AUGUST 08 REPORT

Howdy folks!

Not sure how to entitle my August race report… it may come across too negative in any case. August was a difficult month for me on the bike. Sometimes we come to a place where the sum of adversity becomes more than we are prepared for. This was the case for me. I still believe things could have turned out a little better but that is my optimistic side again!

The month started with a week off for me. Off the bike that is. Unfortunately this really meant trying to make up for lost time on our house remodel and feverishly preparing to leave for Transrockies. In retrospect my biggest mistake was entertaining another shot at TransRockies at all. This involved ridiculous time and monetary expeditures for which I had not budgeted. More importantly was the energy expediture required for this event.

We made it to TR relatively unscathed and the first day went well. Actually the first half of the first day went well. I was easily one of the best on the intial climb and could have stayed with the Italian team went they attacked for a huge advantage. My partner wasn’t able to follow and that was planned for. What wasn’t planned for was the 2.5 hours of combination hike-a-bike and velo-schlussing to the finish. Oh, did I mention tempertures dipping below 40 degrees and sleet? Anyway, we were still in good shape finishing fifth on the day. I attached a picture from the finish…

Stage 2 turned out to be the endgame. I was able to stay with the group until the steeper climbs but again my partner faltered. As the hike-a-bike began it was me who was in big trouble, though. I started to feel the efforts from the day before immediately and was losing time. Then things got vertical–as in crawling with bikes all the way to the top of some peak. Nearly two hours later, we discovered we were not “on course” and then things really fell apart. It was cold again and my hands were blue. I had already eaten everthing I hadn’t dropped on the hill and we were even half way through the mileage. I really quit caring about results and nearly seven hours later we made it to the finish–ahead of most of the leaders!

Stage 3 was my last gasp it turned out. I set the pace throughout the timetrial and again we finished fifth. However, I was feeling poorly after the first two days and I desperately needed some recovery. Unfortunately, there was none to come.

I will just lump the rest of the race together. Basically my legs were ruined from the previous hours of pushing bikes and while that was the worst, it was really only the beginning. Ultimately, we finished 7th as the top American team but it was probably the worst I have ever felt on the bike. Without a doubt, in over ten years of racing, I haven’t pushed/carried my bike so much!

A total wreck, I spent 3 days in bed after returning home in hopes of somehow recovering in time for the American Mountain Classic stage race in Utah. That was another long shot that became an impossibility when I came down with a sinus infection while traveling to the race. In the first ten minutes of Stage 1, I was already out the back when a bee flew in my mouth and stung me. Game over. My body was shutting down from the illness, fatigue and poison. I managed to finish the stage and rode the next day at a leisurely pace. The final stage covered much of the previous days course twice so I did one lap and called packed up my bike. My only DNF of the year but continuing just didn’t make sense.

I have been sick for two weeks now but my legs seem to be back and I have been able to take care of some work on the home front. My fitness is pretty much back to my de-trained winter state so I look forward to a nice pre-holiday training block after Interbike. Speaking of the show, I plan to attend as much as necessary but would like to help any way I can. Please let me know if any of you would like me help promote your wares at either the demo or the show. I can be available as needed.

In the meantime, I am on my way to the NUE series finals to finish that business. I look forward to a long (100 mile) ride in the high Sierra with no expectations! Next week I plan to defend my Oregon MTB Hillclimb title for a 3rd year in a row. That will bring some vindication for August and stoke my fire for some ‘cross races and training leading up to the Baja Epic and Nationals.

I look forward to seeing you all soon and thanks again for your support this year. Until then, over and out!

Evan Plews