Iceman 2008

As usual, another phenomenal Iceman weekend in the books! I was concerned that this year was going to be more low key due to the large number of people that decided to stay home for various reasons. I learned, however, that the Michigan mtbing scene is truly close knit and, while those who couldn't make it were sorely missed, we could throw a rager with just two of us in a room!

I took Friday off and drove up early to meet Macromius for a pre-ride of the last few miles of the course. We met up a little after 4 and did a little out and back. I'm always astounded at how easy those last 4 miles are when you haven't slogged through the first 23...

This year's finish shoot was similar to last year. Shorter than years past, but with some good twists and turns, leading to an uphill sprint underneath the bridge. I could see some exciting finishes in the future!

After the ride we headed to the highschool to pick up our packets. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had forgotten that I ordered an Iceman shirt, and they are orange this year, my favorite color! We spent some time hanging out and talking with friends, then headed to dinner. D, Allie, Payneful, Laurie, Mike and I met up at Red Mesa for food and drink. Ward and a buddy were there as well so we hung out for a couple more drinks and stories, but someone couldn't keep their eyes off the bottles...


The rain and snow that had been forcasted were seemingly holding off. Though it sprinkled a bit the night before and the ground was wet the next morning, there was nothing falling from the sky at the start. I was pretty well prepared with the right gear. We dressed and left for the start. After what seemed like an eternity for Mike to get his s**t together, we were spinning around the block and then lining up at the start. This year they broke the singlespeed class in two. 39 and under and 40+. They also stuck the Tandems and Ladies with the 40+ SSers. The icing on the cake, however, was that they sent us off in front of the expert women. So, the only traffic to negotiate was going to be the Clydes and the slower expert men. Also new rare was the size of our wave. Only 45 riders! Mike and I managed to start on the front row, and Iceman first for me.


They gave the "Go!" and it was like we were shot out of a gun! The start was unusually soft and sandy. I was bouncing off shoulders and handlebars and narrowly avoided going down in the sand. Around the first turn I was sitting 5th. Then across the road onto the two track and guys starting going around me like I was sitting still, including Mike. He said his goal was sub 2 hours, and to beat me.

Given that my training has consisted of one 30 minute cross race each week for the last couple months I had no right hoping for a sub 2 hour time, but that was my goal none-the-less. Knowing the brutality of the hills in the last several miles to come, I decided to ride within myself for the first half then see what was left. The rain leading up to race day did wonders to make this yet another extremely fast Iceman course. Despite going up another gear to 58 gear inches this year I've got to go higher. I tend to be more concerned with being able to make the climbs in the last half of the race at the expense of speed on the flats in the first half.

I passed numerous clydes, 65 by my best estimation of the results, as well as several expert men. Despite all the clydes the climbs were relatively open and passable compared to years past. Unfortunately I was passed by several more SSers as well. I would hang on their wheel for a while, and usually even gap them on the climbs, only to lose them eventually on the flats. But I was feeling pretty good and the miles passed pretty quickly. The ride across Williamsburg Rd. afforded the the usual lift. I made sure to keep eating and tried to keep my power up. Pretty soon I was down to the same final 4 miles that had been so easy the day before. Its in this 24th mile where I usually start to cramp up pretty bad, but this time I felt no twinges. With 3 to go I had to tackle "Ice Breaker" hill. This hill is so brutal not only becuase of its length, but also becuase just as its starting to wear you down it gets steeper. Much steeper. Ahead of me there were about 8-10 riders pushing their bikes up the hill. I was contemplating riding as far as I could and then walking the steepest part, but then my pride took over. I kept the cadence up as much as I could and then when the trail turned up again I stood and grunted and got all over my bike until I crested the top. I'm sure it looked a little over dramatic but I haven't walked that hill since my first Iceman (ironically on a geared bike) and I wasn't about to do it again!

Between 3 and 2 to go I was passed by a tandem just before heading into one of the last sections of singletrack. Once on the trail they hung up on a tree and I dismounted and ran around them as they tried to get back on track. While remounting my right calf went into full cramp! But I was able to get clipped back into my eggbeaters and stretch it out and push on. From here on it was just a matter of trying to pin it as hard as I could to the end. I had hoped to catch sight of Mike somewhere in the last 4 miles and this was my last chance. I did manage to catch one last clydesdale at the line, and I was finally done. Mike was there waiting for me, still in the chute. In the end he nipped my by just over 30 seconds and one place. We finished 17th and 18th respectively. Overall I'm very happy with the result, although I'm disappointed to once again miss my goal of sub 2 hours by just over a minute. Next year with some training and a few more gear inches 2 hours doesn't stand a chance!

Perhaps I'll cover the post race festivities in a part 2. But here are some of the pics...

Iceman Report to follow...

I'm still in recovery mode. I'll write up the Iceman weekend later.



The Orbitsuns put on a hell of a show at the Loading Dock, I'm just hoping the ringing in my ears goes away soon. I might have considered that before spending 4 straight hours in front of the stage... :(

But I will say it was great partying with all my friends, especially the ones I only get to see at these big races. And it was great making new friends as well! I'm already looking forward to 2009!

YES WE DID!

Final push.

As we're making that final push and (some of us) holding our breaths. I just thought I'd post this as a reminder of why I'm so invested in this choice. Bill Clinton excited me, but Barack Obama moves me.



Chills.

"NOTHING can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change."

Great Weekend

Saturday I got myself out to Palos for a little last minute Iceman training. I am in such deep trouble! I'm almost wishing for bad weather just so I don't have to worry about comparing my time to past years... ;)

Despite my woeful fitness, the riding was awesome. I'm finally starting to know my way around Palos. And much like Stony Creek Metro Park back in MI which I didn't much care for until I knew my way around, I've come to appreciate the trail much more.

And the colors on Saturday were awesome! At points I would come over a rise in the trail and suddenly be immersed in yellow. The rest of the trail was awash in color as well, and I had to stop a couple times to take it in. I wish I had thought to bring my little camera..

Sunday was another Chicago Cross Cup series race at Campton Park in St. Charles, IL. This was the first race last year that I doubled up and raced both Masters 30+ and Cat 4. This year I have no where near the fitness, and my legs were already a little heavy from a steady 2 hour ride at Palos the day before. It kind of sucks racing so late in the day. I would much prefer to race earlier and then hang out for a while watching the later races. It was this thought that finally pushed me to upgrade to Cat 3 in 'cross. I had hoped to make a run at being competitive in the 4's, but that certainly isn't happening this year. And I'm becoming convinced that the pace isn't THAT much higher in 3's, but the riding is cleaner. And most importantly the races start 3 hours sooner! So, hopefully I'll get the upgrade in time for Woodstock.

The course this year was very similar to last year, except run backwards. I think I preferred this course. Much more technical, but brutal. The fun, woody, water-barred downhill became a slow uphill slog, followed by a barrier, then more water bars that prevent you from putting the bike down for about 30 feet. Ugh!!

The start was very narrow, leading to a hard right turn. I got a bad spot at the start, got swallowed up in the middle, and came out in the bottom 1/4 at the turn. After the uphill to the barrier, it was more slight, bumpy uphill where the field started to ride away from me. I recomposed and latched back on. Through the big downupdownup off camber it was pretty messy as expected for the first lap. I had to dismount and run, but came through ok. Given my poor start I was picking people off slowly, and paying for it each time, but with no real challenges, so I was able to recover before attacking the next.

On the second lap things thinned out and I was sitting about mid pack. Back around to the off camber I was glad to have less traffic, but I over cooked the first turn, failed to get all the way back up the hill, and ran into the course marker post breaking the post. I caught myself from falling down the hill, dismounted and started to run with my bike, but the bike refused! I found the right front brake pad was wedged against the rim... In these moments of oxygen debt, I have a hard time thinking clearly, so I sort of stared at it for a moment. Then I started checking cables and housing to make sure everything was seated. Still, the pad would not budge. All the while I could hear several riders passing me by. I was just about to through in the towel when it occurred to me to check the wheel alignment. I released the lever and the wheel fell back into place in the fork. Tighten the lever again and the wheel spun free!

I hopped back on, and the rest of my race was clear. Catch as many people as possible! It was a little disheartening given how hard I'd worked already for some of my passes. It felt like I was in no man's land, but pretty soon I was catching riders again. The XXXers and Half Acer'ers and all the others cheering and yelling at the switchbacks were awesome.


If you've ever seen one of those Matchbox car race tracks with the motorized device that launches the car around the track at high speed and just as it starts to slow down it loops back around and the motor launches it off again, then you know what it's like to have a cheering section like that. I rocketed out of those switch backs each time, ready to gobble up more places.



I crossed the start/finish with 2 laps to go, but my clock ready 25 minutes. There was no way I was going to get two laps in 5 minutes, so I was a bit perplexed. I caught another rider in the back stretch coming to the last turn to the line, and he asked "how many laps left?" I told him the sign said 2, but I have 31 minutes. We half sprinted to the corner, rounded the turn and the lap counter sign was turned sideways so we couldn't see the number. I sprinted out to the line only the hear the bell announcing one lap to go. UGH!! My legs felt like lead at this point. Through the woods and over the barrier, shoulder the bike.. I kept waiting for the other rider to come around me as it seemed he backed off the sprint and saved something. Back on the bike I slogged up that bumpy hill and around the ball field. Still no sign of an attack. down the hill and over the barrier, and now I knew he was cooked. My goal each race has been to pass at least one person in the last lap, so I had to keep the pace up in the hopes of finding another rabbit. As it was I didn't find my victim until the last part of the back stretch, and he'd already started his kick for the line, no chance of catching him.

So, despite the mechanical I was able to once again hold my own race within the race. I ended up 31st. I was pretty darn near dead last after the brake fiasco, but had fun making up as many positions as I could. And thanks again to all those that stayed and cheered!

PHOTO CREDIT:
Greg Heck
Greg Heck
NycCip
Greg Heck