Training Log Archive: biggins

Forgot to mention I spent yesterday rebuilding the rear disc brake on the mountain bike. They're hydraulic, and one of the pistons started sticking a couple weeks ago, so they were extending unevenly and rubbing the disc and making a royal racket. I figured the piston was just dirty, and they say to just clean it with the brake fluid (super light mineral oil), so I got some and tried that. The pistons started moving ok on their own, but would still get stuck if I put the wheel on, so I took it all apart and checked out the brake pads. Turns out that over the last few rides of off/on pad vs. disc rubbing, I'd worn down one entire pad and most of the metal backing, so there actually wasn't anything left and it was sitting at a funny angle, which is why the piston would cock sideways and jam every time it extended. Eddie would be proud. (Those are both old, new pads are about 4x the height of the right one)

C • obviously... 3

Emerald Bay trail race. Easily one of the more gorgeous races around here, even for Tahoe. From the campground on the south end of the bay, back up the paved road for a bit (to spread people out), then down a singletrack to the shore. Around the whole edge of the bay, then a long 2k climb up to the highpoint and a crazy downhill to the finish on the beach. The last mile or so was all perched up around mostly vertical cliffs and steep gullies, so lots of bridges and stairs and rocks and fun stuff to slow down the normal people.

Had a really good race, felt good the whole time. Got myself into just about the right position going onto the singletrack, the initial pack I was with had to pass two people going down, but that was it, so cruising at my speed until we got down to the first wider section along the bay. We spread out along the flat bits, and on the long uphill me and the guy behind me ran down another guy about halfway up, then another at the top (to be fair he stopped to puke). I got an ok lead on the last downhill, but there was a flat bit of parking lot just before the finish, and the guy behind me and pukey guy rolled right past me like it was nothing. I guess they like pavement better. Not sure where I finished overall, but I was 3rd in the age category, behind a fast dude and Jonis, who were also 1-2 overall.

C • Nice race 1

Easy spinny ride around TD to loosen up the not loose parts.