The weekend of Laddies Loppet is never a disappointment. The long drive up is always worth it in the end. Thanks to my parents taking the kiddos, I was able to enjoy a long weekend away with my wife and racing buddies.
The events started with the TT on Saturday morning. Feeling good, I headed out only to be disrupted by horrible shifting conditions on my HT and the chain not staying in-gear. 13 minutes later, I found out the derailleur hangar was bent and the chain had blown apart at one of the links, leaving a single plate attached through the TT. There goes another chain.
The STXC was next, knowing my HT was out-of commission, I headed into this event with the FSR. The race started out even faster w/13 minute time frame, instead of last year's 17 minutes. The pace never let up. John Oman, Eric LeBow and I hooked up a lead train for most of the race. Last lap out, I pulled our train, put the hammer down and we managed to do some nice pull away from the rest of the group. Overall, 10.
The main event was the Sunday XC ride. This race started out with me putting on a replacement wheel after my SLR hub started howling like a buzz-saw when I'd coast. The race started nice, 2-1/2 laps to go. I started feeling very wasted quickly. By the time the end of the "prologue" (1/2) had completed, I was not feeling good and completely powerless. I hung on, controlling out the bonk as best as possible. I started to feel great the second lap, putting some great moves in to make a overall 10th; 2nd age group.
With not setting this as a season goal, i guess I was pleased. My TT could have gone better, but overall, the XC is the funnest event! :)
Thanks to the Maplelag staff for hosting such a great event - next year will be just as great!
