2017 Long Sock Classic

The Ganaraska Forest and I have a love hate relationship. You could say it is a abusive one as I have never had an easy issue free race there. Leg cramps to the year of the bog DNF. After taking a year away from racing in the Ganny it was a return to racing there with the 2017 Long Sock Classic Half Marathon.




With the passing of my mother in law at Christmas I no longer get to drive to Scarborough and sleep the night before a race closer to the Ganny. So this would be the first race morning long drive to a race in the Ganny. Of course couldn't make it easy so spent till late evening Friday running around moving furniture. 



 After arriving a little later than planned and getting ready with a little bugging Barry about fixing his lack of singlespeed problem with a Philips screwdriver. A bit after could see the start of the cattle call like gathering at the start line. I now days stay clear of that for as long as possible as standing around waiting doing nothing gives to much time to over think.  Spun around the grass a bit more then got in line near the back as I again had no expectations. Well maybe shouldn't say one expectation, that being the venue being the Ganny. And so was expecting there to be potential for a fight.



Dan blew the start whistle and off we where to the first bit of double track and I do admit I started well and seemed to move up easily. But remember this is the Ganny and easy can be an illusion. Then it was onto 10th Line Or Oak Ridges Trail which when raced the other way is The Dirt Road From Hell. Nearing the end things where going pretty good and after some more double track into the the singletrack.


This is to me where the real racing starts because it is where skills and technique can make up time. And just as I was getting going the Ganny striked. A corner where it went from cornering well to a 2 wheel drift to smash. Left knee taking the brunt and I think denting the root I hit with it. After a quick assessment to make sure nothing serious back on the bike. And try to get everything going again. Little did I know that this was actually going to a wee bit harder. Through the singletrack and slowly catching back up to the 2 a head. It would be on the next bit of double track I am guessing about 15k in when the next challenge arrived.

 Can't see the bone bruise

After bouncing down the double track and shifting a few times suddenly had grinding as I pedalled. Stop and checked to discover the chain derailed from the lower pulley. Fixed and while later it did it again. Fixed it and it disappered on the singletrack.

Hard to see but twisted lower cage.

Little did I know at the time that in the crash it some who had bent the lower cage of the rear derailleur. Didn't know this till after closer inspection in the Bike Brothel and mounting another one to find out it was bent. Nope, can never be easy in the Ganny. At least the good news is that in the singletrack it never acted up. So it was only at certain points on the doubletrack that the twisted derailleur acted up. And every time had to stop and dick around with this got a rider got past and then had to chase down and re-pass again.  Despite this was able to move up a few places before the aid station.


After the aid station it was more singletrack with a side of doubletrack derailleur pain. As I said nothing is ever easy racing in the Ganny. And finally it was the 10k marker where I continued focusing on trying to be smooth through the singletrack.  Caught a couple of guys at the 5k mark and kept the flow. Then finally it was just after the 1k mark I caught 2 more riders who if it was another 5k would have opened a gap. But we stayed close the rest of the way. Knowing they where close as we hit the grass before the final 180 degree left hander I wasn't going to take it easy. Not after smashing and fighting a lousy jockey wheel to move up the field. Sprinted to the line and was done.

Long Sock Clydesdale Results


Grabbed a beer and chair under the Lapdog tent and relaxed after another fight with the Ganny. After a bit it was the awards where Dan called the Clydesdale category and found out that despite the derailleur caused loss of time got third.  Despite the drive train issue slowing me down.  Oh, did I mention I did this on a antiquated Luddite wheel size?

O-Cup #2 Kingston

May 7th was the second stop of the O-Cup XC series which could have been easily mistaken for the Ontario Bog Trotters Cup races sponsored by Mephisto's Mud Studs.

O Cup #2

The day's leading up to the race we faced 150mm plus of rain with the  ground and water systems already saturated. During that period I worked with others to best prepare the track over long hours prior. I  am not a short course man. Add in that it has been 20 years since I last did a race of this type. It was a BC Cup in Vancouver BC at Kerr Park with half the course mud and water while it pissed rain with sections BB and hub deep. Hmm..seems like a theme for me when you add in MTB races with "Cup" in the title.


I should say that I have been course crew for races off and on since 1986. And despite the conditions another race wasn't cancelled because the course crew wasn't able to prepare the track.  We where able to pull it off. Team Colin mentioned this in his blog.

Team Colin

Taking in the conditions as well as not being a short course guy I was viewing this as the Kenyans would call it a Training Race.  As well as a equipment test as had a week prior just put a more modern fork on the Mistress Mk2 and it now had a lower stem height.  So Sat night I also noted that this race would be a test of mental toughness, that the conditions would from the start would test one's  mental strength ability to endure as well as brake pads and drive trains.

2017 O Cup #2 Kingston Album

Though to be fair being a BC kid I have the advantage that being used to wet and muddy has. Let' face reality growing up in Vancouver you either deal with the rain or never do anything outside.


Once the whistle blew it was the beginning of a two lap slog. That unfortunately by the 11:45 race had begun to dry and the mud was heading into the peanut butter variety. Yay. Since not worried about placing...who am I kidding I don't worry about it anymore. Though I had a hunch of what would soon happen as everyone sprinted through the barn into Sangers Sandbox. ANd just after the pump section it was like driving the 401 and hitting the outskirts of the GTA...sudden traffic slowing and going no where fast. Really you may as wel have been using an Abacus to time the race.

It became two laps of ride what you can and when you can't hoof it. On the first lap you could see for some the battle of equipment was being lost as they DNF'd with drive train issues. Yet some where in this I past and left in behind fellow Clydesdale Team Colin. I do admit that there was some satisfaction as last fall at the Marathon he beat me. This time I beat him in hard conditions.

As the 2 laps progressed you could see some where cracking or about to crack. And this is where one of my pet peeves of racing showed up, that being public crackings.  Maybe it is just me but if your going to crack or going into that race dark place. To me that is a personal battle, I won't drag you into mine like this one...

2014 Bad Day at Paul's Dirty Enduro

I get it racing is tough and it is a chance we take that we will have a bad day. But please, don't make it public. I know what your trying to do. Your feeling lousy and trying to drag me down into your experience. Because by doing that it will make things better in your mind. No thank you, I am having a bad day as well and am engaged in my own fight. Especially this day. All this does is provide more incentive to leave you behind.

And did just that to one racer. I didn't know that somewhere during the race it was decided that it would be 2 laps instead of 3. A fact I didn't find out till the end of the 2nd lap when we where quietly  told that was it.  Our labour was over. Bravo Zulu.

Had a small surprise as my wife showed up briefly to see if it was all good. Would have been better if she had given me a big hug and kiss.....but apparently she can tolerate sweaty and salty not muddy.

Trenton Loop Search

Had a chance on April 29th  before the week of deluge to go down to Trenton area to explore around back of Batawa. Last time I visited was about 4 years ago to do the Lower Trent Trail which as I found it to be a mind numbing ride.

Lower Trent Trail

This trip I wanted to explore some of the other track behind Batawa Ski Hill before it became overgrown and cooking hot. After a few side routes that where dead ends. Managed to find a route that got me to Batawa Road.


Trenton Exploration

But before I went to ride that I checked out another nearby spot that I spotted on a map to see if it offered anything and it didn't.

Seeking Trail

So it was back to the original plan of wandering around to see hat else as there. Again I do admit to doing it out of boredom as well as simply trying to create more options for riding. Plus it does get tiresome hearing the whinging that there isn't much to ride in Eastern Ontario. When I know by being creative in one' search you can find options. And not all will be singletrack as seems to be this mystical "gold" standard now days.

Yet if you look at the Scottish mountain bikers they ride singletrack, double track, and 4x4 track. Case in point,

Not just singletrack

And even the singletrack doesn't need to be golf course level manicured. Many I know would have fits if they tried to ride this.

Barely maintained singletrack


And with this in mind it was off to wander.

Based on the tracks there has been some riders here already. Good to see in truth.

Water Water Water

Though some sections had to be careful as the water levels this year are really high. Especially in the lower areas.

 Hmm...nope

Found a few dead ends. I mean sure it is a unplowed farm field. But as a rule unless I know a way round I try to never go marching through the middle. Even better if it is a long haul to the road not to.

Batawa Rd

After another dead end found the right track and finally came out at Batawa Road. And after thinking about it decided to make it a loop. So headed east on Batawa Rd towards the Trent River. And hooked up with the Lower Trent Trail. Then it was back to Batawa to go ride up to the top of the ski hill.

Mistress Mk1A2

I had brought Mistress Mk1A2 as I wanted to hit the sort of DH track off the top I had found on a previous visit back in 2008 or 2009.

2009?

And I wanted to try the Mistress Mk1A2 on a track I had ridden before. As it is the replacement for the stolen predecessor. Especially as the track I was going to do was rougher than Kingston area but not like Camp Fortune. Was able to get 4 runs with 3 of them timed and recorded via GPS. Even wet so far as that night creating a Strava segment for other times was able to be there.

When it was all said and done found a little 19km loop near Batawa ski hill with potential to add more if I can find more. And some fun on a DH like track to conclude a good little road trip.