Back in the Saddle

As dawn approached on a foggy and slightly chilly, Saturday October 1st I found myself at Oskar Blues Reeb Ranch again, this time for a bike race. Yes, a bike race. Bleary eyed, coffee in hand, Ozzy Osbourne's "Over the Mountain" fittingly played in the background, as I checked into Blue Ridge Adventures, 2nd Dirt Diggler Gravel Grinder: a 47 mile back country/gravel road tour through Transylvania and Henderson counties in Western North Carolina.

Honestly, I was popping out of my skin, it had been 15 years since I had ridden in a bike race, I was nervous. My rekindled interest sparked while attending the 2016 Cyclocross Nationals in Asheville in January and subsequent tracking of Lael Wilcox's historic Tran Am Race, and Mike Hall's record setting Tour Divide this summer.
I spent considerable time modifying the same 93' Marin, Pine Mountain, mountain bike I had ridden in my last race in 2001. With considerable tinkering and the help of a class with Jenny Kallista of The Appalachian Bicycle Institute (appalachianbicycleinstitute.com) the old steed has been transformed into a "Frankenstein" version of a cyclocross bike. The additions: Bontrager stem and drop bars, an 8 speed Shimano bar end shifter, Cane Creek drop bar v-break leavers, a no-name ridged fork, and Schwalbe (26x1.35) CXPro tires. I dropped the (20T & 42T) chain rings and front derailleur for an 8 speed 32T x 11/34  drive set up.
Getting back on the bike has been exciting and humbling at the same time. Back then I spent more time in the saddle of my bike than in the drivers seat of a car. Over the last 3 months I have spent more time on my bike than the previous 15 years combined. Not with the same vigor of course but determined. I started with short rides and slowly added mileage, confidence and fanny fitness. Just before the 4th of July I tested my metal on a 130 plus mile ride east to Hickory, NC, what a wonderful trip. 18, 20, 30 mile rides over the area hills and gravel roads became routine. It was exciting to be on the bike again.
Somethings never change and the start of The Dirt Diggler was no different than my last, years ago.  As the 8 am start loomed I found myself mustered at the start with over 180 riders anxiously listening to last minute route instructions: follow this ribbon, that sign or the orange arrows painted on the road and watch for traffic. Ya, ya, ya seems almost audible as racers just want to get moving. Then there is a lul, a feeling of anticipation, as if time stops.

Suddenly, the count down from ten begins and 5,4,3,2,1 a siren whirls and we are off. In this case racers head through an old dairy barn (fun if you like the kind of stuff) which acts as a portal of sorts to break up momentum and slow progress intentionally yet only briefly. There is a flurry of adrenalin, a mashing of gears, tires loose traction across gravel as the entire hoard surges forward. Fighting for position must be a natural phenomenon, it has always amazed me. To put that much effort into a position only held briefly that early in a race is just ridiculous. Early climbing helped spread riders out as they fell in with other riders of similar abilities. The first big climb Pinnacle Mountain had riders negotiating deep ruts, rocks and sand, my bike handling skills came back to me hampered only by my lack of experience with drop bars. If there was a place to flat or wreck, this was it, I survived. While there seemed to be a climb around every corner the scenery opened up on to idyllic farms, picturesque mountain views and peaceful wooded properties. After 40+ miles of riding a short, dreadfully steep, smack in the face final climb dropped me into a fun flowing 2 mile single track descent back to the ranch and through the barn to the finish.
What a day, perfect temps, dry and not to dusty gravel roads, no flats, no wrecks, a couple thrown chains, a great race and a fantastic day to be back on the bike.