Crested Butte MSC

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado, USA
Series: Mountain States Cup (MSC)
Distance: XC lap race (2 hours)
Altitude: max:3018m, min:2719m
Climbing: 1500m for race
Temp: min 11, avg 15, max 20
Result: 2nd overall in Pro Men Category
Race Link: http://www.cyclecyndicate.com/


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First podium in the states! I am really stoked, with my result - second in the pro field. So all this living at altitude is paying off...

We arrived a day early in Cresta Butte and managed to pre ride the course. I noticed a rider on a Morewood bike so i went over to him - it was Gerrit! (some of you might know him - he is a machine downhiller from RSA). He is living in Canada now and is ranked in the top 10 in the NORBA DH, it was good to see another saffer out here racing!


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The race...
Initially the pace was not too bad, i think everyone was a bit weary of the course so nobody attacked really hard to begin with. Slowly we dropped riders off the back until only 3 of us were left up front at the end of lap 1/3. Second lap i could not keep up with the mountain goats and let them get away deciding to push the rolling section of the course and the downhill to chase back. Third lap I came right again and managed to get my HR up again and really put the hammer down, managing to come within 17sec of the leader on the line ... watch out Nick, next time the course might be longer... or i just won't drink so much Guinness on thursday!

The course...
Course designers here have an affinity for ski slopes and singletrac. We did 4 or 5 clover leaf loops per lap (i was dizzy and delirious so can't say for sure), each loop went up to the summit of the ski area and then back down on some fire road or trail. A couple of rock gardens added a but of spice, my Mongoose handles like a dream through that stuff and i always seemed to catch the Full Suspension riders there for some reason... go figure ?? We linked onto the DH course for a bit so we got our fair share of braking bumps and powder dust to help the lungs cope (not!).

After...
Coffee and a bit of fishing in the fast flowing river (ha ha) to chill out after the race. Check out Sager's fish... and his website http://www.jasonsager.com/


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On Sunday, a group of us went out for a ride that would have summited 3 peaks - as we got to the top of the first, the Rockies started growling with thunder and panelbeated us with hail and ice. Nice. Mid summer in the Rockies.

For the best Latte in Cresta Butte, go to...

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Road trip there... how is this scenery ... ??

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Chile Challenge XC

Location: Angel Fire, New Mexico
Series: Mountain States Cup
Distance: XC lap race (2 hours)
Result: 5 Pro Men Category
Race Link: http://www.cyclecyndicate.com/


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Angel Fire ski village, at an altitude of 8600ft, provided an icy welcome to the mountain bikers on saturday. With about 4000ft of climbing over the race, it was a real lung burning experience.

"DUFF" is how Daniel, one of the local riders, described the trail conditions - this virgin course was very tough and definitely worthy of hosting a World Cup race later this season. Climbing up rock gardens and loose 'duff', ground beneath the trees made for relentless climbs zig zagging over and over the ski piste slopes. The descents were overboard technical, rock gardens, and tight off camber single track abounded as the course wound its way down the mountainside testing everyone's technical abilities. By the end of the day, good berms were forming on the track and lines were forming through the rocky sections making most of the course rideable. Its going to be a very interesting World Cup!

Ned Overend took overall honours in the PRO category on his full suspension S-Works carbon prototype bike - the top 4 riders were all on full suspension bikes. The last lap was eventful - continual chainsuck forced me to stop repeatedly to pull the chain from the frame losing valuable time in the process. As i summited the course, a Team Dean rider was hot on my tail , we were pushing the envelope and he eventually took a fall trying to get past one of the slow riders allowing me to get away. Very exciting racing!

Telluride from the gondola

Telluride has a free gondola (ski lift). It has just opened up for the summer, check out the view of the town from the lift...


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