Bike Line Fair Hill Spring XC/MASS #1

Elkton, Maryland
Bike Line Bike Line Fair Hill Spring XC Mid-Atlantic Super Series Opening XC Race Sunday April 19, 2009
by: John Glodek

WHAM!  CLICK!  Are the last sounds that I heard as I slammed my trunk shut…immediatly realizing that my keys, phone, wallet were inside that trunk and the car is no locked.  Sweet.  At least I had all the necessary tools needed for the race…shoes…helmet…bike…check.  A guy getting ready at the car next to me told me to “forget it…nothing you can do now but race right?”  He was right…there was zippy I could do.  So I rolled over to the start and got lined up…2nd row.  While guys were talking shop about brakes, frames, training, etc…all I could think about was how in the world am I going to get into my car?

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Siren goes off.  I put my head down and pinned the start.  Fair Hill has a long fire road uphill start.  Was sitting behind a guy on a ‘cross rig as we crested the hill…made our way down the fire road with some speed.  Big ring…got out of the saddle and continued to grind. 

Myself and another rider had a solid gap on the field as we entered the singletrack…and that is how it would play out the rest of the race.  He’d pull away and gap…I’d chase and cover…I’d pull away and gap…we’d both use riders from the group 2 minutes ahead of us to block. 

Fair Hill has a super fun course.  Very flowly…not too technical…short, punchy climbs…some quick descents.  The legs felt great…the endurance was present…the bike stayed in one piece. 

Came through the finish…2nd…podium…stoked.  Got a sweet plastic medal…and a free box of Clif Blocs. 

A generous person allowed me to use a phone to get in touch with my AAA to get my car opened 45 minutes after I finished!

Lessons learned: spare keys are esstential to getting into your locked car…

Thanks for reading!

-John Glodek