Michael Koppe's Blog (14)

  I left early from San Rafael to arrive in time to do a practice lap of the Hoot Trail. My start time was 10:00 AM for the over 60 category but I needed to be there by 8:00 to squeeze in a practice lap. As I have gotten older I prefer a practice lap to gain confidence in the course. The course was in great condition due to the recent rains, but regardless I managed to wash out on one of the berms and slam to the ground. Nothing serious in terms of injuries, but I felt embarrassed since the…

  The Round Mountain race is part of the California Mountain Bike Series. This was my first chance to race here so I did not know what to expect. I arrived late and I did not pre-ride the course, but I did practice the start which was a gnarly and steep climb. The purpose of the climb was to separate out the riders for the single track loop. I entered the over 60 CAT 2 division. Prior to the race I saw fellow teammates Jim and Simon. Simon was getting ready to start. He was competing in the…

  For the whole week I felt like I was on the clock and needed to manage every minute. I worked a full day Saturday and woke up at 3:50 AM to make the trip down to Sea Otter. I could finally relax as I warmed up on the raceway track. The temperature was perfect. As I arrived I saw fellow teammates Greg, Paul, and Dave finishing their warm-ups. Sea Otter combines the last 3 groups ( 60-64,65-69,and 70+) which made a group of about 25 riders.(old, older, and oldest) Within my group was Jon…

  This is the first time that I have attended this race. I decided to enter since so many of my teammates would be there and I wanted to experience Annadel. I was unsure which category to enter but I wanted to do the long course, so I decided to enter Masters 50+. I thought about racing in the Expert over 40, but that sounded even faster, even though they depart 2mins behind Masters 50+. At the start line I realized I was in a fast group when I saw it included teammates Greg and Dave. When…

  After the XC race the previous day I returned to Packer Saddle for the start on the downhill portion of the Downieville All Mountain event. I wanted to drive to Downieville first and take the shuttle up so I could leave directly to Marin afterwards, but I watched my brother-in-law compete in the Crossfit Games in Wisconsin online. Ironically he also competed in the 50+ category and won the national competition! It was quite inspirational for me, however I had no delusions of grandeur for…

  Initially I wanted to enter the 60+ XC race only, but a spot was available in the 50+ All Mountain event so I signed up. My goals were to PR(2h 45m) in the XC and complete the DH under my age in minutes. I am almost 64 so that meant I had to complete the DH in 63m 55secs  or less according to my calculations. I know a few people in their 50s have done it but not many. Essentially injuries and attrition begin to undermine performance incrementally despite our best efforts. Also I have…

  My alarm went off at 3:50 AM Sunday morning. I know it is early and a stressful way to start your morning on race day, but I had a long work day Saturday and wanted to sleep in my own bed. I actually enjoy driving early in the morning because the roads are free of traffic and one can make good time. Although one needs to be vigilant for drunk drivers left over from Saturday night.

  Although I enjoy Sea Otter, the race that I try to peak for is Downieville. Now that the days are…

  I decided to enter the Cool Mountain Bike Race since it was on the way to Tahoe. I still need to shovel my cabin plus do some spring skiing. Even though much of the precipitation has been rain in Alpine Meadows, the snow can absorb the rain and increase the weight on my roof and deck. Some places nearby have suffered significant damage. It also has snowed about 35-40 feet at my place. Basically I am in great shoveling shape.

  The Cool Mountain Bike Race is always a good reminder to…

  I smiled early Sunday morning when I awoke to cool fog extending into Lucas Valley. In the past I have succumbed to the heat of Rockhopper. I never withdrew from the race but I suffered significant cramps during the steep climbs toward the end. As I drove toward Vacaville the fog gradually dissipated and I began to feel the heat of summer sunshine.

  I looked for a parking spot in the shade and noticed the Trek tent and a large number of ACME riders. I am glad we supported the local…

  As I write this my legs ache from a special blend of residual cramps, poison oak, mosquito bites, and minor scratches and gashes. Nothing significant- no blood transfusions, but I am sure I left a trail of DNA along the Sea Otter course. What a difference a week makes! The rain and mud at Napa Valley produced gooey hills of liquefaction, but at Sea Otter I experienced the dry, hot,and shifting sands of the Kalahari. Hence the cramps.

  I felt the race began at 4:00AM Sunday morning.…

  This was my first race since Downieville. After Downieville I noticed that I had a dull ache in my left testicle which I attributed to numerous crashes or near misses. When it didn't resolve I had it evaluated and found out that I had testicular cancer. I finally have something in common with Lance Armstrong! Although the surgery is more psychologically invasive than surgical, it still involves cutting abdominal muscles and a 8 week recovery period. I opted out of the optional chemo since…

 As many of you know I broke my foot over a year ago and was non weight bearing for 4 months. Subsequently I wore a boot for two months and wondered if I would ever be able to return to sports. I have torn my ACL, ruptured my Achilles tendon, torn my quadriceps etc. but this was the worst injury to date. The technical name for the injury is a Lisfranc fracture/dislocation which varies considerably in treatment. Unfortunately my injury required surgical fusion of the damaged bones with…

  Thanks for the great posts from team members. I recently decided to start biking/racing after spending the last year trying to be a rock/ice climber. Both require significant dedication to do well. I haven't told my climbing/skiing partners yet so they think I am cross training with the mountain biking. However I do intend to ride with greater purpose as Jim described it and be competitive in my age group. Actually it is fairly easy to be competitive in my age group as long as you have a…