MASSANUTTEN
HOO-HAA
Massanutten Resort, VA
June 1, 2008
By John Glodek
This is my first attempt at a race report for
TwinSix...so bear with me...plus it is super
short! I had received my gear from T6 earlier
in the week and was stoked to debut the kit
at the Hoo-Haa on Sunday. I hadn't raced since
Greenbrier at the end of April...so I was more
than itching to get going and see how the legs
had held up during May. My chick and I made
our way to Massanutten earlier Sunday morning
sans the puppies (got word from the resort on
the "no go" with pups...but come to
find out that no one cared if we had puppies
there...lame). Checked in...got my numbers and
began the prerace ritual...jersey of choice:
The Masher with some black arygle socks. Spun
around for a little to get my body loose from
the 2.5 hour drive...mentally I was set...the
rig was tuned...everything was a go. Listened
to the prerace meeting: Pro/Expert go off first...then
Junior Experts, Women Pro/Expert...then Singlespeeds...then
Clydesdales...then Women Masters...then Sport...which
is me...19-29...at one minute intervals...interesting,
I thought. I had a solid spot at the front...horn
blew and we were off...I put the rig into the
dog and hammered up the fireroad towards the
singletrack entrance/frist climb. Could it be?
I had
a solid 10 seconds on the rest of the pack...I
was feeling good...but with the solid start
I slammed right into the rest of the field ahead
of me. Momentum was lost...dodging people walking
their bikes up the first climb...then it happened.
PING...PING...CRUNCH! I felt my chain stop...looked
down and noticed the worst chainsuck I had experienced.
The chain was literally under the rear cassette...I
pulled...I yanked...all in vain as the entire
rest of the Sport Class and Beginners rolled
by...I wanted to throw the rig...but I held
off...tried a few more attempts to get the chain
loose...but it was not meant to be. I admitted
defeat and headed back down the trail to the
car. Needless to say I was bummed...I felt like
I had let myself down...it sucks...to DNF in
the first 5 minutes of the race...argh! But
my chick had a big smile on her face...gave
the reassuring hug and kiss that all will be
good...and let me know that her new t-shirt
was a success and everyone wanted to know where
to get it! There will be more races...there
will be ups and there will be downs...and I
will be there...because riding my bike is fun...thanks
for reading! jg