2008 Mount Snow XC MTB Race Team Report
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Conditions:
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Warm and humid, with temps in the mid to mid 70’s. The trails were partially dry on the access roads but ranged from moist to all out mud-flows on the technical downhill descents.
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The Course:
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The course was a 5.5 mile loop on a combination of ski mountain access roads, some ski slope and some single and double track mountain bike trails that were well worn in. There were also ample rock-bed trails and a descent that would typically be considered a full on DH MTB trail with a literal, side to side, 6” deep, mud flow on the lower 100 yards of the descent. The elevation gain was about 1000’ per lap, and came in a combo of mostly un-ridable hike-a-bike woods trail and brutal access road climbs as well as one fun soupy, grass covered, insanely steep ski slope climb. The night before, the Mount Snow area received multiple inches of rain.
Beginners did 2 laps with Sport being cut back to 2 laps and Expert and Pro/Semi-Pro doing 4 laps. The lap times were long with most Experts racing 3 hours to complete their 4 laps.
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Results:
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NEBC/CycleLoft/DevonshireDental had a sparse turnout at the race with 2 registering in the XC events. We did, however, gain representation on the podium racking up an impressive win by Wayne against a tough field. Additionally, Wayne’s streak has got him to within one top 5 of a mandatory category upgrade.
- Mike Rowell – Expert Men 40-49 – 4th
- Wayne Cunningham – Sport Men 40-49 – 1st
http://www.root66raceseries.com/results/index.php
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Reports:
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[Mike Rowell]
I rode up to Mount Snow with John Mosher and as I was coming off a legitimate rest week, my first of the season, I had great hopes. I’d ridden the course about 10 years ago and decided then that I’d never race it. For some reason, I changed my mind. John and I arrived, registered and saddled up for a pre-ride. The race flyer listed the Expert race as 15 miles on a 5 mile course, so 3 laps. I figured a warm-up lap would be fine even though I knew it had lots of climbing. We did our lap and it was brutal, as expected, and muddy as all sin. The lap also took 53 minutes, albeit at warm-up speed. It was going to be a long day.
We got to the line and all the Corner Cycles regulars were there, plus some new ones and the McCormack brothers also showed up just for fun. At the line we were told that the race would be 4 laps and not 3. Ouch, this is really going to hurt. Many of us didn’t have food or drink for a 3+ hour event. What could we do though, so reluctantly, we raced on.
The first lap set a monster pace. Three of us broke loose off the front and were passing people from younger fields left and right. Up the climb I was holding ground, right behind Jonny Bold with Stu Jensen leading the way. Near the summit we passed the McCormack brothers and I though what the heck. From there we started down the crazy technical descent. I knew Stu would rain and that I needed to get by Jonny so at the 1st opportunity I did and bridged to Stu. We flew down the slope getting a good gap and at about 3/4 down, we jumped out onto ski-slope to a small up, where I passed Stu and started riding my speed. I came through the 1st lap in the lead with what appeared a good gap and a 39:44 lap time. I was feeling good so kept the pressure on. This held me through the next lap as well which I slowed on but turned a 43:01 lap for. About 1/4 of the way into the 3rd lap, I was getting worried about lap 4. My HR had been pegged the whole race, I didn’t have enough water, my stomach was a mess, my legs were just about toast and my bike stopped shifting. Other than that, all was well.
Jonny caught about then and I jumped on for a whie then decided to try and fix my rear derailleur. I added tension to the B-adjuster which I hoped was the cause of the problems. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the issue. I was able to shift by reaching back with my toe and pulling the rear derailleur. Onward. Further up the climb Mark Stotz from Corner Cycles also passed me. At that point I only mildly cared. Back down and around with a lap time of 47:44 this round. Not good. One more lap. Shortly in on the mattress climb (soft and squishy) my legs cramped. I had to get off and walk. Then Stu caught me and I didn’t care. Into the hike-a-bike climb more cramping and massaging to try and keep them moving. Up, up and up some more. The McCormacks passed me back but later Mark broke his chain or something so I got by him. I was in a fog of pain and just wanted it to be done. The last descent was a horror-show of mud and me flailing to keep control. Wayne passed me as they finally had to start the Sport class before we were done, since our race was taking so long. He was looking great.
I finally finished with a final lap time of 55:00 even, slower than the warm-up. I went to the water station and chugged a bottle, then made my way to the car to clean the mud off. About 30 minutes later I had the bike hosed off and myself semi-clean and was trying to re-hydrate. That was when the 1st wave of nausia hit. It wouldn’t be the last. I was wrecked and would stay that way for the next day and a half. I’ve run myself hard before, but never quite that hard. Rookie :)
Many that to John for keeping me alert on the drive home (as well as offering to drive) and suffering through my, uh, unexpected pit stop. He also spent the day suffering like a dog in the same miserable conditions but never complained. Also a shout out to my buddy Dave Barr who took a header on the descent and sprained his shoulder and concussed hisself. Dang!
[Wayne Cunningham]
With plans to race the short track on Saturday and the xc on Sunday, I figured driving up on Friday and camping of the weekend would make for a good time. I arrived at the Molly Stark state park about 20 miles from Mount snow. It is a nice little park I plan to stay there again for nats. The race flier said that the racing started at 10am so I got up and over to the site by 9am. At registration I learned that the super D race started early than the short track at 12 my race would be at 12:30. So with time to kill I watch some of the other racing and did laps on what I thought was the short track. The loop I was riding had a little ring climb that went up for like 4mins then you came down in your big ring and up a small rise down a small hill left turn and your back at the start. It was like a 6 min loop. I Thought this is a terrable short track, But after a few laps a round I hated it but had the best lines down. For example the high speed down hill had drainage gulllys going across the trail that you could hop maybe, or ride to the left in the tall grass where there was no ditch.That was safer and faster for me. Everyone I watched slowed way down to ride them or jumped them. So as they got ready to start the first race they moved the tape around. I was practicing the start to the cross country race. The real course was just a short way up the hill then down to the other rise like a figure 8 with out the crossing and 2minutes long. This was more like it. They always start all sports together then score you in age group after. I was 3rd off the line. Two juniors shot out first and I had a guy on a single speed on my wheel. the two at the front quickly faded off and I took the lead the single speeder sat on my wheel for 2 more laps and I could not get away as we topped the larger rise he came around me and past some of the lapped riders. It was a very good move I had to slow for the next climb and conner till I could get by just enough that I could not close the gap to him. I came in second but won my age group.If you have never tried short track in is like a short cross race 20 minutes plus 3 laps all out. The winner turned out to be a cat 2 collage racer that was closed out of the Rhode Island race. So he came to try this with friends. His mtb rank was beginner but he was racing up. With first place came a medal and a nice kenda tire. After my race I did a lap on the course for Sundays race. It had a lot of climbing and the toughest down hills I have ridden yet. I figured from other race all the climbing would be good be cause I gain there but loss it on the down hills. I was told at least it was dry it had rained last year and it was really hard to race the course. I packed up to head back to camp and on the drive the clouds that were looming over head all day broke open with thunder and heavy rain. It rained off and on all night long….
Sunday:
I got there early to stake out my spot and set up my canopy in case the rain returned. The forecast was for after noon thunder storms and my race was at 2. I walked around saw Mike and John as they got ready to go for a pre ride around the course. since I had done it the day before I had no interest in doing it now. I watched there start then went backwards up the course to watch at a tricky down hill that back to the hard single track climb so you could see them go up and latter down at the same place. The climb was so slick that no one could ride it, but it was ridable a day earlier. After watching on the down hill you had to choices on where to ride the left was the better but less noticeable. The center line looked faster but in the time I was there at least 1/2 a dozen guy went down trying it. I moved to the top of the hill to tell Mike and John when they came by. They bolth look strong and riding well Mike was either in the lead or second at this time. After they passed I rhode down to start my warm up and crashed just two turns from ware I was watching. After riding the rest of the drown hill and back to the lot I was a little freaked out and thought I should not have watch. It might have been better not to know what was out there. Our race was to be 3 laps but do to the time the pro/expert race was taking they delayed us 1/2 hr and shortened us one lap.I had mixed feelings about this. That gave me less time to gain on the climbs, but one less lap to get hurt and Fitchburg starts on Thursday so I would be one lap fresher. At the start they sent us out after the start line and in between passing rider starting there last lap. The fast guys jump off the line I’m a 5 or so back the climbing starts shortly after this we stay together (front group now 3) till the running single track climb. By this point there are rider on there last lap, and other that started in groups ahead of our mixed in. I always see every one push there bikes up these walls I shoulder and run (cross thing I guess) By the top I have broken through my field is now chasing me passing rider all the way till the down hill starts. I tag on to a good wheel and try to follow. On one of the many rooty drop overs (this one was like 3 steps) I found my self unicycling down them on my front wheel. I some how stayed up to my amazement and the rider be hind me. At this point I slowed it all down it not worth the risk. At the spot were I watched earlier I went left and the second place ride I thought was gone went by me in the harder line. I then crashed In the same place I did earlier. This time I landed with the right side of my chin on a log pushing my head up and back lucky for me I was going slow when I flipped.I only got small scrapes on my chin and neck and some swelling latter. I kept go but the rider I was after was gone. I saw him ahead caught and past him on the climbing before the run up. I was to tired to run this time I would only run if I thought anyone behind me could see me. I kept looking back along the climbs going all the way to the start of the down hill trying to judge how hard to push to gain all I could to hold him off.He was nowhere to be seen. By this point all the mud was making shifting hard and my chain would slip and I dropped it once on the climbing. I took the down hill a little faster knowing I was most likely to get caught again. When I got to the spot I feel on I ran it. Faster and safe. At the dirt road leading back to the line I could see him casing I pushed all I had left and held it to the line with a 30 second margin. I would have liked to know what the gap was at the top of the mountain to see how much I lost going down. Well now I got a new tire set to show for the week end. Now off to Fitchburg I hope it muddy.