WORS # 3

Wausau
WORS #3 Big Ring Classic Sunday June 07, 2009
by: Tom Kapanke

The Big Ring Classic had me revved up for a week before the race. The trails have some sentimental value to me. Not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s trying to get a team together for the 24-9 every summer, or the trails are just so flippin’ fun to ride. Whatever the case, I was looking forward to it.
June 7th started much like the race in Iola. Work until 2am, meet Roger and Kevy in West Salem at 9, some friendly banter, then make the road trip to Wausau to register and warm up.
I’m not saying anything profound here, but riding a singlespeed in a little different than racing a singlespeed. Gear choice was going to be a challenge for me. After some advice from local speedster Tostin and fellow T6 rider Devin, I decided on 34x17. I knew the leadout was going to be fast, but the rest of the course might be greasy.  It was a balmy 49 degrees when we arrived, and it rained all day on Saturday.
Warming up I had a hesitation about the gear choice. I quickly evicted that thought, as I didn’t need that in my head for 2 hours. Kevin was doing his customary wheelie riding skills when he threw a chain. What’s that about? We did our best to diagnose the problem, but him being a good wrench, I wrote it off as a fluke.
Call ups were made, then we all came to the line. I got to the front and actually got on the hardpack. 7, 6, 5….GO! Yeah it was a quick leadout alright. So fun, and I was sitting in about fourth. The pace was fine until the hill before the Ho-chi-Minh. It was then that I knew for a fact I could use an 18. Oh well, ride on and try to find some sort of tempo. Heard some encouragement behind me and it was T6 team mate Ryan I think. We shot out onto the road and back into some singletrack as he went to work. I hung on for most of that lap, but he was riding smooth and obviously stronger than me today.
The second lap found me back in no man’s land. I could still see Ryan and another rider every once in a while, but the tacky clinging hills were taking their toll.
The third lap almost had me in survival mode. I just wanted to maintain and limit my losses. I was taking a proper beating and with 1/3 of a lap to go, it happened. Sloppy riding created the goofiest crash in my life. Lost my front tire on a slick rock or root. I couldn’t unclip my left foot and over the bars I went with the left side of the handlebar in my rib cage. Tried to get up quick, but I was in such a graceless position hoping I didn’t get run over by oncoming traffic. Finally up and at ‘em to finish as strong as I could. I just couldn’t take a deep breath without a sharp pain in the ribs.
At the finish line I met Ryan and Joel who both had great races. Congrats to Dave for the win on a tough course. I heard some famous elite we all know was pushing 36x16. Astonishing.
Thanks EDGE for the photo and Twin 6 for making me look good.

Tom K.