TSE Day 6
It was actually cold this morning as opposed to the 93 degree heat on Monday. The race start began about 4 miles from the race headquarters base camp. All racers left the base camp and did a slow ride to the start.
The race director said “go” and we went. Cissy and I stayed on the wheels of our only competitors for the first hour and twenty minutes then they pulled away from us on a long downhill. We saw them at the end of the race. Only one of them had taken off their helmet, so we weren’t far behind. Actually, we were only 10 minutes behind…so not too shabby!
The trails today were mostly rocks and some rocks and then a few more rocks. After the first trail of rocks, there were more rocks. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the rocks? The rocks were rideable though and it took fierce concentration to navigate the smoothest line.
We started on a gravel road and quickly entered a forest service road which evolved into double track then single track and finally hike a bike. The hike a bike was not too long and we were rewarded with a beautiful overgrown single track descent in which your front wheel had to part its way through the blueberry bushes covering the path. All you could see was a narrow strip of dirt so you just hoped that there was not a big rock or downed tree that the person in front of you just happened to miss and leave there for you to hit. After the narrow path through the blueberries, the trail turned into an old double track road that descended for about 3 miles. This part of the trail had a creek running through it for a while so by the end, we were wet and muddy. From here we pedaled gravel roads, hard pack and some more single track.
The day ended with a grunt up a wet, sloppy section of single track and a quick descent to the finish.
Overall, Cissy and I put forth a huge effort today. We were both “on” all day long. We worked it like we know how to do. When I was tiring, she’d pull up and take the lead, then I’d return the favor. We both agreed that the four hours plus in the saddle today seemed to go by quicker than any of the previous days. We put forth a huge team effort and were rewarded with knowing that we gave it our all, and worked well as a team. Cissy stepped it up through the last rock section and over a beautiful ridge on Tussey Mountain. Once again, she was riding with a new set of skills that she’s been keeping in her back pocket for a while. It hurt to stay with her on that ridge but I did, and we finished.
One more day.
39 miles
30.5 max
4:12
9.2 avg
It was actually cold this morning as opposed to the 93 degree heat on Monday. The race start began about 4 miles from the race headquarters base camp. All racers left the base camp and did a slow ride to the start.
The race director said “go” and we went. Cissy and I stayed on the wheels of our only competitors for the first hour and twenty minutes then they pulled away from us on a long downhill. We saw them at the end of the race. Only one of them had taken off their helmet, so we weren’t far behind. Actually, we were only 10 minutes behind…so not too shabby!
The trails today were mostly rocks and some rocks and then a few more rocks. After the first trail of rocks, there were more rocks. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the rocks? The rocks were rideable though and it took fierce concentration to navigate the smoothest line.
We started on a gravel road and quickly entered a forest service road which evolved into double track then single track and finally hike a bike. The hike a bike was not too long and we were rewarded with a beautiful overgrown single track descent in which your front wheel had to part its way through the blueberry bushes covering the path. All you could see was a narrow strip of dirt so you just hoped that there was not a big rock or downed tree that the person in front of you just happened to miss and leave there for you to hit. After the narrow path through the blueberries, the trail turned into an old double track road that descended for about 3 miles. This part of the trail had a creek running through it for a while so by the end, we were wet and muddy. From here we pedaled gravel roads, hard pack and some more single track.
The day ended with a grunt up a wet, sloppy section of single track and a quick descent to the finish.
Overall, Cissy and I put forth a huge effort today. We were both “on” all day long. We worked it like we know how to do. When I was tiring, she’d pull up and take the lead, then I’d return the favor. We both agreed that the four hours plus in the saddle today seemed to go by quicker than any of the previous days. We put forth a huge team effort and were rewarded with knowing that we gave it our all, and worked well as a team. Cissy stepped it up through the last rock section and over a beautiful ridge on Tussey Mountain. Once again, she was riding with a new set of skills that she’s been keeping in her back pocket for a while. It hurt to stay with her on that ridge but I did, and we finished.
One more day.
39 miles
30.5 max
4:12
9.2 avg
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