Transylvanian Road Race

Transylvanian Road Race

The third stage of the Transylvania Epic had been dubbed a road stage from most of the seasoned TSE racers.  Now it did have a lot of road and some single track, but that by all means did not mean it was easy.

From the start we formed a large lead group and with multiple surges, more and more people were getting shed off the back.  I managed to hang on the first twenty miles or so, with my second place GC competitor under my watchful eye. I would have to follow his moves for the rest of the week and he mine, except the only thing I would have to do is follow.

For the first half of the race I managed to keep a good game plan and mark the moves of Jonathan Davis, the second place GC threat.  At some point I decided to come through and take a few pulls on some sections. A seasoned stage racer with a lead may not have advised, but I had decided I wanted to race.  Not sure if that was the best idea, but I also wanted to test my competitor a bit.

Jonathan matched my every move today and myself his for the most part, with the exception of a powerful attack on the last climb which gapped me by a few seconds and then on the final decent a tree branch wound up stuck in my rear derailleur and I found myself finishing second, down by twenty six seconds.  A little bad luck, but you never know what would have happened if I would have covered that move.

My GC was still safe, but I had lost some valuable time, by not responding quickly enough to an attack. I am sure there will be more to come; I had better act fast and keep a wheel!

This stage was quite road race for sure, with some great single track mixed in, a tunnel and some beautiful vistas.  The whole race was thrilling and the wheel to wheel competition in this stage is something I will not forget!

Riders in the Rocks

Riders in the Rocks

For the first big taste of some big miles in Pennsylvania, we are all in for a treat.  Some super slippery single track that had me wondering if I really knew how to ride a bike.  At least for me there was little traction and as soon as you got off line it was over.  This meant a good section of hike a bike!

Then once that section ended we rode a ridge line with almost as slippery of rocks, and after being shell shocked from the hike a bike section I was having trouble getting my groove on and I started losing some time to my competitors.

At the first aid I had a competitor in sight and as I crested the top of a rise I could see him enter a single track, but as I got closer I could not make out where the trail was and missed it and had to double back to get on course.  This made chase a little harder than I should of, through the lush over growing vegetation and all of a sudden I was doing a slow motion OTB.  I hit so damn hard I thought I broke my bike and to my surprise I was ok.  Maybe it was the water bottle I landed on that cushioned my fall.  When I went to grab my bike, something was wrong as I grabbed a handful of brake and nothing was there.  Then I noticed my rear wheel had popped off and was out of the drop outs.  Now I had another problem, brake discs closed on each other. 

I managed to get them apart with my multi tool and got on my way.  I was soon riding with some local boys who were showing me how to ride some slick technical PA rocks.  “Keep it smooth one told me many a time before he left me to have a little fun.

After getting through those rocky sections and one more time where my wheel came loose (I cranked my skewer down super tight after that). We exited onto some fire roads and double track sections, where I was able to gather my wits and get concentrated on getting back in the race.

A few miles later I started catching glimpses of one of my competitors and I started to push it on the climbs to get the catch.  A few miles later I was passing him and speeding to the finish.

I had thought I was in second as Kenny was up in front at the beginning of the race, but the Stan’s crew had asked what I had done with Kenny, and that made me wonder.

I rolled in eight overall and had actually won the stage for the 40+ division.  Kenny had missed a turn, super bummer! This also put me in first on the GC for the 40+ men.  Pretty stoked about that! Got to keep the rubber side down and ride a safe race in the next five days to come!

Again big shout out to McCormack and the Breck Epic for helping me get here!  Big shout out to Stan’s No Tubes, Mike Bush and Rich Oneil for te stellar support.  Thanks again guys!

Transylvania

Transylvania

For the last couple years I had been reading about a race in Pennsylvania called the Transylvania Epic.  A seven day stage race held in the hills and mountains of the State College Pennsylvania area.  Mike Bush and Rich Oneil hatched the idea about coming out staying with them for the week and racing the Epic.

As the spring approached I began trying to get the plan to fruition.  With the help from Stan’s NoTubes, Richie Rich and Mike Bush, Mike McCormack and the Breck Epic and Honey Stinger the plan began to take shape.

A couple buddies, Dax Massey and Jake Wells would make the trip as well.  I was going to race in the 40+ Open Men and they would race in the Duo category. Our job is to do some promoting of the Breck Epic out in the west ad draw some attention to the Transylvania Epic out in the east coast, with a focus on getting stage racing in the US some more attention and to bring the attendance numbers up.

As soon as we got off the plane we were greeted with such great hospitality from Rich Oneil and Mike Bush from Stan’s NoTubes.  From picking us up at the late hours in the evening from the airport to letting us crash at their houses to taking us grocery shopping and working on our bikes.  These guys are the real deal.  Thanks guys!!!

For the pre ride of the prolog, we encountered some rain, which is something we don’t see much of in Colorado and could use a little dousing right now, to keep the fires away.  This place is slippery with rocks and roots, but the new trails and terrain are making it fun on every corner.

The prolog day was a long day of waiting around for the start and the rain forecast was looking to be right when in the middle of the race.  As it turned out the rain held off till the last competitor came through.  I couldn’t complain about that!

As it turned out I ended up 2^nd on the day to Kenny, another Stan’s rider and am quite happy sitting where I am for the moment. Dax and Jake got third in their division and had a little wrong turn which probably cost them a spot. 

Tomorrow the real racing starts with a 40+ mile stage with some good climbing.  I will be looking forward to a little longer day in the saddle and not waiting around till three to get racing.