fast, fun and ….f*%^, flat tire
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There are some races that you just pray for a flat tire or mechanical. You know, the race where your legs feel like lead, people are passing you like you are standing still and you are just out there suffering…….Well, the Ashland 12 mile Super D was not one of those races. I felt great. I was slicing and dicing, moving like a red rocket down the 12 mile mostly downhill race. I caught my minute girl within the first 10 minutes of the race. I was in the zone and I was still coming up to my favorite parts of the course. My Superfly felt great. I felt great. Then, I flatted. I rarely flat and this was one of the most disappointing flats I have ever had. Extremely deflated (me and the tire), I rode off the single track and stood by the course for a moment. After a couple of minutes and no riders I thought where are the women? I decided to try and change my flat as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this is not the type of race that you can change a flat and still catch back on. But, I wasn’t seeing anybody for a while so I was trying to be quick. Finally, I saw the leading women come through and cheered them on. Fifteen minutes later I was back on my bike and rolling the single track (I definitely need some practice changing a flat quickly). Even though I was disappointed with my flat I couldn’t help but smile down this course. It was an awesome course and I will be back for sure. The course is a 12 mile super d that starts at the top of Mt. Ashland and descends 5,000 feet in 12 miles to the town of Ashland. It also serves up a stiff 600ft of climbing that doesn’t sound to bad, but is deceiving and caused many to blow up and have a hard time recovering for the rest of the pedaling sections on the course. I would encourage any of you 29er crew members to do this race next year. It is the second largest super d in the country and is fabulous. We could all give Mark Weir a run for it. It would be fun to have a 29er showing out there. Think about it.
