Training Log Archive: wilberto

The team wanted to try Epic 8 at Mansfield this year, so we split into Lather.Rinse.Repeat. with 2 riders and Lather.Rinse.Compete with 3 riders (including me). As I did FAC last weekend, this was Mrs. W's race, so she headed out early with PT and I offered to come out a little later with our kids and his son. Showed up just around noon and just as I was heading out for my lap, PT suggested I double up so he could watch the kids race. Okay. Felt nice to be out there, but showed my lack of MTB conditioning this spring right off the bat with the climb up onto the escarpment. Weather was great and the course was fun, with lots of up and down and looping back around. My teammates gave me advice to leave something in the tank after you come down by the solo area, because there's one last long climb before the finish. No kidding.

Second lap and legs actually felt good and warmed up on the steady climb up from the start. Feeling like I could put in a nice lap. After initial climb, am coming S along the ridge overlooking the start/finish. Flash back to early in the spring when Derek who works on our bikes reminded me that my mtb doesn't owe me anything and it's pretty much done. The front shock is borrowed from PT, the rear shock loses air and clunks. The drivetrain needs replacing and I distinctly remember him saying the middle bracket on the front is really worn. That discussion came back to haunt me as I was putting the power on a climb (with a couple riders behind me) and the middle bracket skipped, sending my right knee into something hard and sharp and me off onto the ground. Did the ooo oww oww walk for a minute or so and then got back on and gingerly rode on. Ouch. Carry on and eventually get back up to speed, but shifting very early to avoid more problems. Catch myself daydreaming trying to figure out how I'm going to get myself a new 29er.

Spend 30 minutes standing at the Specialized tent waiting for an XL Epic demo that they promise is coming back in, but it doesn't materialize and I have to head over for my lap. Felt okay climbing out on the start (although Chico himself rode past me on the climb like I was walking) and resolve to shift early to avoid trouble, keep a steady pace and enjoy myself. I prep myself for a couple of the steep climbs and do pretty well on them. Next time it's my turn, I do the math and figure out I'd have to turn a 36 min lap to have it count and that just doesn't fit with my relaxed vibe for the day. A grey day to start, but the sun came out and once again, Chico put on a great event. The kids had an absolute blast, with a great kids race and they were having fun high fiving riders coming into the finish. Nice to chat with some friendly AR faces - Mr & Mrs Arnold and Mr. Kura himself.

Ride in.

Ride home. A little cool by the lake to start, so dug out the arm warmers. Hit all the lights for a change.

Soccer coaches meeting, so got dropped off and ran up the flats in the Don home.

Ride in. Used the new arm warmers.

Ride home but includes bike store stop to p/u tubes for Mrs. W and riding the kids home from daycare.