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Fort Custer Stampede |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by C. McDowell
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Sunday, 13 May 2007 |
Fort Custer Stampede
Augusta, MI
5/6/2007
This season it is great to be back in black (and red and spots) racing for Team Bikeman. Alas, my desire to stay in New England was not so strong as my wish to pursue applying for my masters, so I find myself back in my home state of Michigan— or as a friend was teasing me, “the more wholesome country.” But jokes of subsisting on casseroles, games of euchre, and musings on funny nasal accents aside, my state has a great mountain bike scene!
Last weekend, I managed to unload my overburdened wagon enough to shove a bike, some tools, spandex and a sleeping bag back in, and off I went to Fort Custer State Rec Area to participate in my second-ever cross country race. When I pre-registered late in the week I had noted with smug satisfaction the minimal number of contestants in the women’s Expert category, and decided that since I was already in the money (by default, mind you), I might as well skip the Sport gig and go for the gold. Well, about 10 or so other women must have had the same thought, and we all signed up at once and met Sunday morning on the start line. There, we exchanged pleasantries while watching the Elite and Expert men go off in their waves. When it was our turn for the gun, we too gave a good show for the early morning spectators and then filed nimbly into an opening in a thicket and began our 30mile adventure around the park.
I had rode the course the evening before with guidance from a few veteran Michigan Mountain Bike Association (MMBA) series competitors, and so I was confident of my lines through some of the more technical portions, but still wary of how well my minimal training would serve me on this challenging endeavor. But soon enough, I settled into a rhythm and mentality more akin to how I might approach a time trial, and decided to just tuck into the course and revel in the good weather and fast, dry conditions. The two sections I enjoyed most were training features created and used by the military many decades ago. One trail called ‘The Trenches’ wove in, out and over a massive system of ditches made to simulate those in a battle zone. The other portion was like mountain biking through the set of Apocalypse Now: This stretch of shoreline had been subject to a controlled burn so recent that its mile and a half of trail had some serious asthma-inducing qualities. Fine ash wafted over the charred woodlot, while the trail wound up and down in countless miniature switchbacks punctuated by perpendicular log piles. From across the water, gunfire from the military base could be heard and all I could think of was Robert Redford screaming, “When I say it’s safe to surf this beach, it’s safe to surf!!” With all that additional stimulation, it proved a distinctly invigorating experience!
I was fortunate to have a smooth race, and placed 7th out of 9 finishers. Most of all, I had a great time getting the scoop on the area’s latest trail developments, the best greasy spoon to hit before next weekend’s TT, and generally mingling with fat tire-infatuated masses. I’m already looking forward to the next race in the series and especially anticipating putting my new Panaracer tires and Jagwire brake pads to use. Until the next installment, wherever your trails may lead you— enjoy the ride!
Cal
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