Oh, my… DEBACLE DOS!

After many years of galavanting around the ‘States chasing after some MTB racing dream or another things have changed. I came up with a simple calendar of out-of-state travel for the seaon that included a handful of special events.

The second on the list was DIRT SWEAT and GEARS in Fayatteville, Tennessee. Unfortunately while this event delivered with a great promotion it completely lacked any sense when it came to race day logistics. Now I wish my calendar was at least one trip shorter!

It seems that no one in the organization actually rides bikes because as soon as the race began, everyone racing immediately realized that the race was really over before in even started.

Evidently this part of the country is suffering from some sort of global climate affliction and has been having torrential rain for the last month or more. (note: they have had drought for several years… but I digress–again)

Anyway, the rain started about 5 minutes before the race and water was coming out of the sky, out of the ground and seemingly everwhere where else. While it was just a brief shower the damage was done and as soon as the rain stopped, the said muck morphed into cement.

Within a lap and a half the race had deteriorated to carrying 80lb bikes through the woods. Wow, fun–really worth the trip guys!

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/videos/coverage/view/234968

To make matters worse, it seems that some of the east coast boys and the USAC officials have forgotten that this was a mountain bike race and supposedly conducted with rules. Rules that state that all repairs must be done by the racer and that the racer must compete on the same bicycle throughout.

While some of us spent lots of cash to fly across the country on airplanes with bikes, these folks evidently thought that switching bicycles twice per lap and having mechanics clean and repair them while they continued to “race” was fair play. I even had them asking me for tire sealer so they could change to cross tires!

Bottom line: I didn’t have extra bikes or mechanics; my drivetrain broke off the bike before I could finish two laps and “racing” was over for me. The “winners” did four laps in 12 hours with all their bikes and support and I went home out about a grand… Enough said!

Ciao,

VP