Mountain Bike Cross Train

While I enjoy running (duh!), my first love is mountain biking.  There is nothing like the feeling of being in the flow of a trail, when I feel like me, the trail, and the bike are one.  Even though I am a bit slower (maybe a lot slower) and more cautious than I was 20 years ago, I still get out once or twice a month.  Mountain biking is great for cross training - the rolling resistance and weight of the bike makes for great work out.

I am lucky to live within a couple of miles of Wakefield Park, which has some nice trails that have a little bit of everything: Log jumps, whoop de doos, jumps, and up and downhill switchbacks.  Each summer, a local bike club (www.Potomacvelo.com) hosts a series of 4 mid-week races called Wednesdays at Wakefield. I really love these races because of their low key approach.  Just show up, pay $20, sign a waiver and you are good to race.  There are dozens of categories including: five youth ages (10 and under through 17); single speed; fat tire bikes; two Masters (35+, 45+); sport; and expert.  Surprisingly, the 45+ Masters is only slightly less competitive than the expert.

The course is short, consisting of two runs around a five mile loop. Typically the Masters start at 6 pm. followed by the Expert and Sport divisions at 6:45.  My goal each year is to finish my second loop before the Experts catch me on their 1st pass.  There is nothing more demoralizing than to be pedaling hard as you can only to hear a faint  "On Your Left" immediately followed by 4 or 5 racers flying by me like I am standing still.  It is comparable to trying to drive on the autobahn in a Smart Car.

This year, instead of riding my 15 year old Klein Adapt, I "borrowed" my son's 2014 Cannondale Scalpel 29ers.  For those that don't know, bigger wheels (29 inch) are taking over in mountain bikes.  While they have slightly higher rolling resistance, they can roll over almost any obstacle.  I was pleasantly surprised with how well the 1st loop went, only one spill when I tried to pass a slower rider by cutting through some overgrowth.   Unfortunately, I had a mechanical failure on the 2nd leg (the bike, not me), forcing me to dismount and walk the bike the last mile.  

Guess I ended up getting my run in anyways =).  For full video (not me), check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6Dl2bDgCw