The circuit race on Saturday was fast and furious. My category (Veteran Sports) did three laps of what was advertised as a 4 mile course. My speedometer freaked out as usual, but I suspect it wasn't much over 3 miles around. We (24 in my group) took off in the dust of about 100 sport riders and started up a good mile long grind. I've had a heart rate monitor all summer and really the only thing it's good for (other then general yucks) is to keep yourself from going out too fast in a race. I'm riding along up the hill more-or-less with the leaders and notice with passionate disinterest that my heart is chugging along at in excess of 185 bpm -- at least 15 bpm to fast if I don't want to blow. Well, I couldn't just let them ride away, could I? So I more-or-less lost it the second time up the hill and recovered somewhat by the third time up, but the damage was done. I displayed my characteristic glacial descending tactics, letting those in front gain 30 to 45 seconds over the course of a five minute downhill. I generally do my best to allow those pushing from behind to pass -- no one has gotten too upset with me yet.
I ended up about 10th out of 24. There was a rather large gentleman (read 30 pounds overweight) that I closed on during the last climb who subsequently rode away from me on the descent. No problem, I thought, he's toast tomorrow with all of that climbing and distance. Yeah, right.
Anyway, the circuit race on Sunday started out in the cold -- I think I burned far too many calories meant for churning up climbs just trying to stay warm before the start of the race. Once again we started in the dust of the Sport men, cruising up an improved gravel road for a couple of miles. I sat on the forementioned big man's wheel as we trundled up the road in a style reminiscent of a road race at about 20 mph. I noted that the big guy was quite strong and would be a force to be reckoned with if he lost those extra pounds. Then we hit the single track and commenced a long uphill slog, at which point the big guy road away from me, never to be seen again. Apparently, his force was something I was not ready to reckon with. For the most part, I was doing okay and figured there was a long way to go and I always finish stronger then I start.
On the way down the first big descent, the trail was littered with expert and sport racers fixing flats. I was somewhat surprised, as the downhill was fairly smooth. Within 5 seconds of that thought passing through my mind, my rear tire went flat (of course). It took me just over 10 minutes to fix it -- I repair flats like I descend. I had a pretty good ride after that, passing a lot more people then passed me. The last climb near the ski area allowed me to pick-off dozens of riders. I was passed by only one and that was the first placed sport woman -- she was cruising. She crashed in front of me on the last hairpin just before the finish so I ended up finishing just in front of her. Excluding the lost time for my flat, I figure we had just about the same time for the 27 miles.
Something I'm always impressed with in the mtb races that I've done is the general friendliness and courtesy of the riders -- kind of like we're all in this together. Then again, I've never been jockeying for the lead so it might be different up there. On the last climb in the cross-country race I was following the woman who had just past me. She got around two slower riders and I prepared to follow, announcing my intention to the two. Just as I pulled around the pair, the second rider gently bumped the front rider's rear wheel, eliciting an epitaph directed at me for the potential of damaging his Tioga Disk wheel. His riding partner quickly corrected his misperception, and I just tisk-tisked him for his over reaction. How come it's always the over-gadgeted guy whith more money then legs and lungs that gets all steamed-up over tiny events or perceived slights? Ah well, that's his problem.
I ended up 14th in the cross country and 13th overall. Even if I hadn't flatted and had been able to finish 10 minutes faster, I could have come in no better than 10th. There was a group in my category just a whole lot faster than me. I belong in the veteran sport class as I can generally finish at least in the middle of the field, but it would take a much stronger commitment from me to contend for the win or even a top placing -- say riding everyday and losing another five pounds or so. I probably spent too much time riding this summer already, so it's unlikely I'll be "competitive" in the future.