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Sterling Sizzler |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Ryan Rumsey
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Thursday, 14 June 2007 |
Sterling Sizzler MTB Race
EFTA NECS Race #2
Sterling, CT
June 10, 2007
 | | Just a happy boy and his new bike |
Just happy to travel with some friends and ride my new mountain bike... That was my mindset on Sunday. Up until this point it has been all training, just riding hard, working out, and looking forward to some racing. Going into the race tired challenged me to set some goals and then try to stick to them. Accomplishing a few things, I was testing my new 29" wheels, racing my Salsa Mamasita for the first time, and testing the system a little, doing a hard lap, easy lap, and then trying to finish feeling strong. My number one goal was to ride well within my means, no need to feel like curling up in a fetal position because of too much suffering.
 | | And an old dude and his new bike |
Anders, Erik, and I traveled down to the Sizzler, a first year race, to find some serious singletrack. The course was supposed to be an 8 mile loop of 2 laps, but it turned into a 5 mile course with 3 laps. Singletrack does not get more technical than this... miles of rock garden, miles of roots, steep punchy climbs, steep technical decents, and a lot of twisty serpentine fun singletrack.
 | | The Bikeman gets some attention on the highway |
The experts lined up by age category, so I started with Erik, and Anders a minute later in the Vet category. Looking around it was interesting to see some of the big guns from cross scattered throughout. Next to me was a guy that I duke it out with on the cross bike. I never went so slow from the gun, just keeping my effort in check, I was last of my group entering the woods. I knew the singletrack to come would change that. I just let my big wheels roll through the first rocky techincal section and before long I was on Erik's wheel and could see 3 other guys ahead. From there it was just work to keep it rolling. I knew that would be my only asset, keep the effort in check, but keep the wheels rolling... and it worked as I started picking off racers who were just bouncing off the rocks and roots. I caught and passed a guy who lights up the B field during cross, a moment where he was walking through some sloppy wet root section and I was riding through smoothly, boosted my effort a little.
 | | Salsa Mamasita cockpit - carbon, oversise, low and FAST |
My first lap was competitive at around 33 minutes, then I backed it way off which was fun, because I really wanted to enjoy my smooth ride through the technical sections. Anders caught up with me on the 2nd lap, but he was gunning for the racer in front of him, so he kept the pace high. Anders finished 3rd after fighting off some nasty hamstring cramps. My second lap was 42 minutes, I had to get off the bike to unwind and cut out a really strong weed that wound up in my derailleur pulleys... and my 3rd lap went went smoothly, but my fatigue started to set in. I am talking about brain fatigue, I could have taken a nap right there in the middle of the lap. Only teachers out there would understand the kind of fatigue I am talking about, after a school year of being beat down my 50 kids, you could sleep on the spot in any situation. Now as I write this however, summer has begun and I am trying to get my bearings straight. Today entails coffee, a ride, and then more coffee... sounds like summer. But my first race efforts landed me in 4th place in my group, 10 minutes behind 1st, so I do have some work to do during the summer.
 | | The crew in new Bikeman kit - Anders opts for the redneck biker look |
Let me take a moment to highlight the Salsa Mamasita... I plan on writing up a product report. My first impressions are simple to sum up.... I will most likely never ride 26" wheels again... EVER (Unless it is on my Carver). The way the Mama rolls through everything really exemplifies the let it roll philosophy, but it really feels safer, faster, and crazier when you fly through stuff that you would normally bounce off. The flattened carbon seat stays are very flexible and you can feel and see them move when you compress the rear end. Plus traction is increased significantly since there is more tire contacting the ground.
 | | A little too much racing and little too much coffee |
All in all a good race day... hot and sunny, fun technical riding, and we found a Starbucks on the way home. Eric was like a kid in the candy store, he put down his first Grande ice mocha in 1 minute, so he bought another one... 8 dollars and 4 shots of espresso later he was wired. Ummm Coffee...
Ryan
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; "Just a happy boy and his new bike")
; "And an old dude and his new bike")
; "The Bikeman gets some attention on the highway")
; "Salsa Mamasita cockpit - carbon, oversise, low and FAST")
; "The crew in new Bikeman kit - Anders opts for the redneck biker look")
; "A little too much racing and little too much coffee")
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