Hi All,
I rode the Vikings Virgin Voyage National Hare & Hound last weekend. Conditions were dry and dusty as the desert normally is, and has made me once again appreciate the moist conditions of a month ago.
I had a great start, seemed like I had barely pushed the button and the motor lit, and I was away in second gear. There was guy on my left a couple of bikes down on a YZ250 that also got a good jump, but, by the time I hit 4th he was out of my periphial vision, and so was everyone else for that matter. I led my line of 100+ people for about a 1/2 mile, then I wasn't able to read the terrain fast enough (got there too late to pre-run the bomb) and had to back off a bit. A few people got by me, but I was still well within the top 10 at the bomb.
On to the single track and things were going good. I maintained a comfortable pace, then, not long after the start of the single track, it became very technical and people started zooing out. I maintained a smooth pace and was trying to coserve energy, as this was a National Hare & Hound, and after the 40 mile first loop, there was going to be a second loop of 37 miles, which typically is "challenging". A few people got past me in some sections, and there was allot of "virgin" rock gardens to negotiate. Something the Vikings are known for.
The second half of the loop really picked up the pace and was really chopped up. The expert wave that left 15 minutes ahead of us had really provided us with a well rutted course.
Got to the pits for a replenishing of the bikes' fuel tank, and an energy drink for my tank, a fresh set of goggles and I was off for the second loop.
It immediately became technical with several down hills and uphills on terrian that was filled with baseball size rocks as well as larger ones. A couple of the down hills were tough, but, not as tough as I expected. Allot of this loop was run over trails that were well used, read high speed chop, but I was still having a great time. About three quarters of the way through the second loop we were in the hills negotiating boulders the size of volkswagons, and canyons, when I came over a hill and there was a Vikings club member standing in the trail. He said: "The course is down, just go out to the valley and then go left towards Bessimer mine Road and you'll pick up the ribbon". I wasn't too happy, but we had, had, very high winds over night and I guess that it was the reason. I stayed with a group of riders heading towards Bessimer, even though I could see dust in the valley about 5 miles away, and could have gone that direction, but, I thought to myself at the time that should I have a crash, no one would know where to find me.
Anyway, got to Bessimer, and as I suspected the course was about 2 miles to the north, rode down the road to where the course crossed Bessimer, and there was a road crossing crew from the Vikings there. One guy had a sign made out of a top from a Rubbermaid box that read: "Sorrry". I had been thinking it was kind of a drag that the course was down, and that I had been trying pretty hard, and that luck would be a major player today, but, I thought, everyone has to deal with the same thing. And besides, I'm enjoying myself.
So, picked up the course at Bessimer, and it was abut 6 miles in from there through some easy canyons.
Got to the finish and was rewarded with my "finisher pin". That makes number 110! At this race they had attached a small piece of tape with your number on it, and of corresponding color to one's skill level. Red for expert, yellow for amateur (that's me), green for novice, white for beginners. I went over and checked the board and found that I was 115th overall, and 6th in class. Not bad for not having raced for 2 months. And was in the top 20 or 25 amateurs. Again not bad for an old fart if ya ask me.
I guess there were some people that were pretty "hot" at the finish b/c of the course markings being down not far from the finish. I talked with a friend of mine who is a hot shoe and was in 23rd overall, he told me that the top 20 guys were just sitting there looking at each other trying to figure out which way to go. I guess they'll have to probably take the final check out on the course as the finish, to me it would be the only fair thing to do.
As usual got allot of compliments on the ol Husaberg. Everyone says what a geat looking bike it is, and how it looks light and fast. I even heard tell of another late model Husaberg that's out there, but, I didn't see it.
It took me a total of 3hrs and 10 minutes to complete the race with an average speed of 25 mph. And a top speed of 77 mph. God I love that electronic speedo that came on my bike!!
Hope all is well with everyone,
I rode the Vikings Virgin Voyage National Hare & Hound last weekend. Conditions were dry and dusty as the desert normally is, and has made me once again appreciate the moist conditions of a month ago.
I had a great start, seemed like I had barely pushed the button and the motor lit, and I was away in second gear. There was guy on my left a couple of bikes down on a YZ250 that also got a good jump, but, by the time I hit 4th he was out of my periphial vision, and so was everyone else for that matter. I led my line of 100+ people for about a 1/2 mile, then I wasn't able to read the terrain fast enough (got there too late to pre-run the bomb) and had to back off a bit. A few people got by me, but I was still well within the top 10 at the bomb.
On to the single track and things were going good. I maintained a comfortable pace, then, not long after the start of the single track, it became very technical and people started zooing out. I maintained a smooth pace and was trying to coserve energy, as this was a National Hare & Hound, and after the 40 mile first loop, there was going to be a second loop of 37 miles, which typically is "challenging". A few people got past me in some sections, and there was allot of "virgin" rock gardens to negotiate. Something the Vikings are known for.
The second half of the loop really picked up the pace and was really chopped up. The expert wave that left 15 minutes ahead of us had really provided us with a well rutted course.
Got to the pits for a replenishing of the bikes' fuel tank, and an energy drink for my tank, a fresh set of goggles and I was off for the second loop.
It immediately became technical with several down hills and uphills on terrian that was filled with baseball size rocks as well as larger ones. A couple of the down hills were tough, but, not as tough as I expected. Allot of this loop was run over trails that were well used, read high speed chop, but I was still having a great time. About three quarters of the way through the second loop we were in the hills negotiating boulders the size of volkswagons, and canyons, when I came over a hill and there was a Vikings club member standing in the trail. He said: "The course is down, just go out to the valley and then go left towards Bessimer mine Road and you'll pick up the ribbon". I wasn't too happy, but we had, had, very high winds over night and I guess that it was the reason. I stayed with a group of riders heading towards Bessimer, even though I could see dust in the valley about 5 miles away, and could have gone that direction, but, I thought to myself at the time that should I have a crash, no one would know where to find me.
Anyway, got to Bessimer, and as I suspected the course was about 2 miles to the north, rode down the road to where the course crossed Bessimer, and there was a road crossing crew from the Vikings there. One guy had a sign made out of a top from a Rubbermaid box that read: "Sorrry". I had been thinking it was kind of a drag that the course was down, and that I had been trying pretty hard, and that luck would be a major player today, but, I thought, everyone has to deal with the same thing. And besides, I'm enjoying myself.
So, picked up the course at Bessimer, and it was abut 6 miles in from there through some easy canyons.
Got to the finish and was rewarded with my "finisher pin". That makes number 110! At this race they had attached a small piece of tape with your number on it, and of corresponding color to one's skill level. Red for expert, yellow for amateur (that's me), green for novice, white for beginners. I went over and checked the board and found that I was 115th overall, and 6th in class. Not bad for not having raced for 2 months. And was in the top 20 or 25 amateurs. Again not bad for an old fart if ya ask me.
I guess there were some people that were pretty "hot" at the finish b/c of the course markings being down not far from the finish. I talked with a friend of mine who is a hot shoe and was in 23rd overall, he told me that the top 20 guys were just sitting there looking at each other trying to figure out which way to go. I guess they'll have to probably take the final check out on the course as the finish, to me it would be the only fair thing to do.
As usual got allot of compliments on the ol Husaberg. Everyone says what a geat looking bike it is, and how it looks light and fast. I even heard tell of another late model Husaberg that's out there, but, I didn't see it.
It took me a total of 3hrs and 10 minutes to complete the race with an average speed of 25 mph. And a top speed of 77 mph. God I love that electronic speedo that came on my bike!!
Hope all is well with everyone,
