At last, something to write about - a couple of clean races. After the frustrations of Alpenrose (jammed wheel), Ranier (multiple chain drops), Sherwood (twisted chain) and Hillsboro (crash and last lap flat) there were no major mechanical issues – just minor ones. After the Sherwood debacle, the bike went to the LBS to be set up by the experts. They shortened the replacement chain to reduce the chance of chain drop, adjusted the chain guide and for good measure, installed some proper CCX canti brakes. The misfortune of the first four races were a result of inexperience, poor bike set-up and crappy riding. But enough whining…what did Astoria hold in store………………
First up, the Saturday race. Picked up JA at his home in SE Portland at the ungodly hour of 6.30 and headed for the coast. We arrived early enough to fit in a quick ride of the course. Clearly it was going to be a difficult day. The grassy runs and off-camber turns through mud promised a technical ride, one not for the fainthearted. Included in the mix were a couple of short steeper sections that almost certainly would have to be run. Spotted a couple of decent stretches where overtaking could take place. Anyway,….after a shortish warm-up it was off to the start line with Bryan. As I stood at the start line a quick glance behind brought an ironic smile to my face- there were more riders ahead of me than behind by about 2 to 1. So much for the much-prized call-up. Lots of familiar faces – this would be my 5th race against these guys. A few nods of recognition were passed around – everyone nervous about the impending 45 mins of pain. We were off. What I thought was a fast start was in fact pretty mediocre and a couple of places had been dropped by the first turn to the right. Managed to claw back a few positions as the race unfolded. I was enjoying the race and able to target riders ahead and mostly catch them. The exception was my Nemesis (He: Dr Evil, I: Golden Hammer member). As with Hillsboro he started slower but built up speed throughout the race and passed me in the last lap. I stayed with him through the sheds for a while and while concocting a fiendish plan to outsprint him at the finish, took a couple of poor turns that allowed him to get out of reach. He will keep for another day. I finished in 7th place from about 20th into the first turn. A victory for me – the first time I had finished without any major technical problems – the gears slipped a little especially in the lower range but can’t say that it slowed me too much and did not lose any places because of it. It felt real good. 7th position was about right for me - stronger than most of the Clydes except for a handful.
On to Sunday. We were running too late for the traditional warm-up on the trainer and gossip with Bryan. So straight to the line it was. As I found out on that eventful first lap, the course had been altered from yesterday’s race with some parts switched to the reverse direction. I lined up alongside Raggedy Ann, Voodoo man, French maid, Bunny rabbit, Whoopy cushion, an impressive Hooters girl and a couple of others. Who were these people and what were they doing in a bike race – oh yeah, Halloween. I was Rasta mon – a pathetic attempt at costumery that should have attracted boos in beer alley. I didn’t have an opportunity to ride the course beforehand – always a bad move. We were off……. It was clear from the start that it was going to be a long 45 minutes. The barriers came up very quickly and surprised me like a ‘White Raleigh SS in a bike box’. The dismount was crudely comical and I could feel the crowd cringing. The course was loaded with slick muddy off-camber turns and I fell several times on the lap - it felt was alot slicker than the previous day. The sheds were a compete nightmare. The hard packed sand inside the shed was as ‘dry as a dead dingo’s donger’ and tricky to adjust to after the sloppy carnage outside. This however, was the easiest part of the sheds. The runs between the sheds were hell. They were thick with mud and rutted which made it very difficult to hold a decent line. I fought the bike all the way - if you slid down into a rut your front wheel might be in a different rut and then it meant climbing up out of the rut and sliding down the side of the next rut. The bike was sideways more often than straight on. Not happy. It took all my effort to keep the bike upright. After exiting from the Shed-from-Hell complex there were a couple of slippery turns in a small forested patch and a nice fast downhill section and short climb. This was a good place to stretch the hammies and hammer. At the top was a short flat section and barriers, then a RH turn onto 200m of beautiful, beautiful road. After nearly ‘crying for mummy’ inbetween the sheds I was now praising Ja with tears of joy. God I miss the feel of bike on road. My elation was short lived when I took the RHer laneway too hot and smacked my head on the same road I had loved with all my being just seconds before. I had hit the ground hard, real hard. After the race the Voodoo man riding behind admitted that he didn’t think that I was going to get up. But I did….. and being the bone-headed thick-skulled, dim-witted Neanderthal that I am got on the bike and continued. Needless to say I did not make that mistake again although later in the race three went down in front of me at the same turn. I fell two or 3 times more and finished in 8th place. It was a very difficult race for me and not all that enjoyable. It took all my energy to stay upright and could not really focus on targeting racers ahead. People……it was pure, gonad-tightening survival.
It felt good to close out the races at Astoria – my reward – a pair of top ten finishes. We have had six different HV winners in this series – a fantastic effort. I am unlikely to be added to this list but maybe, just maybe I can sneak into the top 5 in one of the remaining two races. We’ll see……
