As far as how Aryn ad Gerry did, there isn't much to cover. Gerry started off the team's day at 10am in the CAT4 45+ class. He is still riding himself into shape after the foot surgery this summer. But the goal here was to move up from finishing last to finishing not last. 17 out of 21 baby!
Aryn missed most of Gerry's race because he was helping a racer who crashed hard and dislocated his shoulder. Because of when and where it happened, Aryn and his son Ashton were the only two around to help the guy. BTT Andy showed up mins later and organized some medic help but Aryn and Ash stayed with the guy till help arrived and then some.
That, coupled with some other things, Aryn did not get the warm up he was looking for before his first Master's 35+ race. He wasn't there to win anyway, just looking for a good training race. And man dd he get it. In this class your heart rate goes from 50 to 190 in about 30 seconds and doesn't come back down for another 60 minutes. Aryn was happy to start his final lap without being caught by the Pro class. John Osgood had a heck of a race and took off early, finishing fourth. Aryn focused on trying to reel in Andy Fedewa and Brad Lako but every time he made a dig to close the gap those two made their own to make sure the gap didn't close. Andy eventually broke away from Brad but Lako was able to hold his position on Aryn to the finish line. Brutal, painful, hard fought race. Aryn is quickly learning that this is just how CX is....all. the. time.
Enough about racing, sooooo many people there taking pictures that it was hard to choose which ones to use. Thanks to Stephan Z for all the great pix and also to Tailwind, Bob Bruce, Ritzy and others who were there to document the day.
The course had an amazing layout. You started inside the 'courtyard' and as the race went on you went up the embankments and back down inside the fort. Then you are lead outside the wall to do some looping around and off camber hill side riding. Then you come back around and enter the Fort through the tunnel and go up a steep off camber climb. You do some more riding on the top of the wall embankments and then come back down for the barriers. That's just a quick overview.
The starting point straight to a hill climb. This is inside the fort.
One of the few steep descents inside the Fort.
Barrier action
Gerry coming in to finish
Exiting the tunnel (this was part of the race course)
The turn inside the tunnel
Outside the south end of the Fort by the water
The steepest drop of the course outside the Fort
Inside the Fort here you can see the barriers and also in the
back the off camber climb that caused a few bottlenecks
Outside the north end of the fort.
Still outside the Fort on the north side.
Props to Seth (in green and black) for manning up and racing Masters as well.
Second hill climb of the course, inside the Fort, about 30
seconds into the course.
View from the top of that climb. Yes, it seemed that steep when you
were going up it.
were going up it.
Aryn exiting the tunnel coming back inside the Fort.
South end of the Fort, outside the walls.
Yes, he was in that much pain.
Thanks to all who put on such a great event. Tailwind, BTT, Detroit Endurance Club and others.
For more pix check out our friend's Stephan's public FB link.
Loads of pix - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153276477173626&set=a.10153276425458626.1073741844.803408625&type=1&theater
