Skyline 2012

[shiloh]

I've been feeling pretty good on the bike the last few weeks. And was excited to get out and race for the first time in a month.  The technical climbs and descents make this one of my favorite courses. Conditions were loose, rocky, dry, and dusty.  Every time I finish this race without tearing a tire open i'm surprised. 

We got there early, which is a good thing because my legs felt like poop and needed a good warm up.  I got a good warm up in than a nice cool down at the star line waiting for the signal. They actually got the race going in a timely fashion compared to some other events. Besides I never feel good until about one quarter of the way through a race.  With very little power off the start line I got caught sucking dust up the first fire road climb.  I passed a few dudes up the steep, single track, baby heads decent.  Lots of people crack there and walk it.  I had made it almost all the way to the top before I was forced into a bad line and lost traction.  I lost some time behind some slower guys on the descent.  It takes some people a while to come to terms with the fact that they are caught and slowing up other racers.  

At the start of the second lap I had settled into a good hard pace and was between two other racers who I am always mixing it up with.  All I had to do was dig a little deeper, put on a few attacks, and I knew I could get on the podium. I started digging but hit concrete. there was nothing more in my legs.  I suppose sometime you've got it and sometimes you don't.  All I could do was hope that my rivals didn't have it either.  We yoyoed off each other for the remainder of the race. none of us having the extra power to put on an attack.  With one wheel just out of sight and another breathing down my neck, the ham strings in both my legs began cramping.  NOOOO! I settled my pace and prayed it didn't get worse, only a few more mile to go. At this point I figured I was about 7th or 8th place, but I had failed to notice a few faster riders who had either dropped their chains or gotten flats.  I finished in 5 the place with a time of about 2:02.  Overall I am happy with how I did, I had lots of fun, gave it my all, and am still a little light headed writing this blog.

[Ryan Gibson]

Nice job Shiloh!

[Carl Sanders]

That's a tough course -- nice work!