Wow! What a day! My goal was to finish sub 2:30 minutes. I completed that goal. So I should be happy. But no. I had to have side bets, personal challenges, ect to throw me for a loop.

Massa- Secretly, I thought I could outbike Jason Massa enough to stay ahead. No dice. His road bike was stellar I had about a 1 minute advantage going into the road bike, that he made up, on the flats out to croydon fire station he passed me with a *kiss*. He took loverin hill ahead by about 100 yards, and eventually we were neck and neck at the top. We exchanged positions 3-4 times (no drafting, I promise) before the end. Just when I thought 26 mph was fast enough to keep him behind me, he would pass again. I knew I had no chance on the trail run, ecspecially so, after I led into the transition and only had 1 shoe on, before I see Jason exit to the run. I did get to pass him on the MTBike.

O'neill- Well my gut told me I would catch him early on the Mountain bike. Ecspecially after I finished so close to Bob Herrin on the road run. Maybe by the water tower, nope, fern alley? nope. Pine link? nope. It wasn't until tower circle when Brian told me, he was only 20 seconds ahead. I accelerated and found his wheel on forest trail. He knew I was there, and we turned onto South Trail. Now hammering we both past another guy, probably a bit too tight. We raced to South boundary and I nudged him. Laughing we hit Cheney street, then the sucka goes by me on the corner before Tobaggon chute. I figured out why, because 1/2 way down tobaggon, Helen was there with Camera in hand as I ate Dan's Dust. Around the tennis courts we went, and into transition. We exited together on the road bikes, but it took me 1/2 mile to shake the mountain bike legs, and by then O'neill had a lead not to be touched.

Gurney- Started nice on the road run, and I held his draft for the first mile. I knew he was starting slow (for him) but he pulled me to a 7:18 first mile even with a short pit stop. I kept him in my sights, as he slowly pulled away. I had hoped to be at 34 minutes after road run, and managed a 34:24 so I was in good spirits. Gurnster had a minute on me into the Mountain bike and I got my first glimpse of him on ledge trail. I was within 2 seconds at the water tower, to find out from Brian, that Massa was already 3 minutes up, and gurney was 2 seconds up. Gurney heard this and engouraged me to hammer on. On I went up the hill. eventually I caught Tim from Keene, then Dana, and finally Jason on "couch" before I played with Dan to the finish.

Shull- "Jesse I said" "What the heck are you wearing?" "Wind pants, on a road run?" Windpants are now acceptable, as he stormed to 30 something road run. with wind pants. I didn't see him again until croydon flat where, I was sure to catch him. and it hurt to do so.

My Top 10 Performances of Team Pinnacle ( in no particular order )

10. Jason Avery. Nice Mountain bike. If you improve each year as much as you did this year, I will retire. Well done. Even a trail run to boot.

9. Newport Rotary Club- Nancy ran a smooth race and held together a good slew of rotarians to make it fun for all. Thanks Nancy, David, Chris Al, jeanette and Ella. Thanks to the Pinnacle volunteers: Howard, Julie, Sandy, our photographer Helen, Brian (from Sunapee), Cliff Richer and others who put the race and trail together.

8. Nathan Richer- From 4th to 2nd in a year. whoo ya! and wait he didn't even train. psst. I beat him by 1 second in the road bike.

7. Wiley and O'Brien- you guys never cease to amaze me, with your " I haven't trained, been busy, stuff" Then you pump out amazing efforts and times. I want to see your training log.

6. Massa- I knew your road run, trail run would be strong. But you cranked up the bike stuff this year. It showed today. Awesome job.

5. Jesse Shull- Dude, 1 word- "Sign up for Track". 30 minutes in wind pants, no training.........and I thought your mountain biking was good.

4. Mrs. Lovely and Mrs. Richer- ya your getting old, but you proved today, that your not growing old gracefully. Lori's road run and Erin's Mtbike are a start to something bigger, better and faster.

3. Tim and Lauren- Wow! babysitting thrown in. Tim can run! and Lauren can bike on the road. Come up anytime for a team spin. (Let me know when your coming, so I can taper)

2. O'neill- Yes, I know he is my boss, but he completed the mountain bike with no crashes......what the heck? and he broke 40 minutes! Time to take those easy bridges out and return to last years course.

1. Well there is no number one, just thankful of Team Pinnacle. Thanks Dana for the quiet behind the scene stuff, and Brian for working the race and not kicking all our asses.

See you all next year. and I will make a race I can win. Maybe a timed chess match coupled with a game of rugby, then wrestling match followed by a full contact MTB race?

PS. I lost all my side bets.

PJ

Humbled is the man who bows to greatness....and that greatness today was the two woman duo of "Lovely & Ritcher". You girls beat us (by two minutes). You see folks, I had the ambitious notion that we could at least beat the girls , soooo , I ran my mouth last night and posted a "loser buys first round " wager ,well apparently Mrs. Lovely read and accepted this wager . For as she walked by us in the morning she sweetly smiled and said, "Hope you brought your wallets". And Mrs. Ritcher right after learning of the wager turned to Ben and said," Boy that makes beating you all the sweeter !!". Well, we tried and we fell short....good race ladies...you deserve that "first round" , well done!

....My legs hurt...

Jason

PS: Thankyou to the kind runner who gave me the chocolate GU, it really helped.

Caption this picture.
[img:2f0bd0af11]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/transition.jpg[/img:2f0bd0af11]

I'll start,

Jason, "Maybe if I fart on her head it will slow her down enough so we can win the bet."
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

"This was my first attempt to slow her down, I was going to kick her in the shin but she took off to quick...I never got another chance..."

I got to the top of the stairs and she had vanished

I think Jason was trying to make shadow puppets to distract her while putting on the chip.

The race in all respects was great. I was supposed to leave town on Friday but I changed my flights just to race the event Sunday and I am glad I did. The lead up to the event was fun with PJ instigating all the friendly competition and predictions. I knew that this years race would be a hard battle and I hoped I would be able to replicate last years first place duo team but I had real reservations about it. I knew Bob H. was an exceptional runner and that he would give it everything he had. He did a 50k the week before. I raced with him in a two man team at GG24 hour two years ago and he was tough as nails. But I also knew that this racing stuff does not get any easier for either of us from year to year. The H2O guys were the known threats and it appeared everyone was lining up on it being theirs to loose. Bob and I knew Randy would get us on the run and it would be up to me to make it up on the bikes and get an additional gap for Bob to safely run the trail in. I knew Dana was getting better and better from his injury so I really did not know if there was a chance of doing this and giving enough of a lead to Bob. I was confident I could catch him but not in how much distance I could put between us. Plus my wife is not competitive but she told me I couldn't come home unless we beat them. So we were motivated. The road run was better than either Bob or I expected and the transition was quick. My first downer on the mtb was having a guy pass me while I was on the stairs he went up the hill pushing his bike. At the top of the steps I met Tim from Keene and he let me pass on the left to chase the hill climber. Pass about 4 racers on the up hill and passed the hill climber just over the stone wall off Summer St. Passed two more on Pine link and met Jason M. working on his chain. Very clean over the walls passing another guy and just a few hundred yards down Ryans trail there he was Dana getting back on his bike. As I passed at speed his right elbow and my left elbow hit nearly taking both of us to the ground. Lucky neither of us were damaged. Clean run the rest of the way to Snack alley pass another guy and climb up the road fast as I can go. At the top I see Brian and he says PJ is not far behind. I kick it up some more and fly down and over the bridges around the big rocks and do a nice flying endo setting up for the the turn. I am off for 20-30 sec fixing the helmet and bike. (cracked another helmet) I get back on and I can hear PJ. We cross the bridge set up for the straight away and there is a rider directly in front of us in the middle of the trail. I crank it up holler on your left and bounce over the logs and mucky area past him and then I hear PJ cranking the big wheel 29er past me even farther on the left. There was no trail there. I follow him all the way down to Cheney St and pass him on the turn to the chute. Fly to the transition and meet Bob. Hook up bike, take two gu and off before PJ. I knew I could hold my own on the road. The ride north was hard with the head wind but I did see some speeds of 25mph but mostly 19-21. Pass Jessey S just before Spectacle Pond He passes me back on the Loverin Hill and I ride with him within about 20 feet to the top and pass him again. Chased a guy all the way down the back side and caught him after the turn onto Rt. 10. Clean and fast all the way back. With the favorable wind I saw well over 30mph several times on the way back. Very fun. When I transitioned back to Bob he eventually had about 7.5 min advantage for the trail run. That would be enough. And the old guys came within 1min and 15sec of a first place. We are happy with that. This event is a wonderful family affair. I loved seeing the kids running around and being handed off not unlike the chips. We all know guys and gals that either run or bike or do both and this gives everyone an event they can do together. Big thanks to ROTARY, Team Pinnacle and volunteers for making it a very special and memorable day. The one big thing I learned after this race is that if I want to have good times racing TP guys I just have to make them run 5 miles really hard before they get on their mountain bikes. So from now on every Wednesday night MTB ride will start first with a 5pm 5mile run down the Challenge course.

Jason, Put that thing away, I am not a fire hydrant


Erin

That's what I was thinking Erin, glad you said it first.

Ryan

Well my run up to the race was... let's just say less than desirable... away more than home, sickness, fatigue, groin pull one week prior, and the crescendo was braking my bike Friday before race day. Late Saturday afternoon it became clear my mtb was not going to make it to the starting line. The last one just about did it for me, I was ready to throw in the towel this year despite having already preregistered and trained hard all year long in preparation. I decided to give it one last ditch effort to get a bike before the race and posted up my no way at this hour anyone could help with a bike request request.

Next... beyond astonishment... the skies began to part... Arc Angle Javy (Brian from Sunapee) descended from above delivering me a steed worthy of any level rider (Yeti 575 full suspension with 5.75 inches of travel, yeah this is what I'm talking about)... the planets began to align and things start to look a little brighter.

I can't thank you enough Brian, you saved the race for me, thank you.

Race day has come and I'm up before the crack of dawn WELL before my alarm goes off (usual at best). As the sun begins to rise and I'm out getting myself the breakfast of champions DD egg, ham, cheese, on a bagel. As the sun begins to rise and illuminate, the skies are stormy and turbulent much like how I'm feeling at the moment.

I head on over to Registration, get my number, and head home to take care of business and make final preparations for battle.

Arriving back suited up and gear in hand I make final preparations, the Yeti Master arrives, and I kid you not the skies literally part, the sun comes out and I begin to get the "this is going to be a good day" feeling.

Armed, dangerous, and full of doubt, I arrive at the line... will the groin hold up, how will a strange bike treat me, did all that rest this week do me any justice (it just seems wrong to be out of commission so many days the week before a race like this)... and then the gun goes off and it's like a switch is thrown... we're racing now and none of it matters anymore, just focus on the race.

It takes the whole first mile for my HR to come back down after the gun went off and to settle into a pace. HR is in the 150's and I'd feel a lot better if it was in the 140's, meanwhile everyone and their wife, brother, and friend who wasn't ahead of me to begin with is passing me, let em... they got their race and I got mine. This is my 3rd year solo and I'm not going to repeat mistakes of the past this time round. I need time to warm up, test the waters of my groin, and get in the grove, plenty of time to kick it up a notch after the run and that's exactly what I plan to do.

Coming down the last mile the mysterious Ken makes an appearance for the first time putting to bed the theory that this year has somehow all been an elaborate joke by him on me... all his kicking butt on the road and off and even the bike plant in the transition zone... all a rouse designed to make me train harder all year long and race harder while he kicks back and has a chuckle (funny what you think about while jogging along)... but alas here he is racing bib attached. We enter transition 1, Ken just ahead of me.

As Ken blasts through the transition zone ON his bike, I think "no hurry, pain will wait for me just outside the transition zone, no need to rush into it". Changed over and ready to go I hop on the Yeti steed, "gitty up" I think, "let's go see what this thing can do". I crank up the rpm's and get the blood flowing to the legs again just in time to dismount and hit the stairs, I'm in no rush there is a guy in front of me and I don't see any radical moves happening here, little do I know he will be so slooow up the stairs and impatience sets in a third of the way up and I see my opportunity to pass him on the inside and he makes room moving to the outside, I take it and find myself almost jogging up the stairs (almost). I hit the top, jump on, and I'm away, or am I, the chain gives me a little trouble, ahhh the big boy needs a little more tension, I up a few gears and I'm off, meanwhile several other impatient's have pasted me, "no worries I will see you again" I think, "plenty of hill left to catch you on". Not long and I have past them back. Entering the single track, it's like a mine field of flopped riders and congestion, I'm off bike running several times before I get to the top of Ledge trail just to get around / through / over anything in my way, it's like swimming through a sea of mechanimals, I pass two more then Ken's flopped and a line of congestion ahead of him, I kick it into high gear and climb a wall of roots and rocks taking the HIGH road and passing them all, was that Ken, I think it was, I'm not sure but it felt good, must have been Ken, I barely looked down at him long enough to be certain. This thought plagues me for a while until I get around the water towers.

One last big climb left and they are falling all around me, I can't tell you how many I pasted on the Mtb but I can tell you I was in 51st place coming into the mtb and I had the 9th fastest mtb of only 3 were solo's, Superman Brent Mellen, Nathan, and PJ, not bad company I think.

Cranking down Summer street I could barely see, my eyes were watering so bad, don't worry that person who is going to flop in front of me at the stone wall will take care of that problem. Run up to the top of the hill, jump on and soon I pass Erin Lovely and the guy that was slowing her down. Yeah this Yeti is starting to feel right as I plow over rocks and downed trees off trail to pass, recovery is imminent and one of my favorite sections of trail to crank is coming up, ooh she's nimble too, "Yeti was definitely the way to go", I think. Chased down a couple faster guys on way to the new East Boundary trail from Bypass, meanwhile I think to myself, "can't hurt that I have virtually every twig on this course etched in my memory" despite no having ridden it much this year. On East Boundary I slowly catch up to a girl who it really letting it rip, and she is soo smooth on the corners, I am so awestruck I'm in no hurry to pass, I congratulate her on great riding as we approach the log and I think Yeti beast can make the high side on this puppie, yes she moves to the right, I begin my attack stroke as she flops over the log sprawling out right when I was going to go for it, I feel really bad I said anything, certain it was my encouragement that disrupted the perfect flow she had going. Managing to avoid running her over I get my move on again and pass another rider coming out of East Boundary and hit Couch hard, so hard in fact a rider pulls well off trail well before I got to him making plenty of room for the rumble bearing down before I even said anything, thank you mystery rider. The rest of the ride was rather uneventful as me and Yeti Beast became one.

Into transition 2, switch over to road gear and I'm off, I didn't cramp up and fall off my bike like last year, mission accomplished. Well I don't know how Dan managed to see 25+ mph heading into the wind, you are truely a road machine Dan, but I was able to squeeze out a respectable 18-22 mph consistent pace into the wind which I was happy with, and I did see speeds hovering around 30 a good portion of the way home from the top of Croydon Turnpike.

I was really feeling good about the race but that menacing trail run was coming up and motivation to get out of transition 3 onto the run was at an all time race low. I finish switching over to trail shoes, a grunt for posterity and I was off on the run. Tired and unmotivated, but surprisingly holding steady and thinking, "I don't feel great but probably feel better heading into the trail run then the last 2 years". That thought helped a bit and I just held a steady tortoise pace up the entire hill, walking the obvious. Was hunkered down to climb all the way to the top of the first hill on the Pinnacle Summit trail when much to my surprise the run took a right onto the start of Bypass, "Bonus". The further downhill I got the more I stretched it out, feeling the groin has made it this far, I think it's going to hang tough and it did and it felt real good to finish.

The weather, the race, and my body exceeded all expectations by a huge margin, I can't be happier with the way my race turned out.

Thank you to all the racers, the Rotary, and TP who made it all happen. And a special thanks goes to Javy for the Yeti and Brian C for all his hard work and mysterious powers of transportation (you were everywhere) and signage wizardry during the race.

Ryan

Well, my race day was interesting to say the least. Plan was to drop the bikes off at 7, get the kids to the babysitter at 9 and be to the race by 9:10. This would give me time to get my GU, helmet, shoes, ect... ready for the race, listen to the pre-race meeting, get to the start line and race. I have a great plan of when to take my GU, how much water I should need and how I should feel. Well, forget all that. Here is how things went.

I woke up Sunday morning very excited, I went to the High School, registered and dropped my bikes off. Everything is going smoothly which is great. I went back home and started getting ready and getting the kids ready. I left at 8:50 and had the kids dropped off at 9 just to realize that I forgot all there stuff back at the house. This was not good, so I drove home, grabbed their stuff, drove it back to the babysitter and realized that it is now 9:20. My aero bars are still in the van, my bags are still in the van, nothing is ready, my bikes are at the race and its going to start in less than 10 minutes. Since I know TP so well, I knew there was no chance of a late start, so I drove to the HS as fast as possible, got my stuff out of the car, ran to my bikes and started putting on the timing chip. BANG!!!! The gun for the start of the race went off. I finished putting my timing chip on, then put my number on. My aero bars are still in my bag, my GU, electrolyte pills, shoes, helmet, gloves.......... are all still in my bag. This is just not going to be fun. I start running over to the starting line while everyone that watched the start of the race is coming back. I saw Dana and begged him to please put my aero bars on my bike, don't care the position, just get them on if possible.

Now that I am through with all my pre-race (sort of, even though the race was already started) preperation, I ran across the street and started the road run. See that nice picture "Gadget" took of me running all by myself??, that was me starting the race about 2 minutes after everyone else. I'm running, running... and I finally start to see people, which gives me hope. I haven't been running much lately, but the runs I have done have been pretty quick, so there is a good chance I can catch up to some people. I just keep catching people and passing, and finally at about the airport, I catch up to, and pass Ryan, which was very surprising. He made some comment about "Its too early for you to be this far ahead of me". I wasn't too worried about it, I knew he would catch up and pass me on the bikes. Ryan has put in so many road miles this year, I didn't have any chance. I may be able to sprint faster, but Ryan wins in the longer events, for now!!!

I come into the transition, open up my backpack, take out my shoes and helmet. I get them on, put on my camelbak and head off with the bike, just to realize that I don't have any GU with me. Its still in my other backpack, because I didn't have any time to prepare my station and take them out. So at this point, I am in to the MTB section and have only had a breakfast bar all morning and I still have another 40 minutes before there is any chance of getting any other nutrients. Ohh well. Climbing up the trails I am feeling very sluggish, my legs still have not recovered from the run, which I did way to fast trying to catch up to people. I make it through the MTB section without any major problems and I come into the transition. At this point I am getting some surprised looks by people that see me racing, but didn't see me at start time. Don't worry everyone, my plan was to sneek up from behind for the surprise attack.. errrr... well actually I was just stupid and forgot my kids stuff at home.

Anyhow, I get into the transition for the road bike, take my bike off the mount to find the aero bars are pointed down at the ground. Can't complain, Dana was a huge help putting the aero bars on at the last minute, using up some of his precious warmup time. Thanks a million Dana. It did throw me a little, and again, I forgot to get the GU and electrolyte pills. Of course, I realized this about 5 minutes into the road ride. I also didn't have time to pump up my tires, so I was riding on about 85-90 PSI. So, between no GU, oddly oriented aero bars and low tire pressure, my mind was spinning completely out of control and completely out of the race. The whole road section I was worried about cramping, worried I was going to hit something and get a pinch flat, ect....... The aero bar position, other than giving me a bit of a back ache, may have actually been more aerodynamic than my normal position. It was far more difficult to handle the bike, but definitely seemed to be faster.

I made it back to the final transition, put my running shoes on, took off my helmet, remembered about the GU's, but figured it was too late at this point and said "SCREW IT", and headed off for the trail run. The run proved to be quite uneventful and I finished with a pretty good time.

What an exciting day. Was late for the race, forgot GU time and again, lost my mind on my strongest event and still managed to get 2nd in my age group. I was also 16 minutes faster than my time from last year, not counting starting late.

So, maybe next year things will go better and maybe next year I can finally beat Ryan, who knows.

PJ, don't believe ANYTHING about Ryan saying he doesn't have time to train. I know better, and I could prove it. You want his training logs??? I have the password :twisted:

It is always a pleasure to race/ride with you guys and I can't wait for another exciting year next year. Hopefully things will be a little more stable for me and I will find more time to excersize consistantly.

Thanks to the Rotary club, all the volunteers and all the wonderful photo's. What a great event.

-- Ken
 
"If you brake, you don't win." Racer Mario Cipollini

First I?d like to thank Matt Boobar and Chad Denning for making this day possible.

It was the most perfectly, wonderful beautiful day to drive oneself into the ground, I can?t believe the luck we?re having as of late with the weather.

The entire race went without a hitch, which was surprising, since I had picked up my newly built mountain bike from Cyclesmith the night before and had not dialed in the shifting or figured out how to work my new Marzocchi fork. The new frame offers 4-5 inches of travel and switched between the two easier than my 2003 ETSX, the new fork does the same, but the GD manual reads like it might as well be in Italian. I just figured out tonight I raced the MTB section at 4? in the rear and 130mm (roughly 5+?) up front, that through the geometry off a little.

I felt good on the run, didn?t even try to keep Massa in my sights this year since he bolted by me and was a blur from then on. Jesse trotted up beside me on the RR bed and blocked runners from getting around and really doing damage to my ego. Then he picked it up and left me standing, as I marveled at how relaxed he looked running down the road in black wind pant on a beautiful sunny day.

One area I could do better on is focusing when coming to the transition zone so I could flow through my gear change over. You should have a plan.

The MTB segment was good. I got passed on the North Boundary climb, stayed near him on the Pinnacle climb and lost it near the top never to catch up. I told myself I?d make it up on the trail run, never suspecting I?d get creamed on the road bike by 5+ minutes. I must say that Marzocchi XC 700 SL fork is sweet going down.

The road bike was fun, but lonely, I had no body in front or behind for motivation, just Cliffy giving my shit at Croydon Flat. I had all sorts of traffic coming into the Flat. Cars going every which way, but thanks to the strange folks wearing orange shirts I flowed through like water.

The trail run is always tough when you solo this event. No matter what, you leave the transition zone pumped up with praise and instantly deflate once you start up the stairs. From then on the constant up hill drains each step. On any trail run through the PT system I?d bound up Big Rock and not think twice, but after three all out event I?m lucky that I can muster crawling on my hands and knees. By the Pinnacle Bypass the down begins to flow, the dirt is soft and springy and you know its all down hill. Praise be to Jesus. At the tennis courts some joker came hammering behind and crushed me as he sprinted to the finish. At that pace I knew he was on a team and kept trudging to the finish line that came oh so slowly.

Good race all and thanks to all the supporters. I wanted to get on the podium this year, would have been happy with third, second is better, first a pipe dream.

Thanks to PJ and Brian for thinking up these events and to the rest of the team and community for supporting us and our silly habit. We?ve all found good commradory in the saddle between to big wheels. :wink:
 
Alone in the woods, who stands to be King?

I had such an uneventful race- there just isn?t much to report. I tried to take it a little easier on the earlier stages, in an attempt to finish stronger. It didn?t actually work out that way, the second time up the stairs hurt just as much, but overall I was pretty darn happy with my finish.

Thank you to PJ, Brian and the Rotarians for putting on such a great race. I feel the Team Pinnacle Challenge has the potential to be a very big event in the future. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

I?m very grateful for the Team Pinnacle Appreciation award. If I am judged by the company I keep, then I?m doing well; being ?appreciated? by such a good group is even better. But there are others who should be appreciated for their efforts and/or inspiration they provide:

Never mind the huge amount of hard work he puts in, where would we be without PJ?s infectious enthusiasm?

Brian?s relentless attention to detail in all that is biking, especially his trail stewardship, helps make Team Pinnacle famous. And let?s not overlook the fact that he kicked some serious ass on the race circuit this season ? his efforts and results reflect well upon all of us.

?Rockboy? Ryan keeps up the awesomest team website around, and just for fun he carved a new downhill trail out of the side of Coit Mountain.

Helen escorts us all over God?s Green Earth, and takes great pictures to boot. She also patches up Dan and helps keep him out in front of any group of any age.

As we all seem to be slow learners on road bikes, we are thankful for Chris?s patience. And his never-empty gas tank continues to amaze me.

Julie and Sandy work at every race we put on, including standing out in the cold pouring rain at the Lake Sunapee Road Race. And they don?t even (yet) race for Pete?s sake! And they?re smiling and seem happy to do it.

Ken works our clothing order, a thankless job if there ever was one.

And then there?s Dana ? he Chernobyls his shoulder, then declines repair surgery. Does he take the rest of the season off for recovery? No, he?s back on his MOUNTAIN bike riding in the PINNACLE, all while posting improvements in his speed and fitness.

Tim travels alone from Keene to join up with us knuckleheads for the 24 Hours of Great Glen. He?s never met us, never been to Great Glen, and never raced in a 24 hour event before. But he proves to be a steadfast 24GG soldier. Then he comes to Newport two months later with Lauren, invents and perfects the ?Child for Chip? swap, and podiums in the Duo.

And speaking of 24GG, Eric joins our team and runs like a deer, finishing the Lemans start right out in front. Despite a plague of broken chains, he never once lost his cool, showing maturity well beyond his years. I would have thrown a tantrum.

Jesse and Jason show more improvement in a few weeks than I gained in a few years. Hopefully they?ll let me keep up every now and then next season.

Brian (Javy)?s simple act of lending out his MTB at the Challenge is a very nice example of how things should be, isn?t it?

Lists such as this can?t possibly count every contribution that was appreciated or worthy of recognition. I apologize to those I did not list. Errors of omission are my fault alone. But it?s fun to recap the high points, and I thank everyone for participating this season. Nathan said it well: "We've found good camaraderie in the saddle between two big wheels."

The appreciation award belongs to all of us, but I?ll gladly keep custody for this year.

MG

PS: One of my favorite memories of the season: Dan?s laughter, after he asked us ?Any of you guys want ice cream?? Remember? Hint: Under the tree after Lincoln Gap.

I had a great time "working" this event. I could see that the participants were having a great time, and were enjoying the event.

Thank you Rockboy and Gurney (and all) for the kind words. And thanks to all the TP folks that work hard at keeping the trails nice and the events fun. You guys are great!

Rockboy: you should send that MTB ride description to Yeti...they will use it for a promo I am sure! I had visions of the incredible hulk smashing through things as I read your description...great write up! (See attached link)...

http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/549new_storyimage3407453_full.jpg

Brian
 
When in doubt, ride

[quote:9b42f581fd]I had visions of the incredible hulk smashing through things as I read your description[/quote:9b42f581fd]

Perhaps I got a little carried away with my write up. The bike was great and this race was without a doubt my best moments on a mtb this season but I am far from the incredible hulk of mtbing.

Ryan

where do I begin ?

PREFACE:

....It all started a few months ago when PJ and I were babling on about something somewhere and the mention of this group of guys who ride MTBs on Wednesday nights came up.Well , I said I wanted to go, but never made it there ,then I saw him again ,and again I said I'll be there...still didnt make it...But,I don't give up that easy .I tried one more time and it was a go . So there I am 15 year old bike in hand , sneakers (no clip-ins, just pedels with plastic sturips),and one bottle of water. I was ready. Well let me tell ya. I rode with PJ and Mark that first time and they chose to go "UP" Break Burner, I remember first crossing the bridge at the bottom of the ski jump thinking ,man , am I out of shape I"m really breathing heavy...that was nothing...when I reached the point where they were waiting (by the first trail sign pole) I was breathing like a steam train. Mark said ,"That first parts a killer". I was taking him literaly at this point as I looked around for other grave markers. Then we make our way up ,Thinking, did my bike always pedal this hard ? ,Up to the top of Pine Link and around to the bottom of Break Burner .Them waiting for me along the way. Then telling me that we'll all be pushing soon .Then we begin our ascent ,both reassuring me that nobody can ride up BB and I begin to think Finially ,a point at which I can rest and keep up with them...WRONG!!...at first I thought that everything that was going to hurt was hurting already .Nope,wrong again...after the new series of muscle pains settled in comfortably something strange was happening .My mind and body were seperating.My mind wanted to move foward and up .But, my body wasn't doing it .Actually ,it wasn't doing anything at all !. So there I am phisicialy drained , no food , no water lugging this damn bike up a mountian that goats can,t climb and I remember thinking "Boy , it is hard to breath at high altitude" . Well, we, (I) get to the top after PJ hiked halfway back down and assured me that it really was mostly down hill from here...we went down hill on our side of the mountian, which hadn't been traveled on as much so it was a little over grown.Funny thing though ,I felt very comfortable going down hill , I was able to keep moving foreward and at a pretty good pace too!! ...this was truely the fun part .Flying out of control down the mountian I'd hiked on as a kid but never thought of putting bike trails on...till now! the rest of the trip down wasn't to tough on me .except for the searing pain in my forearms , sweaty hands , and scrapes from falling off my bike every time my feet slipped off the pedals...

Four Months later...

THE RACE:

This race was a blast ,I had a great time and Kevin did a great job running the RR he said he was pleased with himself (as he should be) with the pace he kept but was a little suprised when PJ passed him twice. He came into the transition area ripped the chip off his leg and put it on my leg before I could blink..I was off ,and I was pumped ,so much that I pulled my bike off the rack and started riding it !! I quickly jumped off and ran it out of the TA ,I headed around the fence and quickly was reminded of smashing my knee earlier before the race when Nathan and I did a quick pre-ride up to the towers and back. Well, it hurt now but not enough to hold me back but it felt like a charlie horse none the less.well I came to the stairs and there was a group of people in a line slowly walking up.I decide to pass one on the stairs and wished after that I hadn't
I was being foolish and was wasting energy . At the top I get on with it and the guy I passed now passed me back.Furious with myself I push up to the bottom of North Boundry passing a couple along the way then I shift up and start pumping ..HARD!. No finger on the brakes , Just head down hammering. I hit the ramp at the rock and bridge and flew up the next stretch passing another one before the towers. When I hit the opening I bounced the bridge it seemed and passed two more around the towers and up the road I went .Leading some , chasing others .I knew I could push it up to the pinnacle intersection and I did ,going by a couple more, each one giving me more of a energy surge .I was having the ride of my life and I knew it!! As I headed down the long down hill I shifted my front ring up and just started pumping I passed one guy so fast I think I scared him..I was moving.. I saw the turn up ahead but there was a rider still in front of me , no sense trying to pass now so I shifted back down in anticipation of the next hill and hit the stone wall with enough speed to take me around the left side of a tree passing both the rider and Tomela
who was fixing (kicking) her chain.Up and left I went passing one more then crossing the road. got to the ladder bridge and passed the girl with the tattoo on her leg and asked if she was having fun? she yelled, yes .I was pulling onto the road and up Fern Alley and saw that the trail was all mine so I backed off for a minute and just kept the wheels spinning to the top. Coasted down and saw a woman up ahead and yelled "rider up , when your ready " (don't want anybody getting hurt, especially out there where its so rocky!) When she could ,she let me by and I was off again happy to have been doing so well, then I started up Pine link ,passed three more and found myself pedeling in a nice rythum ,I made my way over the first stonewall and up, and totally blew the stone wall at the top.My front didn't hit the bottom well and I just slipped out so I ran all two steps and was off...back at the pinnacle I saw a couple up ahead and told myself I'll be passing them in a minute...I did. Then I saw the guy with the banged up Knee ,asked if he was ok ? he said,"yes".The trail was empty except for the guy behind me and again I found a nice no brakes rythum, past Nathans log ramp and left I went , one quick shift and I felt like I was skiing especially when I hopped the log and still made the turn, down I went really feeling good and I get to another racer, but he was going at a totaly different pace and I was (on the inside) bonking out!! He finially found a nice peacefull place to pull over and I thanked him as I tried to regain my flow not to mention my ora ,up Summer street and waved to the camera. Down Tower Circle I went feeling the grove come back I made a few more twists and turns and there was Erin ! I did it, I passed her on the trail junction and bounced over the small logs and got behind these two guys who started to let me by when the trail pinched us and he paniced ,so I bailed twisting my handle bars so bad I had to stop again just to straighten them...there goes Erin...So I try a bush wacker pass before the new section and crash horribly..this time knocking off the rear derailiure cable...great , no time to stop. Erins getting further away and all I have is 3-1 if I hold the shifter down! Well needless to say I had to pedal like crazy around the tennis courts to the transition. Benji was able to catch Lori just in time on the road bikes for me to lose to Erin on the trail run..oh well I had a blast.

THE CONCLUSION:

I've riddin' through life with many groups of people, But the guys I ride MTBikes with are a unique group and I thank them for thier encouragement and willingness to so easly disrupt the flow of thier ride to wait for one such as myself or any other who wants to ride. These people are the real reason I chose to keep riding each grueling week. Like so many other outdoor activities (Land, Wind, or Water) MTBing is both rewarding in the sense of closeness we feel with nature and the rush we get from blasting down that perfect section of trail.So remember the only thing better than doing something you enjoy, is doing it with friends...

Well done Jason.

Ryan

I guess I had better get this over with...

You'd think that finishing 10th overal and 3rd in our Male DUO category, that I'd be happy with those results.

What was really disappointing was my performance, riding several minutes slower on each bike than I had in the weeks leading up to the PC. Once I started climbing the ski jump stairs carrying my MTB, I knew I was done in for this event. With almost 40 years of competive experience I really did not show that I learned anything from all of those years. Going into my second year of cycling this year makes me a novice at the sport, but it really has no merit for way I prepared. Just like we say about our professional sports teams, "wait till next year."


Now for the good stuff ...

Randy once again was exceptional, bettering his road run from last year by almost 30 seconds (29:07 to 28:39). His trail run, although 15 seconds slower than last year was faster because the course was longer by more than a tenth of a mile (26:45). He really put him and I near the top with his performance.

My best moments of the race came by watching Nathan zing by me going up side Summer St. On the way down Ryan's trail, I hear Dan say "OH there you are" as I'm getting up off the ground after a sappling took me out. Then to make sure I was out of the race, he tried to knock me back down, but I barely moved aside as we knocked elbows. (only kidding). Dan looked like he was having the ride of his life (as PJ has prefaced in another post). Then as I was trying to stay ahead of a couple of riders behind me and couldn't, Jason M and PJ thanked me for letting them by just before Snake Alley. They were both hammering and climbing up Summer St was my last glimpse of both of them. Justin Shull flew by me somewhere along the way, but I didn't recognize him when he went by with his 40:23 time.

Brian, Sandy and Julie were at the turn off Summer cheering everyone on, which was a great spot for riders finishing the MTB. Thanks for your support. In fact, all of the course marshalls displayed encouragement along the entire course, they really make this event along with everyone else who supports it.

My best spot for this event is the transition area, no matter where you are in the race, there is always excitement and encouragement. Matter of fact, I was so excited that I got on my road bike next to the rack and began to pedal out, when I hear Bob Herrin say "Dana you have to run out." Oh ya, thats right, I knew that. Even when you are having a bad day, the excitement of the event can throw you off.

The road bike portion was just a matter of hanging in there and pedalling to the finish. Mark went by me at the bottom of Loverin and Lauren was right behind him. I thought the top of Loverin would never arrive. Going down the other side I knew the hard part was over and I moving right along (42.5 mph down the last hill). I thought would see Mark and Lauren on rte 10, but they were long gone. I managed between 23 and 26 mph down 10 to finish.


Overall I was happy to see so many improvements over last year. The team "High Speed Vomit" 2:28+ last year to 2:12+ this year. I'm kinda upset that Jason A took me on the MTB by more than two minutes. (Not really). Way to go Jason, you no doubt will become a force for TP. Erin, Lori, Nathan, PJ, Mark, Ryan, Ken, Jason M, Jason A, Justin and Jesse all showed showed off Team Pinnacle's talents. I agree with PJ, Jesse, with your 30:57 5 mile in wind pants, you should think about spring track.

Of course, I have to point out that some of the top performances came from the senior group. Dan and Bob with their 7th overall, 4th team and Dan's two 39s on the bikes. Lary Martell once again with a stellar performance of 9th overall, and 5th solo. Randy's incredible 5 mile second place finish and and fourth for the trail run. And then there is Tom Webb who really improved over last year. These guys are all 55+ years (not sure about Tom, but he's close), Great Job.

The senior women also performed well, with Tamela Lynch (F4049) and Linda Usher (F5059) turning in excellent times for their age groups.

Most of all I really want to THANK Team Pinnacle members for all the hard work that they do on the trails and the event setup and Newport's Rotary club members for an excellent job of organizing everything that goes into making the Pinnacle Challenge a succes. I see the event as only getting better with each year...

THANK YOU,

Dana