“Escape from Granogue” - MASS #2

Wilmington, DE
Escape from Granogue/ Mid Atlantic Super Series #2 Saturday May 02, 2009
by: John Glodek

Woke up around 4am Sunday morning to dark skies and buckets of rain in the DC area.  When I realized I wasn’t dreaming…I pulled myself out…got dressed…ate the usual breakfast on race day: waffles, coffee, orange juice, water, banana.  Loaded the car and headed north towards Delaware and the second stop on the MASS tour.

Drive up was uneventful.  Drizzle and rain throughout.  All the while I was thinking “This is going to be a tough race.”  Got registered and kitted up for warm ups.  Finished up…soaked…knew I should have packed the extra bibs and jersey…lesson learned.  Made last minute preps to myself and the bike…then the number plate slid off the front of the bike.  Luckily MASS races use timing chips on our ankles.  I slapped the numbers back onto the front and lined up for the start.  It just rained from the gun to the line.

Long uphill road start…pinned it to get out front.  Onto a climb on some double/single track.  Had a small gap dropping into the first off-camber section.  Slick would no describe it…almost greased.  Mentally I thought “John…you have grossly underestimated this one…” and then I went down…numberplate gone…one bottle gone.  Got caught regaining my bearings by the pack.  Fell into line around 5th…still hesistant after the fall.

The course is laid out on 7 miles of technical singletrack that doesnt see too many miles due to it being on a private estate.  All the rain from the week and night before turned the course into fresh, deep, thick, sticky mud.  Dismounting and running up tech climbs was order of the frist lap.  Crossed the line after the first lap and I was in 8th.  Knew what to expect for the second lap.

Not only were we running the tech climbs…we were now running deep, off camber sections of the back of the course.  Derails were clogging, chainstays, wheels, and anywhere and everywhere your bike could get clogged it was clogging.  I recently switched to Gore Sealed Ride On cables for my brakes and shifters…through the worst conditions I have ever raced my bike…I did not miss a shift or have any trouble braking the entire time.  They are an amazing product…worth the price…worth the effort of install.

Finished hard on the fireroad climb.  Crossed the line straight cashed.  Totally pleased with my effort…didnt quit…didnt bail…didnt break down.  My mom and sister were there the whole time…without an umbrella!  Talk about tough and sticking it out!

Officially finished 6th…one off of getting a sweet plaque.  But on a day where bikes and riders were quitting left and right, I will take a top 10 finish and effort.

Side note: giving my bike the total clean last night…come to find a full on crack in my frame at the bottom of the seattube where it meets the downtube and chainstays.  Ugh.  Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a new frame?  Or this could be the sign for springing for the singlespeed-29er-rigid?

Thanks for reading!

-John Glodek