Into the Wolf's Den

Nate, Sam and I met up with B. Minks and Alter-Nate early yesterday morning for the drive to the first Psycowpath XC race of the year at Maskenthine Lake. After a quick stop at D'Leons for burritos, it was a smooth and uneventful drive to the lake. Late Thursday, I gave up the idea of heading to Ouachita solo to instead try my hand at what I think was only my sixth XC race ever and initiate the T.R.I.P.

We arrived at the lake, went through the usual pre-race nonsense and decided to do a lap or two to warm-up. It didn't take long for us all to agree that the course seems to have a bad rep. for no reason. In fact, we discussed a few times how it they would let a motorbike on the course for a lap or two, the harsh ride of the newly cut trails would be 'primo.' I doubt that's THOR approved, but it is all that's needed.

As we went through the single speed call up, the promoter called out "SkiD Cronin," which gave us all a good laugh. "Well, I do tend to grab too much brake." I joked as I raised my hand with a grin. Alter-Nate was sitting beside me and we continued to banter back and for until the word 'GO.'

I generally feel pretty clueless when it comes to deciding how hard to go at the start of an XC race. Considering I tend to start slowly in long events anyway, I decided to push it a bit out of my comfort zone but stay away from popping right away. With the start an uphill gravel road climb until you reached the single track, I knew it would at least give me an open view of everyone else so I could judge where I was sitting.

Near the top, Sam and Alter-Nate were at the front with a Bike Masters rider about 15 yards in front of me. I looked around and realized I had gapped everyone else by about that same distance. As we hit the single track, I simply worked hard and hoped to see how things were sitting once I popped into a more open area of the course. About a third of the way through the first lap, I realized I was losing ground on the leaders and keeping the same gap on the group of four behind me. I then did something I had never done in an XC race. I used a tactic and slowed slightly so the group of four would catch me.

The course consisted of many short climbs and, in the woods, several power sucking sections of damp earth. The damp sections actually pulled more energy than many of the dry steeper climbs and, as I slide into the back of the bunch that had caught me, wondered how wise I was really being in deciding to ride with the bunch.

I spent most of the second lap trying to sort out who in the group was stronger in what sections of the course I decided that I may have been digging my own grave by having that many people to pass. I also spent time chatting with Brandon which was great in that it made the race more fun and gave me some hope that my penchant for endurance might help me at the end of the race. (Thanks again, B.)

Near the end of lap two, I was able to use some of the climbs to slide forward and, early in the last lap, I had only one Bike Masters rider left in front of me. I stayed behind him for a while as he and I both seemed to be putting time into most of the other riders and then I began to think I wouldn't be able to pass him. As we entered the last muddy section of single track, he got several seconds in front of me and I thought I was screwed. However, during the last open switchback climbing section, I got to his wheel and, to my surprise, he waved me by. With only one last short climb to go I simply tried to finish strongly, and sort out how I was feeling.

I chatted with several of our 'gang of four' post race. Everyone was classy and in good spirits. We shared a little misery regarding the mud which wore us down and the way the course was on its way to being really nice. It just takes a bit more traffic.

Sam and Alter-Nate took second and third in SS respectively and Nate rode to third in the Expert open on a single speed. Jesse P. also took top honors in his age group and was 3rd overall. Nice day for War Axe. Nice day for Lincoln.

With our work done, we stopped at "The Wolf's Den" for dinner. Classic small town dinner/bar combo. As the first cyclists in the place, we got a lot of looks for the locals who sat at two large round tables playing cards.

We took tables near the restrooms which were labelled "Pointers" and "Setters." The portions were huge (particularly the burgers) and the service was friendly as we huge for a couple of hours. As we left, the race promotor, Jon Downey (who put on a really well done event) asked Sam and I how he could get a War Axe cap. After a small pause Sam offered, "You can have the one off of my head if you don't mind washing it." Seconds later, the War Axe virus had spread a little further and we were on our way home.