I've been considering the Park Ave Bike Weeknight race series this year. Last year I skipped it. Today I rode the course I remembered from 2012, assuming this year's course will be the same.
I rode my geared 29er, hoping to ride faster than the 24" that I'd raced in the past. It was fine except for the part of the course I hate... the sports field. On my 24 I'd shift into my high gear because the field is "flat", but the constant bumps make it hard to ride and fatigue my lower back quickly. My 29er seemed the same, except the high gear was too hard with the bumps and I chose to stay in my low gear. I still used my high gear on some smooth sections of trail, so it's still useful for this course.
Looking at last year's results, I see the course is almost identical to what I rode today, but it juts out into the field, which means even more bumpy time. Ugh. I also see I'm more than 15 minutes slower that the slowest beginner. I was kind of hoping my 29er would get me closer to competing against mountain bikers. That's not happening.
There are six races. Signing up for each race individually is $20. That's too much for an hour ride where I'm just kind of just joining in for fun. Not to mention the extra hour of waiting around for the race to start. But if I sign up for all six it's $75, or $12.50 each, assuming I did them all.
I'm not sure I want to commit. I can ride anywhere for free and choose days when the weather is optimal. I have a few days before I need to sign up.
Showing posts with label Camp Arrowhead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camp Arrowhead. Show all posts
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Fat Tire Weeknight Series Race #3
Even though I rode in Syracuse today, I decided to give this week's Fat Tire Weeknight race a try.
The juniors all went before the adult racers this time, and we waited for them to complete. So I didn't have them chasing me and passing. Plus I didn't have to fix anyone's chain this time!
There were a few female beginner riders that I kept up with. I was near one of them for most of my first lap. I was able to power over a log I usually dismount for, right in front of her. So that was cool. I like to show those two-wheelers what's possible.
Unfortunately my lower back was fatigued and my first lap was my last. It felt like a bad idea to keep going. Oh well.
It had rained earlier today and some of the trail had bit puddles and muddy turns. Unfortunately this was in the area that I had found my high gear to be most effective. But having to be cautious on the turns slowed me down and caused me to UPD several times. It can be hard to keep the high gear going in those conditions, and probably added to my fatigue.
The next race in this series will be in two weeks due to the 4th of July.
The juniors all went before the adult racers this time, and we waited for them to complete. So I didn't have them chasing me and passing. Plus I didn't have to fix anyone's chain this time!
There were a few female beginner riders that I kept up with. I was near one of them for most of my first lap. I was able to power over a log I usually dismount for, right in front of her. So that was cool. I like to show those two-wheelers what's possible.
Unfortunately my lower back was fatigued and my first lap was my last. It felt like a bad idea to keep going. Oh well.
It had rained earlier today and some of the trail had bit puddles and muddy turns. Unfortunately this was in the area that I had found my high gear to be most effective. But having to be cautious on the turns slowed me down and caused me to UPD several times. It can be hard to keep the high gear going in those conditions, and probably added to my fatigue.
The next race in this series will be in two weeks due to the 4th of July.
Fat Tire Weeknight Series Race #3 - 2011-06-28
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Checked Out Camp Arrowhead
There is a mountain bike race series put together by Park Ave Bike Shop and a local YMCA camp that starts in a few weeks. It's called the Fat Tire Weeknight Race Series. Five races will be held at the Camp Arrowhead YMCA trails on Tuesday evenings starting June 13th.
There are Beginner (3 laps), Sport (5 laps), and Expert (7 laps) classes, for mountain bikes. Of course there is no muni class.
Before I asked the organizers if I could join in with my muni, I wanted to investigate the trails. You are supposed to be a YMCA member to ride there, but I asked around and learned that the program director there, Mike, would probably be ok with it, especially if I explained.
So I went there this morning and rode a few laps around. I spent a fair amount of time just figuring out which trails were which and how to get on them, just like with any new trail system. The land is adjacent to Powder Mills Park, which is a county park and does not allow biking, and the trails run together. So it was kind of tricky to stay in the right area. The trail markers aren't always clear. I did have a map, which helped.
But even with the map, I didn't hit all the trails the right way. I think I strayed out of the property a few times. Of rourse for a race the trails will be marked way better.
The trails aren't bad, though not all that exciting: some rooty areas, some trail along cliffs, a few significant hill climbs, and a few significant downhills. I don't know what the race course will be, but 3 laps is likely going to be plenty for me. So I'll see if I can join the Beginner class. I'll have to contact Park Ave Bike.
I met a few of the YMCA employees near the parking lot. One of them was Mike, the program director who it was recommended I talk to. He was very nice and excited to see the mountain unicycle. We talked a bunch about the sport and he showed me some of the work he's been doing on the trails. It's always good to see some people actively working on trails. He's in need of some workers to do some trail benching, so I may be back for some trail work soon. As it is now, you'd have to buy a full YMCA membership even if you only wanted to use the trails once in a while. That's way too expensive. We talked about the possibility of having much cheaper trail-use passes.
I only rode 4 miles. And probably 10% of that was walking, either uphill or trying to figure out where to ride.
There are Beginner (3 laps), Sport (5 laps), and Expert (7 laps) classes, for mountain bikes. Of course there is no muni class.
Before I asked the organizers if I could join in with my muni, I wanted to investigate the trails. You are supposed to be a YMCA member to ride there, but I asked around and learned that the program director there, Mike, would probably be ok with it, especially if I explained.
So I went there this morning and rode a few laps around. I spent a fair amount of time just figuring out which trails were which and how to get on them, just like with any new trail system. The land is adjacent to Powder Mills Park, which is a county park and does not allow biking, and the trails run together. So it was kind of tricky to stay in the right area. The trail markers aren't always clear. I did have a map, which helped.
But even with the map, I didn't hit all the trails the right way. I think I strayed out of the property a few times. Of rourse for a race the trails will be marked way better.
The trails aren't bad, though not all that exciting: some rooty areas, some trail along cliffs, a few significant hill climbs, and a few significant downhills. I don't know what the race course will be, but 3 laps is likely going to be plenty for me. So I'll see if I can join the Beginner class. I'll have to contact Park Ave Bike.
I met a few of the YMCA employees near the parking lot. One of them was Mike, the program director who it was recommended I talk to. He was very nice and excited to see the mountain unicycle. We talked a bunch about the sport and he showed me some of the work he's been doing on the trails. It's always good to see some people actively working on trails. He's in need of some workers to do some trail benching, so I may be back for some trail work soon. As it is now, you'd have to buy a full YMCA membership even if you only wanted to use the trails once in a while. That's way too expensive. We talked about the possibility of having much cheaper trail-use passes.
I only rode 4 miles. And probably 10% of that was walking, either uphill or trying to figure out where to ride.
Muni at Camp Arrowhead - 2011-06-01
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