Oof - I'm tired after the three day stage race at the Big Bear Nationals this past weekend.
Day 1: Time Trial
We rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain so we could race basically downhill on fireroad and singletrack. I was second person to go off since they were basing it on 2004 National Series results. This was my first national of the year so I am ranked last. Well, the girl in front of me was up in the starting gate, the five beeps went off and she just sat there looking around, unaware that she was supposed to go. We were going in 30 second increments, so they told her to get out of line and they'd insert her somewhere else. She isn't moving and everyone is yelling at her to get out of the way. "15 seconds" the starter yells at me. I am yelling at her, she's confused and she finally gets out of the way, I try to get my bike up there and my feet clipped in but the beeps are already starting. AAHHHHHG So I'm off. I am feeling so smooth and clean, carrying good speed, very little movement, minimizing errors - I'm feeling good! Then about 2 miles in I hear this, "hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss". HOLY CRAP I have a flat tire! You have GOT to be kidding me. I hop off, it's the rear tire. I have 3.5 miles more and a few tech sections to go - I can't ride a flat. I spin the tire, trying to get Stan's to seal. STILL HISSING. I take it off the bike and try to find the hole. I can't. I shake some more, it's not sealing. Crap. Day's over. They gave me the slowest person's time plus 3 minutes for the day. I finally change the thing and roll through the finish line - extremely disappointed.
Day 1: Time Trial
We rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain so we could race basically downhill on fireroad and singletrack. I was second person to go off since they were basing it on 2004 National Series results. This was my first national of the year so I am ranked last. Well, the girl in front of me was up in the starting gate, the five beeps went off and she just sat there looking around, unaware that she was supposed to go. We were going in 30 second increments, so they told her to get out of line and they'd insert her somewhere else. She isn't moving and everyone is yelling at her to get out of the way. "15 seconds" the starter yells at me. I am yelling at her, she's confused and she finally gets out of the way, I try to get my bike up there and my feet clipped in but the beeps are already starting. AAHHHHHG So I'm off. I am feeling so smooth and clean, carrying good speed, very little movement, minimizing errors - I'm feeling good! Then about 2 miles in I hear this, "hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss". HOLY CRAP I have a flat tire! You have GOT to be kidding me. I hop off, it's the rear tire. I have 3.5 miles more and a few tech sections to go - I can't ride a flat. I spin the tire, trying to get Stan's to seal. STILL HISSING. I take it off the bike and try to find the hole. I can't. I shake some more, it's not sealing. Crap. Day's over. They gave me the slowest person's time plus 3 minutes for the day. I finally change the thing and roll through the finish line - extremely disappointed.