- Oct 20, 2000
- 2,969
- 2
Ya I'm outta shape. Must of happened about the time I became bike roadie for the "decrepit" Heartland Spode crew last July 13th. Time just hasn't been on my side since then and I've always heard "if you don't use it, you lose it" and I guess it applies to racing too. Any who- I've started trying to get back to at least where I was this time last year mainly by riding / racing more regularly.
The past several months here the weather has been uncooperative, as many have mentioned. It seemed as every weekend that Mother Nature allowed opportunity to race, our schedule didn't. Today the cards fell right and I ended up at the track. Not really sure why but the turnout was very light, probably because of all the series going on at All the other tracks, but that's a different topic.
Now this track is a club so they do things their own way. Classes are divided up into 4-stroke / over 30 / over 40 / 50's / 65's / 80 7-9 / 80 10-13 / and A/B/C/ D. The A/B/C/D classes are open cc classes just like the over classes and what ever I ride in, my 125 has to scream to stay up with the bigger bikes. In these classes it's not too bad because there's usually a pretty even mix of bikes sizes to riders skill level but not so in the over 40 class (the class I raced today). In that class everyone rides a big bike but me. I think it's an unwritten rule that only Jaybird and me get to ride 125's in that class. ;) Now I can honestly say that I used to be pretty competitive in the over 40 class even on a smaller bike but... with all the "older guys" riding these days the over 40 turnout has become one of the largest classes at the track. That of coarse means that there's a lot more racing going on in that class. I also don't remember all the old guys going as fast last year as they are now. My 1st moto I was about even getting out of the gate and hung okay to the 1st turn but I was on the outside (by choice) and got left in the dirt. I managed to pass a few over the next 2 jumps and corners and then come the straight. They said "bye bye". Though I never lost sight, I didn't have quite enough to clear all the obstacles right out of the turns like they did. Toward the end of the race I did manage to catch up with a few and even make a pass or 2 but my body said, "if you try that I'm going to punish you!"
My next moto was better. I got a better start and caught the inside on the 1st turn. Got to blow past a couple there and even passed someone on the straight, I think he let me by :ugg: . I was still running up the rear but not in dead last and making progress. The 5 laps seemed to go one forever! The thing that surprised me was how far I was jumping. I don't have a big problem hitting short distance jumps even if they launch me but flying anything over 50' I have to think twice about. Today was different. I was so tired that I actually looked forward to the airtime so I could rest. I easily cleared all the jumps except for a timing section that was a triple - double - triple. The landing from the 1st triple messes me up on the double so I double, suck, suck, almost triple. The other section is a double - step up with a kicker lip at the top then a step down. ( I didn't see anyone doing that.
Result, I finished 9th overall (9th 1st moto - 8th 2nd moto) and it took all I had in me. There is a knot in my back that must feel like I'm having a spinal pregnancy or could be a tumor. Seriously, the muscle is very taught. I felt like I was having a good day and I know I was riding fast and well. My props to all the over 40 guys out there, you're picking up the pace! Looking forward to the next race. :aj:
The past several months here the weather has been uncooperative, as many have mentioned. It seemed as every weekend that Mother Nature allowed opportunity to race, our schedule didn't. Today the cards fell right and I ended up at the track. Not really sure why but the turnout was very light, probably because of all the series going on at All the other tracks, but that's a different topic.
Now this track is a club so they do things their own way. Classes are divided up into 4-stroke / over 30 / over 40 / 50's / 65's / 80 7-9 / 80 10-13 / and A/B/C/ D. The A/B/C/D classes are open cc classes just like the over classes and what ever I ride in, my 125 has to scream to stay up with the bigger bikes. In these classes it's not too bad because there's usually a pretty even mix of bikes sizes to riders skill level but not so in the over 40 class (the class I raced today). In that class everyone rides a big bike but me. I think it's an unwritten rule that only Jaybird and me get to ride 125's in that class. ;) Now I can honestly say that I used to be pretty competitive in the over 40 class even on a smaller bike but... with all the "older guys" riding these days the over 40 turnout has become one of the largest classes at the track. That of coarse means that there's a lot more racing going on in that class. I also don't remember all the old guys going as fast last year as they are now. My 1st moto I was about even getting out of the gate and hung okay to the 1st turn but I was on the outside (by choice) and got left in the dirt. I managed to pass a few over the next 2 jumps and corners and then come the straight. They said "bye bye". Though I never lost sight, I didn't have quite enough to clear all the obstacles right out of the turns like they did. Toward the end of the race I did manage to catch up with a few and even make a pass or 2 but my body said, "if you try that I'm going to punish you!"
My next moto was better. I got a better start and caught the inside on the 1st turn. Got to blow past a couple there and even passed someone on the straight, I think he let me by :ugg: . I was still running up the rear but not in dead last and making progress. The 5 laps seemed to go one forever! The thing that surprised me was how far I was jumping. I don't have a big problem hitting short distance jumps even if they launch me but flying anything over 50' I have to think twice about. Today was different. I was so tired that I actually looked forward to the airtime so I could rest. I easily cleared all the jumps except for a timing section that was a triple - double - triple. The landing from the 1st triple messes me up on the double so I double, suck, suck, almost triple. The other section is a double - step up with a kicker lip at the top then a step down. ( I didn't see anyone doing that.
Result, I finished 9th overall (9th 1st moto - 8th 2nd moto) and it took all I had in me. There is a knot in my back that must feel like I'm having a spinal pregnancy or could be a tumor. Seriously, the muscle is very taught. I felt like I was having a good day and I know I was riding fast and well. My props to all the over 40 guys out there, you're picking up the pace! Looking forward to the next race. :aj:
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