- Jan 25, 2000
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I arrived at Hodge Road at about 7:30 AM to take another crack at an Enduro. I figured 1.5 hours would be enough time to get ready, but by the time everything was done, I headed to the start with only 3.5 minutes to spare. "Yup, I've got all my Ducks in a row this time", I thought to myself.
When my minute came up, I rolled up to the start, sat there for a while and then noticed……I forgot to tape my time card to the fender. :( I turned around and headed back to the far end of the pits as my minute took off. After finding my time card and a couple of futile attempts to tape it on with gloved hands, I returned to the start 5 minutes late. Doh.
At the end of the first loop, it appeared that the course continued off to the right, but then stopped, with no further markers to be found. Several riders were milling around, trying to figure out where to go next, and a few even followed me on my two excursions to find the course. Anyone I asked said, "Go right" (with a chuckle, I'm sure). It finally occurred to me that I should just go to the start (although I didn't see anyone else doing this). At this point, I had lost at total of about 10 minutes just goofing around in or near the pit area, and I hadn't taken the time to add gas. Doh.
At the start of the third loop, I saw a rider waiting at the start. When I asked him what he was doing, he said, "I'm waiting for my clock to run down". I found that strange, since anyone would be far behind at that point in the race. I'd hit every check, so I decided to go back for gas and continue.
At one of the checks, I thought I had come across a father and son taking a break on the trail (and not involved in the Enduro). It was a check. Good thing I stopped, because they would have let me ride by without so much as a flinch.
This brings me back to the Cougar Buttes Enduro last November. I saw a three riders standing next to the trail, so I thought a rider had either crashed or had mechanical problems. I slowed down to look, but everything seemed OK (they just gave me a blank stare back). I continued without stopping. I realize now (months later) that this was a check, and it was the one I missed. Doh.
At least I finished this one, and yes, it was fun. :)
When my minute came up, I rolled up to the start, sat there for a while and then noticed……I forgot to tape my time card to the fender. :( I turned around and headed back to the far end of the pits as my minute took off. After finding my time card and a couple of futile attempts to tape it on with gloved hands, I returned to the start 5 minutes late. Doh.
At the end of the first loop, it appeared that the course continued off to the right, but then stopped, with no further markers to be found. Several riders were milling around, trying to figure out where to go next, and a few even followed me on my two excursions to find the course. Anyone I asked said, "Go right" (with a chuckle, I'm sure). It finally occurred to me that I should just go to the start (although I didn't see anyone else doing this). At this point, I had lost at total of about 10 minutes just goofing around in or near the pit area, and I hadn't taken the time to add gas. Doh.
At the start of the third loop, I saw a rider waiting at the start. When I asked him what he was doing, he said, "I'm waiting for my clock to run down". I found that strange, since anyone would be far behind at that point in the race. I'd hit every check, so I decided to go back for gas and continue.
At one of the checks, I thought I had come across a father and son taking a break on the trail (and not involved in the Enduro). It was a check. Good thing I stopped, because they would have let me ride by without so much as a flinch.
This brings me back to the Cougar Buttes Enduro last November. I saw a three riders standing next to the trail, so I thought a rider had either crashed or had mechanical problems. I slowed down to look, but everything seemed OK (they just gave me a blank stare back). I continued without stopping. I realize now (months later) that this was a check, and it was the one I missed. Doh.
At least I finished this one, and yes, it was fun. :)
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