I woke up early today for my final practice ride at Clear Creek before the big event next Sunday. Several teams were on hand from Memphis and Jackson, each taking advantage of the good weather and fast trail conditions. Teams from as far away as Mobile will be in town for the big race. It was obvious people were sizing each other up to see who has game and who doesn’t. I got there before most everyone and took my first lap solo. The trail is crazy fast right now. The crew did a lot of work out there to get ready for the race, and the trail has never been in such great shape. The first 3 miles are insane! The only thing that might slow someone down is the first mud hole on the ATV trail. It has developed a deep rut in the middle from all the riding today. With all the rain coming due to the approaching hurricane, it's going to fill up with water and will be deeper than it looks, so I need to remember to use caution there.
I managed to turn a 58-minute lap on my first run despite losing my gears. My front derailleur cable came detached from the holding screw, and I was stuck in the granny gear for most of the first lap. When I reached the trailhead, I reloaded my camelbak, corrected the cable problem, and went out for a second lap with about ten other people. I latched onto the back of the train to see how fast the pack wanted to push things. Someone dropped the hammer early and instantly split the line. The two riders in front of me seemed to be taking it easy, which I found slightly annoying. One of them finally picked up the pace and went off the front, and I eventually got around the other on a climb. After a few miles, I started to pass stragglers, usually on climbs. I could see the main group through the trees from time to time, but could never close the gap. I finished my second lap in 58:41. That is still a respectable time.
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