GETMETOCA
Can't Wait For Tuesdays
- Mar 17, 2002
- 4,768
- 0
Looking back, the best part is always seeing everyone and getting to meet a few new DRN folks. I left Modesto at 6:15 am, pulling into the 7-11 off the freeway 99 to wait for Karna and Justin, we are going to caravan the 2.5 hour drive to Forresthill. Good thing Karna and I have our cell phones so we can gab a bit on the way up. We get there two whole hours before our minutes, yet it seems that its always a mad dash to check in, get through tech, do last minute stuff (like taping your minute to your bike and getting your gas can to gas stop).
At check in, we see Buddy and Mini, who had just arrived on a plane from Puerta Vallarta a mere 8 hours earlier (how do they do it??) Mini still looks fresh with a big smile on here face. In front of them in line is the guy who helped me get my bike started during the WFO when I was stuck in the mud. Nice guy, turns out he's an A class rider from the Richland Ramblers club and even though he had started the WFO 10 minutes late AND stopped to help me out, he won his class.
Also in line is ScottYZ250! We get to chat for longer than 5 minutes today and make plans to get together at Carnegie before the end of the year. We also see fremontguy, Jonala, NVR FNSH, Treefinder and Racergirl76, who has been MIA for the last 6 months. Racergirl76 is on minute 4 so she's gotta run.
At check-in I meet RetSenior who introduces himself to me. Nice to finally meet you! Apparently Ret has been put to work by the CERA man in charge ;) and will not be racing today.
It takes FOREVER to get through Tech and the Rangers are in full force not taking anything for granted. Justin helps me get my JART chart in order and I get to my minute with about 2 to spare. I line up next to a really nice guy named Denny and his daughter Ashley and lo and behold its LocoCD! Nice to meet you and your family - what nice people!
Our minute arrives and I have the magic button so I'm off the line first. I regret this later as I bog down on one of those brick/dirt creekbank reinforcements and hold up everyone on my minute and the minute behind us. I'm spinning my back tire and roosting everyone behind me. LocoCD says to inch my tire back a bit and try again. It works and we're off again. As penance for my sin, I let everyone go ahead of me including the guys on the minute behind us since they were so patient!
Forresthill trails are all fun and I had a blast, mainly because I knew what was behind each turn. I'm trying my best to pay attention to my JART chart and the wristwatch I have taped to my bars. Am I early? Am I late? Not really sure because I'm afraid to twist the roll chart while I'm riding and afraid to pull over to check it all out in case I'm late. I get through the first check point 1 minute late and I'm happy with that. I tell myself my gut instincts must be pretty good but vow to try and keep time better.
I'm thoroughly enjoying riding the kTm and I marvel at this throughout the whole 50+ mile ride. I get to gas stop and see Karna and Justin and also Mark, the A class rider who I met at the WFO. He explains resets to me and we reset my odometer accordingly. I see Dave Woods and Mike Pascarella who wave in recognition. I'm taking Woodsrider's advice to try a slimfast at gas stop for quick liquid energy (Cappuchino Delight!!) and I imagine all these nutrients and caffeine coursing through my veins. I'm ready to go!!
I must have really done a good job imagining all that extra energy because I end up burning two checks later on, one by 4 minutes and one by 8. Holy cow! That NEVER happens to me! Since I'm early I pull over and check my roll chart. Since I didn't bother to roll it forward I see that I missed a 10 minute break, thus the 8 minute burn. :ugg: Ah, well. I end up zero'ing the last check so that made me feel better.
I take two tumbles today, both in the rocky dowhhill sections. During the rush of the morning I had forgot to put on my elbow pads and that's where it hurts. Sure was nice to just pick up the kTm and push the button. No wasted energy spent. During the race, I try to focus on my riding skill and control. I remember to try to stand up through the woods and not just on the easy fire roads and accomplish this some of the time. My favorite part of the whole race is that long stretch of water bars on Trail 3. Wooooo Hooooo! I'm getting gutsy and fly off a few of them, this makes me happy and I hope the CERA routes us back through Trail 3 again on the remaining loop.
After the race I chat with more friends. I see kTmchick and jennifer who were on earlier minutes. Jennifer says Pierre passed sound check this time and got to race today, good for him! Then I go back to the truck to load everything and get ready to go home. Karna and Justin and I are starving and stop at this awesome hamburger joint in Auburn for greasy delicious cheeseburgers with grilled onions and mushrooms.
Fun day!
At check in, we see Buddy and Mini, who had just arrived on a plane from Puerta Vallarta a mere 8 hours earlier (how do they do it??) Mini still looks fresh with a big smile on here face. In front of them in line is the guy who helped me get my bike started during the WFO when I was stuck in the mud. Nice guy, turns out he's an A class rider from the Richland Ramblers club and even though he had started the WFO 10 minutes late AND stopped to help me out, he won his class.
Also in line is ScottYZ250! We get to chat for longer than 5 minutes today and make plans to get together at Carnegie before the end of the year. We also see fremontguy, Jonala, NVR FNSH, Treefinder and Racergirl76, who has been MIA for the last 6 months. Racergirl76 is on minute 4 so she's gotta run.
At check-in I meet RetSenior who introduces himself to me. Nice to finally meet you! Apparently Ret has been put to work by the CERA man in charge ;) and will not be racing today.
It takes FOREVER to get through Tech and the Rangers are in full force not taking anything for granted. Justin helps me get my JART chart in order and I get to my minute with about 2 to spare. I line up next to a really nice guy named Denny and his daughter Ashley and lo and behold its LocoCD! Nice to meet you and your family - what nice people!
Our minute arrives and I have the magic button so I'm off the line first. I regret this later as I bog down on one of those brick/dirt creekbank reinforcements and hold up everyone on my minute and the minute behind us. I'm spinning my back tire and roosting everyone behind me. LocoCD says to inch my tire back a bit and try again. It works and we're off again. As penance for my sin, I let everyone go ahead of me including the guys on the minute behind us since they were so patient!
Forresthill trails are all fun and I had a blast, mainly because I knew what was behind each turn. I'm trying my best to pay attention to my JART chart and the wristwatch I have taped to my bars. Am I early? Am I late? Not really sure because I'm afraid to twist the roll chart while I'm riding and afraid to pull over to check it all out in case I'm late. I get through the first check point 1 minute late and I'm happy with that. I tell myself my gut instincts must be pretty good but vow to try and keep time better.
I'm thoroughly enjoying riding the kTm and I marvel at this throughout the whole 50+ mile ride. I get to gas stop and see Karna and Justin and also Mark, the A class rider who I met at the WFO. He explains resets to me and we reset my odometer accordingly. I see Dave Woods and Mike Pascarella who wave in recognition. I'm taking Woodsrider's advice to try a slimfast at gas stop for quick liquid energy (Cappuchino Delight!!) and I imagine all these nutrients and caffeine coursing through my veins. I'm ready to go!!
I must have really done a good job imagining all that extra energy because I end up burning two checks later on, one by 4 minutes and one by 8. Holy cow! That NEVER happens to me! Since I'm early I pull over and check my roll chart. Since I didn't bother to roll it forward I see that I missed a 10 minute break, thus the 8 minute burn. :ugg: Ah, well. I end up zero'ing the last check so that made me feel better.
I take two tumbles today, both in the rocky dowhhill sections. During the rush of the morning I had forgot to put on my elbow pads and that's where it hurts. Sure was nice to just pick up the kTm and push the button. No wasted energy spent. During the race, I try to focus on my riding skill and control. I remember to try to stand up through the woods and not just on the easy fire roads and accomplish this some of the time. My favorite part of the whole race is that long stretch of water bars on Trail 3. Wooooo Hooooo! I'm getting gutsy and fly off a few of them, this makes me happy and I hope the CERA routes us back through Trail 3 again on the remaining loop.
After the race I chat with more friends. I see kTmchick and jennifer who were on earlier minutes. Jennifer says Pierre passed sound check this time and got to race today, good for him! Then I go back to the truck to load everything and get ready to go home. Karna and Justin and I are starving and stop at this awesome hamburger joint in Auburn for greasy delicious cheeseburgers with grilled onions and mushrooms.
Fun day!
