Campmor H2H Race #4, The 15th Annual Bulldog Rump

[D]

i like to be known as poison arrow now on. as of now I have food poison, ivy, and lastly from
bee sting. somebody out there is really trying hard to stop me for having fun lol

job well done guys.

[jusluv2bike]

first of all thank you mtbNYCstyle for letting me race for your team!!! this race was a good learning experience for me! one 7-8mile lap at race pace is very hard and painful i also crashed on a down hill section passing some other rider (who i was yelling at to get out of my way! i thought he wasn't racing and was just pre-riding the course! lol) got some pretty bad cuts from that crash 1.5mile into the race ended up twisting my handle bar over the top tube and struggled banging it out for awhile. started riding again and almost threw the towel in to stop racing!!! thank god for erwin passing me on the tech section and urging me on ;D i was at my red zone the whole time trying to keep up with erwin and the other rider. they lost me on the last uphill climb. ss 32x18 sucks when your dead tired lol. then on the last down hill with the sharp rocks...my tube blows out(was running 20psi with tubes,not a good idea!)have to convert to tubeless. road the last 1/8 mile with a flat. kept looking back to see if anyone was coming thank god still got 3rd place

[gReyZ]

D. ok poison arrow, get well soon. hope to see you in DH40.
rob. nice race recap. you did it even with alot of issues. You're most welcome to be in our team. Just incase you need some assistance in your bike set up(going tubeless), just post it and we're all going help you out.
again congrats to all.

[jontotman]

First of all I would like to congratulate Erwin and Rob aka Jusluv2bike for killing it yesterday and bagged 2nd place and 3rd place in the Bulldog Rump CAT 3 30-39. And Congratulations also to Robson (3rd place) and Steve (1st place) in CAT 3 40-49 both of them gave us a tour in KVSP when Moe, Rob and I pre-rode the race course on July 5th and yes Robson is also a member of our board.

Here is my race re-cap. After we set up the team tent we went to the registration and got our number. One thing that the race promoter did this time that I think it was a good idea was they wrote numbers on our calves so we the racers would know who are we racing against in the heat of the moment ;D Good Job Bull Dog!!!

So when the CAT 3 (30-39) started, we saw Kalog by himself and was way way ahead of the pack and after a few seconds we saw Erwin and Rob together pacing each other until they were gone in the woods. So Moe and I looked at our watch and decided we will go to the other side of the park where the racers will come out approximately after 35 minutes. So more than half an hour has past a few of us including LeftyJekyll with his camera were waiting on the other side were all the racers will come out. After the 3D guy (1st place) came out we saw our orange jersey followed but we couldn't tell right away who was it, and then Erwin came out. A few seconds after Erwin we saw another orange jersey coming down the hill and Rob came out in the woods. I was wondering what he was saying and why he wasn't hammering on the last stretch to the finish line, and then Moe said that his back tire was flat. As soon as Moe said that I look up to the hill were they came down and thankfully saw no one was following Rob and you know what happened after that. ;D ;D


10:10 AM
I started taking endurolytes. Bigboy decided to mix some drinks (beer and club soda) and we (Bigboy, freearrow, Moe and I) took a cup of this mix drink. ;D

10:30 AM
CAT 2 started, Freearrow and I stuck in the middle while Bigboy were leading the pack. While we were riding the long stretch of grassy area into the gravel uphill where all the spectators were waiting for us to pass, I decided I will not red line like I always do on every start of my race. So when we passed the crowd of spectator I still managed to smile to my kids while they were shouting "Go Daddy Go!" ;D
After the uphill gravel and left to the rocky single track I was probably 6th in my Cat and still see Bigboy in front while I know Freearrow was next behind me. It rained the night before so all those sharp rocks became sharp slippery rocks and saw Bigboy were slowing down. I was wondering why Bigboy suddenly slows down and all the racers behind him started passing him. Now I know that somethings wrong to BigB as he kept looking on his chain but still can't go close to him as those slippery sharp rocks were messing me up too and two racers just passed me but not Freearrow yet. As soon as we hit the first fast technical descent the two racers that just passed me slow down and by trying to avoid them I went outside and and slid a couple of times and could not save it and I went directly to a big rock went endo. I went over the bar (not because of the mix drink that BigB gave us but becoz of my riding skillz ;D ) and created a bottle neck in the back as I was laying down besides my bike in the middle of the rocky single track. I tried to get up as fast as I can and I heard in the background in a joking tone "C'mon you slowing me down!" and saw Freearrow passed me with a smile and a train of racers some of them our in my age group and some of them are not. ;D
After that I tried to come back but it was too late, I had to let the train of racers passed by. I was just waiting for Moe to come and slap my behind but did not happen.
I was feeling good and managed to see Freearrow again and BigB. After the white trail going to the meadow I can see I'm closing the gap to Bigboy and Freearrow. When we came to another gravel uphill section I passed Freearrow and yelled at him "Let's Go Danny!" I know he said something but I was gone and trying to catch Bigboy now. As we enter to another rocky downhill section I saw BigBoy on the side taking off his tire. I stopped a few seconds to tell him I'm so sorry I got nothing to help him and waiting for him to tell me that he's fine and give me his blessing to go ahead. ;D
So, it's all me now and those last two biggest climb of the course. First big climb managed to clear it and almost the last one. Finally, I completed the first lap and I'm on my way to the pit stop where Erwin was waiting for us to hand us out our bottle. I saw Erwin face in shocked ;D and asked me what happened to BigB. I actually stop and chit chat with a few seconds telling him that Bigboy having problems with his chain and also got a flat tire. I took another 4 capsules of endurolytes after Erwin gave me my second bottle. I looked around but didn't see my kiddies this time so I left for my second lap. My second lap was all about surviving and finishing the race. I was tired, made mistakes here and there. I dropped my bottle a couple times when I was putting back in to my cage ;D I actually had to stop twice and back track to pick up my bottle. ;D
So after that, I managed to finish the race without cramping and didn't see ladies passed me this time. ;D
Although my goal was to be in the top ten, I will take 13th place out or 20. I had a good time before, during and after the race.
Next is DH40 and another big show for mtbNYCstyle...so far 13 mtbNYCstyles are already pre-reg and I think more will sign up before the deadline (july 16)

[merlin]

Nice race recap! Thanks for sharing Jon. You did well placing 13th

[viking]

Jul 12, 2010 14:46:35 GMT -5 CincoDos said:

909???and NO DH40...Wow!! I guess - your Shenandoah bound Mr. D?

yup, no DH40 this year. Heading to PA for the Wilderness 101. First long one for me so it should be interesting. Hoping for a little less than 90 degrees.

nice Jon! You seem to be healed up and moving up in the field.

[jontotman]

Hey Daniel congrats on your strong finished last Sunday. Although we will miss you in DH40, have fun and good luck on your first 100 miler mtb race.
Thanks, I'm happy with my performance last Sunday eventhough I only rode my bike twice between LM and KVSP I still manage not to DFL. = )

[gReyZ]

thanks for a detailed race recap jon--- really wished we were there---

[jontotman]

Thanks Merlin, GreyZ and the rest of the mtbNYCstyle racing team members. We missed you guys and gals there last Sunday. See you in DH40.

Oh yeah how was the Tour de Queens Merlin. Jeprox mentioned to me last Friday that you and him will represent our colors in that event.

[erwin455]

Very nice race recap Jon! Thank you.

On our category as you can see on that pic kalog just bombed it right away at the start. I just pace myself then Rob and the 3d guy(his name is Brian, nice guy) followed. As soon as we go in the woods Rob passed me right away, so it was just me and Brian who are pacing. After we made a left turn as i look up i saw kalog stopped at the rocky section uphill, so i passed him at this time i can no longer see Rob. And i said to myself, holy crap that guy is fast!

I did not panic i said it's ok he's my team mate ;D. I don't care if he wins, my concern was Brian cuz he always place first in our category and i know that if he will pass me my second place would be gone. I passed 2 guys(19-29 cat) before i made that scary rocky downhill section passing the fire road and again up to that technical uphill. That's when i saw Rob walking, not sure if he'd already fallen this time but i tried to pass him but he took the line that i practiced on that tech section. ;D lol. So i was forced to go out of my bike but at this time i still have a lot of energy so i just ran passed him and said to him, let's go Rob! At this time i was already the first guy in our category, so i was feeling good. Brian was on my tail the whole time, sometimes i would stretch the gap on the tech section maybe because i'm on 29er? ;D But he would catch up again.

I don't know if that's the white trail but as soon as the fire road ends and we made a small left turn going in, i never pre road that section so i was surprised of how many and how sharp the rocks on that trail. ;D I think Rob was still following us not sure. After the next fire road there was another technical small uphill section, this section is really hard so i just walked it. Brian yelled at me left Erwin so i let him passed but he ended up walking too. Still have a lot of energy left so again i ran passed him. lol ;D we were neck and neck the whole time until that section where there is a house in the middle of the raod to the lake. After we crossed that road before that very short steep section uphill he passed me. I stayed on his wheel i was planning to pass him on that steep short uphill but he stop in the middle and we ended up walking. i still stayed with him until that last steep uphill a little bit longer when he pulled away. He shifted to granny and was just spinning it, i also shifted to my granny but this time my lungs are just burning like hell! lol ;D Mind over matter ;D but i don't know, i quit and just walked half of it at this moment i was thinking to run it cuz my legs still feels ok but my lungs quit. ;D. i can also see Rob walking from the bottom of the hill. As soon as i hit the top i accelerated right away and can see Brian already pulling away ahead of me. I was thingking if i can stay with him until that last downhill section. My mind set was to sprint it with everything i have left and maybe, maybe beat him at the finish line. ;D ;D. But he was gone so i just pedal at my pace and passed more 19-29 category boys, we even passed the first placer of the 19-29 cat before the last downhill section until the finish line. All in all it was a good day no chain pooping off. Congratulations to all of us! It was a great day as i love warm or hot weather. ;D I will trade any cold weather with this one. Hehe. Thank you to all especially to Jontot and family, Bigboy (Tent, banner, pictures, table , etc.) And also to Rob and Patrick for the pics. See you guys at the next one.

[jontotman]

Nice write up Erwin. I was wondering what happened in your age category. Dang, that was some race between you, Brian and Rob that day huh. Thanks for sharing.

[Deleted]

Great re-cap guys. It totally had me feeling that I was part of the race too. Great job again.

[Prancing Horse]

Nice write-up guys. I sure missed a good one. Special congrats to Rob for placing third for a first time racer. Keep it up man!

@bigboy, Is that the same columbian mixed drink we drank after riding 50 miles two weeks ago? very nice I must say!

[soundz]

Good read Jon & Erwin. I'm sorry I missed all the excitement! I will be there for Taconic 909 after lots of training on the road

[jontotman]

Jul 14, 2010 3:31:06 GMT -5 soundz said:

Good read Jon & Erwin. I'm sorry I missed all the excitement! I will be there for Taconic 909 after lots of training on the road

No DH40? O.K. see you in T909 Jimmy.