Putney West Hill MTB Race
Putney, VT
6/28/2009
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This was the first time doing this race not really knowing what to expect. Talking to other races before the race and at the last race, I got the impression this would be a fast and a hilly course. So I decided to go with a 32 x 18 on my 29er for this race. I usually run a 32 x 17 for my local riding, so I’m thinking this would be fine. The 32 x 18 is what I ran at coyote hill and that was fairly hilly and that worked out well for that race. And for the Pinnacle I ran my standby 32 x 17 and found myself a little over geared and should have gone with the 18 in the back, next time. WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! Another insane turn out in the pro class we had 35 rides, the biggest class I’ve ever seen in any local pro race. I got a fairly good start then the course started getting fast and I started getting pasted by the well geared guy’s. I tried just to say in the mix at this point. Then we hit the first long steep hill and I almost instantly knew I was doomed. Boy was I on the wrong gear for this race. I dug in and stayed on my bike and climbed oh so slowly one pedal over another just struggling to keep my legs moving. And at the same time I just watched the field of rider go past with gear or on the right gear on a single speed.
By the 2nd lap I knew I was in trouble, by the 3rd this became about personal survival and just not quitting and finishing in this gear. By the 3rd time up the hell hill I really didn’t know if I could make it up a 4th and 5th time. But somehow it seemed to become easier just because by this time you knew what to expect. This race became a personal battle just to make it up that hill 5 times and not give up, which I didn’t, and was maybe the only bright note on the day that I finished and somehow made it up that hill five times in that dam gear.
Talking with some other super fast single speeder after the race it seemed like a 32 x 20 for a 29er or a 32 x 18 on a 26in bike was the gear to go with for this race, and now I know! I ended up finishing 26th but I finished and didn’t give in.
Paul
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