russell g
Big Ring
Posts:363
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 06/15/2008 11:08 PM |
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The guys in Burlington were frickin awsome. The MC made me feel like I was at a Supercross race, he got the crowd pumped up for every rider it was great. The sport giveaways were the best I have ever seen, RJ scored a 200 dollar light and motion set. Great free food for riders those lil cheese grape sandwiches were tasty. Fast results, great payouts, everyone involved was way cool. Good Job Matt B. Smitty's cyclery provided the great giveaways. Thank you to everyone involved. Big thanks to Bio Wheels especially for the water bottle on the last lap. Burlington is a very nice lil town. If your out that way stop by and check out the trails in E/I.
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dilbert
Big Ring
Posts:148
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 7:58 AM |
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im going to have to agree. the guys put on a great race. awesome food also! I only enjoyed 50% of the track, i thought there was way too many washed out trails with no lines. Also, there was one section that was really overgrown still, in the last 75% of the course.
On a good note, the first technical section was great, and the last smooth section was great. Also, a great course for spectators.
Good work Guys!!!!!!!!!!
Edit: on a side note, i saw a ton of people taking pictures. make sure you post links! |
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G-MAN
Big Ring
Posts:244
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 06/16/2008 8:14 AM |
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| They did a great job except for the fact that they wouldn't let me register for the kid's race. I think I could have had a podium finish. |
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zherz
Little Ring
Posts:61
Registered Users
l-ville
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| 06/16/2008 9:18 AM |
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| EI race race directors and promoters definitely get the bigs ups from me. Great race, very well organized and super fun. I'll agree with Rusty that the sport prize were out of this world. Smitty cycles did it right. I also got one of those lights for finishing 1st in the 30 - 39 sport. super pumped, I've wanted a light for years now. Couldn't catch RJ for the 1st over all though. But, got give big props to all L-ville riders who came. We held it down for the Lou. Saw several familier Expert faces getting payout aka Rusty, T-bob, R-bear (even though you are a lex res now, I'll still give you Lou -rep status), Way to go T-bob with the win. |
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Tonybob
Big Ring
Posts:311
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 9:33 AM |
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| Thanks z, it was a great event. I was glad the heat let up, those twisty little trails really made you sweat. |
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Rowbear
Big Ring
Posts:375
Registered Users
Lexington, KY
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| 06/16/2008 10:17 AM |
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| good race. smitty's gave some serious swag. 27 miles or whatever it was out there was pretty hard though, first time I really bonked, I thought I was dieing. Rusty saved me with a popcicle after the race. |
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dilbert
Big Ring
Posts:148
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 10:32 AM |
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Posted By Rowbear on 06/16/2008 10:17 AM
first time I really bonked, I thought I was dieing.
i bonked too, about 5 miles in. don't know why, but i could barely walk up the hills. ended up throwing up. after 2 GUs, and half a camelback i was OK, but by that time the entire group was gone. I was just happy to finish |
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zherz
Little Ring
Posts:61
Registered Users
l-ville
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| 06/16/2008 10:45 AM |
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| I raced this last year and bonked HARD on the second lap, it's the closest I ever came to quitting because of how i felt. Those trail don't have and big climbs but the constant little ups and downs over the roots and rocks is tuff. I always get like a almost claustrophobic feeling there at some point because it's such a maze. It's hard to remember where your are at on the course. |
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StevenG
Coaster Brake
Posts:19
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 10:59 AM |
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Per Garmin GPS there was 1325 feet of climbing per lap, lots of little ups and downs add up to a lot. I think we feel it more since most of the climbs don't provide any momentum on the approach like the similar course at Capital View. It was harder than I thought it was going to be, this race hurt me more the Mohican 100K. I was in survival mode the last lap, just wanting to finish.
I am jeoulous of the Sport Class prizes, when I did sport class in 06 all I ever won was 2 pairs of ugly socks, a T-shirt 3 sizes too big, and a chain cleaner. |
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justwright03
Coaster Brake
Posts:15
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 11:01 AM |
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Nice job, Matt! One of the better-run MTB races I've ever attended. More importantly, my kids had a great time doing their first-ever bike races. The kids were all really excited to get their medals. And I think we all - kids and parents alike - really appreciated so many of the expert and sport class racers coming over to cheer the kids on. Made it feel like a real race experience for the kids, not just an afterthought like it is at so many events. This is the kind of stuff that gets kids hooked on cycling for a lifetime.
Throw in good food, free water, real event tents, a great emcee, terrific course markings and signage, a professional crew, and I think this event is going to become a must-ride for years to come. |
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justwright03
Coaster Brake
Posts:15
Registered Users
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| 06/16/2008 12:34 PM |
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Here's a little more recap from the Ohio side of the river, if anyone's interested. In addition to being a Kentucky series race, EI Park was also the first event of the CORA Series season this year.
http://joinomba.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9280#61661&sid=d3bb43a31cc8d40def603d75b96218ca
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MattB
Coaster Brake
Posts:18
Registered Users
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| 06/17/2008 6:08 AM |
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Thanks to everyone who made the trip up to Burlington for the race. Your enthusiastic participation is the stuff that will help us to make this an annual event!
For a first-year event, most things worked out well. The few things that didn't work out we'll iron out between now and the 2009 Race for the Graves. We'll have more time to round up big sponsors and good swag from vendors, although I definitely want to find a date other than Father's Day.
I work with the guy who was taking all the pictures and I hope to see what he took and find a way to post them in the next day or so. I'll post a link when I do.
Thanks again!
Matt B.
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Dark Helmet
Little Ring
Posts:57
Registered Users
Straight outta the 'Ville!
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| 06/17/2008 12:48 PM |
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I felt miserable about 1/4 of the way along the race. I really felt like quitting then. I had a couple of wrecks because my head was out of it. Justwright got a good view of my last one. It was awful to make a long climb and be rewarded with a nice sun baking. Around the end I felt great except I ran out of H20 with 2 miles to go. Unfortunately, my mechanical problems led me to quit with a mile to go.
Thanks to the guys who held a great race from Team Zeppelin!
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Evil will always triumph because good is dumb |
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Tonybob
Big Ring
Posts:311
Registered Users
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| 06/17/2008 1:04 PM |
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| Oh, and I forgot to mention that I couldnt have done it without (sorry if I give false credit here) the help of Team Zeppelin. 1/2 way through lap 2, learning that dudes hanging out by a creek in the woods thought I looked good put the fire back in my belly! ;) |
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Rowbear
Big Ring
Posts:375
Registered Users
Lexington, KY
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| 06/17/2008 1:10 PM |
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| I second that, the guys hanging out at the sharp right hander with about 1 or 2 miles to go, we're pretty encouraging, especially the older dude. During the race I was thinking I would thank him for the encouragement when it was done but by the time I finished I was so out of my mind that I wouldn't eat those chocolate chip and zucchini cookies because I thought they had weed in them and then I would be way out of my mind. |
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dilbert
Big Ring
Posts:148
Registered Users
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| 06/17/2008 3:02 PM |
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Posted By Dark Helmet on 06/17/2008 12:48 PM
Unfortunately, my mechanical problems led me to quit with a mile to go.
walk it in next time!!! Nothings worse than DNF! I have done it before, but i don't know your whole situation
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justwright03
Coaster Brake
Posts:15
Registered Users
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| 06/18/2008 10:19 AM |
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Posted By Dark Helmet on 06/17/2008 12:48 PM
Justwright got a good view of my last one.
My 9-year-old son thought it was pretty neat to learn that the human body was actually capable of skipping like a stone upon encountering a sufficiently deep body of water at a high rate of speed. Thanks for that little science lesson at least. ;-)
Glad you were OK. I don't blame you for calling it a day after that one. |
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MattB
Coaster Brake
Posts:18
Registered Users
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| 06/18/2008 10:51 AM |
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Did anyone lose a Camelbak and pair of gloves? I think someone brought them up from the course and dropped them at the registration table at the end of the day. Let me know... |
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dilbert
Big Ring
Posts:148
Registered Users
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| 06/23/2008 10:34 AM |
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any word on some photos? |
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justwright03
Coaster Brake
Posts:15
Registered Users
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| 06/23/2008 2:16 PM |
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Smitty's Cyclery has posted some nice photos on their team forum. Check it out here, including a nice video recap.
http://www.smittys-team.com/Forum/index.php?topic=495.45
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