VT50 2017, scratch that, 2018: Goals

"They" say you should set goals.  For personal achievement you should have a scale of goals; The seemingly unattainable, the stretch, and the what should be attainable.  For The 25th annual Vermont 50 Mountain Bike Race those were, in that order, win the singlespeed race, podium in the singlespeed race, finish in under 5 hours.

It was a remarkably warm morning for this year’s addition.  No thought to layers was necessary .  Lights were charged, New tires with fresh with sealant; ready as I'll ever be.

After the mandatory 5:00 AM check in, and 5:30 rider's meeting we were lining up.  At two minutes to go I pulled the old "Hold my bike" on Jordan.  There was some audible cue and we're off.

Bottom of the hill, leaving the resort and the lead rider heads right...ignoring the State Trooper and course markers pointing "go left".

First real climb of the course the young guys power off the front. I summon my inner geezer inspirational speaker, and tell myself they're going out too hard and will be back.

Yo-yoing with Scott Livingston, almost a contemporary, I finally begin to pull away. The youngsters with giant quads are out of sight to the front, and Scott's light is fading in the distance.

I was alone.

Maybe it was when I was fiddleing with the switch turning off my light, maybe I was deep in  concentration, but all of a sudden I was at a major intersection (for VT), and there wasn't a course marshall, or markers.  How do I know to go left or right?  Wait a second...

I'M OFF COURSE!!!

FUDGE RIPPLE!!!
(I didn't say fudge ripple)

Time to backtrack and reassess some goals.

I started writing this over a year ago and lost interest or was distracted or something.
But I enjoy writing and sometimes miss it so maybe for my own head, it was time to dust off the old blawg.

Goals was going to be the title of this year's VT50 recount, but low and behold it was already in use.

So goals.  It's good to have them.
The Ultimate, the stretch, and the attainable.

For the 2018 edition of the VT50 the were as follows:
Podium
The best I had done at the VT50 was 4th, and there was a pretty solid gap to that bottom step of the podium.  Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger.
Sub 4:40
What I think I would have been able to do last year without the detour
Sub 5 hour
The two edition finished had been as such

According to Garmin, the temperature at the start was a balmy 36 *F.  In true XC racer douche style no knee or leg warmers were worn.

Corralled at the start, I'm contemplating doing the old "hold my bike" and going pee, but the new starting area did not provide easy access to the woods, so I convinced myself I really didn't have to go that bad.

The whistle/gun/horn, I don't remember how they started us but somehow they did, goes off, and at the bottom of the hill, everyone goes the right direction!

Praying for the first climb in the sub40 temps, trying to not loose too much ground to geared riders, to only inevitably end up yoyo-ing with for the next hour up and down the hills, until there are some flatter (for VT) dirt roads for them to get away on.

On the first climb, I'm able to hold Dave pedal stroke for pedal stroke, on the second climb youthful exuberance carried him and an anonymous rider from NY away from me (ie. Dave and Shane were stronger and faster than yours truly).

I went with an easier gear this year, but it somehow seemed harder.  Not only did it not seem easier, there was a greater futility with every passing geared rider on the open road.

The yoyo-ing.  Ah the yoyo-ing.  Clusters of riders coming and going, passing and getting passed.  Hauling ass past me on the open flats (for Vermont), being caught when things got steeper or in the more technical (VT50 is anything but technical).

One such case was on the way to Margaritaville, an uplifting party of a rest stop at the top of a big climb where they crank classic rock and hand out ice cold beer.  I've never stopped there but it always lifts my spirits.  A  rider on a Salsa hardtail who flew in from out West for the race has been playing the game with me and was up ahead.  As we ascended he caught a buddy who had also traveled from afar to come and race.  Spinning little gears up the twisty singletrack chatting it up as I churned slowly behind them with no place to pass.  Glancing back I see the next singlespeeder, Skip Thomas, closing in.  He is in striking distance with the ability to shatter my number one goal.  As we reach the top Salsa guy's buddy want to stop for a beer. I explain my urgency and plead for the easy pass.

Permission granted.

From Margaritaville the race gets more funnerer.  More singletrack, more descents.  With Skip hot on my tail (does he know this?) I need to summon my limited technical ability and try and get out of sight.

Being chased is a great motivator in it's nerve wrecking way.  Constantly peaking over your shoulder, not letting up, you know, BECAUSE HE'S RIGHT THERE!

Your mind plays tricks on you; is that him, maybe a teammate, is he closer, are my tires soft, do these shorts make my butt look big?

They added more singletrack to the second half of the race (yay!), looking at my computer and where I am on the course, the B Goal is in jeopardy.

I think if I can make it to the top of the 1 Mile Climb, a zigzag up an open hay field about 2 miles from the finish, with any kind of gap I can hold him off.  Again, is that him or a teammate?

It is uphill so if I don't blow up or have a mechanical or get attacked by wolverines, I think I've got this.  What I don't have is my C Goal as the 5 hour mark is quickly approaching.

But who cares about C and B Goals when you've got A?

Entering the woods at the top, confidence is growing, doubt is waning.  I keep on the gas crossing the mountain, pushing up the last few punchy climbs.

The final descent down the ski hill.  Feelings of elation start to seep in.  I've got this.  Age group riders fueled by their own personal goals and ego are passing me in the grassy switchbacks.  I don't care.  I've finally made the podium at the Vermont 50.

Well, I actually didn't reach the podium.  I was back at the condo eating candy when they had the podium ceremony, so Mike Sliverman just handed me my bottle of syrup.

This year the Vermont was actually 50 miles with the additional singletrack (yay!).

Putney / West Hill Race Report: I Heart VT

Mookie to the rescue!
I was really looking forward to this race last year, and was bummed I had to miss it.  I didn't think I was going to do it this year being outside the radius and all, until Mookie offered to give a lift.
Hmm...
The family got to got to MV for 4 days and 3 nights so maybe Charlie can go to VT for the day...
(much like Pantani or Riccò, Charlie is speaking of himself in the third person).

Due to heavy rain all week, we had to park about a mile from the race course.  Not too much of a problem, we just loaded my backpack with what we needed and used it as a pre-ride.  Before we headed out Alex asked if I had my license.  I replied "I never get carded, and they're making us park a mile away from the venue, they won't need our licenses".  Sure enough, first thing they asked at registration "Can we see your license"?
A little Charlie sweet talk (very little needed because we are in VT and people in VT are really nice), and she turned a blind eye to my negligence.

There were only a half dozen singlespeeders, so they sent us off with the juniors.
Adam gets the holeshot, and I'm making my way up the right side, where I am suddenly chopped by one of the juniors.
Argh!  You little whippersnapper!
First muddy section of the first descent Choppy crashes, and I'm in forth behind two juniors and Adam.
I out maneuver the second place junior in the singletrack and have Adam in my sights.
On Heartbreak Hill (HH) he's off the bike.  I somehow manage to grind it out and catch and pass him.  But he's a stronger descender so he's on me like white on rice.  As I try and skirt around a trail engulfing puddle I crash, opening the door for Adam to take the lead.
We finish the lap together, but as we descend from the start finish line Adam starts to open it up.  On the switchbacks we can get glimpses of one another, but he's gradually pulling away from me.
On the third lap, glimpses are getting few and far between, until we get to HH.  When I get there, he's about 2/3rds of the way up it and about to dismount for the miserable mud slog.  I know I can't catch him here, but if I try and stay on the bike longer on everything maybe I might have a chance to pull him back.
Lap 4 I'm really trying to hang it out on the descents.  I need to minimize any time Adam is gaining here.  It's working as I'm getting closer to him on the switchbacks.  I know I need to get to the top of HH before him for any chance at the win.  I round the corner (to HH), and he's about half way up it.  I pedal up to the mud, hoping I can pull him back, but he's back on the bike and over the top.
As I get to the last hill on the course, Cemetery Hill, Adam is hiking it.  I'm riding it, but he's out of reach and crosses the line 25 seconds in front of me.
I cross the line and fall on the ground.  I always think when I see XC ski racers do this they are just being over dramatic.  I meant it (I'm sure they do too).


Every time I go to Vermont, I always come away with how much I like it.  Beautiful country, great hills, and the people are so nice.  A woman overheard me asking if there was a place to get cleaned up after the race and 5 minutes later came up to me with a hand drawn map and directions.  How nice is that?

 the map


I wish Vermont was in Connecticut.

We never made it to the the destinations on the map because we found a close by stream.  I love how bike races can make people abandon all modesty.

And speaking of mud (don't you hate when a sentence begins with a conjunction?), the conditions caused carnage.  Snapped chain, broken cables, and chain suck galore.  The course was very rideable, but where the mud was thick it was greasy peanut butter goo.
It was rough out there, but then again, that's part of what makes mountain bike racing so great (says the guy riding the singlespeed).

Millstone Grind Race Report; Sorry Sam for I have Sinned

Living the "pro" life


I wasn't planning on doing this race. Google said it was almost a 3.5 hour drive away. For New England that's far (we're kind of spoiled in that regard). But my whole family is away. Kim and the kids are on MV, and my folks are on Nantucket. I'm stuck in CT due to work responsibilities. Lots of cycling friends are away too (like up in VT to race the 'Grind).
So what was I supposed to do? Stay home and watch the grass grow?
I decided to go all pro and book a room at the Days Inn and go up the day before for a little recon.
James and Kerry had the same idea so I had someone to pre-ride with.
In the morning James and I headed out for a lap. We made it about 2 miles before we decided it would be best to go back to the truck and get a lighter gear. We had heard it was about 60' of climbing per mile, but in actuality it was more like 100' per mile. Made a couple of wrong turns, and discussed just which sections were going to really make us suffer.
Later in the day Kerry and I hit it. No wrong turns but I amused Kerry with a couple of panic stops as I failed to comprehend that the blue tape meant I can't go there.
Race day.
We line up. There are a couple of serious looking cats in the group. Jay Provencher from Bike 29, who reminded me somewhat of Filip Meirhaeghe (with a better complexion) and Don Harmeyer from Belgen Cycles.
Jill sends us on our merry way, and I do not get the hole shot, Jay does. Don fall in line behind him, followed by myself and Kerry, who rides for Biker's Edge (by the way). After we get through the major suck of riding through a grassy field we hit the single track. The four of us are quickly separating ourselves from the rest of the pack.
Riding third wheel, I'm feeling pretty comfortable, if I can just stick with these guys through the singletrack, I might be able to do something on the climbs. There are no real sustained climbs, but there are many many short punchy ones.
Don and Jay are excellent technical riders. They are just flowing through the singletrack, getting little gaps on me that I need to close again and again. No problem, I'll get them on the climbs right?
Wrong! Those fookers are opening it up on me!
Well maybe I can hold on for third I think as they start pulling away (nice positive attitude huh?).
I occasionally get glimpses of Don in the woods but Jay is long gone.
Near the end of the lap we come out onto a fireroad and I see Don up ahead. I count it off and he has about 30 second on me.
About half way through the lap there is a steep punchy climb that I was able to ride the first lap, when I get to it on the second lap Don is standing on top of it. I yell up to him "You better get back on your bike!" I run it this time, and I'm hot on his heals, he's beginning to cramp, and I get around him. This motivates me to up my pace a bit to hopefully get a gap and out of sight (out of sight out of mind).
Coming through the start finish area, I dare to glance back and I'm in the clear.
Now if only I don't fade like I have the past two weeks.
The course is very twisty. You can often get a glimpse of the riders 20-30 seconds ahead as you weave through the woods. I see an electric blue Niner.
It's Jay.
I didn't think I'd see him again. If I'm seeing him now, he must be fading, or I'm going faster. When I get to the hill I caught Don at, Jay's standing on top of it. He glances down, and gets his hustle on.
He's far superior to me on the descents, and anything technical, so anytime the trail turns up, I give it all I've got.
Finally on a short grunt after this giant rusty boiler abandoned by the quarry I catch him as he dismounts.
From there, there is a lot of twisty descending and singletrack, and he's keeping me insight. Fortunately there is a series of steep switchbacks, and I employ my number one strategy; kill it on the climbs.
Apparently this works as I get to the line alone.
I won.
Jay came in second about a minute back, and Kerry rounded out the podium.

Race Notes:

Millstone Grind is an excellent event. Well run, and well catered. Cookout for the racers, free neutral feeds, raffle, and a super fun course. Definitely going to be on my calender next year.

I rode my Karate Monkey. I've been highly frustrated with my fading lap times the previous two races and wanted to try a suspension fork. My suspension fork's steerer is too short for my Singular, so I rode the KM. It just might have worked as my laps were all right around 47 minutes. Speaking with two guys who did ride rigid, I told them I thought it was a great course for the rigid. They informed me of the contrary, that the course was pretty rough, so I guess the fork helped out. Plus racing for Marble Design I could write off my motel room. Sorry Sam.

I rode with a hydration pack. This helped not only by being able to drink almost anywhere on the course, which would be hard to do on such a course, but also on a mental note as I wouldn't have to figure out how to drink with my left hand (little things are big to Charlie). My back is hating me now.

No heart-rate monitor. I used it at Hodges, and it did confirm that my heart does indeed beat fast during a mountain bike race. Good to know.

I drive faster than google. Google said it would be almost a 3.5 hour drive, I did it in about 3, which included 2 stops to use the potty on the way up and one on the way home. There was also a lot of RV traffic and some construction on the way home.

I won a pair of Mavic shoes! I'm like the Imelda Marcos of cycling footwear, so this is great!

Everyone is so friendly in VT. I like that.