Storm Endurance Race Report

Full rigid, 34x20
Wolverine 2.2s, 40 psi front / 45 psi rear
Course condition: see photo

For my first race of the season, I decided that I'd treat it purely as a conditioning test ride.  I need to see what it's going to be like to pedal a SS for long periods of time.  For this reason I also left the 34x20 gearing alone assuming I'd need to pedal this gear on some of the long races this summer.  I came to regret this.  The only thing I did do differently is run a higher pressure than normal to roll a little better on the road.

The previous evening's adventure at the bar was a mistake and I wasn't feeling in tip top shape.  I decided to take it easy on the start.  I came to regret this too as I'm quickly learning that I ride the singlespeed faster than the geared bike on the trail.  I managed to pick off a few people on the trail and maintained traction on most of the trail in spite of conditions.

I hit the road feeling fresh and was spinning a ridiculous cadence.  I settled into a more realistic pace and held my own on the slush and ice covered gravel roads.  Once I hit asphalt nothing really changed for me.  For all the other riders on their fancy geared bikes, they quickly upshifted and passed me with ease.  This was pretty frustrating for me knowing that I was going to have to pass them again on the sloppy singletrack while they had the benefit of a leisurely pass on the road.

Near the end of the road portion I was starting to pick off the people that went out too fast, regardless of asphalt or gravel.  One guy was so nice.  As soon as I passed him, he offered a pull and let me draft behind his fancy gears for a little ways.  Around this time I ran out of water.  I knew I had about 45 minutes of trail coming up and that I could stop at the truck and refill, but screw it.

I hit the mudfest out of the saddle and picked off 5 or 6 people, most of whom I recognized as passing me out on the road.  I counted 2 dabs and 2 dismounts on the second loop of the singletrack.  Not bad considering trail conditions.

I came in as the 5th Clydesdale (3:55) but only 11 minutes behind the 1st Clyde.  I didn't realize we were so packed together.  I went home, washed my bike, lubed the chain, got 4 hours of sleep and then jumped on a flight to NYC.