|   Woodstock race recap | DobeMan
Sep 22, 2003 6:56 AM | | My buddy and I did the Woodstock Dairy Stampede 6 hour relay race yesterday - it was a hoot! I did it on my KHS Solo-One and my teammate on his 1x1. We both had rigid front ends, the Solo-One has a soft-tail with about 18mm of travel. We got a total of 9 laps in, with 1 lap being approx. 10km. Course was a blast - the first 2/3 being TIGHT twisty single track that was amazing to ride on. The final 1/3 was pretty hilly with 2 hills that were unclimable for us, just too steep. By my third lap, a third hill was unclimable for me - the stock gearing on the KHS is a bee-atch. The course finished off with a short run through some more twisty singletrack before ending at a dismount/hand the baton off area.
After the first lap we were in 25th out of 35 teams (we were the only SS's) and stayed that way until the end. I did the last lap and thought I was just flying. I passed about a dozen riders and felt in the 'zone' but it turns out it was my slowest lap of the race - about 45 minutes :( My teammate had a minor spill on the 2nd lap but was none the worse for wear. He did an amazing 32 minute lap on his third time out, which was FAST since the fastest racer there did his first lap in something like 25 minutes. We both averaged somewhere in the 36-38 minute range per lap except our last laps, we were both spent. There was another rider there that brought a Unimbomber and a gearie, but did the ride on his gearie. I can't wait to do some more of these rides/races on my single. We both had a lot of fun and plan to do it again next year. Surprisingly my legs don't hurt today but my triceps are nice 'un tender!
The next thing on my agenda is to do something about the gearing on my KHS - stock is 38/18 and it was a bitch after my third lap to keep the pedals turning on the hills, even the minor ones. My thought is to rob the cranks off my road bike and try its 32 chainring out. Unfortunately, the Solo-One comes with an oddball crankset that means the whole shebang has to be swapped out to change the front gearing. Poor show KHS! The 38/18 combo doesn't seem so bad at first but once your legs start to tire, it's a tuff gear to keep going.
DobeMan |
| nicely done! | namaSSte
Sep 22, 2003 7:51 AM | | Kinda cool to be the "freak" amongst the crowd I bet! LOL!
As for the gearing, 2:1 can be a bit tough if the climbs are sweet. I run a 32x17 and find that most stuff (even pretty steep) is climable. Point is, go in small increments, a little change in gearing can make a lot of difference. The 32x17 for instance, feels nice on twisty stuff but spins out on anything remotely flat. It climbs well but still has some climbing limits. I guess it's all about finding that sweet spot. You'll know it when you find it! Godd luck and great job on the race!
Peace.
Scott |
| thanks again!!!!! | sime
Sep 22, 2003 8:25 AM | | indeed it was a blast! i heard there is a fanshaw one coming up, interested?!
you did however get facts wrong, i crashed on my first lap (despite taking a minute to partially recover, and going slowly, i still managed a 36, the second lap was the fastest, 3rd i stoped for a pee, fourth a stop to help a fallen rider (the guy with the nose all bandaged up afterwards). and again, we were first in our catagory.....just too bad it wasn't a recognized catagory.
i too am not too bad, though that knot in my calf is still there from the crash.
i still think 25th is pretty good for 2 guys going out purly for fun, the "racer" in me has long been beaten out.....but next time, we have a cooler and at least a six pack. i would have killed for a beer afterwards while chilling. though i did kill 1 before showering (priorities!!) and another 2 soon afterwards!
you forgot the best part too, you won a tire!
cheers! |
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