We started on the main gravel road leading through Uwharrie. I got a pretty good start. Shortly after we funneled into the singletrack, someone dropped a chain. The rider in front of me stopped abruptly and I was forced off my bike. So I got to practice my cyclocross remounts a little early this year.
While I was working through the pack, the racer directly in front hooks his handle bar and goes down right in front of me. I manage to catch the lead group and take my place in line. When we get to the fast, smooth, sweeping corners of the Super Tree trail, another racer gets crossed up and goes down hard.
When we enter the single track to start lap 2 I find myself 3rd in line. Morgan is on the front pushing the pace a bit on the climbs, but descending at a more reasonable pace. And then, for no apparent reason, about 1/2 way through Keyauwe trail, I unexpectantly clip a small tree with the handlebars and go down hard. I heard my helmet hit the ground hard and I had to fix the retention system to get it to sit on my head right. There was no easy fix for the rear derailleur though. The chain would make noise, occasionally drop and I was limited to about 4 gears that wouldn't skip teeth when I pedaled. It was going to be a long race.
I struggled on with a few other scrapes and bruises. The limited gear selection is not so bad on the fast parts of the trail, but I am way over geared for the climbs. On lap 3 I launched my chain into the spokes ...twice. And had to stop and wrestle it back out before I could continue. By lap 4 I'm learning which gears I can use, and only have to stop 1 time to pull the chain out of the wheel. So far no one has passed me though, so I keep hammering away.
Lap 5 I shift quite cautiously and never drop the chain. Riding the climbs with the bigger gearing is causing me to be right on the edge of cramping. There doesn't seem to be anyone closing in on me, though so I resolve to ride smoothly, and not risk losing any big chunks of time. About 1/2 way through the lap I start to feel the rear tire getting a little soft. Every now and then I bounce off the rim. I look down at the tire, and it looks OK. I'm determined to finish the final lap now.
I cross the finish with no one in sight in front of me, or behind me at a time of 4:24. Good enough for 2nd in class and 4th overall. I'm pretty beat up, my bike is pretty beat up, but I finished on the podium which was my goal. Tomorrow I race an SCS race at Dark Mountain. Fortunately I had already planned to race a different bike.
No wonder I had shifting issues
A cut sidewall was the reason for losing air late in the race
Me and Rick Pyle representing Cycle Works of Mt. Airy, NC in the 40+ class
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