I was really looking forward to this month's edition of the Snake Creek Gap TT series since I knew what to expect this time around, and since I had actually gotten in a little time on the bike recently, too. So, I had high hopes of putting down a really solid effort for the 17 mile version (still not fit enough to go hard for 3 hours...thus, no 34 miler in my near future!). In fact, I had even gone so far as to compare my experience from last month to the GPS file multiple times, and figured out where I thought I could shave between 10 and 15 minutes off my time. I hoped to get the first starting position (which I did), and I REALLY hoped that having a clear trial in front of me would help maintain my momentum and rhythm throughout the race. Passing dozens and dozens of racers last time had surely disrupted both...
I hoped that I could shave 2 minutes off the opening 1.2 mile climb, and another minute over the next 6 mile section leading up to the SAG station. If that went well, I planned on SHOULDERING my bike (cyclocross style) this time and RUNNING with it on the really technical sections rather than pushing it and walking. I figured that was going to be worth nearly 10 minutes since I walked more than 2 miles the last time around. I even rigged up a nifty little contraption to help with the shouldering (inner tube tied around my seatpost, run through my seat rails, and looped around my top tube). It worked flawlessly, but I never had the chance to really put it to good use =(
Anyway...I got on the start line first, and really hammered the opening climb. I was hoping to cut between 2 and 2 1/2 minutes on that climb, and I ended up shaving off 2:05...Great start. Having a clear trail was really nice, not because I was going any faster really...just that it was less work to maintain the same speed =) I took it a little easier on the descents since it was a bit slick (lots of rain the day before), but I was still putting down a faster time than January's effort...
THEN...disaster. I was flying through the last creek crossing of the day when I heard that dreaded "PSSTTTTSSSSS" noise that can only mean PUNCTURE. I jumped off the bike in a flash, turned the rear wheel so the Stans would pool up in the bottom of the tire where the puncture was right in the middle of my tread, and hoped it would do its job...NO DICE. Within about 5 seconds, there was a huge puddle of Stans on the ground and my tire was DEAD FLAT...
No biggie, I can throw a tube in there in about 3 minutes, and I'll still be on pace to go lots faster than last time.........
I got my tube into that tire faster than I ever have before, and I put the CO2 inflator on the valve only to find that it did NOTHING! I checked the air canister only to find that the "lid" that covers the chamber would NOT puncture! I tried screwing it on tighter, but still no use (turns out it was defective!). In the process, I must have torqued the valve a little, because by this time, the little twisty twiddly bit that you unscrew to let the air into the valve stem had gotten COMPLETELY jammed into my CO2 inflator head! AAARRGGGHH! Then the darn twiddly bit snapped off...
It was about that time that the next rider on the trail came by and asked if I needed anything. Well, I DID need something...a freakin' TUBE since I only brought ONE!
I knew all these guys were gunning for a fast time since they cared enough to get early start spots, and I really didn't want to slow them down OR take their gear (you really only bring JUST enough for yourself...and HOPE that you DID bring enough if you end up needing it), so I didn't feel right about asking for anything. So, rider after rider comes by offering their help. I was screwed...
Then, Jim Farmer screeches to a halt and asks how bad it is. I give him the 5 second version..."I'm Fudg@^&%#^%ed" or something to that effect, and he tosses me his entire "rescue kit" complete with tools, CO2s, and a tube, and is back on the trail without giving it a second thought. Total elapsed time...maybe 15 seconds. The dude was a champ, and that little gesture turned my frown upside down, and I vowed to myself to just hammer the rest of the race and go for a "personal best RIDE TIME" (knowing that I had now blown about 15 minutes off my actual race time).
I pulled up my underoos and dried up my pathetic tears and started to put the hammer down REALLY hard...
I went through the SAG station with a ride time of 38 minutes, which is EXACTLY what I was shooting for, and 4 minutes faster than my January effort. I was really psyched, and was committed to finishing this thing as hard as I could. I felt AWESOME after the SAG and was really putting down the hammer for the next 19 minutes, averaging a little over 11mph at the time. And then, just 57 minutes into my ride...FLAT #2...which, in reality, was sorta like FLAT #3 since I had now gone through a Tubeless tire, my tube, and now Farmer's tube as well. And to add insult to injury, my rear brake sounded like a dying pterodactyl...
I didn't even consider fixing this one. I simply looked at my mileage and did some quick math... 3.5mi back to the sag, or 6.5mi to the finish...WALKING...
So I turned around and hiked back to the sag and caught a ride back to the start with another guy who was having my luck.
Funny enough though, I really had a blast out there! I was right on pace at the SAG station and was making UP time on the second half. At that pace, and assuming no mechanicals or crashes of course, I think I was on pace to go somewhere between 1:32 and 1:36. So maybe I'll try it again in March...
Below you will see a shot of me from JUST AFTER the SAG. Yes, I know I look like a Goblin ;) I trimmed up the beard a bit after seeing this shot, so I do look a little more human-like at the moment. HAHAH! You will also notice the inner tube protruding from between my legs... tehehehe =)
