Official times (from memory):
19:32- Olheiser
20:14/18- Nick Housely (19 yr old wunderkid)
20:32 Francis
20:44 Linenberg
not sure the rest… results eventually at www.surgesports.com
temp- approx 51-53F (depending upon start)- slight winds- about 4-5 mph, wet course, with a few sporadic puddles.
Great Ride - Congrats Mark
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Congrats to Francis and Mark. Great rides. I hoped to keep Mark in my sights as he was off 30 seconds ahead of me, but the only time I saw him again was going into the turnaround and I could see he’d already put some time into me.
My homemade 650 tubes survived two 40-mile test rides and 20 miles of preview riding on the Tundra course on Friday. Naturally, when I took the bike out of the truck this morning before the race, the rear was flat. Didn’t have another latex built up, so raced with a butyl. I haven’t checked to see if my glue job failed or if it was something else. With those three sharp bumps on the course, there’s no telling. The front survived.
I managed 22:02.6 (I’m pretty sure that’s what I saw on the sheet) which got me fourth in Masters 45+ (not counting Francis … they lump him in the overall and don’t count him as the Masters 45 winner … so I won’t, either 
). Considering all the guys ahead of me were 47 or younger (and I’m 54 … racing age), and considering the field size (45 or so in Masters 45+), I guess I’m OK with it. Also, it was my fastest Tundra yet. When you keep getting older, you’re OK when you can go any faster. And those weren’t ideal conditions. Fifty is warm when it’s sunny and dry. Fifty is darned cold when it’s cloudy and wet and you’re stripped to a skinsuit for racing.
Lord have mercy on my pretty new bike. What an awful mess.
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Howdy,
this was my third year. 21:48 for third in the masters 45+ (I count FRANCIS ).
Nice race and the trophys for top 3 overall rival some of the nicest trophies given out at at race for any level.
Styrrell
I’m finally home ! It was a long trip, but I was blessed to win another awesome trophy, so it was worth it! Here’s a pic of my 3rd place trophy:
http://i39.tinypic.com/mr9qt.jpg
I almost didn’t make the trip. As I mentioned earlier, I twisted my ankle pretty bad Thursday evening. It swelled-up almost immediately, so I iced it and took lots of Advil. My foot was still swollen Saturday morning and it still hurt to walk, but I don’t think it affected my riding very much. My cleats help to isolate the pressure-point on an area of my foot that didn’t hurt, so it wasn’t bad. Here’s a nice pic of my foot a few hours ago:
http://i41.tinypic.com/112fi9t.jpg
I was relatively pleased with my effort. I couldn’t get my cleat engaged at the start (on my hurt foot), but I was able to start & then I got it engaged about 10sec later. I was warned about several cracks to avoid on the course and I let my power & speed drop too much on each leg as I sat-up to go “easy” over each one. In addition, I left a bit too much in the tank, for my power over the last 2 minutes was much higher than the rest of the race. I was about 25sec slower than last year, but I’m not complaining. It was a great event, and I got to see Mark & Bob & a few other ST folks. A good start to 2009!
—Francis
Way to go on your ride today. I was planning on hitting about 26.5 based on all the practice runs I’ve done but apparently either I’ve butchered my training or being in love really does slow you down as I actually ran slower than last year.
Your run was sick and Olheiser is absolutely from another planet. 29.1 mph? Really? That is FAST on that course with that turnaround…speaking of, just for future reference, it’s a really good idea to close your brake “quick release” BEFORE you get out onto the course rather than trying to figure out 20 ft from the stop point why you’re not stopping. It’s the little things. 
Thank you. I think the avg speeds in the results are about .4-.5 of a mile per hour too fast- based on my distance calculated and some others… but who knows. And yes- whether Olheiser went 29.2 or 28.7- that’s very fast for such a tight course- where you have to stay vigilent with other riders you might be overtaking or coming at you!
you have to stay vigilent with other riders you might be overtaking or coming at you!
I made the decision NOT to use glasses. I’m not sure that was the best move. I had trouble seeing clearly the entire race. On the run-in towards the finish I was coming to one of the road crossings with the barrier poles just as I was also overtaking a rider. My first thought was to pass through the barriers in the opposite lane. But of course, as soon as I finished the thought, there was an oncoming rider. I was having trouble judging the distances, but I sure didn’t want to slow down. I made the pass and ducked back to the right just in time to weave between the barriers and not cut it too close with the oncoming rider (who appeared to be just a weekend trail tourist).
My first year racing the Tundra the narrowness of the track really freaked me out. It doesn’t bother me so much now. One good thing about the weather yesterday was that it kept the non-race traffic down significantly. Last year they waved through a cub scout troop right before my roll out. That was special.
Great job Francis! Stop by here on the way down if you do it again (sprained ankle and southern TT that is). Hope to see you in Cleves or the new 40K TT that QCW is doing in Cincy. Hopefully you will start behind me so I can gain a few secs when you blow by me and suck me along …
Yeah I measured it at 9.28 and when I use mapmyride.com it measures at about >9.3. I think they’re very optimistic calling it 9.5
I am just wondering if there has been any kind of official photgrapher? I noticed a guy a long the trail who made pictures. It would be great to see some pics other the ones on flickr.
Thanks
Kim
Here’s one place… (i don’t think she is affiliated with the person you were referring to on the course).
http://sadlebred.smugmug.com/gallery/7356578_by7Xm#473508469_u8Kfd
