get Urban

i didn;t even know about the Xtera Urban Assault race in Richmond this past weekend, until two days before. it sounded like fun so i pre reged ($40, WTF!). all outrageous entry fees aside, i rode down with some friends, met up with the Tevendale crew, and finally found the reg table. a super long walking bridge over the James brought us to the correct island, which was a blast to cross (in a dorky way). (More—>)

all i knew about the race was that it was 14 miles and fast. i talked it up with all the cville folk and the RVA friends. so…now i knew the it was 14 miles, fast, involved 3 sets of 7 flights of stairs, and super dry and loose dirt. which was totally cool with me. i had no expatiations for this was since it wasn’t on my radar.

at the line, Pros are off, Expert masters off, then Expert my class. i’m about 4th into singletrack. about a mile later we pop out on a fireroad. 1st place is way the fuck up there, alone. i jump ahead to chase, now i’m in 2nd. i take a wrong turn, correct my self and i’m back in 5th but still riding with 2,3, and 4. i ride out the road with them, run up the stairs, and make my way back to 2nd place chase. a little yo-yo with 3rd place. then my yo-yo friend hits a punchy hill he can’t ride, i ride past him. and with out realizing it i ride past 1st place who had chain problems and was also walking up the climb.

now in 1st and with 2nd nipping at my heels, i set a hard and steady pace, riding all technical sections, trying not to lose any time. after a few sketchy rock garden into tunnel transitions (which were awesome!), i had a gap on 2nd. i couldn’t tell how big so, i kept my steady pace and really focused on riding everything without falling, and using my energy efficiently. through a few spectator heavy areas. those were a blast. cowbells, screaming in the middle of the woods. but they were the hardest parts but, that’s where all the people hang out. up a mega steep “bridge” (i guess) that went over HUGE boulders, a little more dusty singletrack, along the train tracks, and through the finish 1st in, 1:09.

it was a blast!

kyle