Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”

The Williams Lake Classic trails are on the ‘single largest natural cement deposit in the United States’ – 32 square miles of dolostone. Technically, dolostone has a stoichiometric ratio of nearly equal amounts of magnesium and calcium; a natural cement. The deposit was discovered in 1825 and was used in the construction of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and quickly became the ‘primary impetus for the town [Rosendale] to grow and prosper’. Rosendale cement was used in the construction of several national monuments, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Washington Monument, Grand Central Terminal, and parts of the Statue of Liberty and the United States Capitol. The Williams Lake property contains superlative examples of historic room-and-pillar cement mines, as well as other important mining-related relict artifacts (e.g., kilns, chimney, building foundations). An abandoned natural cement mine provides ample opportunity for unique mountain biking features.

Preparing for a bike race is about making choices. This year I expanded the scope of choices to include suspension and gears (e.g., whether to use them). On the eve of the closing bell for Williams Lake on-line registration I chose one gear.  Having settled on the single speed category race, I now had to decide on a gear ratio. 33/18 worked for the Singlespeed-a-Palooza (SSAP) and since I’m too lazy to change the ratio, it should be just right. The last time I rode my SS was in the SSAP and I wasn't completely pleased with my body position and steering. I felt a little too upright and the steering a little too quick. No problem, I’ll swap out the stem and bars. The course is going to be “dry” (mid-Atlantic dry is defined as rock moss having lost the bulk of its moisture and mud not sticking to your bike) so the 2.1 fast rollers, currently on the bike, inflated to 28 psig are the ticket.

Having the bike squared away, it’s time to focus on hydration and nutrition. I’m still hooked on GU products so the only decisions are Strength of mixture and flavor: two Polar bottles of half strength GU Brew; one pre-race and one during the race and three GU gels; a vanilla orange Roctane prior to start, and a salted caramel for each successive lap - all secured to the frame for ease of access. Chatham Brewing has my recovery covered.

The pre-ride was especially important. I needed to decipher the course in terms of my ability on the SS; e.g., which sections was it more advantageous for me to run than to ride and at what point on the technical climbs do I cyclocross-style dismount to avoid over-exertion and stalling. After all it’s a race; i.e., how fast can you get from point “A” to point “B” with your bike, not necessarily on your bike?

I neglected to mention one factor in my race category decision making process, which may have skewed the process to the point where all common sense had been thrown out with the proverbial bath water. Someone had said that so-and-so, who happened to be registered in the single-speed category, had gotten faster than me. The gauntlet had been tossed – it didn't matter that it had been tossed by a third party. Nor was it particularly important that so-and-so would never know that he and I were in a death match. It was probably better that he didn’t.

The death match death blow was craftily administered during a period of confusion. I waited in the shadows until our fully geared counterparts harkened to pass. In one swift calculated act of death matchness I blended into the geared ones, passed my foe and blocked obstacle riders between the two of us to prevent an immediate counter-pass. All that was left to do was execute the race to plan by staying out-of-sight and out-of-mind; his mind, not mine.

In the end, I had raced the Williams Lake Classic differently than ever before, definitely gotten different results and had one of the most satisfying second from last place finishes I had ever accomplished. Just don’t tell so-and-so.

Event Photos