12 Hours of Dino Report: Team No Name

I want to send a great big "Thank You" to my partners who competed with me and Lane the Service Manager at Trek Store Cincinnati for his great mechanical skills. With a dialed in bike and a team that was focused on success we were able to take 2nd Place in the 4 Man Relay at Saturday at the 12 Hours of Dino at Versailles State Park in Indiana.

New Gravel Grinder In Indiana: The Gravel Grovel

Looking for a way to burn off all those calories from Thanksgiving? The Gravel Grovel will be a 63 miles of what looks to me to be very hilly terrain. I have done an event called the "Brown County Breakdown" before. That was a mtb event that was on the trails of Southern Indiana. Lots of loooonnnng climbs, but with fantastic views accompanied by by sweeping downhill runs. This looks to be the perfect way to end your mtb season.

Who's in? Register at TRUESPORT.COM

At least I got a T-Shirt

So I decided on racing the DINO Series race at Versailles State Park Sunday with my friend and teammate Bridget. The trail wasn't too wet even though the race had been postponed for two weeks while DINO waited for the trail to dry out from heavy rains. Today's forecast was 95 and HUMID

We started in the shade then rode about a quarter mile foot path that was dry and fast once we entered the woods and the single track that all changed to a slick and slim covered hard pack. No sooner do I make a mental note of this then two riders go down right in front of me blocking the trail. I do my best not to run them over or crash myself.



The course was not tight nor were there any climbs and really just one difficult section where my race came to an end. There was a short section of trail that was cut into the hill with a tight switchback added in to it. Well my brain had one idea but my bike and every other body part had another. So with the hesitation I ended up endoing over my bike and down the hill. The ground didn't hurt because my handlebar cushioned the blow. This gave me two nice, perfectly shaped bruises. One round about the 1 1/8" right below my belly button and another just shy of my handlebar width across my thigh.

After I caught my breath and collected my nerves I pedaled on but I just didn't have the same fight that I started with. Each pedal stroke was a painful and difficult one. So as soon as the Pro/Cat1 riders started to lap me I knew I was done and just had to make it back.

This was my first DNF in several years and I am still disappointed. But like I said at least I got this t-shirt.

Decisions

There are two great races this weekend.



One is at one of the best local trails and it has been canceled twice already due to weather and/or wet trails.




The other is a little farther away but is part of our local advocacy group’s race series.

Pisgah Mountain Stage

This sounds like fun. I won't have to travel to Costa Rica, the Alps or even Brekenridge, Colorado to ride in an epic stage race. I will only have to travel to the town of Brevard to ride the backcountry of Western North Carolina.