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Newt
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« on: September 20, 2010, 08:35:07 PM » |
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G'day Guys,
Well Crank the Shield is checked off the list of thing to do. Cal, Bob, Jim and I competed in CTS this weekend and the weather was perfect for racing. Little cool to be standing around waiting for the start in a Jersey and Shorts but once racing I never once felt cold, well once but more on that later. This is a 3 day Stage mountain bike race where your time is added each day. There was just shy of 300 people on the starting line Friday morning.
This was a race of attrition as record rainfall in area for the month of August left water ponds and bogs overflowing, we all spent much time carrying and pushing our bikes through bogs, and beaver dams with water as high as our chest. Muddy/slippery hills, rock, and roots were the flavour of the weekend. It was complete bicycle carnage where people were changing bicycles into single speeds on the trails because of broken deraileurs, brake pads had to be changed daily even by the elite riders. At one point on a dare I was bicycling through water that was almost as high as my top tube, though the next pond I hit a hole and tipped over submerging into a watery mud bath. Bob and Cal finished in true never give up fashion, Cal blowing the sidewall out of his tire 3km from the finish the last day ran his bike in. Bob busted his frame around 20km from the finish on the last day rendering his bicycle unrideable so he pushed his bike the rest the way in even passing competitors trying to ride the muddy rocky sections. Jim broke his pedal about half way in the last day and had to shorten the course so wasn't considered an official finisher. Myself I only suffered a flat tire on the first stage and spent 22min dissembling/reassembling the rear end of my bike to change the tire with small parts and screws luckily not losing anything in all the debris. I personally had a good time, though the conditions made it a lot more challenging then expected and it's always fun doing these things with friends. I was completely impressed with chico racing and how well it was all organized, WOW I'm impressed.
Bob 179, Cal 169, Peter 97 out of 211 finishers, that's right over 70 people dropped out or didn't finish for some reason.
Peace
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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Sandy
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« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2010, 11:21:45 PM » |
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Congrats to all! The fact that CTS is now CHECKED, does that mean there will not be another one in your future?
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Sandy
Even if you fall on your face, at least you're moving forward!
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Newt
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« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2010, 07:21:17 AM » |
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G'day Sandy,
Thanks for the congrats.
Well I wouldn't mind doing it again if we could get a group of the gang going, especially if it was a dry summer like in 2009, everyone at the race this weekend was saying how much better it was last year. I doubt Bob would do it again as I don't think he liked it, but I'll let him speak for himself. Cal is usually good to go if there is a group of friends doing it.
But nobody will be doing it next year as there won't be a 3 day CTS in 2011 but supposedly back in 2012. They are thinking of doing a one day event next year in the area, which the gang might be interested in.
Thanks to Colleen for ordering and getting those brake pads in for me so quickly, I needed them.
Peace
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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triandrunsports.com
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« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2010, 07:21:17 AM » |
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king
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« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2010, 07:25:34 AM » |
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Yes! When it doesn't rain for two years in a row! Those mud baths are not really all they are cracked up to be! Sandy, I got some practice for the Fat Ass. I did my firsts 1/2 marathon combo trail run and push a bike... and I learned some new swear words too.
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NancyR
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« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2010, 07:26:58 AM » |
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Congratulations everyone!
lol new swear words? and I thought I knew them all...
Nancy
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Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left.
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triandrunsports.com
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« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2010, 07:26:58 AM » |
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Newt
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« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2010, 07:28:30 AM » |
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Don't believe him Nancy, he already knew those words as well as I was hearing them from him all weekend.
Peace
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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NancyR
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« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2010, 07:33:07 AM » |
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wow 70 people didn't finish, mud and broken pedals... broken frame!! beaver dams.. (love the report Peter!) I laughed though when I got to tube top, I pictured one of those elastic strapless ones the ladies wore in the 90's  |
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Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left.
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triandrunsports.com
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« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2010, 07:33:07 AM » |
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Newt
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« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2010, 07:39:40 AM » |
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Nancy - It actually was "top tube" not "tube top" or in other words the top bar on the bicycle that runs from the Head tube to the seat post.
Peace
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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NancyR
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« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2010, 07:45:49 AM » |
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Sorry Peter,  late night, words are clearly getting jumbled in my head! I really enjoy reading your posts :) Nancy |
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Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left.
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king
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« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2010, 07:53:57 AM » |
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Funny I thought when you went to a MTB race you might be able to ride your bike for more than 10 meters at a time rather than carry it through a quagmire of mud etc. or up a mountain goat trail!?
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triandrunsports.com
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« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2010, 07:53:57 AM » |
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Craig
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« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2010, 08:37:52 AM » |
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Congrats! Wow, almost 1/4 the field DNF. Bob: Always nice to expand the vocabulary. Peter: Little more work removing the Rohloff eh. It would have been priceless to see you pedaling underwater.  The race conditions sound exactly like what I picture when I think of Hell On a Bike.  You guys are way tougher than I'll ever be. There's no way I could do that for 3 days. Congrats again. Nancy: Tube tops. That was funny. |
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Newt
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« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2010, 09:41:47 AM » |
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Craig,
There was a guy standing in the water with hip waders (sp?) taking pictures of riders going through one of the more rideable ponds, If he got one of us I'll post it.
As you were going through it, the bicycle sounded a lot like a paddleboat. :)
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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Jon
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« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2010, 03:11:00 PM » |
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Nice race report Peter. Congrats to you and the fellas on successfully racing, what sounds like a very challenging event! Maybe one of these days, I'll be fortunate enough to add a mountain bike to my collection.... I already have the appetite for suffering, I just need the appropriate vehicle  Cheers, Jon |
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Swim, Bike, Run, Race, Recover, Repeat :)
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Newt
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« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2010, 07:18:03 AM » |
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G'day Jon,
Once you find a steed you are more then welcome to join in on our Weekend (usually Sunday) MTB rides. I have no doubts you would do well.
Peace
Peter
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"If you thnk Education is Difficult, try being Stupid."
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king
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« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2010, 07:20:36 AM » |
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Jon: If you want to come out with us sometime I have some older bikes that you could try out to see if you like MTB'n . Bob
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