The race I Didn’t like
by Matthew Connors on November 25th, 2007
Last weekend I had the last dust devil race out at Estrella Park, the trail everyone hates. It is so rocky and sand everywhere. It was 30 miles of crappy tails. Before the race everyone was saying that there are a lot of places you have to get off your bike and walk, they all got in my head.
At the start of my race they where all still talking, everyone giving me a hard time that I didn’t pre ride and that I was on a hardtail. I didn’t care because I knew that I was fasted then them. So they can talk all they want.
So the race started and I went out second, I was right behind this super fast singlespeed guy. So the first lap was a 10 mile loop, all those people got in my head. I road it like a rookie. I lost so much time on that lap it was bad, but I knew it was a long race so I had time to make it up.
The next loop was a 5 mile tech loop, so they say. It is just as hard as the other loop. Once I went out on this one I started to race my race, I started to have fun on my bike. I was passing all the people that passed me before. I came in off that lap and I though I was in first but I was not sure.
I went back out to that long loop, I knew I could gain a lot of time on the others, it was my time to shine. I got about Six miles into the loop and snapped my chain clean off. I picked up my chain and started running. I was not going to call it quits. I had the rest of this lap and another tech loop, so it was about 8 mile to go. I ran about 100 yards then some guy gives me his chain tool. I stopped fixed my chain I was so happy I got back on my bike. I went about one more mile and I snapped it again I was so pissed off. So again I stopped fixed that chain. All I wanted to do was to take off. So I fixed it for the second time. So many people passed me while I was on the side of the trail. I finished that lap and I have know idea what place I’m in.
So I go out on my last lap, and I was in a lot of pain. I just wanted finish this race. I didn’t even care what place I was in. After 3 miles I cut my side wall off my rear Kenda tire. I stopped and looked at it; the Stan’s sealant was trying to plug it all up. I jumped on my bike and road as fast as I could. There was nothing to hard from that point on. Every hard bump I hit the air was just leaking out of the tire. So I came into the finish so happy to finish.
My dad comes in and asks whet happened out there and I told him that I broke my chain twice and I ripped my rear tire. Then he told me that he thought that I finished second place. I didn’t ever care at all. I got all cleaned up and started to talk with all my friends. About 20 mins go by and the results finally get posted, I looked I won my class and finished 2nd out of all the expert racers. Wow didn’t think I had a chance in hell.
After all that I still won, I must be better then I thought. After this race I started to think even more that I could win state.
Ill next time, see you in AZ!
November 26th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Matt, you are the man! I cant believe even after all the mechanicals you had, you came back and took the win! Congrats!
November 26th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Awesome! 2008 is going to be a blast for you. Keep on having fun on the bike, that is the key.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
DANG! thats amazing, you are truely the man! Good luck in the 2008 season!
November 26th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Way to go!!! Sweet!
November 27th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Nice work, yeah lucky for me I broke a pedal, and only did one lap. Clint looked like he had been gang raped by Bubba and his Cousin’s, after the 40mile Marathon out there.
November 27th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Way to finish and not quit. It goes to show that you don’t know where you’re at till it’s done. That’s what EVOMO riders do.