Capital Forest 50/100 miler 9/12/10

100 Mile Race Results:

Master Men 45+
1 Vince Haag (4th overall)

50 Mile Race Results:

Master Men 45+
1 Matt Lynch 4:27:30(4th overall)
3 Jim Albright 5:19:59 (23rd overall)

Open Men
4 Mike Gile 4:40:30 (6th overall)

Race Results - Crankworkx 2010

Race Results Team TAI

Junior Men Age 16-18 (91 Competitors)
84 Brad Kelley 5:39.05

USA Cycling MTB Nationals July 15-18

Race Recap by Chris Bentley:

For me, this year's National Mountain Bike Championships in Granby Colorado at the Sol Vista Mountain Resort was even more special than last year's. Last year I had a calf injury early in the season and didn't get to race much but decided to attend the Nationals as I was getting a bit stronger at the time. I was thrilled with 2nd Place. This year my racing has gone well all season and while I've seen three of my strongest competitors in the CAT 1 40+ class fall by the wayside due to injuries, I've still had to work for every tenth of a second in order to see the podium.

Another 'plus' to this year's National race was the race course itself. I've always ridden well on rocks, and the upper course had Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks...firmly planted and surrounded by very light sand...what non-locals call "moondust". The kind of sand that you'd never put into a child's sandbox because it generates too much dust with any sort of stir. The lower course was spectacular, and this year 2 new gap-jumps were built up for the Amateur Bravehearts. And, this year the gap jumps had a landing that my healthy calf could handle. At age 46, and not wanting even a slight injury, I solicited the younger Experts to let me pace their speed into the 2 jumps that both lofted you a minimum of 25 feet across the thirsty grasses. I quickly became comfortable with the air-time that is never demanded of us at the local NW DH events. To quote a favorite Pink Floyd song "There's no sensation to compare with this - Suspended animation, a state of bliss"

On Saturday a.m. and after pushing my pancakes and maple syrup on the Davis Family, I headed up early. My Downhill bike was dialed for the course now with the assistance of the Fox Racing support crew (on Friday they went through my FOX 40 and revived my dampening valve). I had a great pre-race run and the new softer MN tread tire was working great in the moondust. Ann and Mitch were also very comfortable with their bike set up. We all had pretty clean race runs and great competition. I must have remembered "to practice like it's a race and race like it's practice." A spectacular weekend in Granby Colorado helped me bring home another silver medal - losing only to a former Pro National DH Champion by 1/2 second. I was also happy to survive and obtain a podium spot in the Super-D Race event Sunday.

-cb
tread282@msn.com


TEAM TAI Results:

Cross Country Men CAT 1 (45-49)
5 Matt Lynch 1:54:57

Downhill Men CAT 1 (45-49)
2 Chris Bentley 3:00.85

Downhill Men CAT 2 (15-18)
29 Mitch Davis 3:43.75

Downhill Women CAT 2 (40-99)
1 Ann Davis 4:15.91


Super DMen Open (40-49)
4 Chris Bentley 11:42.04

Super D Men Open (1-18)
37 Mitch Davis 14:34.03

Super D Women Open (40-99)
3 Ann Davis 16:28.06

Photos VAST::vastaction.com and the podium and finish line by Jenny Allyn

Fluidride Cup #3 07/11/2010

Fluid-ride #3 at Ski-bowl went well over the weekend at Mt.Hood, the weather was a bit hot on Friday pushing to 90's, but thank goodness it cooled down Saturday and Sunday to the mid-to-high 70's.

So Fluid-ride #3 was a one time run down the mountain, unlike the previous race two weeks earlier at Ski-bowl which was the best combined time of two runs in one day.

Chris (Cereal Box) Bentley had a nice clean run with a very impressive time, however his run was just a bit slower than expected. Chris still placed 2nd and was within 10 seconds to the 1st place rider. Chris's CAT 1 40+ group had a surprise showing of an X-Pro Champion Downhiller from the mid 90's, Robert Naughton. Rob won and Chris took 2nd place. Chris became friends with Rob and his wife and enjoyed competing with such a legend in the Downhill sport who now races trucks in the National Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Circuit. Rob is a genuine competitor and down-to-earth guy who can still amaze the fans on a DH bike. Chris, at age 46, is now leading the Fluidride Cup Series in points for his 40+ Cat 1 Category. Nice job Chris!

Ryan Miller's race was a bit different... at the very start Ryan took off and realized that his bike chain has come off, all within first 10 seconds! As the next rider passed him, he realized a full minute had already ticked away since the riders are sent down at 1 minute intervals. Fortunately Ryan was able to place his chain back on and he took off like a rocket knowing he had over a 1 minute to make up. Flying down the mountain, risking all or nothing, Ryan crossed the finish line making up the lost minute to place 3rd; a mere 3 seconds short of 2nd and just 20 second shy of 1st. Ryan did a great job of not giving up, what a way to hang in there! (From proud Dad Norm)

White River Revival 7/10/2010

Team TAI Results:

Open Men (10 racers)
6 Matt Lynch

Sport Men 35-44 (12 racers)
12 Chris Liebsch

Fluidride Cup #2 Race Report- June 25-27

Thanks to Norm Miller (Ryan's dad) for the photos and race report:

So Ski Bowl had the two best combined runs for your your over all time score, Chris first run was very clean and fast and was in first for the time being, 2nd racer was 4 seconds behind. So Chris is off on his second run knowing he had to be consistent and clean, along the way Chris had a couple of rough spots and recovered nicely to finish in 1st by two tenth of a second! Nice job!

Ryan's first run down the track went very well, a bit sloppy through the first rock garden but the rest of the run went smoothly, Ryan was in 1st by only one second, with no time to waste it was back to the top for a back to back run down the mountain, Ryan took off knowing he had to do a repeat of the first run and hopefully gain a second or two, all went well as he pumped hard down to the finish line with a run time two seconds faster and took 1st place by 3 seconds, nice job Ryan! (Written by proud Dad)

Also Ryan and I would like to thank Chris for this coaching skills of riding to help give Ryan an edge, it paid off. Thanks again, Chris. ~Norbert

Ann Davis takes the Squamish Test of Metal

Results of the Test: Human

According to their website “For those in the saddle the unrelenting course will take the fastest just over 2 hours, the average competitor 3-4 hours and the humans 5-6 hours.”

My journey to the Test of Metal(TOM)actually began nearly 3 years ago after a Black Diamond race when Logan Wetzel suggested that I would like the Test of Metal. I looked at the website and thought it looked fun but did not pursue trying to register for it on 1/1/09. On January 1, 2010 I came to the realization that I had reached maximum density and I needed some sort of motivation to help regain and improve my fitness. I thought that the race would serve as a perfect goal. So later New Year's Day when the registration opened at 6pm, I was sitting at the computer ready. To my amazement the event sold out in a record 24 minutes 54 seconds and I was IN!

Now what? When I told Bob my plan of riding the 67k (41.6 miles) course with over 1,200 meters of climbing he responded “That is nearly 4000 feet of elevation gain. How are you going to do that? To which I responded “I am going to train for it.” Of course he has since earnestly denied ever verbally doubting my ability.

My first 12 weeks training program concentrated on establishing a XC fitness base, strengthening my core and losing weight. The next 12 weeks training program was a “50 miler Finisher” program. I still rode with various teammates and EMBA friends but it was my friend Deb Romaine who would ride the ever increasing long ride on the weekends with me. I had to be creative at times and 2 weeks ago even roped Mitch into riding 3 hours with me and then swapping my dog Roxie for Mitch for the remainder of the 6 hour ride.
I was lucky enough to have Deb and Andrea escort me to the race for a girls' weekend. We arrived on Friday afternoon and after a quick trip to Tantulas Bike Shop when we realized the shifting problems on my front derailleur wasn’t a simple fix, we were able join in on the Pre-Test festivities with a Poker Ride in downtown Squamish. The shop guys were great and were staying open late to 9pm to assist last minute TOM riders. They tinkered around with the derailleur for a few minutes and were able to get it to shift beautifully. They didn’t charge me so I wanted to support the shop and bought a chain slap guard and intended to replace the worn before the race.

On the day of the race, I had completed a total of 24 weeks of training and had lost a total of 25 pounds. Despite those 2 achievements I knew that climbing the hills would still present a challenge for me and I was slightly concerned about making the 1st cutoff at 2 hours 30 minutes. If I made that one, the next 2 cutoffs should be much easier to meet. At the start of the race we self-seeded ourselves based on our anticipated finish time. I confidently felt I could finish in 4.5 hours and beneath that sign is where I placed my bike upside down. WRONG! It wasn’t until after the race that I realized how much I overestimated my abilities.

After a very moving rendition of the Canadian National Anthem, we were sent off to the sound of bagpipes. The first portion of the race is invigorating. There were 922 of us racers speeding off for the first climb of 700 feet, all of which was on asphalt snaking through the neighborhood of Garibaldi Highlands. Both sides of the road was lined with people blowing horns, ringing bells and shouting words of encouragement, but my favorite was the homeowners who had set up sprinklers for us to ride through. It was only a couple minutes after 11am and it was already getting too hot for me.

At the top of the hill we entered Jack’s Trail and finally got some relief from the climb and some forest covering protected us from the sun. I settled in behind a woman who was wearing a pink and black jersey, she was one that I would switch places back and forth for most of the race.

The first 1/2 of the course would alternate between single track and then gravel fire service roads. My favorite portion of the entire course was a trail called “Rob's Corners." As no surprise it was a descent and was similar to a slalom course. Darn! I got “stuck” behind 2 women and a man thus was not able to fully enjoy railing the corners at high speed. Soon after this, around mile 16, I realized that my front derailleur was not working properly and it was stuck in my large ring (the bike only has 2 rings and a bash guard). I had 5 miles to go before the Power House Feed Zone, where I knew Deb would be able to give me assistance. Fortunately most of the next 5 miles was downhill and I was able to ride all of it but a short section which was too steep for me without my granny chain ring.

Riding through the feed zone I am scanning looking for Deb and Andrea. The volunteer ambassadors were kind enough to pour 2 cups of water over me in attempt to help cool me down. I don’t tolerate heat well and it is getting hotter and the past 5 miles I had been riding on exposed fire roads. I see Deb and told her what’s going on and she and Andrea immediately went to work to postion the chain on the small chain ring. With the 9 Mile Hill coming up I rather have only the small ring rather than the large. They worked quickly and I was off within 2 or 3 minutes. I had no idea how long I had been riding, and at the time it did not seem possible that I was close to the cut-off deadline but later on I learned I arrived only 12 minutes before the cut-off.

Nine Mile Hill is a long sustained climb on a fire road, similar to Tiger Mountain in pitch, but with a couple of level areas for temporary relief. I started out the climb with full intention of riding all of it, but the further I rode the more my conviction to ride it lessened. It ended up being much more of a hike for me then a bike ride. There were about 10 of us, including Pink and Black, who were in the same general area and slowly we made it up the hill leap-frogging. Half-way up the climb at the Bonk Hill Feed Zone a man obliged me by pouring a water bottle over my head and another down the back of my shirt. Cooling relief!

I knew by looking at the cheat sheet taped to my down tube that I still had 3.5 miles until I reached the top. I was in survival mode at the time and the thought of actually riding my bike on the descent kept me trudging upward.

Eventually I made it to the top of Lava Flow Hill and the fun began again. I had bought a Crank Brothers Joplin adjustable seat post and highly recommend it. Throughout the race course I was able to lower my saddle height instantaneously which allowed me to ride within my bike and better handle the fast descents such as the Ring Creek Rip. The Rip was about 4.5 miles of mostly riding in wooded forest sections alternating with loose, small to baby-head sized rock sections. I was finally in my element and was flying down the hill. The riders ahead of me would hear me coming and quickly move to the side of the trail allowing me to pass…it was here that I finally realized I had forgotten to install the chainstay guard and with me only having the small ring available there was plenty of excess chain that was slapping on the chainstay warning of my approach. At one time I realized I was over riding my ability and tempered my speed to a more sane level. Fun trail!

Next up was the Powerhouse Plunge. This is the most famous trail on the course. It was definitely challenging with large boulders to navigate and roll or drop, tight switchback, and 1-2 feet elevated wood structures. At this portion of the course I had caught up to a man dressed in a bright yellow jersey, who towards the end of the race I learned was named Peter. Peter was what I evaluated as a gutsy, but clumsy rider. He would ride then crash, recover and then end up passing me again in a couple of minutes. I had left Pink and Black in the dust at the top of the Ring Creek Rip, never to be seen again, and it ended up Peter took her place by playing leap frog for the rest of the race. After the slightly demoralizing hike up Nine Mile Hill it was rewarding for me to receive a few compliments from fellow riders and the couple of remaining spectators and first aiders about how I was able to ride the switchbacks, skinnies and rollable drops. Another fun trail!

Back to the Powerhouse Plunge Feed Zone, which by now was nearly vacated of spectators, I had the volunteer ambassador pour another 2 cups of water over my head and headed up towards Crumpitt Woods. Deb had waited for me here to make sure the bike was still working properly, which it was, but Andrea had headed back on the last shuttle bus to make someone was at the finish line to capture the Kodak moment. They obviously had more faith than I did in me finishing since they were not privy to my negative thoughts on 9 Mile Hill.

No sooner did I enter Crumpit Woods and start the last hill that Peter caught up to me again. The trail was a steep one, with 300 feet elevation gain in only 1 mile which meant Peter and I were hiking up the steeper sections of it. I confessed to Peter that I was “tired” and he responded that he was too but he assured me that I had finished the TOM as we were nearly there. Once we reached the top of Crumpit Woods the trail became fun. We got to enjoy the final descent of 525 feet. There were some tight turns, some loose rocks and even a couple of skinny bridges to navigate, but with the thought of the finish line within 6 miles our fatigue seemed to melt away and we rode with fluidity once again.

We emerged from Crumpit Woods to ride on a road for ½ mile or so and were surprised to see some homeowners still out there to cheer the last remaining racers on. We entered Smoke Bluffs for a short ridable gut buster hill and then emerged onto the road for the last .6 miles of the race. Peter offered to pull me in and he took off at an estimated pace of 17-20 mph. I did my best to stick onto his wheel but with only the small chain ring available to me, he eventually was able to pull away and finished 11 seconds before me. It is humbling to realize that the 17mph I just rode for a short time is nearly what the winner was able to average over the entire race course. Simply unfathomable to me!

What a feeling of relief I felt as I crossed beneath the inflatable finish line arch and saw Deb and Andrea on the other side snapping photos of my beaming smile.

They posted the results Sunday and I learned that the winning male set a new TOM record , finishing the course in 2:29:25 and the winning female took 2:51:53. My official time was 5:45:22 which meant I was 6th out of 8 in my age category. There were only 41 racers who finished after I did and there were an astounding 61 racers who did not finish the Test at all.

I met my pre-race goals of making the cut-offs, having fun and not dying. I am sure glad I did not establish a finish time goal. The positive side of being slow is that it makes it easier to better my time if I choose to race it again. Anyone in for 2011? ~Ann