Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Pirate Vessel FT3

Arrrghh, ye scurvey spandex wearing mutineers! Show yer ugly mug or its the depths of Sly Park lake for the lot of you.

Talk of high seas mutiny aside, 'tis Tuesday and time to ride. The sun has broken through the death grip of clouds and rain and the dusting of snow should be gone by tonight. The count down is on to the 24hr race, Sea Otter rolls out later this week, the road scene is still rolling, and races were entered over the weekend. Can't imagine why it is hard for us to find time to ride...its not like everyone also has jobs, a wife, and kids. Those pro's have no idea what a real cyclist is all about. Tonight is the three week count down to the Cool rendezvous. That being said, there has been a bit of pre race chit chat missing. I will be keeping my training secret from now on, but am game for any wagers on fastest lap, best avg, fastest 5th lap etc.

Tonight's Ride: I have to attend a late meeting but will be doing the Mosquito roll up and will need a ride home please.

Mosquito @ 5:45...Exit 54?

Weekend Recap:
Bambi, NoCar, Xteric, RG, and I all rolled on Sunday for a great Pollywood session. We hit it early to get in under the storm and we did. Not a single drop of rain and some great trail conditions was our reward.

Napa Dirt Classic:
Cap'n threw down - race report below
Surprise, surprise, there was a downpour well underway by the time we arrived in Napa yesterday morning. Luckly the rider from FT3 who made the trip to Napa was no stranger to such events. After going through the tough decision process of determining what to wear, I chose knee and arm warmers + vest since the weather of Napa is a bit warmer than the temps in Pollyworld we are accustom to. The warm up was short and included a preview of the start of the course which proved to be very wet and muddy. This was not sticky mud but rather wet slopppy mud, much like the downpour laps of cool. I toed the line with several other Cat 1 racers, all age groups lumped together, no way of telling who's who. We took off on the uphill start and by the time things got sorted out I was sitting pretty well, between the top five or ten. The whole first half of the race is very fast, with a few short climbs. Eventually it puts you in the trees for a windy tour of the Napa single track, this was sweet, not too muddy, just slick with lots of leaves on the ground. During this section the riders got bunched up a bit and some guys were getting all PPP about wanting to pass. I totally kept it together, stayed mellow, rode my own race, I think one rider went by me, but we were all together and I knew the climb at the end was going to take it's toll. There is a decent into a valley after the single track, and I battled with a fast DH'er down that but once the course turned upward him and several others were off the bike and walking. This last climb is classic, super steep, with a taster at the beginning, then a longer second part - all small ring climbing - think top of rock garden - and then it backs off a bit but keeps going uphill. I was able to stay on the bike when a lot of riders were walking, tackling the steep climbs with full force making the low back hurt. It was carnage up there, my smart racing paid off and I cleaned some clocks on that climb. I think by the top there were only two riders in front of me, I passed at least five. Atop the climb there was a slight uphill section and I was beginning to recognize that the end was near. The legs were burning and I was digging deep but for the moment nonone was in sight. Closer to the finish, on a technical decent followed by a super slick mud section and a couple riders showed up behind me, one fairly close and two others chasing. I decided then and there that all my work wasn't for naught and I dug deep and barrelled across a wet meadow toward the finish. As my tires hit the pavement, I realized they moved the finish and now we had to sprint a parade lap around the asphalt track before the finish line, alas, cross skills prevailed and I dug deeper and noone got by. A glance at their number plates told me that none of them were in my class...oh well. My friend and carpool partner Brian Rouse, who was in fact in my class, we believe won our class. He said there was one other guy in our age group near him, but amazingly he also said he hadn't been there long before I got there, and that there was an empty gap between us. We didn't stick around to find out what really happened, it was still raining and now we were freezing. In the end, I felt like a veteran racer out there, I used my energy wisely and raced a smart race and possibly got a good finish. We'll see.
-Cappy

Until We Ride:
LOtB

19 comments:

  1. E-54 is out. Wifes birthday today and she had a long day yesterday moving grandma.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I guess I'll post up as 1. Depending on numbers and drivers, I can drive and get you home Larz. Nice work Cap'n! Looks like there's no off-season for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RG is out, taper, DTI rebuild & rest for Friday/Saturday dual throw down at Sea Otter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ride Note: I pulled off an up hill pavement to pavement clean of Rock Garden and 1a. I wanted an official recording for the books since it was the hardest thing I did all year, the climb at Pine Flats RR was a close second. Do I get a gold leaf or star in addition to the RG handle? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. FT3 Kit Payments are still pending, you know who you are. :-]

    ReplyDelete
  6. Three. Due to Lefty compatability, and the blogs indication of no other trucks it looks like I will be driving so Larz, you shold be fine

    ReplyDelete
  7. 4 - Matey! Arr.
    Looks like the DTI is paying me back tonight.
    I'll probably do my usual route up but if that changes I'll fire off a few calls.
    I can always drive someone home if needed no matter what route I take up
    RG, did you have a witness for your epic pave to pave roll.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I strongly believe I can knock down the pave to pave climb. I have cleaned each of them in the uphill direction with a standard stop in the middle. I will be happy to take them on in one fell swoop, but will accept tacos or PBR as opposed to loin cloth.

    ReplyDelete
  9. All, Let it to be known that I have not had a top ten finish at the Napa Valley Dirt Classic since 1999 (8th) and 2000 (9th). Henceforth, one could say that I currently have "90's fitness" since I finished 6th this year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Geez! First I'm being scrutinized on kit payment timing and now my claim on a Rock Garden clean. What happened to 'Band of Brothers'?

    Since I started the section at the back, did track stands along the way and passed everyone, I'm not sure what else could have been done except post 'checkers'.

    RG out!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like checkers, although chess is really my game of choice. I like to put my foot down every now and then just to keep grounded!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Xteric makes 5! Rock God, I have to correct you on your cleaning of rock garden. I was all the way off the back. I know this because I witnessed you clean the first hard obsticle at the bottom. I then missed the rest of your sweet moves as I was trying to clip back in three or four times. Next time it's mine stud.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I won the first 2 rounds of trap shooting and took 2nd in the No Limit Hold'm poker tourney over the weekend, dominated the horshoe pit for a while and never threw up once.
    I love you guys, especially you RG, you are awesome.
    Anyone want to ride the rock gardent tonight?

    ReplyDelete
  14. There be no brotherhood amoung the pirates. Arg!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Peter out......I wash pushed off the plank.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 'Checkers' are the folks in Trials that keep track of dabs, roll backs and falls. A Clean is 0 points, Fall is 5, max 3 points for dabs and 5 points per section.

    Damn the hugs and kisses, HTFU. ;-)

    Show me the Money! and the Clean!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Translated "When difficult times, to a moment of anger may be able to eat the pain temporarily, and set their goals early, one day, you will taste the sweet fruits of it."

    ReplyDelete
  18. We shall call the mystery blogger "Chang."

    Used in a sentance; "Chang chimed in on the blog again."

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't think our mystery blogger rides bikes much. Click on the ......... link. If you are looking for an young Asian female friend, that is your spot.

    ReplyDelete