Epic Race training- Saturday morning

[egordon]

Anyone up for a little Epic Race training Sat morning? Was thinking of doing 3 laps to see how it feels..

[Loggahead]

Im in if we start early. Say 7-7:15 or so?

[superdave]

I'm in too.

[pops]

I think I'll be up for some of that also. I'm always good for some pain.

[egordon]

7.15??? How bout 8am Start so we can get more peeps

[Diomedes]

We'll see how lazy I am on Saturday morning. This week is going to be killer, but if I can motivate, I'll meet you out there at whatever time gets decided.

[R-johnson88]

I'll probaply be there at that time, i know i won't be keeping up with you guys though.

[gtkillerv]

So what are the details for this race?

[egordon]

November, 2 8.30 sign in. 9.00 race
Two Classes.. Sport and Advanced
Each Class Teams of 2 or 3, or Individual
5 laps 50 miles
More to follow..

[gtkillerv]

Mmm? Solo or team? What to do? What to do? Not saying that I don't play well with others, but the solo catagory sounds fun.

[Bike Rover]

I don't play well with others so solo.

Leo

[gtkillerv]

I don't ride a mountain bike too much, but if you guys don't mind I would like to join you on Saturday morning. I'm usually on the road bike on Saturaday morning, but I would like to get a pre-ride in too. I promise not to get in the way. Okay, I probably will so just be prepared for it.
Did anyone set a definite time?

[superdave]

Did anyone set a definite time?

Personally, I'd rather go with the 8ish start time. The body doesn't work real well at 7:00 am :endo:

[NoName2]

I should be out there at 8:00 as well.

[egordon]

I'm screwed, I'm out, my wife has her nursing internship every other freaking weekend from 7am to 7pm sat and sunday.. So I will be riding sat night at 7.30 lol We need PORC Daycare!!!!! Anyone have any leads for weekend sitters?

[NoName2]

nate likes little boys so you may want to ask him. :rolleyes:

[Loggahead]

I'll be there around 8 as well! Looks like Im the only early morning riser here... Im early morning because my kids (2yr and 4yr) are up at 6:15 sharp EVERY morning, weekends included... :(

[RobC]

Keith,
do the solo...what's the point of racing on a team? You know you can rip out a few good laps, as most people can....but riding the entire 50 miles solo will be a challenge, or maybe not, who am I to judge.

[gtkillerv]

Keith,
do the solo...what's the point of racing on a team? You know you can rip out a few good laps, as most people can....but riding the entire 50 miles solo will be a challenge, or maybe not, who am I to judge.

Yea. It's solo for me. Doing the mileage on the bike isn't a big deal, but I've never done it at UWF. The roughest trails in the south.
Now, think I could get away with riding sport?

SHUT UP BILLY!

[Loggahead]

I must say running 3 main loops and 1 games loop yesterday with you guys sure wore me out for the day. That was the longest ride I have ever done. What was that 31 miles?

[carl]

i overslept. maybe we could make this a regular thing (long rides, not oversleeping). the chickasawbogue/use combo yields about 30 miles.

[pops]

I rode 2 long loops, with another short section. Walked about 2 miles. Total riding of 29 miles. Damn, legs hurt. The actual event is going to be painful.

[Diomedes]

Lessons I learned:

1. Get more sleep before a long ride. 6.5 hours doesn't cut it for me.

2. Eat more than 45 minutes before riding, and eat more, even if it means getting up really early. I've got no real reserves, or so it would seem, so when I'm out of energy, I'm out of energy.

3. Do not attempt to traverse slippery, washed-out bridges at 7:30 in the morning whilst carrying the bike. Only bad things can result.

4. 2 liters of water is not enough. (Thanks for the extra, Dave)

5. Singlespeed is fun for anything under about 20 miles. More than that, and I start to want gears again.

I felt like I was doing pretty well until about mile 21 (23-24 for me, since I rode over to the trailhead). Definitely not fast compared to most of the guys out there, but I think me and Galen were the only ones riding hardtails, and I was riding singlespeed, so I'll pretend that made more difference than it actually did.:p

After the second main lap, I was out of water, barely capable of climbing Carl's trail, and feeling pretty bad, so I decided to bail with some semblance of dignity and ride pate/treehugger/chute back to the U. Finished with treehugger, and crapped out. Ended up pushing the bike most of the way up the powerline instead of taking greenbriar, and had some difficulty controlling the bike going down the chute, but I made it back to my apartment and promptly dropped my muddy (did anyone see what they have done out on the powerline hill?) carcass onto the couch after chugging a recovery drink.

Astoundingly enough, my legs are not really sore today, and I'm already looking back at it as something that I want to do again. I'm glad that I'm not doing 50 miles solo next Sunday, but I'm really looking forward to it!

[gtkillerv]

I learned that taking three and half months off from the mountain bike is not good for anyone that is not that great at handling a mountain bike. I learned that following WildBill will show you all the faster lines. I learned that just because he shows you the faster lines don't make you faster through the turns.
The first big loop I felt very winded and out of shape. By out of shape I mean not very comfortable on the bike. My handling was way off. I thought that if I could maintain a 50-minute lap time I would be happy with the time off that I took. We covered the first lap in 48 minutes.
The second big loop I felt a little better and my legs were starting to come around. I was able to push larger gears up the hills without feeling like I was going to explode, but I was still motocrossing the corners. By motocrossing I mean I was coming in as fast as I could, slamming on brakes, and then trying to accellerate out of the turn. So I was basically doing sprint intervals from turn to turn. We covered the second loop in 46-minutes.
On the third big loop Billy and Joe decided to ride a different section at the beginning of Cambodia. I took this opportunity to ride the third loop on my own without trying to keep up with anyone. I decided to slow my entry speeds into the corners and take my time studying the lines. I felt a lot more relaxed and felt like I had another 48 to 50-minute lap time coming. I was surprised that I did the third loop in 45-minutes. It was the most comfortable I had been, and it was the slowest feeling. I guess it's true what they say, "Slow down to go faster."
I still have a headache from the encounter with a tree on the first loop, as well as my neck and shoulders are sore from my head being folded back like a pez dispenser, but all is good and I will hit the trails a couple of more time this week.
I'm looking forward to doing the full distance.

[scratchndent]

Quit ur bitchin, at least you can hang with billy long enough to see him thru the turns he drops me everytime I have ridden with him

[egordon]

3 sub 50 minute laps in a row!!!!! Kiss my A55.. Where do we mail the trophies lol... We're going to have to put you guys on 56 lb Schwinns..

[gtkillerv]

Quit ur bitchin, at least you can hang with billy long enough to see him thru the turns he drops me everytime I have ridden with him

Only because he let me.

[scratchndent]

So now you are trying to plead this off as a charity case you fast bastard!

[Loggahead]

...I think me and Galen were the only ones riding hardtails, and I was riding singlespeed...

Yeah, it was like Team Specialized FSR out there... we were severely outnumbered! :fight:

I just want to know where the 29er brigade was... I was riding the only 29er in the pack. :pig:

[gtkillerv]

So now you are trying to plead this off as a charity case you fast bastard!

I can't put a name on everyone that was out there, but when we were all back in the parking lot we had the same average speed as the rest of the group. The only difference is that they did more waiting then we did. So this "fast bastard" wasn't much faster, if any, that Ed B. and Loggahead, and a couple of other riders.
So if I'm fast maybe they're sandbaggin'. Oh what the hell am I saying, I know Ed B has some speed, and the rest of the guys looked like they were holding their own too.

Marty,
Sponsorus has a team roster put together for next year, but we could use a rider in the single speed class.

[scratchndent]

I wouldnt mind getting on board, but I dont think that an 11th out of 20 was that great of a finish. I plan on racing in the spring but I wouldnt want to bring the team down with my slow ass. Maybe next year after I have a year of racing under my belt. I need endurance and hopefully the procurement of an older road bike to get some road time will be key. It is in powdercoat now and should be ready for assembly next week.

[natepac]

Got my three laps in today. Change me to the sport individual. The only part that blew is that I had to ride Paul's bike for one of the laps.

[gtkillerv]

I wouldnt mind getting on board, but I dont think that an 11th out of 20 was that great of a finish. I plan on racing in the spring but I wouldnt want to bring the team down with my slow ass. Maybe next year after I have a year of racing under my belt. I need endurance and hopefully the procurement of an older road bike to get some road time will be key. It is in powdercoat now and should be ready for assembly next week.

You have the wrong idea. Yes, it would be nice if all of us on the team won everytime out, but that is not going to happen. All I could muster up the last race was 4th and there were only about 12 guys in the class. So don't get down on yourself about you speed or fitness level. You have all winter to work on that.
Plus, get that road bike put together and start joining us on some of the longer rides this winter and you will be ready for the first race next spring.