6 Hours of Razorback
Only 6? Yeah, I’m a slacker. I am referring of course to the 12 Hours Of Razorback held at Razorback Mtb Park in Reddick Florida put on by Gone Riding Productions. With the tendinitis issues last month it was best not to push my knee too far and I really don’t think I had the fitness to complete 12 hours the way I would have wanted to. Luckily there is a 6 hour option, so I can save my ego from the pain of a DNF.
All photos in this post by Jim & Chris O’Dea
The weather was perfect this year, my 5th time at this event. It was in the mid 50s in the early AM and rose to a high in the mid 80s! That sure beats the freezing rain & snow North GA has been seeing the last couple of weeks.
Namrita on the other hand really made me look like the slacker I am. She put in an impressive effort placing 6th in the 12 Hour! She’s doesn’t get real excited about the technical trails of FL, but I think she passed some personal boundaries at this one and gained some confidence which will set her up for some solid riding this year.
My race was rather unexciting I guess. The run was long as usual….at least a half mile…and I was one of the first 30 or so into the woods. The traffic was as thick at the Downtown Connector in Atlanta for the first 3 or 4 miles and just like the connector, there was one idiot being aggressive which screwed everyone up. This guy was cutting others off, passing unsafely, and had no respect at all for those around him. I don’t know who this guys is, but the jersey said Bike Works. I passed where I could and tried not to get caught up in the sprint, pass and die game going on around me. I settled into a pseudo pace line with three or four other guys as we traded leads. Toward the end of that first lap I passed Mr. I’mInAHurryAnd YouDon’tMatter and gave him a bit of advice on passing etiquette….not that it probably made much difference.
I stopped at the pits before the second lap and donned my Wingnut Gear Pack. My plan was to go the next 3 laps without having to stop, but that didn’t work for a couple reasons. The first was the heat. It sounds a bit odd in February, but it was hot, real hot. I ended up stopping each lap to dump water over my head and legs to cool off. I’m not exactly acclimated to 80* temps this time of year and from the sight of so many other riders slumped in the pits and on the side of the trail, I was not the only one.
The next reason my plan for not stopping didn’t work was a lack of air. Not from altitude mind you, this is Florida after all, but for my tubes. I flatted my front tire about a mile into the course on my 3rd lap and quickly realized my folly. I never did check before the race which will get you into trouble every time. I changed the tube and ran back to the pits for some service, losing some serious time. Once there grabbed my Crank Bros mini pump while Richard started filling the fresh tube. Unfortunately I either pinched the tube while installing it or never removed what punctured it in the first place. Eventually I was off and riding again…..
The rest of race was uneventful with the exception of some cramping. That was from a lack a fitness. I pushed pretty hard for the first couple laps and I’m just not in the same shape I was in at this time last year. Besides I usually cramp 3-4 hours into my first race of the year any way. It seems it’s just part of the process of moving up that never level of fitness.
I missed the cut off for a 7th lap by 10 minutes or so. Maybe without the flat I would have made it, but in all seriousness I don’t think I could have done another one without jeopardizing any chance of training this week. The way it worked out was for the best. I got a great workout in, had a lot of fun and still had plenty of energy this week to put in some quality workouts. Oh and I still got 8th out of 60, so not too bad.
I did get a chance to try a few new things regarding nutrition during this race. This was the first time I’ve raced used Hammer Gel products exclusively. I’m hoping to find a way to eliminate most of the solid foods from my 24 hour race diet and so far Hammer has been working. The last couple of weeks I have been using various drink mixes and gels in various combinations to figure out what works for me. The results have been good, but more testing is needed.
Another new product I have been using is designed specifically to aid in recovery. Recover-Ease seems to working great. How I feel is a subjective thing, but I’ve been doing some hard work lately and I feel great. My legs don’t feel as heavy after long tempo workouts like they have in the past. I don’t feel like I need ice baths weekly like I used to. I have the energy get in quality workouts every time I hit the bike and that is the most important thing to me. I’ve missed enough training time this year so I want to maximize my production everywhere I can. For more about the science behind Recover-Ease click here. I’ll have free samples with me throughout the year, so hit me up if you want to improve your recovery.
I’d like to thank Richard Walker & my Mom & Dad for coming out to the race to support both Namrita and I. I get a lot comments about how cool it is that my parents come to races and they are right, it is very cool. They have been very supportive and I do appreciate that. Richard is the man behind the scenes. He accepts the no glory job of mixing drink bottles and lubing chains. For this I will for ever be indebted. Thank you sir, may I have another?
Mechanical & Product Support from Cartecay Bike Shop – Ellijay, GA
Energy drinks from Source Drinks makers of BURN & BURN2
Supplements from GNC 5361 N Socrum Loop Rd, Lakeland, FL
Hydration packs From Wingnut Gear
Wheels & Seat Posts provided by American Classic
Racing Lights provided by Light & Motion
Post-Exercise Recovery provided by Recover-Ease
Nutritional & health advice from Dr. Jamie Brenon.
Eyewear provided by Tifosi Optics
Massage from Collette Adams at SMIT
Chiropractic Services from Dr. Josh Glass
Addition Product Support from Chainwheel Drive Bike Shop in Clearwater & Palm Harbor, FL
Eddie O