Firecracker 50 pre-ride

double click to bring up a bigger image

Six Chipotle-Titus riders headed to Breckenridge to scout the course Thursday. This is a classic mountain bike race course. It has big climbs, short steep climbs, fast single track, fast fire road descents & tight turns in the trees. There is 3700 feet of climbing per lap over 25 miles. 1:50 was the fastest pro last year; 2:02 per lap won the masters men; 2:45 won the masters women, but expect a lot faster this year. 

Mike Hogan notes "the race will be won on the climbs & lost on the descents". This has always been a race of attrition. The fast starters often are not so fast on lap 2. There are 5 main climbs per lap. Climb 1 is 5.5 miles & 1200 feet. It is very tame, though with an average of 3.9% grade. There is a fast smooth single track section that is actually all uphill, but feels like a downhill. Climb #2 is a short steep push; 1/2 mile @11%-17% grade. This is the top of the course at 11,300 feet. A dicey loose rock descent follows this climb for 1/4 mile. Then it the a fast 2 way section of the course - watch for uphill riders. Climb #3 seems to be the decider in this race. It is 2.1 miles @ 7%-21% grade over loose rock. It seemed easy in the pre-ride but will rip your quads on lap 2. 

After the 3rd climb comes your reward - fast, narrow single track descents. This is a fun section, but stay alert. One bobble & you will be 200 vertical feet off course. Climb #4 hardly shows on the map. Only 1/2 mile long  at 9%-20%, but it comes when you were just enjoying the downhill & it hurts. Climb #5 is back up the 2 way section; 1.2 mile@8%.  Stay right & stay alert for descending riders. You can make up a lot of time here. Then comes the real fun - a  very fast, very twisty descent to the lap/finish. Careful here not to clip a tree. The track is smooth & solid but the trees some at you fast.

 

Tire selection is important. The consensus is the Kenda Karisma UST or a Karma rear & Kharisma front. This course eats tires. You want new rubber on. The sharp rocks can easily rip a sidewall. Use a slightly heavier tire or you may be walking home. 

We will have team feed zones set up & there are 3 neutral feeds as well. A camel back is still a consideration as it is hard to grab your bottle during much of the race. 

This will be a fun race & the biggest marathon nationals ever! See you on the 4th