Breck Epic 5 Days Down
Mike pulled out all the stops: epic days, great variety of terrain, superior support and med team, course markings are flawless and each stage gets pre-ridden before any racer hits the dirt thanks to Josh Tosado.
For my first stage race, I am having a blast, suffering hard and lovin' every minute.
Day One: Prologue
Conditions: Pouring Rain, thunder and lightening
We got ready, and made it about 2 blocks and then took cover in an emergency exit behind some store off of main street and tried to guess what Mike McCormack, the race director would do.
1) extend another stage and call this off
2) call it so the trails wouldn't get chewed up
3) or man up and send us out.
Correct answer: 3
Race Start 3:00
So we hopped a chain link fence to Carter park ( the paved entrance was way too easy) and lined up.
The Prologue was basically a TT up the end of the Firecracker 50 Finish, so that meant one thing: Hardtails. Niner for me, S-Works for Mario.
We started in the rain and finished in the sun.
We placed 2nd in our category behind Alison Dunlap and her husband.
Suffer Factor Heidi: short and sweet. Redline right all the time. Let's just get this done
Suffer Factor Mario: What kind of beer we having after the stage and where's my Chips Ahoy cookies?
Day Two: The Colorado Trail.
This was the first long stage, starts at 9,000 ft and goes up to 11,000 with 7300 ft of climbing
Race Start: 9:00
Conditions: Sunny, clear skies
We rolled in with a police escort and began the Heinous Climb, aptly named but the payoff was good. Well groomed swoopy single track, followed by more climbing at about 11,000 which yielded great views. That was the rhythm, climb, traverse a ridge, twisty tight single track descent, tight trees, and rollers to the finish
We finished 2nd in GC and 2nd for the stage behind Alison again.
Suffer Factor Heidi: Rears it's head on the long climbs, but evened out with some sweet fast descents on a Specialized Era, FIRST RIDE. For a suspension bike that rig is LIGHT, it's a whole new experience and I am loving it.
It climbs well, the front and rear brains give my stability to get out of the saddle finally in the 21st century.
Suffer Factor Mario: Is there enough post stage beer? I can't wait for ma spam sandwich!
Day Three: Pennsylvania Loop
Race Start: 9:00
Conditions: Hot and Sunny
We are holding our 2nd place in stages and GC
Another
controlled climb ( it was the FF50 start) on the road so altitude
smacks you upside the head, Hi! My name is 9,000 feet. We basically did
a mini FF50 loop with some nice extra single track added in with no
extra charge or suffering.
This day was the first test of the ERA because I had some rocky
downhills, once again, it was a great ride, performed well and I could
make up alot of time I lost for us with a wrong turn. I had to burn
alot of matches to gain back spots.
Today was a shorter day so this was essentially a XC race, tomorrow is a big stage.
Suffer
Factor Heidi: Tongue close to the ground on the climbs, flappin in the wind
on the downhills. Happy to have a sherpa, I mean partner.
Suffer Factor Mario: I feel like having plenty of Guinness today, running uphill with two bikes is work! =)
Day 4: The Guyout Loop aka the Queen Stage.
Race Start: 9:00
Conditions: Hot and Sunny, warmest day so far.
Total climbing: 10,000 ft.
We finished in 5 hrs and took 2nd place in the stage and still held our position of 2nd Place in GC.
This stage had it all. Insane amount of climbing, some climbs very very steep, some hike a bike, snow crossing, awesome technical rocky rooty descents, meadows, flowers and great views or so I was told.
Today's stage served up some new things. Surfing with your bike, in the snow while descending, this was our first hike a bike over a 12,000 foot pass. I saw the snow drift, and was supremely entertained by the various techniques. Riding, then sliding then ass over tea kettle. Hanging on for dear life and riding any track previously carved, but the best was when my partner put of foot out Fred Flintstone style and rode the drift out and whizzed by all the carnage. I followed his lead and was able to ride most of it out but didn't have a plan for when the snow stopped. opps.
I think they should rename the last climb the Heinously Heinous are you effin kidding me climb?
It was the like climbing stairs, it just never stopped and was steep as hell, and hot as hell because it was exposed. Let's not even start on the thin air suffering. God I love living at the whopping 20 ft above sea level, it rocks!
Funny how the climbing suffering disappears when you are rewarded with some sick single track, choc full of roots rocks, twists and turns. This was no gimme, it was SO FUN.
Suffer factor Heidi: hmmm you think can give me a piggy back ride? Is that too much to ask?
Suffer Factor Mario: Hardest Sherpa duty day so far. I think I ate my body weight in watermelon at the finish.
Joey Chestnut has nothing on me.
Day 5: The Wheeler Loop
Hand down this was friggin HARD. This was by far the hardest stage for me. It started by climbing the ski resort so I was redlined right off the bat. Today served up the longest hike a bike I have ever done. Period. I counted, I marched, and tried to look up to see tiny specs of riders at the top. Views? Yeah I guess there we some when you are at 12,000 again.
We had a little bit of everything bogs, snow, decayed bridges, rocky punchy climbs, fast bike path ( thank god ) glad this one is in the can. Same stage result and GC place.
Have to say it again: I LOVE THE women's specific ERA. Did I mention it's carbon, hello lightness. Climbs like a hard tail, and is a plush ride on the DH
Suffer Factor Heidi: Do I really need to explain?
Suffer Factor Mario: Higher than yesterday, but still smiling.
| Email this post | | | Permalink |
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83453140969e2011571e74ebd970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Breck Epic 5 Days Down:
Comments