dusk). Ultimately, it was just extra weight she carried all day.

The course was threw 5850 feet of climbing per lap at us, the majority of which single track climbing; buff trails filled with roots. Wet roots. Slippery roots. Jarring roots. Everywhere. and rocks. fewer rocks than roots, but still lots of rocks. Emily was thriving on her soft-tailed Siren Song. I was suffering on my rigid Walt. The tight trails made it difficult to pass, particularly during the first 10 to 15 miles of the day, but I gradually built up a good head of steam, feeling strong on the climbs (so much oxygen in every breath at the lower elevations), pushing into the top 5.

Emily, meanwhile, stuck with her raceplan;  strong, consistent, conservative. Briefly stopping at each sag to refuel and replenish. Working her way up through the people that started too quickly. Just past the half way point on the first lap she  saw me a couple hundred meters ahead of me on a gravel road climb. She called out and instantly knew something was wrong when I sat up while she caught up to me . I had been chasing down another rider who took a wrong turn on the only section of the course that wasn’t well marked. I lost about 40-50 mins before I rejoined the race, worse, I lost the desire the race. I decided to ride with Emily for the rest of the lap with me and then drop out at the start/finish and satisfy myself with a 50 mile training ride (end of season training ride).

Fortunately, by the time we rolled back to start the second lap, my mental space had improved so I set off with Emily to ride the second lap, and 10 miles later I decided to chase down the singlespeeder that had recently passed us. I tried to induce Emily to come with me, but she was still riding strong and sticking with her race plan.  I caught the next singlespeeder, and quickly saw that I would have to pour on the climbs to stay ahead of him. I managed to turn myself inside out, pull away on a steep sustained climb, and despite looking over my shoulder during the descents, I never saw him again.

Emily rode the last 40 miles solo and in an excellent mood. Her training and strength flattened the climbs; there was no hike-a-biking (for her, I ran two of the shorter, steeper, tractionally-challenged climbs). The volunteers at the aid stations were amazing (the even made her coffee when they learned that she hadn’t started her day with a cup of java). With 20 miles left, she realized that in the absence of a mechanical, she would finish. One issue that has come up with her racing all year is her choice to always leave a bit in the tank– that is she never leave it *all* out on the trail.  Part of the reason is being new to racing and always wanting to finish.   Part of the reason is twisted up with too many years of competitive athletics and never having performed as well as she desired.  At the CF100, when she knew she had the strength to finish this goal — a goal she has had for a couple of years now– she wanted to finish well. Without bonking, she left as much of her on the trail as she ever have. “It felt good.”

It felt good to accomplish this. 1st woman!

Despite my extra mileage on the course, and spending 30 miles at searching for motivation, I won the singlespeed category (and was 7th overall!  I was even magnanimous enough to give away the certificate for a free growler of beer from a brewery in Seattle

Not just matching kits this weekend….

Scott Sportsman

So I got back on the racing bandwagon and found another classic to add to my A-List of races. I really, really, really like the Pierre’s Hole 100 up at Grand Targhee Resort on Wyoming!!! Years ago, my lovely wife Jeni and I did a ski trip and tasted Alta, Snowbird, Jackson Hole and eventually Grand Targhee. The memories of Targhee’s sweet powder and climbing up Mary’s Nipple stuck and well the place has a special memory for us. So when I found out there was a chance to race up there, I dove right in. The race venue did not disappoint.

After 96.5 miles and 15,700-ft of climbing, I ended up 2nd place SS on the MOOTS 29er, with a close enough view of 1st place that it reminded me of how I still need to get some fitness back. No regrets there though – because the 1st place SSer – Mike from Ketchum and I hit it off pretty darn well – we rolled out riding together and talking quite a bit. Super cool cat and a dedicated SS enduro racer himself – part ‘o the clan.’ It’s really cool when there are good people in the SS class. Chad from Erie, CO was the other SSer and he went out of his way to contact me before the race – so we had dinner with his lovely wife and the Big Wheel Racing’s own flying Carney Brothers. I’d say the SSers were the classiest bunch in the race, but since I am low rent I probably brought the property values down a bit.

But the podium did net me a free entry into next years race, and along with the schwag haul, this was a nice ROI. wow, I’m already in for Pierre’s Hole 100 and Barn Burner 104 for 2011 – my schedule is filling up without my direct action!

I rolled up near a moose and mooseling on the trail which was really amazing, startling, and a bit scary. No flying squirrel though.

Carney the Elder (Andrew) missed the 3rd overall by a small margin, but in 4rth place he was able to secure the extra large belt buckle, of which only 4 were given. Congrats! Carney the Younger (Steven) lost a tire on a nasty descent and bailed the race – but he was all smiles afterwards. Good to see you guys again.

And finally, I got to meet Rebecca Rusch – who said she may be at Vapor Trail 125 in a few weeks. Cool. That girl reminds me of the song by the Commodores. Holy cow, all I could think of was…umm I gotta hit the gym because I’ve been slacking. Either that or she needs to start wearing a red cape.

I’ve been racing on Moots ti 29er bikes now for 4 seasons and feel I have an advantage with the bike and ti components.  Thank you to Moots for supporting BWR!

-Matt Turgeon