Hustlin’

Lots going on these days at home, so Brett and I made the short trip to North Plains, Oregon. Hornings Hustle was the second race of the state XC Series.

I chose to ride singlespeed because the course is a very short up/down loop and the conditions have been quite muddy during past renditions.

Since I ride my singlespeed at least a couple times a week for training, I assumed this would mean that I’d be minimizing my chances for mechanical failure. I even put on a new (old) stretched chain the night before to help ensure that I wouldn’t stretch and drop my chain.

Things were going great (as planned) and I was out front after the first lap leading Carl Decker (Giant). Then I missed a turn and some other guys caught up. That was fine, but then I dropped my chain at the start of the second lap. Uh, oh! Thinking it may have been a fluke, I remounted and poured it on only to lose the chain again, and again, and again!

In the end, I must have stopped six times and could only manage 3rd place since I was never able to pedal hard or fast. It leaves me hoping for a little better luck next time around.

Thanks for reading!