Jay Richards

I was hoping to post Sunday night because I knew once we got back on the road and then got home, it would be hard to get a new post....and no internet connection Sunday or Monday nights..... and after driving 8 hours after Sunday races, I was toast. Anyways, here is the recap since last post.....Saturday XC was the next race. Wasn't worried about the back of the field call up as I was going to ride conservative the first lap and then crank it after that. The start was typical but the steep pitch climb was good for passing. Typical hang ups but just stayed calm and smooth and it all worked out. I started to slowly work my way up, passing a few riders and not feeling over the limit and real good on the climbs actually. The descending is what is hard for me as I can't recover on those long rocky and rooty descents at Windham and Mt Snow. I enjoy the technical aspect but just find it hard to recover on the downhills like I used to when younger. I rode with Chris Peariso for most of the second lap and he was riding a nice pace. We caught a few more riders and we could see Mike Phillips near the top of the second climb. On the second downhill I lost contact with Chris but bridged again on the first steep pitch climb at start of third lap. After coming through the second feed zone, my pedal fell off. I was dazed and confused. I tried to thread it back on but the crank was a little cheezed out and I didn't have a wrench on me. Dang. I had to do the dreaded DNF. I hate dnf'ing. I stood at the feed zone as sweat begin to pour down. At that point I went to the finish and watched Adam Craig take his second XC title. (cyclingnews photo)

Saturday night we hooked up with Kris and Kyia again for supper at Dos Gringos, a tasty Mexican joint in West Dover.

Sunday morning up early for Super D racing. We got to the lift at 8am and got up to the top. The line was long for the chair lift and didn't want to chance missing the start so we didn't do a practice run. Instead, we rode the first 1/4th of the race a couple of times, getting the lines dialed in. I was lined up next to Adam Craig and Ross Schnell. The whistle blew and before I knew it, half the field was already half way up the hill. AC had a bad start as well but didn't matter as he rode to the front and used his awesome descending skills to take the win. Jake rode conservative and posted a nice finish. Super fun race. Awesome Super D course. Think Jake and I were the only hardtailers. Need to get a Super D bike set up if we do more of these.


Sunday afternoon was short track. Again, way back at the field and not a good course for a field of 70. After the first climb which was one of two spots to pass cleanly, things got strung out (like Jakes race above with field of 30 riders) Went as hard as I could, moving up about 10 spots to 47th before getting pulled. Made it over 10 minutes this time so that was good. Its so crazy fast in those short tracks. I love racing them, watching them and calling them. It would be fun to race the Maplelag short track but just as fun to call it. The National racing is hard and fast. The leveling of suffering is so much higher, it seems and you have to have everything on, especially the mental game.
Jake was with the front group of 25 for four laps then got hung up in a crash, lost contact with the main group and had to chase the rest of the race. He worked his way up to 16th and rode, what I feel, his best race of the season. He was the only 15 year old and all the guys in front of him were 17 and 18 with the super fast Seth Kemp the only 16 year old in front. He caught World Champs rider Seamus Powell with two laps ago and one of the clif development riders the next lap.
After the race, packed up and hit the road. Got mixed up in Binghamton NY and started heading south. Got to PA and heading to NYC. Not good and I was not smiling. Spent a hour trying to get on right road. Drove to midnight, stopped at Bath NY. Woke up 5:3o and drove to Chetek, WI (just north of Eau Claire) the next day. 17 hours straight driving. The southern route was much better and went by very fast. Super hairy in the Windy City though. Tanker truck doing 80 ripping no pass lanes in construction zones had me on edge. Was nice to head north on 53 in WI and bypass MSP and no semi traffic to speak of. Up early on Tuesday again and got to Spirit MT and rode lap of Monkey course. Felt awesome. One of those days you don't feel like you are turning the cranks. Even Jake made comment on flowing the downhill which was a first, I think. Course is looking great and should be some good fun. Nice job SKJ and crew. Drove down to UMD and surprised visited Jon who is at hockey week. Good to see him and then on road and back home by 3pm. Dang, good to be home. Grass sure is long but mowing all day today took care of half of that. Two weeks away from Jonell was brutal. I lost three pounds on the trip, missing her awesome home cooked meals. And there is nothing like the lakes of MN which we missed....a dip up arrival was top of list. Thursday tomorrow and back to Duluth in the evening to catch Jon's game and Powder Monkey race on Sunday. Should be a blast, really looking forward to it and everyone in the fam will be racing.