I’m pretty sure this pace of life isn’t sustainable, but it’s fun to think it might be. Everything seemed to come together at one time, on the computer, on the bike and everywhere in between. A new version of TopoFusion, managing the migration of all my websites to a new server (days before a major event!), hammer rides, contract work at UA, yoga, intervals with Krista, 4 or 5 different Alaska/Yukon races, 3 weekends of racing for 4+ hours, and somewhere in there attempts at catching up on sleep or relaxing.
Here’s an attempt to piece some of it together.
Running before Antelope Peak Challenge was a big mistake, but riding switchbacks and rocks the day after with Krista was not.
Success! That one took me several tries, enough that she got bored and started checking her email on the phone. Then she rode it first try.
Only to fail on the next one after I got it on the first try.
If you thought the last two photos looked more like spring than early February, how about this one? Poppies are out in full force due to December rain and a super warm January.
Engage singlespeed mode! Same 9spd chain and tensioner (thanks Chad!) I’ve used the past two years. Why take a perfectly good geared bike and strip it of its low gears that you love so much? Dejay’s “bike ride with friends”, AKA rip some of the best trails in Tucson for ~4 hours. Singlespeed Arizona.
I’m not even sure I knew my own name when I woke up, and I couldn’t remember why I had set an alarm. Another late night on the computer, and another too-early race start.
photo by CJ Vincent – wowaz.com
As usual, a bunch of guys attacked Redington road like it was only a five minute climb. The plan was to pace this time, but I was so fuzzy headed and unfocused that I didn’t need that plan. There’s was no chance I was going to go out crazy fast and kill myself. Krista rode right with me for most of the climb.
I got to the fence before the Italian Trap wash/”trail” with a Nimbus rider and noticed a short little post right where I was throwing my bike over the wire. Perfect to lean my bike against while I hop over, right? Wrong! As I was mid-fence maneuver, the bike slipped the the small post wedged its way right into my spokes. I had to pull the spokes apart to get it off, and it still made an awful “finger nails on chalkboard” type sound as I pulled the bike up. Spin the wheel, looks good, on down the wash!
I can see the appeal of singlespeeding, it’s a fun twist, and I especially enjoy the mental simplicity of it. Learn to live with what you’ve got, instead of trying to over-optimize everything all the time. Well, right up to the point where your legs fail you (or you just don’t have the leg strength to begin with). I remember riding more of the upper Chiva loop last time, but jogging up in hike-a-bike shoes is pretty fast too. I got away from the Nimbus rider on the last couple hike-a-bikes, then put the gap out of reach on the crazy descent that follows. I never know the lines up there, but that’s the beauty of chunk 4×4 roads — improvisation — there is no one right answer.
I rode the side door and Molino Arizona Trail without seeing anyone. I kept it steady, but couldn’t switch into race mode or push myself out of any boundaries. I just wasn’t there mentally. I knew where the good sight lines were, and hoped to catch a glimpse of whoever was ahead, knowing that could re-ignite things, but there was nothing to see.
Meanwhile my mind was subconsciously reading the tracks in the dirt. That track looks fresh again… how long since that group of ATVs passed by? No water on the exit of the creek crossing… must still be a big gap. Dejay told me the gap was 5 minutes (after asking if I wanted him to throw a pickle at my face). My response, “I better hope I’m on fire for Milagrosa!”
There’s a creek where the AZT transitions to a mile of 2-track before Milagrosa or the Molino saddle. Ah ha! Fresh water from tires coming out the other side. The trail is getting warmer. Let the hunt continue!
I thought about going for the staircase at the top of Milagrosa, but the risk-to-reward ratio was too high. I pushed up the next climb and came around the corner to the biggest view of Milagrosa. A white jersey was rounding the corner of the ridge, way in the distance. A switch flipped. I was in race mode. Conveniently there isn’t much climbing left, and lots of chunk. Conveniently the rider I had been hunting was on a rigid bike, and I had (I think) the only full suspension singlespeed on the day. Knowing the trail goes a long way, too. I didn’t have high hopes of getting through the gauntlet / rock garden without using my feet, but my focus was narrowing, and I decided I would see where my tires took me. They took me right through it (minus a quick foot dab), and right onto the heels of the rider.
He let me by after the Tequila tree, and where it opens up I put my weight back and let my suspension and legs absorb the energy of the trail. That’s a lot of energy! I questioned whether going all out on this descent was a good idea for my back, but a quick review of previous Dejay “rides with friends” made me realize I’ve never felt this good coming down Milagrosa nonstop before. In fact, I’m usually more beat up even just riding the thing, with stops and on the big bike. Core work and yoga!
I nailed the tricky moves at the bottom, not because I had to for time, but because the flow of the ride demanded it. I had no choice. I was on fire, and a little disappointed the trail was over so quickly. I pedaled up the hill to the finish absolutely buzzing, but pretty sure there was a rider or two already done. “I guess no one else is here… I’ll sign in.”
Krista came in a few guys and a few minutes later, after struggling with some flat issues. She declared I was now too fast to be her training buddy anymore. I’ve learned a lot from her, and benefited from ‘training’ with her… maybe a little too much!
Rudi, me, Dejay, Krista
We both got original Rudi Nadler paintings for our prize. What a sweet reward for a few hours suffering and an all out assault on Milagrosa.
la milagrosa
Closer shot of the painting. Thanks Rudi! I love it.
It’s a great group of people that shows up for Dejay’s event. Kind of a similar underground, laid back style to the AES races, but with some nice differences too. If you can get to Tucson in February, this event is highly recommended.
The same day a bunch of events started, including Yukon Quest, second biggest dogsled race in the world. Lots of eyes on the tracker and lots of computers hammering my new server. All went smoothly, much to my relief.
Yukon Quest is wrapping up just now, with a very close finish, tracked all the way!
Next up, the Tor de 50…
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