ORAMM Taco supreme
OK - so here’s my story. This was my 3rd year doing ORAMM - I know, you’re probably wondering why exactly do it a 3rd time??? Each year about 2/3 up Curtis Creek I ask why I’m punishing myself like this. Then the payback on heartbreak ridge and the thrill of competing against so many other fast riders, and trying to improve on your time each year. So this year my goal was sub 7 hours.
The start went pretty well and I stuck with the top 50 racers through the beginning of Mill Creek without expending too much effort. Things started thinning out a bit there. Then Todd through in an interesting twist - rather than take Mill Creek all the way up, the route went up some doubletrack and then a short section of steep singletrack to get the heart rates really pumping. Then came Kitsuma and the early work to get out front paid off - I was far enough up the field that I was able to ride all the Kitsuma section - we were spread out nicely at this point - sailed right through the initial sketchy decents on Kitsuma. We had a solid group - made it over the last bit of climbing on Kitsuma then the pace really kicked in on the downhills. I was in a good groove and cooking down Kitsuma when WAM! Before I knew it I went superman over the bars, rolled into the bushes, and found myself lying flat out 10 feet down the trail from my bike. Took stock of the situation - luckily no major carnage - just some (soon to be very sore) scratched up shoulders and back side. Now on to the bike. Hmmm … my front tire rolled off - no prob I can fix that. But then a closer look and uh oh - my wheel was totally taco! So at this point I instantly go from the high of having a great start in the race to the total low point of seeing my day done for and I’m only about an hour into the race ;-(
OK - have to just deal with it - can’t give up yet. So I start walking down Kitsuma - at this point I have over half of Kitsuma still to go - and it’s real slow going. Even though I’m walking/running with the bike most of the way I’ve got people flying up behind me - so one eye forward and one back and I’m jumping off the trail every few seconds as I hear riders approaching. Got lots of interesting looks from people though. Most were asking if I needed any help - then the reaction was interesting when they saw the wheel. "Got a spare wheel?" I’d joke. So eventually I get to the bottom of Kitsuma and this guy is directing racers to the next turn. "Got a spare front disc wheel?" I ask - and to my total amazement and luck he says "sure, got my bike right here". Long story short, he lets me borrow his front wheel and after I quickly realign my brake calipers I’m on my way. Jason Holt (I hope I remembered that right) you are a lifesaver - thanks so much for letting me use your wheel for the day.
So at this point I’ve lost about an hour and have gone from top 50 to the back end of the pack. Riders are so spread out at this point that I’m pretty sure I’m just about dead last ;-( I pull into Aid Station #1 at 2:45 into the race - about an hour behind my previous pace. Oh well, gotta make the best of it so I grab some water and head up the singletrack towards Star Gap as I try to get the legs back warmed up and into the game.
It was actually a lot of fun working my way back through the field - hung out and talked with a bunch of Triangle folks along the way. Made a quick pit at Aid #2 to refill the water bottles and started on the big climb of the day - Curtis Creek. Saw lots of folks suffering on Curtis Creek - wasn’t a pretty site - people walking, people lying down on the side of the road, people just getting by in granny gear. That climb goes on and on. Then as I got closer to the top kicked it in and pushed the pace up to Aid #3 - a quick swap of water bottles and I’m on my way up the Parkway. "I love to climb" I tell myself trying to stay psyched up. So this year things were a bit different. Previous years you climbed up Curtis Creek (9 miles, 2300′) and then went back down a gravel road. This year the climb continued up the Parkway after Aid #3. So you end up with 11 miles and 2900′ of continuous climbing. I actually liked the route change - the parkway is very scenic and it’s nice and cool up there. I pushed hard in the middle ring up the parkway in and out of the saddle. After riding this portion in the road Assault I knew there would be a ~2 mile downhill coming soon. Went super-aero and screamed down the parkway, then a little more climbing and sweet! Mile marker 353 which means Heartbreak ridge is near.
I had a blast on the 30 minute descent down Heartbreak and Star Gap to Aid #5 - that’s some really sweet singletrack. Also had much better luck the 2nd time down Kitsuma - no broken bike parts! Then cranked it up back into town - that last pavement section is nice - most is slight downhill so you can really wind it out to finish up the race.
Rolled back into town for a total time of 7:31 … missed my goal by a bit but overall I was totally stoked that I was able to finish. Great race! Next year I’ll have to pick my lines a bit better. In hindsight I think I just picked a bad line and that’s what caused the wheel to taco. There were a few pointed rocks (solid - totally embedded in the ground) sticking up in the trail and must have hit them at just the right angle.