This was my son's spring break so we all took off the week and headed to the mountains for some mountain biking. Our first stop was Gateway Park in Travelers Rest for an afternoon of fun. Basically trying to get my son back on his back and having fun. Then next day it poured, and poured, and poured rain!
Friday we meet a friend and went to Bent Creek. Pamela and Keanan went for a hike while Jon and I went for a bike ride. But not just any ride - GREEN"S LICK. I've heard this name so many times but haven't been on it even though I practically live in Asheville. First we had to get to the top, no easy feat in and of itself. A 45 minute 1500+ feet of climbing to the get to the top of Greens lick. The downhill was worth the climb (actually I didn't think the climb was that bad). By the time we finished we were starving and hit the nearest Papas and Beer.
Saturday we pre-rode the course at Tsali. Keanan and Pamela also rode a shorter version of the course. It was a tough day after riding Greens Lick the day before. We underestimated the heat, some of the climbs were rocky and exposed to the sun. This lead to the sun heat radiating up at us on the climbs. It felt almost like a high dessert, very dry and HOT! We each brought only 1 water bottle - a big mistake! We finished and headed to the nearest Mexican restaurant to refuel.
Sunday- RACE DAY! We got to Tsali, checked in, and started warming up? There were racers from all over the east coast and actually saw a license plate from Ohio. On the starting line there were 25 racers in my class. After the start was a mile long uphill. Most of the entire field left me in their dust on the start line. My race plan was to take it easy and not blow up on the climbs (walk if necessary), gun it on the flats, bomb the downhills. We headed into the woods and was feeling better. I caught a couple guys that blew up on the first climb. I passed them and now they are chasing me. They both passed me as I was letting the fast girls go by. At the next hill I see them both standing beside their bikes gasping for air. I passed them again.
On the next hill I knew I was going to walk it. It's a very steep rocky exposed climb that gets really hot in the sunshine. As I'm walking up the hill this guy comes from behind and passes me. He's an older guy, in his 60's and built like me, and he's climbing this hill. I was so impressed that I give him some encouragement to make it to the top. We get to the top and he's off the bike and dry heaving. He tells me he doesn't have any water- it came out at the start line. Luckily I had an extra bottle and gave him some water to help cool him down. As I'm giving him water 2 guys and a girl pass me. I stay with the guy for a few minutes. We all take off down the trail. I had trouble getting clicked back in on the rocky descent and never saw the guy again until the finish line.
I struggled trying to keep pushing on the flats, walking the steep hills, and bombing the descents. I passed someone that flatted. Then I eventually caught the girl, even though I caught her she was moving pretty well. She wasn't comfortable on the rocky tech sections and would walk through them so I passed her. I wanted to catch the guy I was racing earlier in the race. I came around a bend and there he was walking up the trail, resting his legs. I poured on the power to pass him quickly and discourage him from trying to catch me. I heard him get back on the bike but it was of no use, I was in front and I wasn't going to lose. I finished, Pamela and Keanan cheering me on.
It was a really tough day on the bike. But, I was really proud of what I accomplished.
Things I learned at Tsali
-There are more important things than bike racing.
-I need to focus on shorter intense races
-I need to work on my Technical skills
-Bring more water on the pre-ride
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