Sunday, August 13, 2006

Hodges Damn Destruction


Sunday, at 9:30 am I knew exactly what was needed for this style of course, all out pedaling. The course was completely different this year and during the pre-ride I heard a little creaking from down below. Bottom bracket...its made noise before so I didn't think much of it. We get called to the line. It was a long gradual fire road of loose rock and gravel until you enter the first stint of single track. Whistle blows, we all take off. I couldn't get clipped in right away so I had to make up ground and was able to get to second right when we turn into the woods...and then it happened. That strange noise, something you have never heard before but you know instantly that it cannot be good. Creak, Groan, and an odd scraping sound. Bottom bracket just self destructed but it wasn't all lost yet, I managed to hold first down for about a mile before the wobbly spindle became a floating wobbly spindle and I lost any shifting. My bike was in full ghost shift mode. I mananged the first lap and even did the second lap. Trying to run, walk, huff and puff through it. I figured any kind of aerobic training would be good and I haven't run in MTB shoes before so why not. FInished the race dead last but there will not be a DNF next to my plate #. I think I only finished about 14 minutes off the leader.
The bike is going ot need some serious work. The bottom bracket cups could be siezed in the frame but Norm over at the Cyclery is gonna work the black magic and coax it out....I hope.....he had a reserved optimism about it. Till the next time, the sounds of shredding steel will sure haunt my dreams

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