And so it begins, 2013 race season! All the way up at Yankee Springs Recreation Area near Kalamazoo, MI for a MTB time trial (my third year going). If memory serves me correct, this trail has some good flow nothing overly technical. So it should be interesting. I just remember my results last year stunk (23 out of 32)

My weekend starts as most weekends do for the race seasons, I wake up bright and early (5 am). Load up the E with my gear (bike and camping). 

Grab some grub for breakfast. Then its on the road (8 am), for 4-1/2 hours. This is going to be a long drive (and it was). At one point I hit NW OH/NE IN/S MI and remember why in the heck I moved out of that area.

I finally made it to my destination around 1pm, this was after stopping for a quick lunch and to fill up the E. The weather was a balmy 35F! Yeah, this is going to be fun. I end up doing a quick lap to refresh my memory on what to expect and where. I still don't recall this one stinking hill that is almost a category 3 climb at the end of the trail and the sand, why so much sand. Plus, this is the first time I have been on a trail since Raystown back in October. So this was a wake up call of how to ride a bike on a single track.

My lap wasn't to bad. The trick would be now to remember all the things I saw, and where I can gain speed, water, pass, etc. Piece of cake, right. Note, one lap is approximately 11miles. Me, the overall genius I am signed up for Expert class yet again. This means two laps equalling 22 miles. Yeah, there is a lot to try and remember for only hitting this trail once a year.

So lap done, checked in at campgrounds. Time to settle in, make some dinner, relax for the rest of the night. Or so I thought. I get back to my sight to discover the temperature dropped another few degrees and the wind picked up (10-15 mph across a lake). Therefore, it got cold! Fire was a failure (started and had it going just not enough heat to overcome cold wind), and making dinner was interesting. I am just glad I did a lot of prep work at home. Well, crashed night. But that only last for a few hours, partially because of the cold and partially because of nerves.

WAKE UP, MIKE! I get my stuff together and head back to the trail by 8am considering I have a start time of 10:11:10 am and I wanted to get a decent warm up in. All that is going through my head is, what is the temp going to be for my start, how fast is it going to warm up, and whether I wanted to wear these stinking tights that keep bunching up. The answer was made clear during my warm up, they stay on (wonderful).

After fooling around with my warm up around the parking lot, I look at my computer and figured it was about time to head to the starting line. Once I get there, I looked at the active clock.....crap! I was going to miss my starting time, not good. I start doing the typical lost in the crowd thing and ask several riders where they were on the docket, only to have an official grab me by the shoulder and place me where I should be. 15 riders still to start before me.

This is when the nerves kick in and my mind starts running. Oh, this is going to be bad. I edge up to the starting line and the official tells me to hold for 10 seconds. The seconds start counting down, the adrenaline starts to kick in. Not enough time to switch gearing to what I think it should be (instead of what it suppose to be).

….4...
….3...
….2...
….1...
'Go!'

And I'm off. Rolling start on a slight downhill. A little voice is saying get some speed, shift up to that big ring. A quick peak at my computer and I realize that I have 22 miles plus to big ring the first few miles (with a couple of climbs) would kill me during the last few miles. At this point in time, things are going good. Good cuts, good average speed is respectable, and I am feeling good! The trail is riding quick. I look up and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two images and I am getting closer to them. It's too earlier for me to start seeing things, that doesn't happen until mile 14 after going 100%. The images were other riders. Now, I am confused because I don't see anyone while racing nor do I catch them.

It took some time but I ended up passing both of these riders (I will end up doing this several more times). At this time it's about mile 6 and I get into a quick downhill section with a hard flat cut to the right. I go to touch my rear brake to buff out some speed to make the turn. What you read next was what through my head, all while I was saying one choice word out loud.

'....um.... why did my finger just bottom out on the bar? Not good! Let me try that again, maybe it was just an air bubble. Seriously, why did it bottom out again? This is very much bad!'

At this point, I then thought, WWWD! I didn't just drive 4-1/2 hours and camp out in near arctic conditions to DNF, especially after the first 6 miles. And for some strange reason, I could almost hear Cary telling me that you don't need brakes for this trail after surviving the Hydro loop with him. Small set back. Moving on. The remainder of the lap went well. Still had some issues with some sand but nothing to set a foot down on. Get to to the Start/Finish. Lap one complete in over a little over 51 minutes (this was unknown to me at the time).

Now, it's time to suffer! The first few sections were still flowing fast, good recovery spot on the legs. First climb on lap two, quick some switch backs, and I have to pass some tandems. This is going to be fun. Passing made easy with a little free-riding. The further into the trail on lap 2 the more the lactic acid starts to build and the climbs start becoming a little more difficult. And I definitely saw a few single speeders hike-a-bike on several climbs. At this point, I am getting towards the end my legs are close to being shot and that hill I mentioned from the day before was getting close but not before I decide to take my left shoulder into a tree. This is just working out for the best. Thank goodness for a triple and a 36-11 cassette. I have no clue what gear I was in on the cassette but that little ring got its workout on that climb.

Almost done, a few more sections and I am home free! I get within the last mile and I completely forgot one section of sand. A blind right turn into a sand pit......and I am spent. I enter the sand pit with too much weight on the right plus I was not following the correct line. Wham! Face plant into a shrub. Deep breath. I pull myself out of the shrub, once over my bike, grab my glasses (that flew 2 ft from where I landed), and back on the bike to finish it off. Let's keep this thing upright, now, with less than a mile left. Time to kick it up a notch to make up the time lost for falling (more suffering).  This thought process seemed to work until I realized that I truly was cashed out.  And by this time it was the final stretch.  So after being on the trail for about 2 hrs putting forth just about everything I had.  I had no idea what place I was in but the only thing going through my mind, 'Crap....full rebuild on rear brake.  And I think I lost move skin on my shoulder.....again.'

4-1/2 hrs later, I arrive back in Dayton only to have crapped up legs and a plan on what has to be done to repair my brake.  So what do I do, jump on my other bike for a 45 minute recover spin if nothing else to get the legs moving again after being cramped up in a vehicle.

Beers for all!

Well glad that's over!!! Nothing like endowing over the guy right in front of you! Oh did I mention this was in the very first rock garden!! Then at the moment I pick my bike up... Yep rear wheel is off.. So get that back on.. Get going and wow.. Rear break is dragging... So now it's not a race for me, it's came down to a mind game of to turn around and say screw it or keep pushing forward. So I'm sure I chose the wrong one. I kept going. Mind you I haven't even seen mile marker 3 yet. So by the time I get to the covered bridge, I go ahead and pump my breaks crack my valve to try to make the next miles of climbs at least realistic at this point. What can I say, Sidi's aren't meant to be walked in. At this point who do I see Rodney ... But of course he didn't have a beer for me....

Being far out of shape for 2013 I am scrambling to get my pre-race season miles in (especially since I will be racing sport this year). I caught wind of Mountwood XC a few weeks beforehand and didn't think much of traveling that far, until I found out that it’s only a 3 hour drive and it would give me a chance to say hi to a not so old friend that races Semi-Pro in that region (Derek Bissett) and I heard Kenny mention that he and fellow KSDrs Corianne and Tim would be making the drive so that added extra incentive. So Saturday we decide to make the trip and do some racing.

After unloading I stopped a moment ....Only I won’t be ”racing” because, well, I just need to get some miles in. After unloading I stopped a moment to take in the sights of this unfamiliar place, as it occurs to me that we are in a holler and the only way out is up. That puts a smirk on my face and instantly I’m concerned about my heart rate and surviving the distance of the expert course = 20 miles. I hear reports of “fast and flowy” and a smile returns to my face.

Gearing up for the ride. “Remember, this isn't a race, I’m just here to get my miles in.” I keep telling myself. As we are readying ourselves I hear the voice of Kenny saying “We will see how long it takes till I blow past Rodney!” “Uh huh” I reply, for lack of better words, and knowing full well that even with a 5 minute head start the “Freight Train on two wheels” would have me in his sights far sooner then I cared to admit. Did I say that this wasn't a race?? “Keep your HR low and go the distance!” I say to myself.

The racers line up. I don’t even bother trying to stuff myself into the pack of 50 or so experts lined up bar to bar as I pace back and forth behind them waiting for the start. Bam they're off! Except for a handful of us following in the dust storm left behind the fastest of the fast. “Remember this isn't a race, just get your miles in! But, should I try not to be in last place?” I ask. A quick glance at my HR reveals I don’t have much of a choice since I’m already zone 5 within the first 1.5 miles. After about the 3rd mile I start wondering when that blasted Freight Train would be blowing its horns. Still at zone 5 I assess the situation and feeling good I decide to continue on with the option of stopping for a break and or “bailing” at mile 15 with the sport riders if need be.…Mile 13 or so. What no Kenny? Did he flat? Or crash? Or can I hold him off??? … “Ohh Rodney” I hear echoing through the trees. “Damn it!” “Remember it's not a race.” Oh hell no, 2 miles left it’s a fucking race! Especially with this downhill on my side knowing that the Freight Train on two wheels is on a full rigid frame, I got this, only I just let 3 sport riders pass me on the uphill and damn if I wasn't about to run one of them over, but I still manage to pull a few seconds on Kenny. All too soon it's back uphill. I survive another uphill without being passed, oh good another downhill, only it wasn't long enough and the next climb was bad ass. Towards the top of the previous climb I glance over my shoulder and see the Freight Train on two wheels standing up mashing on the pedals! Not what I was hoping to see at mile 14. If I had any chance of holding him off. Exhausted, shortly after the climb began I heeded to let Kenny by. It was a well fought battle and way more fun than I expected, I breathed a sigh of relief that it was over and continued pedaling on up the hill feeling pretty good about the situation.

Only I still have 5 more miles to go. Feeling good with plenty of adrenaline flowing my body doesn't feel so bad so I decide to do the next 5 miles and let my heart rate drop a few zones and take it easy. Only the coast of a ¼ mile or so down a paved road to the next and final section didn't go as planned. I figured I could relax and get some energy back but quickly discovered upon entering the next trail that my muscles had tightened up on that short coast and it was going to be a long painful 5 miles to the finish! But I cruised to the end to the welcome sound of fellow KSDers cheering me on at the finish Line!

Amish Country Roubaix

Gravel Road Race in Ohio's Scenic Amish Country

Four KSD’ers (Kenny, Tim, Christine and Corianne) registered and raced/rode in the inaugural Amish Country Roubaix in Millersburg, OH. Christine and I used it as a training ride for the upcoming Mohican 100K. Numbers attached, pre-ride snacks eaten and we were ready to start warming up. Nervousness was setting into our stomachs. I mean people had their trainers out warming up - talk about HARDCORE! We decided to take a lap around the Holmes County fairgrounds, I hit the power button on my Garmin 305 and….the battery is dead! UGH, I had turned it on before we left the house and it was fully charged...was this going to be a sign for the ride? We hoped not, but it left us scrambling for something that we could have the time, mileage, etc. since neither of us had pre-ridden the trail. We weren’t going to take our phones for fear of wiping out and breaking them, but we both decided that was the best thing to do – so we ran the Strava app and we were ready to go.

The start was a ‘neutral start’ with the group riding together for the first two miles – it was an amazing site when the group started breaking apart – kind of like a mini-Mohican 100k start. We could tell right from the start these people were serious and the ride was jam packed with expert riders. Riding at our own pace we started up the first climb, not a hard one, but we did pass one guy on a Santa Cruz Highball carbon – walking his bike! Don’t worry he got back on at the top and passed us back and we didn’t see him again till the end. With the SAG on our tails – we pushed it up the next climb, and then came the gravel … the scary downhill gravel. This was where we lost a lot of time – between my fear of gravel from my teenage days of rolling my first car on a gravel road and my love hate relationships with downhills, but we took it easy and made it! Then came the climb at mile six – there were some people out cheering on the riders – and one guy out working in his yard who said “have fun on the big hill.” Oh and we did! Up next, a freshly graded gravel climb that one would compare to a long Oak Hill in the Valley. We both climbed the whole thing and stopped at the top for a quick refuel. The SAG stopped to make sure we were doing okay – well told them we were and they said they were cheering us on from the truck to get up that climb. That gave us a little self-esteem boost, knowing we were in dead last. It was rough without my ‘lifeline’ Garmin – I knew I depended on it a lot to tell me the time, distance, heartrate, etc., but it was rough not knowing where we were either! It’s not an easy task to pull your cell phone out of your pocket on a gravel road! At this point we both knew we were going to finish – there was not a doubt about that. Then came the climb at mile 17ish – I think this was where we looked at it and it was straight up – I looked at Christine and said “you know what, we’re beating everyone on the couch today!” We made it up that hill too. We felt bad for the SAG they were still back there, being SO respectful for our slow-assed climbing skills. We might be slow, but we make it up them! We saw some little girls holding a sign that said “great job.” 

Christine took her phone out that had stopped somewhere between the last stop and now…so she lost some miles, so I took mine out, took my glove off (silly touch screens!) We were at mile 28. We had a LONG way to go, and we knew at least one more bigger climb before the Holmes County trail. At that point I started singing to myself “I’m in over my head …” by Lit. I knew I had to get it out of my head before the next climb or I was done for! We found it, climbed it and were on our way back down some gravel descents. We made a turn and went right through someone’s farm. Waved to the horses and we were off again and up the final hill (we hoped!) 

Once we saw the Holmes County trail we were greeted by some volunteers yelling for us, great job, keep it going! We made it to the 10 miles of flat.. a fist bump and we were off. Trying to make up some time, afterall the signs on the trail said “race today from 1-3..” it was at least 4 p.m. Passed some interesting characters on the trail, including two punk kids on bmx bikes who scared a rider and a horse..the rider was scolding the boys as we were riding by. We thought for sure we had missed the turn point – we had been riding forever! Christine pulled out the map, I pulled out my cell phone and it said 38.8 miles. We still had a ways to go! Finally we made the left turn onto the final road….and here comes the headwind. We rode side-by-side shaking our heads – and saying “you have GOT to be KIDDING me” and “come on wind!” Then we saw checkpoint M – we were ALMOST there – one mile to go! We turned onto the fairgrounds, there were only a few cars left, but the tent was still up – they were waiting for us! Then a dog comes up and bounces off Christine’s wheel and then hits my wheel. We stop for a second. I say “sorry” to the owners and we keep going. I’m like did that really just happen!? We get lined up side-by-side for a ‘photo’ finish. Kenny and Tim were waiting at the finish line! We were DONE! The guys from Soupcan and Ride On of Wooster did a GREAT job at organizing and providing SAG support (just glad we didn’t need it) and they even saved us two Amish made fry pies.  We got some water and packed up and headed over to Bags – the local pub. We devoured some good food and a recovery beer.

Would I do it again? Yes, but I have GOT to get faster! 

In the end, we wanted to know how that compared with the 100K – I said at first, I’d ask Kenny…then I remembered he is NEVER a good judge of elevation, so we decided to ask Tim instead – fearing he would say – it was like the 45 miles of ACR, plus a full lap at Mohican. He said it was not like that, the roads at Mohican are not that steep – I sure hope so, we only have two SHORT months before that undertaking! Cheers to more training!   ~Corianne Kocarek

Update - we made the paper! Tami Lange of the Wayne Bargain Hunter writes - Spring has arrived and it’s a good day for a Roubaix. Thanks for the encouragement! :)