Can a DNF be a sign from above?

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Sunday was race #2 of the Campmor H2H series, Tymor Park, in  LaGrangeville, NY. Last year this was my favorite event of the series, so I came into it this season with high hopes. Things would not go as I planned, and I’m thankful for that!! Our race started as any other, most of the first lap was all about bottlenecking, passing people off the trail, walking around victims of off-camber roots, yelling at single-speeders to pedal or get out of the way, pretty standard stuff. Based on last year’s course, which had a little more climbing, I ran the 1.7 Dry-X’s. I thought I had made a pretty wise choice. For the most part, they suited the terrain very well, save for a few greasy root sections that I needed to be a little more careful around. Still, no big deal. My 1st lap I just picked guys off one-at-a-time, waiting for “The Climb”, where I was to drop the hammer and catch the lead group. Unfortunately, it was also the same time we caught both the 19-29 field and the singlespeed’ers, my hammer would be spent walking up most of the climb through traffic. My mood went south. Towards the end of the loop after the climb, there were a section of downhills with some quasi-greasy roots, kryptonite for my skinny tires. Some of the people I had walked past moments ago, were now going around me, my mood went a little souther. I just thought about getting my feed, I thought about the fire road coming up, and I thought about the little climb in the beginning of the next lap, I was happy again, I can catch them. I layed it down to the feed zone, my feed guy was on the podium, he won his Sport race, however, I had no bottles. After a few moments looking around, and losing a few more spots, I continued on.

Coming into lap #2 I hit the fire road with a vengence and was quickly on the guys who had just passed me, coming into the little climb I took them all with one slick move and went by them just on the outside of the trail. Just as I get ready to drop back onto the singletrack, I catch a couple rocks and blow my rear tire. “This is not my day” I said. I pull off the trail and take out my C02 to start fixing my tire, the bead was popped, I knew it would take more than what I had to get it back. My race was over. I was relieved in a way. Whilst walking my bike back to the car, the sky turned dark, and it started to rain. By the time I got to the car, it opened up and was pouring rain, someone upstairs was looking out for me, as great as the Dry-X’s are, they’re deadly in the rain. I was happy. Later reports would confirm the 3rd lap carnage, I would have become a statistic.

We headed for home, but not before hitting up the closest Taco Bell for a few Fresco bean burritos! Good race results are luck of the draw sometimes, but race-day fun with your buddies is always a sure bet!! We’ll get ‘em next round.

-Jim.