Well the absence of a powerhouse like Chris, and the Presence of a strong head wind today made for an interesting ride. Thank you Dan for showing up today for a repeat performance of yesterday you really helped set the tempo early and pulled me along till I was up to speed. Thank you also for keeping Ken in the game, I think in the end we all went faster because of it. I was never happier to see you and Ken again when I hit Rt 10, I really wasn't looking forward to 10 more miles in the wind alone.

I had my first road bike airborne experience on Ken's wheel coming down the last stretch today, I think it was some kind of boulder, I never Knew what hit me and the next thing I know both wheels were in the air. Perhaps that gave me just the adrenaline I needed to bring it home. I was really paranoid of a flat after hitting that rock but my ride got me home and I was happy for that.

A good time was had by all.

Ryan

FYI, I'm aware of the wacky Overall Standings for the race and will attempt to fix it.

Sorry about that rock. I should have been paying more attention. I was in so much pain, I kept closing my eyes trying to concentrate on something to take my mind off how much my legs were hurting.

I'm just glad there was no accident.

What a (painfull) day.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

I figured that was just payback for making you take the last leg in front :lol:

Well, I wasn't going to admit to that. :D
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

The Overall Standing results were initially incorrect due to some coding issues. I have since resolved the problem.

Now I'm back on top, I knew I could fix it with a little reverse engineering :D .

Has the date for the Lear Hill Loop Stage really been changed to today??? If not, is there a plan yet for the *group ride date* ... which I assume will not be on Sept 20, due to the Kingdom Trails adventure.

Is biking optional on the Sunapee Summit Stage? It would be interesting to see how close the bike and run times are.

Misprint on the date. when I edited the loop to make it shorter, and safer I forgot to add the date back. I have no issue with running over riding the Mt. Sunapee hillclimb. anyone else?

I will not ride the loop on 9/20, so I propose 9/18 meeting here at my house on a Monday. If guys can't make that post a date to try to get a group ride in. If not solo it. We have to be lenient, with these loops, I would gather so everyone can get them in.

The Lear hill loop will be interesting. Will folks be dropped on the incline into Goshen, or will it stay together until "Lear Hill". The winner will pop off the front on Pollards mills road....I would gather.

I like to gather.

PJ

[b:c571663f6b]Coit Climb Stage[/b:c571663f6b]

FYI, the route has been set by Mark, Chris, and I for the climb. We all followed the Pinnacle Elite class route: left from the end of Bear Trap and straight up the dirt road (not first right up rocky climb), then right off the dirt road over logging road and a hard left back onto the traditional climb.

We ended at the "top" near the rocks just after the swamp/pool on the right just as the trail begins to open up again.

I have set the time to beat on the downhill, come and get me. Thank you Chris for your downhill comment, time will tell if I was fast enough.

Ryan

I think your downhill is safe from me......we will see if we can drag out Nathan or Currier is healed enough for a go.

PJ

[b:83b2f798a5]Stage 7[/b:83b2f798a5] (Pinnacle Mtb Lap 1):

We need to nail down exactly what this is because I'm going to need to do it this week sometime. I would like to incorporate as much of the Pinnacle Challenge MTB course as we can.

I propose starting and finishing at the chainlink fence where each of the Pinnacle Challenge stages finish (i.e. between the track and Rt 10), proceed around the track / football field to gradual climb to Cheny to Forest and then follow Pinnacle Challenge Mtb course till cross over (i.e. North to Inner North to Ledge to Upper Loop into field and around water towers and up Summer to Pinnacle Summit), then cross over to Pine Link to Bear Trap up dirt road past first rocky climb and right onto logging road to hard left back onto traditional course, Outback to Skunk Hollow to Summer to Fern Alley to Summer to Side Summer with ladder bridge to Summer to cross over, then follow the Pinnacle Challenge course back to the start (i.e. Pinnacle Bypass to Barton Woods to Old Barton to Couch to Barton to Snake Alley to Summer up to Tower Circle to Forest to South to cut through to South Boundary back to South to Cheny to Forest / Tobogon Run) and back around track to starting point.

What do people think?

Ryan

I like it.....fine by me.

p

I think I have a handle on the Pinnacle Stage Course ... but I made need some clarification. Are you guys planning to do it next Wednesday?

I am planning on coming to do the TT with you guys this Wednesday. What time are you leaving the High School?

I am trying to get the Sunapee Summit Stage in, but it has not fit into the family/training schedule yet. I am planning to do it this Friday.

Chris

Chris, from your 5 mile posting, it looks like you'll do well on the Sunapee Summit.

Plan for TT is to leave HS at 5:30pm.

It's nice to be KING, even if it is just for a day!

I would expect you guys to crush my time unless you have a 20 mph head wind. FYI, you might.

Ryan

Dana,

You must be referring to last year's 5 mile time. I do not think I am running quite as well right now as I was then ... but I am working on it.

Ryan,

I agree that *king for a day* is good ... and who knows ... maybe it will be much longer!

Chris

Chris,

You are right, I should look at the date of the posting. Good luck anyway on the Summit, hope you do well.

Dana

Would it be prudent just to use the Pinnacle Challenge MTB course as our final stage? We then could do it in a night, without worry of darkenss, and practice for the race.

I know its shorter and gives us MTB guys a slimmer chance.....who cares?


We can then compare our times on race day.

PJ

Well unless Chris wants to do the up and over Coit I don't think we have much choice in the matter. Dodd is back in full swing with his logging operation and part of Skunk Hollow is torn up pretty good from his skidder (not to be confused with the other logging going on off Summer St).

So I am all for doing the Challenge MTB. Only question is do you want to do the exact course with the hike up stairs or do a modified start.

Ryan

Lets do the exact course.......timed football tower to football tower.

PJ

Works for me.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Skunk Hollow has been Dodd's whipping boy lately. I've always wanted a nice singletrack winding through an open field at the Pinnacle. Maybe Skunk Hollow will one day fullfill my dreams.
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

Skunk Hollow is getting closer and closer to your dream Brian with every passing season.

Wish me luck ... either good or bad ... I am off to do the Sunapee Summit this morning.

GOOD LUCK!

Wish me luck. Good or Bad, I'm finishing this darn stage race today, I just hope I don't slip down the frozen stairs this morning.

Ryan

If any of the *Team Pinnacle Stage Race* Officials are out there I could use a quick clarification. The *rules* indicate that helmets are mandatory ... does that include the run part of the Sunapee Summit :? :?:

GOOD LUCK RYAN!

Just imagine an old man with a cane (Dan) is right behind you ready to give you a good thrashing if you don't go like heck!

Helmets are required only when on a bike.

I'm feeling pretty sluggish this morning, but I'll keep your comments in mind Chris.

I pretty much had that happen to me on the Springfield loop. The hill leading up to 114 and all the hills afterward I was losing it, but Dan was there to tell me to get going or we were never going to catch Ryan. Without that encouragement, I don't think I would have been able to push as hard as I did.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

Perhaps self fulfilled prophacy, but didn't I slip between the first 2 stairs and bash my shins.

Don't say I didn't warn you, "Beware of slippery stairs in biking shoes!" Oh and while you're at it keep an eye out for skidders too.

Ryan

we have a contingency plan for the stairs if its slippery.

pj

Gorge left works well too and is about the same distance except you can actually ride it.

I bashed my shins hard enough to draw blood on both, and afterwards I seem to recall doing the same thing last year in practice. I'm not complaining, afterall it is an adventure race. I rode right to the first stair and jumped off not giving myself enough time or distance to transition well, other than the stairs being slippery, I blame a poor transition for the shin bashing.

Mostly just wanted others to be aware of the stairs and to not come in too hot, otherwise they are asking for trouble.

Ryan

I plan on doing the Pinnacle stage today (Sunday October 8th) sometime between 11:00 and 11:30. Afterwards I am going to be doing the road bike leg of the Challenge. If anyone is interested let me know and we can setup a more specific time.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

me too. but I will have to do it later once the wife gets back from shopping. this afternoon.

PJ

Better off anyhow. Since no one replied, I changed my plans. I had to go see someone out in Grantham, so instead of driving, I rode out there, stopped for about 2 minutes, then continued on to the 114 intersection, hammered back, but I took a detour and went up Loverin. I would like to make it out sometime today, but I don't know.

I did run into a couple that was practicing both the road and MTB course. They are from Keene. They said both courses are beautiful.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

Friady, as I was entering the path to the bottom of the ski jump, three bikers came out of the woods and followed me. As I neared the stairs, one shouted "which way does the course go?" I pointed up the stairs and as I went up, they were following with bikes on their shoulders. At the top, one of them said that he would have never gone that way even though the arrow pointed there. When we arrived near the Pinnacle, they introduced themselves and said that they were signing up for the Challenge this coming week as teams.

they have an advantage now. preride is a blessing. I saw a couple out there today, along with Naimie. I can't wait to blow (or have Currier blow) the leaves off, she will look so good. Thanks to Halleck for cutting the tree out.

pj

Is that the same Halleck that use to ride with us. I thought he must have died or something.

Who is this Halleck guy anyways? :)

PJ, I think you need a sign at the bottom of the stairs saying "Yes, the course goes up the stairs!"

Ryan

Given that I messed up the start of the Sunapee Summit on Oct 6 ... I still need to do it for time. I am kind of hoping that the drop dead time for posting results is not tomorrow ... as it is hard to imagine that my legs will bounce back from yesterday's punishment. Can the race official(s) let me know if I can have until Thursday or Friday to complete the stage ... or do I need to get out there and do it tomorrow?

If the gods are forgiving, all you have to do PJ is edit the stage race ending date to be later and Chris should be all set. Otherwise the code will lockout anyone from adding a time after the closing date.

Ryan

Almighty PJ ... what sayth thee?

"The Witching hour is here" Complete your stages by October 31st.

Can I borrow a Mt Bike.

PJ

Your welcome to mine. Doesn't have any bar ends. Just don't crack the frame. :)

It has SPD pedals.
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

PJ,

You are welcome to mine also. It is a little heavy ... but it comes with a set of Mavic Cross-Max's and your choice of rubber.

Chris

Congratulations to all the took part in the Inagural Team Pinnacle Stage Race............! We are lucky to be able to play this way. I look forward to the next battle. Maybe we can do a push-up/ pull-up contest?


Yellow Jersey/Champion- Chris Naimie
Polka Dot/KOM- Lovely
Pink Jersey/Enduro- Gurney
Green Jersey/Sprint- O'neill
Red Jersey/Downhill- O'Brien

Everybody who finished the Stage Race got a Jersey......the jersey can be ordered through me. Just send $100 payable to Pj's singlespeed fund......

SWEET!!!! A free Jersey and we only have to pay $100!! Where do I sign up?
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini