An Open Letter To About 90% Of Everyone I’ve Ever Asked, “How’d Your Race Go?”
Dear Practically Everyone I Ask About How Your Recent Race Went,
Hey. How’s it going? Good? Good. I’m glad to hear you’re good.
It’s good when things are good.
Now we need to talk. Yes, I know it sounds serious when I say that. That’s because I only say that when I’m serious.
This is a serious thing.
First of all, I want you to know that I am telling you this in friendship. If I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t even bother. I’d just roll my eyes and let it go. You’ve seen me roll my eyes. But I don’t want to roll them at you. So I’m just going to lay it all out there.
Here goes.
When I ask you, “How’d your race go?” and you answer, “Fine” or “Not bad,” or “I survived,” I want to choke you. To death.
I know. That sounds harsh. But actually I was showing self restraint, because I left out the part where first I punch you in the throat an then spin-kick you so hard you actually travel back in time a little bit.
(Yes, my spin kick really is that powerful. Surely you’ve noticed my quads?)
Now that I’ve explained what I want to do, let me explain why.
When you race, you’re being handed one of life’s little gifts: a custom-packaged story, complete with a cast of characters, a location, a beginning, a crisis, a protagonist, an antagonist (or many!), a resolution, and a conclusion.
You trained for it. You strategized. You probably traveled. And in short, this thing was important to you. So you don’t just have a story to tell, but you have a personal story to tell about an event that was important to you.
So don’t you go acting all self-deprecating, saying something perfunctory and useless like “I had a fun time.” Or “It was a valuable experience.”
We both know that fun had nothing to do with it. Furthermore, even if you were somehow the first person in the history of the world to think “Wheeeeeee, this is fun!” during a bike race — seriously, I can’t even comprehend even the possibility of anyone considering forming such a ridiculous thought during a race — we both know that this isn’t the information I’m after.
I want to know what your finish time was, or how you placed, first and foremost. We both know that. Everyone knows that. That’s what everyone wants to know when they ask how your race went. But rather than just come out and say it, you’re giving me a dose of false humility by revealing pretty much the opposite of what I asked for, as if you came to this race from some kind of higher plane, some magical parallel universe where people race in order to reach a state of peace and joy, and not to beat their chests and throw leaves in the air while yelling in triumph or rage at the top of their lungs.
So let us agree, from here on out, that when I ask you how your race went, you will answer with one of (or a variation thereof) the following:
- “I finished in Xth place in my age group.”
- “I finished in X:YY.
- “I totally kicked butt.”
- “I totally got my butt kicked.”
Are we clear on that? Good. That wasn’t so hard, was it?
Then, once you’ve given me the bottom line — the honest bottom line, not some opaque and meaningless platitude designed to make me ask you the same question again but with greater precision because you’re otherwise too darned humble to tell me a story — you’re all set to tell me tell me the story we both know you’re dying to tell me anyway.
We’ll get to the same place. The difference is you won’t make me drag it out of you, and you won’t be in danger of having your larynx crushed.
So.
How’d your race go last weekend?
Kind Regards,
Fatty
Comment by SLL | 08.27.2013 | 9:17 am
“I finished in X:YY”
Do you have a history in technical/computer writing?
It’s that obvious? – FC
Comment by NatMc | 08.27.2013 | 9:21 am
Man. I thought this was going to go the opposite direction. I usually try and do exactly what it appears you hate out of fear I’ll sound pretentious or boring.
How was my marathon this weekend? Great.
Comment by John in Seattle | 08.27.2013 | 9:24 am
It went fine…
;-) just kidding, I actually didn’t race, but I did ride the Iron Horse trail 42 miles and got my ass thoroughly handed to me by the rest of my team… Does that count?
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 08.27.2013 | 9:26 am
Kind of glad I didn’t race last weekend. So much pressure :)
I have my first ever XC race coming up in two weeks. It is likely to be a tail kicking. I promise to tell you the story if you ask.
Comment by Noel | 08.27.2013 | 9:49 am
Glad to know I’m not on Fatty’s bad side on this one. I’ve only done a handful of races but the response has always been the same and, fortunately, complies with the posted guidelines.
What is the response I always use?
“I got my butt handed to me.” :-)
Comment by Chris | 08.27.2013 | 9:49 am
Note to self, Fatty is unlike 99.9% of other people. He actually wants to hear the story.
Nice to know, so how was your race this weekend?
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.27.2013 | 10:10 am
Odd that you would publish this post on the day I will finally ‘pin on a number’ at the tender age of 48. It is a two-lap mountain bike race in the local park. It is the second in a four-race series. I’ve pre-ridden most of the course only once but at a comfortable pace with lots of dabbing and hike-a-biking. I will have begun the race last and will not yet have finished when I have gotten to work the next day.
So, how’d my race go? Great! I learned a lot and got my ass handed to me! Film at 11.
You’ve got a good start here. – FC
Comment by TK | 08.27.2013 | 10:12 am
I hiked to the 14,500ft-ish Mt. Whitney summit and back. In one day. Hit the summit in 6:55 including a 30-45 minute break to watch the most impressive dawn/sunrise I’ve ever seen.
The weather was perfect. Nobody on our 4-person dream team bonked or experienced altitude sickness. We passed many, many people on the ascent and were passed by exactly no one.
Oh, and a bear walked right into our camp and stole our food out of our bear-proof bear box. Which just happened to be open because we were sitting less than 10 feet from it. But we learned that bears cry when they eat wasabi peas, so that was cool.
Now THAT is a perfect example of what I want to hear when I ask how a race went! – FC
Comment by Ellen | 08.27.2013 | 10:14 am
DFL. Again. But, I’m okay with that.
Comment by rohit | 08.27.2013 | 10:19 am
depends when you ask…5 minutes after crossing the line? all you’re goign to get is a 1-word grunt, and hopefully no extraneous actions.
a week later…love that you’re interested! Most people are just being nice.
I of course speak only for myself, but anytime I ask how a race or ride went, what I truly want is a story. I love hearing them as much as — if not more than — telling them. – FC
Comment by alan | 08.27.2013 | 10:23 am
It was a sprint triathlon….never have I lined up so close to the beginning of the swim (pool/snake). The front group got bunched up with my wife catching everyone (me drafting her). When I came out of transition I only had two people in front of me, my wife and a 15 year old strong runner. By the way my age group is M35-39. After two miles I’m leading the race, this has never happened before!! Hit the turn around on the bike and headed back. My lead at this point was almost a mile. What I didnt know was that the big group behind me missed the bike turn around =( So I had this huge lead and thought I was flying on the run coming across the line 1st….after times were adjusted for the mishaps I ended up 4th overall and 1st in my age group =( For that brief moment I understood what it was like to be fast and to win..
Comment by Mukrider | 08.27.2013 | 10:26 am
That’s awesome. I was just adding this comment to your Utah Half report.
“Wow, that’s an amazing day you all had there! I just did my first Ironman (Canada) this weekend and somehow the story just doesn’t measure up. I swam at my goal pace, biked at my goal pace, and ran slower than I had hoped. Finished mid-pack. I didn’t even see the bear that wandered across the run course… I did however, see a Team Fatty jersey on the bike leg :)
Fantastic write up as usual!! Well done Fatty!”
So let me start over.
I had a great race this weekend!! I completed my first Ironman triathlon this weekend along with a big group from my local club! All but one of us finished (and I was the fastest first timer with a time of 13:15:02)!!! Kicked ass on the bike, had a great swim (for me) and enjoyed (almost) every minute of the run. The spectators were awesome and it was an amazing experience! The scenery in Whistler was amazing and although I missed seeing it, a bear wandered across the run course during the race. Thanks for asking ;)
Comment by Micha O | 08.27.2013 | 10:33 am
Why don’t we say that “I totally got my butt kicked” will be my answer from here on out.
As long as that’s just the opening line. – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 10:41 am
OK> Now y’all make me want to ‘race’ instead of just ride.
Does anyone have the link to the AARP Race Schedule?
Comment by Brian Ogilvie | 08.27.2013 | 10:45 am
I had fun!
Oh, wait a minute, I was doing a randonnée (D2R2*), not a race. Sorry.
* Just the 100K version. Only 7800 feet of climbing, and not all of the climbing was on steep gravel roads, just most of it. There were some steep paved roads too.
Comment by Jeff Bike | 08.27.2013 | 10:51 am
I only do one “race” each year. The Tour de Gruene in Gruene TX. (near New Brunsfels TX) just north of San Antonio TX. Last year was a totally horrid route with climbing and heavy roads (lots of sealcoat). So how did my race go? I’m glad you asked, even if you didn’t.
“I finished in LAST place in my age group (50-54).” “I finished in 00:47:51 at 13.2 mph.” “I totally got my butt kicked.” “The fast man of the day was 00:22:55 at 27.5 mph.” In 2008 Lance Armstrong did it 00:33:14 at 28.89 mph on a different longer course (before coming out of retirement).
Ok now for the excuses’. I didn’t train, I didn’t eat right, I didn’t lose weight, I didn’t warm up, I rolled out too hard, I didn’t drink early.
All of this leads to an asthma attack and puking on the 2nd to the last hill. I found you lose a lot of time stopped beside the road gasping and puking! So yes “I survived,” to finish and that is what counts.
Fatty you are invited to join us in November 2nd, 2013 to do yet another new course. The registrations open on line Wednesday at 7:00 pm (tomorrow). The allotments of rider slots will fill very quickly (hours not days) so get yourself on line and sign up quick. http://www.tourdegruene.com/news/individual_time_trial/
Comment by leroy | 08.27.2013 | 11:02 am
My strategy to not fill up entirely on chips and guacamole paid off with a finish of the top 90% of a beef burrito.
Wait, what were we talking about?
I don’t know. After the word “guacamole,” I was transported to my happy place and didn’t hear the rest of the sentence. – FC
Comment by Brian B | 08.27.2013 | 11:10 am
It is easy to tell you how my race went. Mostly because I have only done one. A 24 hour road race last September in Texas.
Here are the high points. Mile 9, flat. Mile 16, flat. Mile 30, flat. Mile 50, Rain. Mile 51-212, more rain. Mile 212.1, forget it…I am going to the hotel for a warm shower.
Training for 2014.
All you need is to add a phrase like “My thoughts were as dark as the stormclouds above me,” and you’re THERE. – FC
Comment by MattC | 08.27.2013 | 11:32 am
@ TK…but what were the REST of your TIMES? (the return/descent to Whitney Portal, overall elapsed AND moving times, and also all of those times converted into microseconds, and the distances in both furlongs and meters). And did you have a Whitney burger @ the restaurant (how much do they cost these days)? Was it the best burger you’ve ever had? How long were you on the summit? Dang it, I HATE doing Fatty’s job for him, dragging these details out of you. Don’t make me do it again!
Comment by Ginger-Schminger | 08.27.2013 | 11:35 am
@Jeff Bike – Dang it! I want to do the Tour de Gruene, but it ALWAYS winds up on a weekend that I’m previously committeed (November 2nd is the day of my Moab Trail Marathon).
@Brian B – what race are you speaking of? I’m contemplating a 24 hour race, but it’ll probably be 24 Hours in the Canyon…haven’t decided if I’ll do road or mtb yet though.
Comment by MattC | 08.27.2013 | 11:37 am
Oh, and @ TK, where were you camped when the bear came into your camp and stole your food? (I ask as I’m curious…my brother and I are planning on backpacking the Kearsage Pass to Whitney Portal section of the JMT in about 2 weeks). How big was the bear, and what was his name? (and just how does a bear ‘cry’? That part would be pretty cool).
Comment by Chris | 08.27.2013 | 11:40 am
My wife and another lady cyclist shamed me into finally riding my bugaboo hill. Since no one else Strava’s in this backwater I am thus KOM on it now. It’s a hollow victory.
No victory is hollow. – FC
Comment by UpTheGrade SR CA | 08.27.2013 | 11:52 am
FC – are you channeling Chuck Norris there with that fighting talk? If so, the peleton in your next race better elaborate or watch out ;-)
http://cheezburger.com/3443135744
Comment by john p | 08.27.2013 | 12:02 pm
Fatty
If you want to know my time – just ask. If you want to know how I placed- just ask. You dont ask that directly because it isnt polite. I often ask open ended questions specifically so people can share or not share as they chose. (i.e how did the semester go). This is a common social custom. Get on board or just ask what you want to know but dont blame those who understand the unspoken convention that you are letting them politely avoid sharing information they may not want to.
Thanks for clearing everything up. – FC
Comment by Bee T | 08.27.2013 | 12:05 pm
For most people, I say, “It went great. I finished, yay!”
Only another cyclist or triathlete will truly appreciate, “I totally trashed my legs on those hills but I rocked the bike course and didn’t have to walk the steepest hill where other people were walking and then I got a huge blister the size of my thumb, which burst on mile three of the run and then I ran 10 more miles and literally had to pour blood out of my shoe at the finish line.”
Honestly, unless they are a paramedic or a cyclist, by the time I say “BLOOOOD”, most people are really regretting having said good morning.
Especially in the reception line after church, on the way to coffee hour.
But that’s exactly the kind of story I want to hear. – FC
Comment by Jacob | 08.27.2013 | 12:18 pm
I got second in my age group at a local sprint triathlon. I lost by about 72.2 seconds to a guy I beat by 5 minutes last year. Part of the result is that the guy dropped about 6 minutes off his time on the same course in the past year. The other part was that I’ve been sloppy on transitions this year and instead of 2:02.4 in transitions I spent 3:28 this year. That 1:25.6 was the difference between me never seeing the age group winner and me passing him on the final straightaway for a 11.2 second victory.
I cut about 3 minutes off his lead during the run, though.
Is that more what you wanted?
The numbers are a part of it (and congratulations on your 2nd, by the way!). What happened inside your head and to your body, as well as things you saw and conversations you had, are the other parts. – FC
Comment by Mason | 08.27.2013 | 12:35 pm
Keep up the good work, Fatty! Looking good!
Everybody else, shut up and get back on your bikes and ride! Hahah
Comment by GenghisKhan | 08.27.2013 | 12:49 pm
Why’s it always about race? I say, be color blind, don’t be so shallow. Free your mind and the rest will follow…
Wisdom. – FC
Comment by Carl | 08.27.2013 | 1:22 pm
I am “racing” in the Ohio version of the Tour de Donut on the Sept 7th. Last year I was labeled in a regional biking magazine as being an “In race reporter for Team Fatty!” So besides that, I will answer any questions asked… but I have one for you… Eat lots of donuts or just eat a couple?
Lots. Lots and lots and lots and lots. – FC
Comment by Corrine | 08.27.2013 | 1:31 pm
More details then you may want – I put this down yesterday but seems appropriate for today!
And if you don’t want to read it, my ride was good, I finished, I wasn’t last and that makes me happy!
http://www.newsminer.com/features/outdoors/a-tale-of-two-races/article_63297e18-0b01-11e3-ae4d-0019bb30f31a.html
Comment by tootallinutah | 08.27.2013 | 1:41 pm
My last “race” was an epic failure – Tour de Park City, 157 mile option. In the end when everyone in the grupetto was abandoning the race around me, my only remaining reason for wanting to finish was so that I could answer your question with a simple answer. Failure always requires more explanation than I care to relive.
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 1:52 pm
I’m learning to read(Wife#! says follow) Twitter. My children are helping me in they’re own form of 12 step program. Apparently the first thing they want me to do is admit I don’t know anything….Duh!
That said should we be concerned about Fatty’s Herpetological Expertise? Especially living in the West?
Keep practicing. [Hint: If the URL for the image you want to include doesn't end in .jpg or .gif or .png it's not going to show up as an image here.] – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 1:54 pm
See, I proved my point.
pic.twitter.com/glxBtGklMM
Comment by ScienceCycles | 08.27.2013 | 1:54 pm
Couple of firsts at the Chicago Triathlon on Sunday.
A) First time finishing in under 3:15. Finished in 3:14.
B) First time averaging more than 20mph on a bike split
C) First time receiving an IV and ice down after a race. Crossed the finish line and was a bit red so the medical people decided to take a temperature. 103. Too hot for a human, hence the ice.
Comment by Chad in Steamboat | 08.27.2013 | 1:58 pm
I love this….I asked you “how’d your race go” and your answer to me as I was nursing my buddy who was lying in a knot on the floor of the aid tent was…..
“whew….hard. Last year I won the SS with an 8:YY (I can’t remember the actual time) and THIS YEAR I came in in 8:YY(A BUNCH FASTER)and I only got 4th….”
You’re a bad ass Fatty……
that is all….
Comment by TK | 08.27.2013 | 2:06 pm
@Matt C
We camped at the Whitney Portal Campground, which is where we had our bear encounter. The sound a crying bear makes is very similar to the noise I make when wasabi burns my nostrils. That bear was probably wondering what in the heck it had eaten.
Total moving time, 9:08. Total elapsed time 13:35. Hung out at summit for over an hour because there was amazingly no wind or storms brewing. Never been on a summit with such perfect weather. Had to stop for another 30 mins or so on the descent to filter water and duct tape toes. (http://app.strava.com/activities/77259880)
Didn’t have the burger & fries (which were only about $10) because the rest of my crew wanted to eat sandwiches at the Lone Star Bistro in Lone Pine. We had them the day before the hike and they were fantastic. I would have preferred the traditional post-hike burger and fries, but the sandwich was great too. So were the tacos from the taco truck. And the large chocolate shake from Mickey D’s. I had 9230 calories to replace…
Comment by rich | 08.27.2013 | 3:14 pm
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my victory….
My race this morning was awesome! I had to sprint up the stairs where I almost sideswiped the estimator with a large coffee. Thankfully, no injuries were sustained. In addition I was rewarded when my strategy of unplugging the monitor on my coworkers computer worked perfectly in delaying him just enough that I was able to snake the only chocolate old fashioned in the pink box!
I performed only one victory lap around the conference table though as I got a hamstring cramp that brought tears to my eyes from my sprint…..there are over 12 stairs you know…..
Comment by Saso | 08.27.2013 | 3:31 pm
I crashed and punctured but finished. Kicked butt till crashed, than got my butt kicked.
Comment by RodNeeds2Ride | 08.27.2013 | 3:36 pm
TK – “Oh, and a bear walked right into our camp and stole our food out of our bear-proof bear box. Which just happened to be open because we were sitting less than 10 feet from it. But we learned that bears cry when they eat wasabi peas, so that was cool.”
Holycrap, I haven’t laughed that hard in a LOOOOONG time – Priceless!
Comment by Jeff S | 08.27.2013 | 3:53 pm
Have you considered rephrasing the question? “Tell me about” seems to work much better for me when trying to get details from people. I ran an experiment with my kids to validate it. After school, for example, when I ask them “How was school today?”, I typically get back the stock response… “good”. However when I ask them the same question phrased differently, “Tell me about your day”… It’s like a pattern interrupt and they actually tell me about their day.
That’s good advice, but would make for a pretty short rant on my blog, wouldn’t it? – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 3:59 pm
@FC Look at that! I’m a GENIUS!
Fixed that for you. – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 3:59 pm
Well so much for that Newtonian moment.
Comment by Nancy_in_MN | 08.27.2013 | 4:38 pm
I thought you’d never ask, Fatty!
My only recent (as in the last 27 years) race was a phenomenal success. In the 11.2 mile time trial, on a 100 degree day, I pedaled to a win in my division. Did it bother me that I passed few riders but was smoked by several? Why, no! It was “Ladies Night” at the TT series (really!) and the women all got the lowest numbers. I fully expected to be passed by young men in skin suits and TT helmets, maybe even a few MAMILs (Middle Aged Men In Lycra).
I was riding against the clock, after all, not other cyclists.
I thought to myself, “Odd that so many riders were released at once, given that they normally release only one rider every 30 seconds. Maybe it’s because of this oppressive heat. And the wind. It’s also very humid.”
After the turnaround, I saw that I was holding the approximate 30 second margin against my best friend… who happens to be 13 years younger than me. Yes!!!!
Then I found myself thinking about how loud those crazy wheels are on TT bikes and how menacing they sound as they near you from behind, the crescendo of sound, the sound of being passed. It’s the cycling equivalent of the Jaws theme.
Soon I was thinking about whether it would be better (faster and/or safer) to dismount in order to puke, or if it’s cooler, more WonderWoman, to hurl on the fly. I did neither, so the question still keeps me awake at times, especially when I’m at work. Instead, I eased off a bit, at which time that brat I call a “best friend” passed me. At least, like me, she was riding a nice quiet road bike. Stealthy wench!
Another ~1/2 mile later, I rolled across the finish line and then cooled down with my former best friend. “It was fun” we declared.
As the results came in, after the last TT-er finished, I learned that I’d taken first in my division, women 50+ (in my case, +++). The after-race barbecue was all the sweeter for knowing I’d actually done well, given my advanced age and the heat (did I mention the wind and the humidity?). The trophy bag was phenomenal, full of Hammer products, a water bottle, a bicycling video and some other stuff, all memorable.
My time? I have no idea!
My average speed? Immaterial when your’e a winner.
My dejected and humiliated competition? Non-existant. I was the only female of “advanced age” on the course that day.
Sometimes the spoils go to those who show up.
`
Comment by Mayhemnsuz | 08.27.2013 | 4:50 pm
My race was not a race (except a little bit at the end). I was shepherding my brother in law on a 60+ mile ride as his longest ever ride previous was a bit more than 40. It was the second half of a ride where we jumped ahead and started so the fast guys would catch us, pass us, and we’d get to the meet up joint not so many hours behind them. I towed BIL for 35 miles in a headwind during which time we were passed by the fast guys. A bit later, we passed two who had flatted and when they caught up, I was able to grab their wheel. BIL held on, too. 10 or so miles later I was getting to be a bit spent and BIL continued ahead. After a few minutes of recovery, I became enraged that I had towed his a$$ for 35 miles in a headwind and then he dropped me. I proceeded to TT the bejeezus out of the last 15 miles of the ride muttering to myself the whole time that I just couldn’t let him get there first (the race part of my not a race). Then, of course, I missed the turn for the meet up spot. After circling around, I see BIL coming in after me. Apparently he didn’t realize he’d dropped me then didn’t know where he was going and didn’t know the route the other guys were taking. We finished together. And, slow as I am, I was holding 19/20 for some longish stretches of the way in. I was very proud of myself. And barring recurrence of the *bleeeeeeeping* back injury that has sidelined me a bunch in the last two years, I will get the whole 117 next year.
Comment by Geoffrey | 08.27.2013 | 5:52 pm
First of all, it looks like I’m the first person to say this: I actually do say “WHEEEE!!!” in MTB races. And make airplane noises if I pass you. And stop to provide help or support if someone has a flat. Guess that makes me a lousy Racer.
That said, I had an epic time completing the Rapha Rising on Strava a month ago, when I was completely off schedule, and, as of noon on Saturday, I still had 16k+ feet of climbing to do. The family left town, so I thought, “Hmm, I have about 17 hours of riding time available between now and tomorrow night. What a perfectly sane (which in this case means INSANE) thing for me to do!”
Ride 1: I was going to try to do 4k feet per ride, and do four rides. I left my house around 1 p.m., and found a 350 foot hill and some surrounding climbs (hill repeats make my eyes glaze over) and went at it. Turns out, if you ride past the same house 5-7 times in an afternoon, the locals start wondering what you’re up to. Gave me a minor taste of 100MoN.
Note: I ride without any feedback apart from breathing and legs. No speedometer. Just the phone tracking my every move.
I got home from my first ride and did ~4035 ft of climbing. How’s that for dead on!
Well, being Mr. Amazing, I then go for a dirt ride. Maybe I’ll even discover some new trails!
Or, maybe, I’ll hike up loose rocks and have to throw my bike over a fence to get back to the street.
Sigh…only 2k feet.
Sunday morning: Off to the very close but not gigantic mountain. About 750 feet per climb. I ride up the fire road 3 times, and descend three different routes, and with everything, come home with 3k feet.
Still ~7650 ft to go.
After church, I went home, had some food, and began to wonder, “Why am I doing this? For a patch?! AM I that desperate for recognition?” So I prayed. And I realized that it was about doing what I set out to do, even when I didn’t feel like it anymore. So, out I go.
I planned to ride up and down a local mountain, which has 7 different climbs. But, I decided too much flat to get there. So, I went to a local hill, about 450 fett, and meandered on the way to get some climbing. There is an “inside” through a park, and an “outside” on a major road. I rode outside, inside, outside…on that outside climb, I was slowly gaining on a guy. In a ball cap. Riding a DH/FR mountain bike.
Sigh.
Well, I caught up to him, and we chatted. He wants to do an Ironman some day, but doesn’t have a road bike yet, so he was riding 40 miles on his DH bike.
Dang…
We chatted, so I rode some flattish road for a bit, then we descended together, which he of course manualed and rode a wheelie down the hill at 25+ mph.
Okay, where was I. Ah, inside, outside, inside, and back home again. Check the phone: 66 miles, 6k feet of climbing. I still have 1650 feet of climbing to go, and a little over an hour of daylight.
Back out I go. I did some quick mental math, and rode a course that I thought would give me ~1700 ft. I even through in an extra climb of the final rise to my house (elevation delta, 25 ft). I get home. It is 7:52, and the son will set at 7:55. I pull out the phone
1425 ft.
Okay, fair enough, three laps of the–
As some of you know, Strava corrects altitude in the moments after the ride is saved. And it corrected to
1670 ft.
I did it, with 3 minutes of sunlight and 20 ft to spare. Nearly 17k feet of climbing in a weekend, certainly a PR.
The next day would be a nice day off, except it wasn’t, as a friend wanted to go riding.
Well, the day after that was business travel, but a friend had a road bike for me to borrow.
I just received my patch. It’s not about the patch, it’s about what it represents, and what it reminds me.
Good stuff.
And a great story with some real insight. Thanks for sharing it. – FC
Comment by UpTheGrade SR CA | 08.27.2013 | 5:57 pm
I was not in a race, officially, but it sure felt like it!
I did a 65mile loop with 20 fast club riders prior to our annual picnic on Saturday. Given this was the D, or fastest, group, there was about 4k of climbing on our route and a 25mph pace (on the flats). I was nervous given that I can’t usually hang with these guys, but felt great drafting all the way to the first hill. Then I was quickly dropped and thought “damn, its a long way to the finish on my own”. Then about halfway up the climb as I was doing my threshold effort, I started passing guys who had dropped off the pace. I caught about 6 of them by the top and blasted down the other side and caught up with the main group. I jumped ahead on the next climb and ended up cresting in 3rd place, feeling much more like I belonged. Then I hung with the group all the way to 5 miles from the end when we hit a short sharp bump and I was dropped again and could not catch back on. I came in about 7th with other stragglers arriving over the next 20 minutes. I guess it was still more of a group ride than a race, but I sure knew where I stood in the pecking order by the end.
BTW, the picnic was wonderfully welcome after the effort, and we had lots to talk about. (There were about 350 cyclists there total among all groups)
Oh, that was definitely a race. – FC
Comment by Corrine | 08.27.2013 | 6:41 pm
I love all of these stories!!!!!
Comment by Libby | 08.27.2013 | 7:21 pm
ahh, well I don’t race though when I ride with the hubbens it sure feels like it!
My last real ride was in South Salt Lake City on Friday Aug. 9 in the morning. While travelling west on Evergreen & just before 2300East a stick jammed itself between my front fork & tire, enabling me to instantly go from 16.6km/hr to zero km/hr. I cartwheeled my beautiful red Roubaix, managing to only release my left foot. Sigh. I kept the stick. I picked myself up, took the front wheel off to release the stick and then rode back to the place we were staying in-6.46km away. My right hand hurt a bit, but the baseball size bulge on my left ankle worried me, especially since it didn’t hurt. And still doesn’t hurt unless a doctor pokes it.
I didn’t visit a SLC hospital even though I knew I needed X-rays. I went when we got home (I did have travel medical insurance but didn’t know how much coverage we have for x-rays), it was only on Tuesday so not that long. I had brought my wrist splints (for another issue) so I just wore it on my right hand most of the time. Oh, my right hand HURT! Turns out there is a fracture on a bone in my wrist.
Doctor says 6wks no cycling. I said I have a ride on Sept. 14 in Niagara Falls (127km) that I’m going to ride in. He said no, I said we’ll see what the ortho dr. says. I say we can mold the cast to fit my hoods.
Meanwhile I’ve set up my trainer again and today I watched “Philadelphia Story” while riding/going nowhere outside. BOOOORRRRINNNGG! (not the movie, just going nowhere). Can’t loose what strength I have in my legs, I’m not 20 anymore and need to keep training.
I’m trying to decide what colour of cast to get (I’m still in the carple tunnel splint until I revisit Dr. tomorrow). I’m thinking bright pink so I can get it signed… hopefully by Barney Bentall who is also doing the ride Se 14. My kids voted for purple. Purple would match the ride’s official jersey.
So, late afternoon Sept. 14 you can ask how my ride went. I will have either attempted it & maybe even finished it or volunteered in the medical tent for the event (Gran Fondo Niagara Falls).
How was your ride?
Comment by AKChick55 | 08.27.2013 | 7:29 pm
I love all the stories! @TK and @Leroy and @Nancy in Mn and @JeffS are some of my favs! And @Corrine!
I didn’t race last weekend. I don’t do any bike races preferring long charity rides to racing. I decided to ride one of my favorite paved trails – Bird to Gird. Part of this trail is the old windy highway that due to safety reasons, our DOT put in a flatter, straighter road with less chance of being covered by avalanches and recycled part of the old road into a multi-use trail. It has cool places to take a break, sit, stop and look out at the mountains and water (some spots have binoculars where you can look up the mountain the trail is on as well as at the mountains and water across the ay) as well as some concrete Belugas. Bird is Bird Creek where the trail starts (not part of the old highway, but a wonderful stretch of paved trail put in several years ago). Gird is eclectic town of hippies and hipsters and yuppies and families and is the home of our downhill ski resort (which also has some fabulous nordic ski trails). It is a little over 26 miles roundtrip if you go to the little strip mall at the entrance to Girdwood. If you ride up into Girdwood to the Bake Shop for breakfast (NOM!NOM!NOM!) it’s about 30 miles RT. Parts of the trail are in the open and parts are in the woods. I can’t do the beauty justice, but those that follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook have seen many photos that I’ve posted.
Usually, the wind blows out of the south so you have a headwind out and a tailwind back. Not the case Sat or Sun. I had headwinds both days on the way back, but it was worse on Saturday. Sunday wasn’t too bad. I rocked my Fatcyclist Neopolitan kit on Saturday and was wishing I’d opted for the white Fatty jersey instead of the black one. Even though it was only 68, it felt much hotter. There are a few small hills but nothing really steep. One thing I like to do while riding is think. I thought about my Dad and how much I miss him. I thought about my sister and her hubby who is battling Stage 4 colon cancer at 30. I thought about how much fun my little Giant TCX W is to ride and how I climb up hills better with a double than I did on my old K2 road bike and even my Gary Fisher hardtail MTB. I thought about how soon, snow would cover everything and I’d break out the fat tire bike. I really would rather have a couple more months of summer though. I thought about how serious some of the cyclists I saw were – no smiles, no waves, nope, they were concentrating on getting somewhere fast – didn’t look like they were having fun at all. I thought about bears when I saw bear scat – not fresh though. As you can see, I think about a lot of random stuff. After the ride, as I pulled into my driveway, I realized I had forgotten to turn off Strava. Argh. So I didn’t save the ride not realizing I could crop it.
Rinse and repeat for Sunday, except it was my Kona jersey and tri shorts to see how I’d do with minimal padding (not bad – I don’t race tri, just find them way more comfy in the heat of Hawaii). I also brought my Fatcyclist Neo jacket which came in very handy. It’s my go to jacket – I hardly wear anything else except now that it’s getting colder, I’m going to have to go with a warmer jacket. Very sad. Another beautiful day, more serious cyclists, more scat and a nice fresh pile – didn’t see the bear though. Again, I forgot to turn off Strava, but a Fatty friend told me how to fix the ride. So it’s all fixed. You can see it here and see how the trail hugs the mountains http://www.strava.com/activities/77552073 I had really pushed myself on Sat so my legs were dead and I was slow on Sun, but no matter. I was on my bike and that’s a win in my book.
Your story’s great, and is a great reminder that I love the way a ride lets your mind wander; in that way it’s kind of the opposite of a race. Maybe that’s the key — I like both for the very different states of mind and body they let me experience.
On Sunday I saw a “serious” rider; I waved, he didn’t wave back. I thought to myself, “jerk,” but The Hammer said, “He must be in the zone.” Which is a good point. When you see riders who seem focused and not sociable, it may be that what they’re after on their ride doesn’t include being social. I know I’m like that sometimes (a lot of the time, in fact). – FC
Comment by Sean Borland | 08.27.2013 | 8:18 pm
Fatty, I don’t think I’ve seen you comment this much in a long time. Was it raining in Utah and you couldn’t ride today? ;)
I’m really tied to the desk today working on deadline on a very difficult project. Checking in on comments and replying is a fun, fast, easy way for me to take a quick break. – FC
Comment by Aaron | 08.27.2013 | 11:20 pm
1. If you kick someone back into time, wouldn’t they know you were going to kick them?
2. Some people say “Wheee, this is fun!!”. Or at least the girl in the rainbow socks at the Leadville 100 looked like that.
Your first point is an especially good one, and reminds me that back in College in my science fiction writing class (really) I did very poorly on the assignment to write a story that included time travel. – FC
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.27.2013 | 11:44 pm
This is not good! Now you’ve got ME looking at race series!
http://racemtb.com/FallFlash.htm
I’m going to have to check with Mike Colon.
Everyone should try racing, and should try it more than once. You might not like it, but then again, you might be surprised to find that you really love it. Believe me, I didn’t expect to become a race junky when I did my first Leadville 100. – FC
Comment by Nic Grillo | 08.28.2013 | 12:57 am
I raced tonight. It was hot. I think I got 25th out of 50 in the 30-39 age group. The burrito (with Guac, of course) and ice cold beer at the end were totally magical.
Nothing in the world is quite as wonderful as a burrito, well-earned. – FC
Comment by KenKoz | 08.28.2013 | 4:13 am
@carl – I will also be at the Ohio Tour de Donut on Sept. 7. Were you there with the other Fattys at the start last year? My fondest memory from last year is me trying to stuff donut number 12 down at the second stop while some 110-pound woman was working on her 15th or 16th and just absolutely killing it. I think I was on my way to a top 5 age-group finish when I averaged about 8 mph after that last donut and slipped to 33rd.
I’m expecting a race report, with pics. – FC
Comment by Drew | 08.28.2013 | 8:16 am
I’m totally going to email you CX race reports without waiting for you to ask.
I promise to read them (but I don’t promise to reply). Maybe this’ll be what finally convinces me that CX is something I should try. – FC
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 08.28.2013 | 8:22 am
@Davidh – Leadville has got to be your first race! Come on commit to it. You know you want too. Fatty, Corrine and I (and probably many many other FOF’s) can all tell to how much “fun” it is. It is clearly time!
Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.28.2013 | 8:44 am
@Doug, @Fatty, et. al:
The idea of racing sounds great! Then I read, or assess, the details of someone who has just raced (thank goodness we don’t see Fatty’s HR data) and I begin to stroke out in my chair. My daughter is almost a ‘teenager’, my HR is already under stress.
Check out Mr.Grillo, from last night: (I read this and said ‘Holy Cow!) He was ‘flat out’ 74% of the time!
http://www.strava.com/activities/78094915
Heart rate zone distribution
Z2 Z5
Range Time in Zone Percent
Z1 – Endurance 0-107 00:04 0%
Z2 – Moderate 107-141 10:35 26%
Z3 – Tempo 141-159 00:00 0%
Z4 – Threshold 159-176 00:00 0%
Z5 – Anaerobic 176+ 30:47 74%
That said Idid find an interesting race series near Sacramento. MikeC, any input?
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.28.2013 | 9:34 am
Here it is – My race report.
I arrived in the parking lot 30 minutes before sign-in. I was the first one there and wondered for 15 minutes if I was in the right place. I was. I went over and signed up and pre-rode half the course with Robert – the guy that talked me into the race. There were a lot of “skinnies” (boards/ramps/bridges) and some good sized trees down with strategically placed logs to ride over. I walked some of these in the warm-up.
This was my first race EVER! After 1600+ miles of road rides in my legs this year, of course, I enter a mountain bike race! I used to think I was a serious mountain biker – sorta. I’ve ridden in Moab, Crested Butte, Moncarch Pass, Boulder, Portland, OR, Tahoe, heck, even in France. But, I have been a roadie for about the last seven years and, I was never really technically sound on the trails. But let that stop me? Heck no!!!
Then we lined up. Which is to say, all 55 of us walked down a gravel road, turned around and pointed our bikes back toward the trails entrance. The Open group (3 laps x 5 miles/lap) started first with a two minute head start. Then it was time for the Sport group (2 laps). I hung near the back at the start. We bolted down a gravel road up to the trail entrance where the expected bottleneck occurred. It’s a loose sand climb so, there was the expected hike-a-bike after someone’s wheel broke loose. Upon remounting, the course rolls quick.
I should mention it had rained all the previous night and stopped in the AM so, the course was firm but with little mud or loose sand – until the riders loosened it up. The 5 mile loop is STUFFED into a small area so there’s a lot of tight turns, weaving back and forth and generally you see riders ahead of you and behind you as you pass by.
I over-cooked a corner early on and was passed by maybe three people including one that cursed repeatedly about how his race was over(!) because someone lost their wheel in the sand and he had to stop. (Dude, start futher up..) From that point, I was in my race. I managed a majority of the skinnies and attempted and made a most of the downed tree crossings in the first lap. I had decided I would try them all until I got scared or hurt myself. No walking until necessary. One tricky approach to a gully/bridge crossing I walked. It looked too dangerous to me and I’d want to practice it a few times before racing it. The lap was uneventful – thankfully – and I was psyched to ride the second lap and try to do better!
Early on the second lap, I had someone to follow to help me judge the trail at speed, instead of in a bunch. That helped smooth the ride and find some lines. My roadie miles helped a lot here. I could still spin up the little hills and keep my butt on the seat to keep traction. Things had loosened up some.
Three things I noticed during the latter half of the second lap. The first is, I had gotten tired and, as a result, a bit sloppy. Next, I WAS RACING! I was trying to go faster. However, my poor technical skills combined with my lack of real knowledge of the race course was getting me in trouble. I banged my helmet against three different trees! (Better than the same one three times, I guess!) The last thing I noticed was the fast guys hadn’t passed me yet! My friend, Robert, noted how, during the previous week’s race, the front half of the fast group passed him on his second lap and I was waiting for it.
It didn’t happen! At some point, I’d passed one guy I was catching and then losing. I’d get too close to him and then I’d biff. So, after I went by, and banged my head for the third time, I told myself, ’stay within yourself.’ ‘Keep it sane.’ So, I backed off a touch so I could flow better and be less grabby on the brakes (using the patented Fatty-flip-em-off-middle-finger grip. This resulted in fewer oh-shit stops.
I finished 10 miles of singletrack in 1:13:40.4. I don’t have my one lap time. But 36:50 loops is fine by me. I finished 19th overall in the Sport Class. 16th in the Sport Class – men. There were 22 finishers for the Sport Class men. So, I’m in the back half of MOP (middle of the pack). I was 15 minutes down on the class winner. Robert finshed about a 90 seconds ahead of me.
After the race, I spoke to a couple of people, congratulated the Open men’s winner. He finsihed his three laps about 5 minutes after I had completed my two. Then, I went home and snuggled my daughter to sleep.
A great night.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.28.2013 | 9:43 am
I added a race report, I thought. And it’s not there. I don’t have the time to write it again right now. I weep.
Just rescued it from the spam catcher. Don’t know why it wound up there, but you’re good now. You can stop weeping. – FC
Comment by Brian | 08.28.2013 | 10:01 am
What are you expecting from the other 10%, and how do we know where we fit in?
Comment by rob w | 08.28.2013 | 10:27 am
Yo Fatty, After all those avocadoes, you still like guacamole??
Loved the post!
Comment by rob w | 08.28.2013 | 10:41 am
Fatty,
Do you plan to race or ride at Levis Gran Fondo this year? My friend and I are coming down from Idaho to do it…..its our first time in LGF.
Yep, we’re there. – FC
Comment by mellabella | 08.28.2013 | 10:53 am
My favorite part of working at a bike shop (ok…in addition to the obvious discount) is hearing all the race stories! This has been a really fun post
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 08.28.2013 | 11:21 am
@David, That’s basically a TT on a MTB. Worry not! I rode Leadville Zone 2/3 with a little bit in 4. Next concern? :D
Comment by George | 08.28.2013 | 11:34 am
My wife asked me home my day went last night…
I told her that I hit 28 mph max.on my commute made it there in there in a non-record 33 minutes with an average of 18.4 mph. I had my shower and at my desk 6 minutes early… “ENOUGH!,” she shouted. But wait there’s more…
It was still a good day!
Comment by Dave T | 08.28.2013 | 12:46 pm
Fatty it’s your race reports and posts like this that have caused me want to get back into bike racing. And I thank you for this, my wife on the other hand is not quite sure why I need yet one more new bike.
Comment by Bill H-D | 08.28.2013 | 12:50 pm
Week to week, it is not exactly a race. Except when it is. Like last week. We rolled out slowly, lethargic even, and a few of us got antsy right away. We strung out quickly as there were whispers that Gary was saving something for tomorrow and Steve had tired legs from the weekend. A new guy, “Starbuck” we called him due to his jersey sporting a corporate logo for the coffee purveyor, began to set a pace at the front and that set it off.
No way were the grizzled veterans going to let a new guy stay out front all day. We got to the halfway point and Gary came to the front with Brian, nodded at me, and said “take us home.” We had 22 or so back on a rolling course that I could tell was going to challenge Starbuck. We amped it up and started working the paceline. Starbucks pulls were too long and a shade too fast. Gary tried to tell him. He even explained: “hey you might ease up a touch on your pulls, it’s not for us, it’s for you.” It didn’t register. As we hit the rollers, he popped. Didn’t see him after that. We hit it hard with about 14 to go. Brian’s computer was reading 26 on the flats. No chatter. The only sounds now were wheels on pavement, a little heavy breathing, and the staccato purr of someone’s new Dura Ace group freewheeling in the draft.
We turned for home, two point five to go, and I was right where I wanted to be. I’d just finished my pull and was tucked behind Brian who’s ten feet tall. I was plotting when Gary attacked. I was caught out. Brian was too. But I triple clicked and put my head down, just in case Gary couldn’t make it stick. He couldn’t. Brian eased up a touch and I got around, sprinting to the “stop ahead” sign that meant we were home. No celebrating. Just a chance to sit up, hands on the bar tops, and cruise into the parking lot a split second ahead of the others to say “thanks for the ride guys. Have a good week.”
Comment by Nic Grillo | 08.28.2013 | 12:51 pm
DavidH-
I’m pretty sure that my heart rate data is invalid. While I was indeed huffing and wheezing like a true FatCyclist does, the heart rate reading dropped off my Garmin display during the ride, so I think it was getting interference from the other racers. The high heart rate was probably a reading from the younger woman that went flying by me on the big climb.
Comment by Melanie | 08.28.2013 | 3:04 pm
Yeah, add to your list what I hate the worst: ask a person how their race went. They reply, “Eh, OK” only to find out later they podiumed in their AG or overall or something. Irritating! Granted the complete opposite, an overindulgent display of ‘I’m awesome and totally rule the sport’ isn’t favorable either, but at least come clean with me. Thanks for letting me vent.
Comment by UpTheGrade SR CA | 08.28.2013 | 4:48 pm
I wasn’t a race but…
I did my annual health screen today and my BP, heart rate and waist measurement are all the lowest they’ve been in years, all thanks to cycling, and fatty’s patented egg-whites diet. I feel like I’ve won something, yeh!
After 2 years of riding, now aged 48:
BP: was 145/85 now 113/61
Resting Heart rate: was 65 now 55
Waist was 36+ now 32 (OK I was sucking it in a bit)
Comment by Liz M. | 08.28.2013 | 8:03 pm
My last “race” (I had to wear a number so it was a race, right?) was such an unmitigated disaster I haven’t been able to bring myself to do my 100 MON yet, which should be easy and fun after what I trained for and got my ass kicked in.
I’m still traumatized so no more details will be forthcoming until I can memorize some affirmations or something.
P.S. Why are triathletes so cheerful when they are passing you as you are slowly dying?
Comment by Jeremy | 08.28.2013 | 11:04 pm
It’s been a couple weeks since the race and I only do one officially timed “race” a summer, but thanks for asking. I rode a personal best on the course by over an hour.
It was awesome. We descended off Mt. Bachelor, zipping along the beautiful Cascade Lakes (you know them from the Leadman Tri) at over 40 mph. I hung with the pros and eventual winner in the lead group for 30 of the 76 miles. I got dropped, bridged back, and thought better of that stupidity knowing I had the climb back up to Mt. Bachelor.
I hooked on to a group and we tried to bridge to the next group, but we shed riders almost immediately. I pulled up and got everyone back together and settled in about 1 mph slower.
We rode together to the base of the climb, at which point I went full gas and dropped everyone but one guy. The rest of the group caught me at the last aid station as I was finishing my power Coke as the guy who took my wheel plowed ahead. One guy I pulled along slapped me on the back, said “Nice ride” and I was off.
I caught the guy who pushed on and passed him like he was standing still. I passed many people, but was only passed by 3 guys on the climb. I was 41st out of 144 finishers and 6th in my age group, missing 4th by less than a minute. I finished in an official time of 3:54.40.1, almost 10 minutes fast than last year (which was in the opposite direction). The winner finished almost 10 minutes slower than last year.
I think I need to find a way to do Rockwell on of these years.
Comment by Brian | 08.29.2013 | 5:23 am
Fatty – I raced in my third ever MTB race and won my age group (30-39) and got fifth overall (Cat3). I was out drinking the night before until midnight and wasn’t going to race. In the morning, I decided to quit being a wuss and opted to race just to see the new course layout. After the first lap I found myself in third and figured, “why not just win?” And I did. But it kind of hurt.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.29.2013 | 5:57 am
@Fatty – Thanks for the rescue on my race report!!
@Brian – If you win, but it didn’t hurt, is it really a victory?
Comment by Angus Weer | 08.29.2013 | 6:05 am
Yes. All the others should hurt. That’s the meaning of winning. Make all the others hurt while you ride away with a smile.
Comment by Drew | 08.29.2013 | 7:19 am
I need to read the comments more. I didn’t realize how frequently Fatty replied and how nice everyone was (the internet has trained me to avoid comments). That’s so cool.
Comment by Diane | 08.30.2013 | 12:45 am
@Jeremy
That is awesome.
I too want to find a way to do Rockwell next year, but I am a lousy climber, so I’m working on that.
@Fatty
In a storm of inspiration, I wrote my first race report last night, but it seemed way too long to post. Two pages of 10 point font. So, I’m consulting an expert. Thoughts on appropriate length for such documents?
Comment by 21stcenturymom | 08.31.2013 | 6:51 pm
How long have you got?
I DNF’d which might suck but I broke my thumb halfway through training so the fact that I showed up to race an Ironman, largely untrained is kind of cool.
Only problem is – I have to do it again, next year. Oh well.
Comment by rob w | 09.2.2013 | 5:31 pm
Yo Fatty
I would love to see you elaborate on ‘race vs ride’. It seems making that jump to ‘I am gonna race thiss event vs just finish’ can be a little daunting. Was there a specific time or race in your life when you decided to lay it all down…..or is it something that you transitioned to??
Comment by Duane | 09.3.2013 | 8:18 am
I think fatty is in the minority of people who care about the answer when they ask this question. The bigger problem are people who, when asked about their race, grab the bullhorn and proceed to regale you with a 20 minute monologue about their epic journey to 17th place at some no-name event. I’m down with how it seems important at the time and a lot of energy goes into racing, but the world needs more humble and succinct answers.
The reason some people may answer in a non-committal way (“it was fine”, etc) is because we all have an idealized race day image of ourselves. We imagine that the others have trained less, eaten more or that we are genetically gifted and that we will ride a race day euphoria onto the podium. True to the law of averages, most people will have an average finish. This stings just a bit.
Comment by Amy | 09.3.2013 | 10:13 am
August 25th I rode in my first ever USA sanctioned race. I was officially placed 8th in the W Cat4. Unofficially I am not really sure how I finished. I am positive I was not in the top three but there were aprox. 10 of us all fighting for position the last few blocks coming up to the finish. We all crossed with no time gap and the race official was PARKING THE OFFICIAL RACE CAR when we crossed the finish line! We all had to gather around in a circle and argue over who finished where while he wrote it down on a paper and then scratched it out and wrote something else. His excuse for not being there was “Wow, you girls were faster than I thought.” My first thought was “Really? You just followed us around the course for the last 24 miles. Didn’t you know how fast we were going?”
At the end of the day I just got a top 10 finish on my first ever race. I didn’t get a flat, I didn’t crash, and I didn’t get dropped. It was a huge success and I can’t wait to do it again; perhaps with some improvements! :)
How was your race?
Comment by Jacob | 09.17.2013 | 7:54 am
Ok, I don’t know if you check your old posts for comments, but I raced this weekend and took your advice. You didn’t ask me about it, but here’s my answer. (I also referenced this post.)
http://aracauna.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-first-time-racing-mountain-bike.html