While I was really hoping to be able to write a post about how I was able to get some redemption with ORAMM, the bike racing gods weren’t ready to let that happen I guess. I’m also not going to lie, this one stings a little bit. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I’ve been looking towards this race for a little while now after the total debacle from last year. However, once again my legs just didn’t seem to get the memo. While I had a few pretty good reasons last year, I’m not armed with that many this year. Anyhow, let’s get to the race.

The day started pretty well, the “neutral” rollout was anything but that, I was happy to let the lead group go this year. Last year I tried too hard to stay with them and paid for it later. Once we hit the climb up old 70 I started moving through the field picking up spots pretty easily, just trying to get in a groove. I caught up to last year’s 2nd place SS, Chris, and his buddy Glen. I decided I’d roll with them for a bit as I was pretty sure these were the guys I would be competing with. There was one more SS in front of us, John, but I figured he was pretty much out of reach.

Our little train of 3 singlespeeds worked our way through all kinds of traffic and finally made it to the Kitsuma climb. This is tough on a singlespeed, particularly with traffic. We worked our way up, making passes, putting in way too much effort. What were we to do though, three dumb guys on bikes with one gear. Finally we make the descent and Chris has to stop to tighten a water bottle cage. Once we pop out on the bottom, a nice group forms for the road section and Glen and I are able to hop in.

We make the right onto Star gap and once again Glen and I are making passes, working too hard.  We do get to hike up the drop section and scope out the line though, which was nice. After a few minutes I decided I needed to back off just a little, and let Glen get out of sight. I figured I would catch him on the Curtis Creek climb. Once we hit Jarret Creek road I kind of got in a little bit of a lull and forgot to keep pushing, it wasn’t too long before Chris caught back up. I picked my pace back up and rode with him for a while. Then we hit Curtis Creek Rd. as soon as it pitched up, Chris started to ride away a little bit. I went to put some more power in to ride with him, but it just wasn’t there. It didn’t make much sense, I was pretty on schedule with bottles, I hadn’t eaten quite as much as I’d planned, but I wasn’t too far off. I just couldn’t get my legs going.

It wasn’t long before I ran into Art, who was apparently having a little bit of a tough go as well, but he managed to find another gear and passed me back shortly thereafter. There I was again, just sliding back in the field, unable to really find any sort of rhythm. I did manage to stay on my bike this year though (except for that one little spot), which is a bonus over last year. Once we hit the parkway I just kept plugging along. Just up near the top of the climb I got caught by Jen, who at the time was the 2nd place woman, we’d been leapfrogging all day long already, and It was her turn to pass me again.

I always forget that after the screaming fast descent on the parkway there is a little bit of climb before the hike up to Heartbreak. I’ve never looked forward to a hike so much in my life. I really just wanted to get off and walk for a few minutes. I started down the heartbreak descent, a descent I really do enjoy, it’s technical, narrow, and really makes you work for it. It wasn’t long before I passed what was the first place woman, then a few more people. I finally caught up to Jen, who was now the women’s leader, watching her descend is pretty impressive. Knowing she was in an actual race for the win, I wasn’t really going to try and get by, since I was more or less out there for survival at this point. In reality it was pretty much a non-issue as she was rockin the descent.

Down to the rock drop with the hecklers and managed a nice clean run through there. I still got heckled but I guess that’s the point, it made me laugh so I’m good with that. At this point I know what’s left, up Mill Creek, up Kitsuma, and home. I swung into the aid station for some coke, and started up Mill creek. About half way up I could feel it, I was losing any steam I had left and I was getting really hot. By the time I made it to the Kitsuma trailhead I was entirely blown and overheated. I had to walk almost any rise and even descending wasn’t great as I had a headache, the beginnings of some dizziness, and was pretty overheated (it wasn’t all “that” hot temp wise, I’m not really sure how/why it got to me so much). After an excessive amount of walking, I made through and had the largely downhill road back to the barn.

Just before the finish line there is a creek to cross (the bridge washed out a year or two ago) and of course everyone is there watching. So I managed to find the energy to ride it, honestly once I cooled back down I had a little gas again. I was greeted at the line by Katie and the kids, which was completely unexpected and amazing. Katie had made shirts and everything. Lizzie even came and sat in the creek with me. The creek sitting was enough to bring some decent life back to me.

I managed to finish just under 6 hours, which relatively wasn’t as bad as last year. However I had what should have been a pretty attainable goal time of 5:30, but once again things went pretty sideways at ORAMM for me. Which is pretty frustrating since I had actually done some work to try and be ready. With that being said the month of July has involved a lot of travel which means more than normal “rich” meals and maybe a few more adult beverages than normal. However it really wasn’t what I’d consider excessive by any means. I don’t really have the time to get many (if any) rides over 3 1/2 hours in which may play a factor in races that last longer than 4 hours. Or maybe I just had another tough day, either way I still want to get back out and ride bikes again. 

I’m not sure what it is about that course that just wrecks me, but much to Katie’s chagrin I guess I have to give it another go. I will say that this year I had a lot more fun on the whole, I felt really good on the descents and was able to kick back and let it roll.

Oh and Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack on the way home, how have I not heard about this place before….still thinking about that chicken.