UMC ride report
Sorry John- no class win, I am enjoying cheater bike #2, even tho I still grabbed handfuls of clutch every time I got on the brakes, I did manage to the Rekluse do the dirty work on the hills.
Jeff- come on out, nonickname presents club ride in mid Feb at outlet center. Should be fun.
This is how UMC went for me.....
Left the house at about 1:40 Sat afternoon which got me to camp at ~4:00. I always forget that once you get to Lucerne Valley, your not there yet. I find Mule at sign-ups as I pull in and we spot the trailer with TWMC. I preferred UMC's camp location spot this year without the additional 3-4 miles of whooped dirt road to get to a camp location with a sand trap with my name. Not stuck in sand = good.
~~~~NoNick Mule and I set 3 alarms to ensure we make our early lines on time. After turning off my cell alarm and snooze for a few more minutes, I wake in panic at 7:45, not having enough time to suit up, have breakfast and make it to the start on time.~~~~ I wake up before the part where I arrive at the start naked. Must be first race jitters...
The morning is chilly, no, its COLD. Ice had encrusted the bikes and truck, something I havent seen in the dez in while. Directions to the start were marked well enough, well enough that is until that big rock pile that I skirted just to the left of missing the best hidden check of the race, the start line. Someone from an early minute let me know that I had missed the start and I race back with a minute to spare. Phew.
First loop was tougher than usual for first loop fun 5. I dont think it was too hard for first loop stuff, just the prescribed speeds were fairly brisk early on. I arrive to the first check 2 seconds into the next minute, dang nabit, 2 seconds. Oh well, that the way the clock crumbles. My goal for this ride was to ride as hard as I could but maintaining a pace easy/safe enough to stave off my double vision problem and I kept the urge to wick it up reined in. On another check-out I spot the check knowing I am down, glance down at the puter to see it click into -2. I hammer it in to the check on full lock and low side to avoid crashing into Garry all ready in the check. They mark my card 10.01. Another dang nabit 1 second away from being only 1 minute down, instead I pick up the full 2. My plea for the 1 second grace for "entertainment value" went unsatisfied.
Second loop, hands cramped 100yds off the line, not good, I knew it would be fast and tough and I wanted to make up as much time in the 3 for free. The most fun I had during the course was in the section right before the 10 minute break. I was working hard to stay on pace and would be up and down. That is the kind of enduro riding I like to do- ride hard AND timekeep. Well, there was no check before the break which if it was a check I would have zeroed. I asked Andy if I could have a "ata boy" for my on time arrival, I plan to use the "ata boy" to throw the decision my way in the event of a tie (little know enduro rule). From the break on, there was no more timekeeping for me, just go. Rocks was the name of the game for the second loop and the scenery didnt change much, glad I left the front trials tire on as the small amount of initial plushness and anti deflection helps. I managed to go down a couple of times on walking pace stuff, no issues. I had intermittent hand and muscle cramps which made standing a challenge.
I finished with 11minutes for the 2 loops which wont win any trophys but Im happy with my ride non the less. I have some optimisim that the eyball surgery will help with the amblyopia, besides the vision problem is only really a problem in rocks and whoops.