What a beautiful place to have a MTB race! The place is kinda like the French Quarter in N'awlins without the stench, trash and decay. MizN8 and I rolled into town Sat afternoon and checked into our historic hotel in the old town section. I had intended to preride the course Sat afternoon with my buddy but we couldn't locate a course map. Oh well.. it poured down rain for a couple hours anyway so it was probably a good thing. The whole town was supporting the Fat Tire Fest with food, bands, brews and more. MizN8 and I went to diner at a high class joint where we ate some delish food!
Race Day
MizN8 snapped this photo of my race face, as I was getting ready to join the pack at the start...
The race started at 9AM and since it was a point to point race instead of a loop. Because of this, the Experts started first followed by Sport and then the Beginners.
That morning I changed my tube and I noticed I had a spoke lose. The spoke was loose because the rim had a flat spot on it. DAMN!! No time to do anything about that now! I aired up my tire and got into the starting group.
At the gun, I started cranking hard since the start was on a steep assed climb in town... I downshifted... well, I attemped to downshift anyway... nothing was happening!!!
Aww crap!! I struggle with my shifter as I try to crank my way up the street... then *POP*..!!! My chain breaks!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!! I am not 100 meters from the start!!! I pull over, flip my bike, pull out my chain tool and start to work... everyone and I mean everyone passes me as I get my chain fixed.
It takes me about 5 minutes but I fixt it and get back on the course. But then I notice a nasty grinding noise... I see that I've looped the chain below the front derailleur!!! Awww Cr@p!!! I pull over and break the chain again to fix my screw-up. Again it takes about 5 minutes to get the thing back together and I hit the course again. I cruise around the a couple streets on the couse (still in town) I come to another steep climb so I hammer on the pedals and *POW* my chain breaks again. This time I give it up. I thow my chain in my camel pak and coast back the parking lot where (thankfully) MizN8 was just pulling out to make the 5 mile drive to the finish. I tell her my race is over and we drive over to the finish where we cheer for my buddy who takes 9th out of 24 in his class. I figure I rode about 1/2 mile of the course... all on pavement, all in downtown Eureka Springs. It took us 8 hrs to drive up there but damn it was beautiful country and I, as always, had a blast!
The course ended at this beautiful location on a lake just west of town:
I HIGHLY recommend this event to all!!! Great venue, tough XC trail, friendly people and FUN FUN FUN!
Race Day
MizN8 snapped this photo of my race face, as I was getting ready to join the pack at the start...
The race started at 9AM and since it was a point to point race instead of a loop. Because of this, the Experts started first followed by Sport and then the Beginners.
That morning I changed my tube and I noticed I had a spoke lose. The spoke was loose because the rim had a flat spot on it. DAMN!! No time to do anything about that now! I aired up my tire and got into the starting group.
At the gun, I started cranking hard since the start was on a steep assed climb in town... I downshifted... well, I attemped to downshift anyway... nothing was happening!!!
Aww crap!! I struggle with my shifter as I try to crank my way up the street... then *POP*..!!! My chain breaks!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!! I am not 100 meters from the start!!! I pull over, flip my bike, pull out my chain tool and start to work... everyone and I mean everyone passes me as I get my chain fixed.
It takes me about 5 minutes but I fixt it and get back on the course. But then I notice a nasty grinding noise... I see that I've looped the chain below the front derailleur!!! Awww Cr@p!!! I pull over and break the chain again to fix my screw-up. Again it takes about 5 minutes to get the thing back together and I hit the course again. I cruise around the a couple streets on the couse (still in town) I come to another steep climb so I hammer on the pedals and *POW* my chain breaks again. This time I give it up. I thow my chain in my camel pak and coast back the parking lot where (thankfully) MizN8 was just pulling out to make the 5 mile drive to the finish. I tell her my race is over and we drive over to the finish where we cheer for my buddy who takes 9th out of 24 in his class. I figure I rode about 1/2 mile of the course... all on pavement, all in downtown Eureka Springs. It took us 8 hrs to drive up there but damn it was beautiful country and I, as always, had a blast!
The course ended at this beautiful location on a lake just west of town:
I HIGHLY recommend this event to all!!! Great venue, tough XC trail, friendly people and FUN FUN FUN!
