Wilderness 101

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Good weekend up in State College PA yet another race in the N.U.E. series and most importantly a Chris Scottistan/Shenandoah Mountain Touring production. Pre and post race hangout is always a good time especially when the West Virginia night club contingent brings the late night party the night before and after the race (happy b-day to Johnny Martin).

For three years in a row, this 100 mile race has found me deep deep in the hurt locker, sleeping at aid stations, walking up steep pitches and sometimes laying on the side of the trail trying to eat/rehydrate while mumbling to myself. Little cooler temps and some better luck combined in perfect harmony for my best 101 performance to date, a 23rd place finish.

Results are here complete with a small Cycling News write up. And below you will see the race start line complete with the finishing mountain gap in the background.

Singletrack was ripping with some sweet flow and a little bit of rock added in for flavoring. A few killer downhills were on hand as well but they proved less entertaining than one of the old railroad tunnels. Look into the tunnel, pitch black but it looks as if something is coming into the other side. halfway through suddenly hear voices, then impact large tube for lounging in the river. Some girl holding tube. When I hit tube girl gets spun around and knocked down. oh wait one more knock her down too still can’t see anything. apologize…but I keep riding.

Couldn’t stop there that was bat country, and after 8 hours of racing all you want to do is finish. Plus, I had to chase down JK my nemesis riding for Ryan Fawley has sweet cheeks mountain bike racing team.