http://www.runriderace.com/camp-hilbert-race-series-point/

On a singlespeed? Of course.

Battle @ Burke

Pseudo local race in Culpeper today. It boiled down to another battle between me and the old man, for a short while at least. I led out strong and put some time between us on the beginner loop. Through the scorching hot fields I picked up some more time, then into the expert section things got nuts. First, I burped all the air out of my front tire. I grabbed a CO2 catridge out of the saddle bag and did my best to get the tire to reseat. I wasn't having much luck, but eventually it bit. In hindsight, I should have threaded another cartridge in to get the pressure up a bit more, but instead I rolled out with pretty low pressure, unsure if the tire was seated all that well. The old man caught up after this episode (probably two+ minutes or so) and followed me for a bit. Soon after, I picked up something in my drivetrain that took me to a standstill. WTF? I look down, and a tube has lodged itself around my rear cog. I unwind the damn thing, cursing the slacker that left a tube on the trail that magically found its way into my cog. Back in action, I chase the old man and we both dismount to hike a climb. As I dismount...psssssss. Seal blows in the front tire. So I decide to put in a tube. Reach for the saddle bag...low and behold, it is wide open and empty. After I inflated the first time, I never closed it. Damn. So yeah...that was my tube that was lodged in my drivetrain awhile back. Go ahead...laugh it up. I yell to the old man for a tube, but he is gone. An oncomer heard my distress call and passed me a tube as he rode by. THANK YOU! I spent a few minutes fighting the 26" tube and the slimy 29er tire and eventually get it set, only to realize that the second CO2 cartdige is back there on the trail somewhere. DAMN! So I hook up the pump, but before I give it any air, a female rides up and asks if I need CO2. She whips out a threaded CO2 cartridge and saves my ass. THANK YOU! With that, I was off.

After the expert loop, it was back through the hot, hot fields to the beginner loop. ~1/2 way through I caught another singlespeeder that I must have missed as he went past (while I was working the flats). I knew the old man was long gone, so I settled in for the second place finish. Tough day for everybody, it seemed. It was pretty hot, especially in the fields. The HR hit 194bpm at one point, and was in the 180s a lot, if not most of the race. I did get to hit my first teeter totter out there today. Rolled it smooth...that was pretty cool.

Thoughts for today...I need to get some suspension. If I was suspended, I would have had 30 to 32lbs in that tire and I would not have flatted. I should have had 30 in there anyway. Also...check your saddle bag zipper after a pit stop...duh. On the positive, I was able to get back out there after the race and retrieve my CrankBros multitool and the shredded tube. The 2nd air cartridge, tire lever and two zip ties were donated to the trail.

That course is awesome. I want revenege.

Hilbert 3.

What a day. Going in, I knew that I could win the series if the cards fell into place. They did, but it took a lot of work.

I went out in typical k29er fashion...first into the woods, despite being on a SS in 32x19. Held a decent pace for lap one...maybe too fast, but I didn't over do it too much. Lap two went much the same, except Shawn told me to back it off, and so I did. End of that lap, Old Man Kelnberger and Burris caught me. Burris rolled to his pit, and that was the last I saw of him till we were done with the race. From there on, it was just me and the Old Man. I think I pulled him through lap 3, he passed me at the end, then led me through 4. We had negotiated taking it back a notch for 5, and I didn’t see him for much of it, just a glimmer in some switchbacks. From there on, it was mostly a mind game, wondering when he was going to attack. I tried to stay steady, fighting off some cramps through the later laps. At the start of lap 9 at 4 hours, 30 minutes into the race, I was informed that he was 45 seconds back. So I jumped. And it hurt. Things started locking up all over my legs. I was trying to massage them in places while I rode, manipulating my pedal stroke and doing whatever I could to keep the legs from hitting a bad spot that would spell doom. Shawn met me at the bottom of a short steep climb and raced me on foot up to the top and let me know I was up by a minute. I tried not to dial it back much, as I knew what the Old Man was capable of. Towards the end, Shawn met me again and let me know I had picked up another 20 seconds. From there, it was smooth sailing. Turns out the Old Man stopped to pee at one point (let the old man bladder jokes fly). I needed to pee for about 2.5 hours but held onto it. That may have been the difference. 1^st Place Mens Enduro. Double series points at the last race, which should make me the overall winner. Madness.

Special thank to Shawn, Dave and the entire Bike Factory crew. The support was top notch. They kept me fueled and motivated and I would have been screwed without them. To Ted Gayle, thanks for the loaner Rig. While my intent was to spend equal time on both bikes, it was readily apparent to me that I was faster on yours. 8 laps for the Suspended Mocha Rig, 1 lap on the Rigid.

For the record, many of the elite weren’t able to participate. That may have made it easier overall for Kelnberger and I, but we did everything in our power to ensure that it wasn’t a cakewalk. It was a hard day. And it felt good to win.