Be glad, this takes out the Lower Cherokee climb. It was probably re-routed due to a monster tree that is down in that area. Serenity is, well serene. I road the course Saturday and it is in tip-top hardpack condition. There were three trees down on course, but I'm sure they will be removed by race time. One at the Tipperary descent, one at the the crux in WTB, and the Lower Cherokee climb (since eliminated). This course has two pinch points. Be at the front when you leave the road, 3.48 miles, to the Tipperary Trailhead. Their is a human eating rock on the left that funnels the entry. A quarter mile more is the stream crossing that marks the start of the climb proper. Their is a sucker line to the right, it looks like it promises dry passage. It was actually constructed by angry elves that play drinking games while they watch you eff it up! Hard charge through the 1" deep stream, a subtle front wheel lift will ease the transition. Settle in for 3.45 miles of 6-8% grade. When it flattens out for the last mile keep on the gas. You have 2 mile of DH and another four of flat to recover. Take no mercy on the DH, pass until there is no one left to pass. Get right up in their stuff and make them screw up. When you blow by them make something up like "your tire is sagging bro" At the road transition hammer to Flume, this is no time to sit down and spin, you must kill,kill,kill. Look where you want to go, and hit the roots perpendicular. If someone is sucking wheel, perfect you can run them in to a tree with a wide arced turn. What ever you do don't stop. The woods are infested with mosquitos the size of remote controlled helicopters. Some have collars, they are the pets of the elves. Chain saw is a quick climb, gut out the steep part, the DH returns shortly. Hammer through the Elk Meadow parking area, try to steel someone else's water bottle, this is war you must disrupt the enemy at all times. Elk Meadow, fairly flat, (elf hunting grounds, they are lazy and don't like hills) but D4 looms in the distance. With the removal of Lower Cherokee, you must attack here. Lock out your fork and stand this sucker up! It's only a mile, absorb the pain like cheep beer in college. After this your only remaining challenge is the climb out of WTB. This is an angry, pissed off ascent. The Native Americans constructed this trail as pay-back for killing all the Buffalo. Don't stop pedaling, don't zig-zag, don't surrender your line. If everything doesn't get fuzzy, your arms don't burn like your having heart-attack symptoms and there is no apparent drool stalactite developing from your chin, you are not going hard enough! D3 awaits, pretend you are water moving down the mountain, that is the fastest line. Hard right to Vasquez road, this is a drag strip. This is not the time to be squeamish, your already involved in the crime go all the way, grab your bars and pretend to be aero as you turn over a big gear. Shift down, slow up a bit and barrel through the left side of Vasquez Creek. (Walking is for people that can't afford bikes) Look to your right and there is a trail that bypasses the monster water hole, however don't wait in line for the thing. Split the puddle if necessary, be sure to get some Giardia rich water in the mouthes of your competition, that will slow em down for cross season. Barrel down Blue-sky, keep it real over Ice Hill. The Ice Hill descent is really wide now, no brakes, cut a couple of corners. Hop the tree, just raise your front wheel, speed will do the rest. Drop your bottles and power through Serenity. (give thanks you don't have to climb Cherokee). Sprint the road, cut far right at the base area turn, that will run your attacker in to a giant rut. Head down and skid your tire in to the bar code lady at the end. Eat twelve chocolate chip cookies, and three bottles of purple drink, you deserve it. You are a warrior!
One person already replied that they don't know how to keep it real, well if you don't you're not ever going to know.
Keepin it real, MFK.
1 comment:
I never really thought about it, but you may be on to something. It's probably those damn elves that keep poking holes in my tires and giving me flats at the start of races when there is no good reason to have a flat.
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