Event: HIBERNIA SPRING BASH

Name: TIM MESSSERSMITH

City: YORK

State/Province: PA

Country: USA

Age: 50

CLASS +/or Age group: 45+

Category: Expert

Team: FIRST CAPITAL VELO

XC Race Bike: TREK FUEL 100

Tires: HUTCHINSON PYTHON TUBELESS

Conditions: ALL

Email: TIMMES@MSN.COM

How was your fitness level going into this race?

I WASN'T QUITE SURE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TRAIN LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO, SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AS WELL AS BUILDING MY OLDEST DAUGHTER'S HOME. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME TRAINING HOURS IN, ONLY ONE HOUR THIS PAST WEEK. I WAS FEELING A BIT TIRED BEFORE THE RACE AND WASN'T QUITE SURE I WAS GOING TO KICK IN GEAR OR NOT, BUT THE RACE WENT BETTER THAN I EXPECTED! I WAS VERY HAPPY HOW THE RACE UNFOLDED.

Did you have any problems getting into the singletrack?

AT THE START OF THE RACE I HAD A PROBLEM WITH A PEDAL AND DIDN'T GET A VERY GOOD START. I ENDED UP BACK IN THE FIELD IN THE FIRST DOWN HILL. MIKE EATOUGH LOOKED REALLY GOOD LEADING THE GROUP DOWN THE HILL! I COULDN'T GET AROUND THE RIDERS IN FRONT, BUT ALSO FIGURED IT'S A LONG 20 MILE RACE. I KNEW I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO SHAKE IT OUT. WE CAME INTO THE FIRST CLIMB AND WE'RE ALL TIGHT, BANGING WHEELS TOGETHER. AS IT LEVELED OUT I STARTED FINDING ROOM TO GET THROUGH. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS LEADING COMING INTO THE FIRST ROCKY SECTION OF SINGLETRACK. SO YOU COULD SAY I WAS VERY HAPPY!!

Were you strong from start to finish?

AFTER WE GOT STARTED AND I GOT THE BLOOD PUMPING THE BIKE WAS HANDLING GREAT, I FELT RATHER GOOD ALL THROUGH THE RACE. MAYBE ANOTHER COUPLE LAPS WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.

When did you put the hammer down?

KURT AND I WERE PLAYING "CAT & MOUSE" FROM THE BEGINNING. I KNEW HE WAS A STRONG COMPETITOR WITH A ROAD RACING BACKGROUND. SINCE THE COURSE WAS NOT VERY TECHNICAL EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST LITTLE SECTION. I KIND OF FIGURED WE WOULD BE TOGETHER TO THE END AND IT WOULD BE DOWN TO A SPRINT FINISH, BUT AS WE WERE PLAYING AROUND ONE OF HIS TEAM MATES CAUGHT UP TO US GOING INTO THE FOURTH LAP. AT THAT POINT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY THIS ROADY GAME OF BLOCKING AND DRAFTING WHERE WE CAN. SO I GOT ON KURT'S REAR WHEEL WHERE THAT HE WAS RUNNING 2ND PLACE BEHIND HIS TEAM MATE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD COME DOWN TO THE END WITH THESE TWO GUYS, SO AS WE WERE APPROACHING THE TECHNICAL SECTION OF SINGLETRACK I FIGURED THIS IS MY CHANCE TO SEE IF I CAN GET A JUMP ON THEM AND HOLD THEM OFF FOR THE REST OF THE RACE. THAT'S WHEN I PUT THE HAMMER DOWN AND KEPT IT DOWN UNTIL THE END!

Did you have any unusual problems?

YES I DID. ON THE FIRST LAP I GOT TANGLED WITH KURT WITH MY FRONT WHEEL AND IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS TAKING OUT ALL MY SPOKES WITH HIS REAR DERAULER. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE RACE ON MY BRAND NEW CROSSMAX TUBELESS WHEELS I HAVE A BROKEN SPOKE AND A COUPLE BENT ONES. ALSO ON THE SECOND LAP ON THE FIRST DOWN HILL I CAME INTO THE BOTTOM TURN WITH TOO MUCH SPEED AND LOST CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND WENT DOWN. THERE I MUST HAVE TORN THE HYDRAULIC LINE OUT OF MY BRAKE LEVER. I HAD TO RIDE THE REST OF THE RACE WITH JUST THE REAR BRAKE.

Were you happy with the way the race was run?

YES, EXCEPT FOR THE BIT OF DELAY OF THE START.

Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?

I HAD SOME FUN PLAYING WITH THE COMPETITION AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING TO TRANSPIRE.

Anything you would like to add?

IT WAS A GREAT DAY WITH A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR A GOOD TIME AND SUPPORT! I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY MENTOR, MIKE EATOUGH!