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Bear Brook Blast Off |
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Written by Ryan Rumsey
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Sunday, 01 June 2008 |
Bear Brook Blast Off
NECS #2
Allenstown, NH
6/1/08
 | | Mamasita! |
If you have not been to Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown New Hampshiere, it is worth the trip. I raced there a few years ago, and remember having good memories of the trails. Since the race is back on the calendar this year, and hopefully for years to come, it is certainly a must do... The parking lot was full and the EFTA announcer was talking up a good race day. There was a great turnout, with around 50 experts amongst all the age groups and a lot of others racing sport and beginner.
The course was a single 20 mile lap on some of the best single track in New England. Everything was very fast and dry, so the race times were quick, I finished in 1:33 which is all I had in me for my first race this year. The 1st half of the course was on much faster single and double track, with amazing flow and undulating roller coaster like hills and turns. I was amazed that although I was racing and working hard I was having so much fun just railing the corners and feeling the flow of the well planned trails. There was a section of single track along a creek that was cut into the bank just a few feet above the water. It was like a mile of pump track with burmed corners and undulating trail that you could use momentum to push through. Only 1.5 hours from Portalnd, ME it is worth going back for. The second half of the course hit the mountainous terrain, with longer climbs and major rock and root gardens. There were some really hairy sections, especially not knowing what was ahead on a single loop.
You never know how the body will manage a race effort when it is the first of the year. Trying to lay low because of this I went into the first single track pretty close to last, just hanging on the wheel in front of me since we were all lined up. There were 18 Experts in my category, probably 15 in front of me that I was just faster than in the single track. With flow and momentum I was gaining and picking them off. I warmed up and started working a little harder but I have to give credit to the big wheel Mamasita, it was a beast. Over the first 45 minutes I rolled my way up to 4th place and not knowingly was there for most of the race. I have my Mamasita set up with a rigid carbon fork, and although it can be a pretty rough ride down steep fast hills, it is the quickest best handling set up I have used yet. It is nimble and has so much acceleration that it powers over and through rocks, roots, and technical climbs with ease. Even Gary Fisher 29er racing pro Michael Patrick was impressed with how sweet and light my Salsa was.
The race went very well, I was on the gas the whole time, and never really felt like I dug too deep, although the last 20 minutes were very hard. On a long climb and then a very fast finishing stretch I was caught and passed by 2 experts so I finished 6th in my category, and 9th amongst all the experts. Times were really close on this fast course, I was less than 3 minutes from being the first place expert overall. It was great to be racing again, but I have to say the best part of the day was really enjoying the race, suffering a little, but still recognizing how much fun the trails were.
Ryan
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; "Mamasita!")
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