Maximus 2008

Last weekend was the first of 3 Michaux races for the season. We have always enjoyed these and the turn out is usually really good so we packed up and headed out. All week I struggled with choosing my gear for the battle against the rocks. The maximus race is notorious for its razor sharp rock sections. Do i race the all carbon Superfly or maybe the Paragon? How about the tire selection? I'm loving the Bontrager Dry X but chances are the course could be muddy and the ACX works much better in a really muddy situation and on the rocks. eventually I made the commitment to the Superfly wrapped in ACX traction. Both turned out to be a wonderful choice. The Superfly rode great and handled the relentless rocks with easy yet enough authority to drive me over pretty much anything the forest had to offer and traction was at a premium with the knobby ACX. 

i raced the shorter (25 mile) course while TJ contested for a top spot in the Long (50) course. We lined up and I noticed several contenders at the line. This was going to be a fairly fast paced race from the looks on the others faces. Go and we were off so I quickly settled in behind Mike Yozell (one of the fastest vet riders out East) and figured I would try to hang with him as long as possible and maybe I would get lucky enough for him to tire out. We worked through traffic from the single speed and senior class start that went off several minutes ahead of us. All the while I was doing my best to stay with Mike but by mile 9 he was pulling a gap on me by approx 45 seconds. Through one tight section we came up on a few riders and Mike worked passed them quicker than I did and by losing his wheel I slipped back further giving him the opportunity to build the gap to the 45 second mark.

After this group we managed without any other traffic but Mike also worked on trying to separate us more. He remained within site on a few times were the course offered long open section but I was figuring he would clearly win this race. Onward I went and eventually crossing the finish and looking for Mike but he wasn't there? Just as I question where he could be he rolls in and looks with disbelief that I finished in front of him.

Mike and I talk and somewhere he missed a turn making the course slightly longer or else I missed a turn making the course slightly shorter. How do you solve something like this?? Clearly I followed "red" arrows the entire time and never had difficulty or question as to whether I was on course. Mike says the same thing. The race Director wasn't sure what to do especially since the mistake was so small that it only flipped flopped us by a minute. Where on the course could we have messed up and not seen each other trade positions?

Never the Less I told the director that Mike clearly was beating me and that I would prefer he trade me to second place and give Mike the first place he deserved. I watched him move our names but the on line results are still messed up. 3rd place was almost 10 minutes back from us so our mistake wouldn't have effected them and I wanted to do the right thing which was to give Mike the win which he earned.

Remember we only race bikes for fun and to share our passion for the sport with others like us. Making a big deal out of this only makes you and the people you represent look bad. Mike was ahead of me from mile 9 on regardless of who missed what Mike was the faster guy that day. Now had he gotten a flat or some other problem would I turn over a victory? No but that wasn't the case here. Neither one of us could say we clearly missed something so its a wash and again Mike was turning the screws faster than I was and should have been across the line ahead of me.

congrats to everyone there that raced and finished... its a tough course.

On another note those friends around here who know I got jacked up on a little landslide while riding with Timmy on sunday april 27th will be interested in knowing I saw the doctor because of the extreme pain in my rib cage area. Turns out 3 days before the Michaux race I was told there wasn't any cracked or broken ribs. Following the race the pain increased as did my consumption of Ibuprofen so this time a visit to see the doc. I've essentially "bruised" a lung. The thin lining between the lung and the ribcage is inflamed hence the pain while breathing (which I've tried to cut back on), coughing, sneezing and moving around. Oh I'm ok to ride but was instructed to ease up on the rougher stuff and to expect this problem for at least another 3 weeks longer if I don't "listen" to my body. Add another prescription med to my diet! Just what I wanted, not really but never the less I now understand the pain my good friend Bob had when he broke several ribs last year from a Bear attack... wait I think it was a cycling accident..wasn't it, Bob?

stork

Comments

[Dave S]

What pressure do you like your tires at in muddy conditions like that?