9Hrs of Cranky Monkey

I am a little late on this write-up but better late then never I guess, that what they say at least. This is probably my favorite race that I do each year. Granted I only do a few but EX2 Adventures do a great job with their events. The race was a few weeks earlier this year then last and I was slated to be out of town on a military trip for most of May so at first I didn't even register for the race. My trip got cancelled and the night I learned that news I registered a team for the cranky. I had wanted to do a two man relay team originally but ended with a trio team. A few days before the race one of my teammates backed out of the race on me and I was scrambling to find a replacement. After a lot of looking we found a guy. A beast rider named Brian Toro. I was kind of worried that I would embarrass him on the trail but realized it would be nice to have a strong rider to bring our total ride time down a little. Well enough of the pre-race build-up, lets just fast forward to Shane and I arriving at Rocky Gap State Park for the Cranky Monkey Race!

Other pits along the course

Our pit area

As soon as we pulled into the park we noticed the pit area full of tents from racers that had camped the previous night. We walked around a little scoping for a good pit spot ourselves and I noticed the course layout to the finish was a little different then last year, but better. The end of the loop brought you down by the lake one last time before the finish instead of through the parking lot. We were able to pit under a big tree right on the finishing sprint. This year our pit was a little bigger due to other friends riding the race too, we all pitted next to each other. This made the between lap time go by faster. Once our pit was all set-up Brian arrived and we got our packets and bib numbers, now it was about time to get rolling.

Racers running to there bikes La-mans start

We figured that Brian would be our strongest rider so we elected him to lead us out. The race features a La-mans start, which means there is a foot race to your bike to start. Brian did a good job of getting in the front of the pack and out on the trail quickly (one mistake I made last year on my 1st lap).  Well the race was now underway and that left me to start warming up a little before Brian came in for the hand off. The course is a little over 8 miles long. I had no idea what kind of time to expect for the first lap. .

Brian Beats Toro grabbing his steed

I was in the hand off zone at about 30 minutes into the race just to be sure. The first riders started to come in shortly after that and Brian came rolling through around 55 minutes. We made the exchange and I was off! This is a beautiful course with some amazing singletrack to start you off. The first 4 miles or so skirt the edge of the lake. This makes for amazing views and fun riding. After the first couple miles the course takes a turn uphill for a decent climb on asphalt through some campgrounds the back on a fire road for  a                                                                                     ways to the next climb. This next climb is always a killer for me. It seems to never stop going up! I hit it a little better this year then years past but still ended up pushing the last quarter of the initial climb. I say initial climb because after the steep climb there is a little bit of down before you go right back up for another mile it seems. This section of the course is up off the lake on the mountain. Up here is were the name Rocky Gap came from...All that climbing is rewarded with a long downhill that is really rocky and the rocks are loose so it made for an out of control decent. That DH section brings you right back out to were the climb started then takes you right back along the lake. This back side of the lake is my favorite section. Most of the time one came make up some time on this section of singletrack. It is smooth and fast! I looked down at the ol garmin and noticed that I was on track to make a sub 50 minute lap, which was a personal goal of mine this year. There is a part of the trail that crossed big concrete spill ways to thew lake that is a good spot for a jump or two exiting the spillway but I guess one guy in front of me a ways landed a little wrong and flatted both tires. I stopped to see if he had all he needed then continued. After that the trail is pretty narrow singletrack until the sprint to the finish. I got bottled up with about 10 other racers. I passed a few in the end sprint but everyone was going for it at the end of the loop. I ended up coming in around 51 minutes. I was pretty happy with myself for that lap. Oh and I almost forgot the best part of that lap, My crank arm decided to work its way loose after the long DH so I was worried the whole back side of the lake about losing my crank. A quick couple turns of the 10mm hex and I was back in business. Now time to wait on Shane and Brian to do a lap before I go again.

Bike after first lap...

Well Shane came in around 52 minutes for his first lap then Brian headed out for his second lap. I ate a little food and tried to re-energize before Brian came in to hand off to me. This lap he came in quicker then before but I was ready. I was unsure of his time when I began but it turned out to be the same time to the second of my first lap. On my second lap I kept a close eye on my garmin. I wanted to see about when I was hitting different sections of the trail. I noticed that I reached the climbs right around the same time as my first lap, but now I had a new obstacle to overcome. The rain clouds came and it had started pouring rain as soon as I started the climbs. It mad for a miserable climb thats for sure, but then again they are all miserable to me. My glasses started fogging up so they had to go in the jersey pocket. I do not see very well without my glasses so I rode the DH section a lot slower then the first time and the back side of the lake started to get really muddy and rutted out, I came in that lap around 55 minutes or so. Yet again it was time to get dried off a little and refuel for the next.

Shane came in around 56 minutes and Brian went out again for his third lap. I found myself thinking that Brian was killing it riding a singlespeed for this race. I know if he was riding a geared bike he would be riding sub 45 minute laps here. He came in on his third around 52 minutes. Then it was time for me to ride my third and final lap. I made about the same time to the climb and noticed I did the climb just a few minutes slower but I hit the DH better this time because the sun was back out and my glasses weren't fogging up. I came into the back section of the lake with high hopes to make up some time and try to come in around 55 or less but the trail had other plans. The back side is primarily clay and it started to dry and became really tacky. I was doing fine until someone wrecked in front of me and I had to stop. Once I stopped i couldn't get started again and kept getting out of the way of others so I didn't wreck them.I ended up walking too much of that back side and came in just over an hour for my last lap.

After my last lap...

Post race mud

Our team ended up doing 9 laps all together which landed us in 7th out of 15 teams. I accomplished what I set out to do at this race. I shaved a little over 20 minutes off my total ride time from last year. I did 3 laps last year as well but much slower. We had a good group of guys and it was great to see one of my good friend Brian Patton win the solo division doing 10 laps. He is a monster! Also another group of buddies representing the 167th Cycling Ops turned out 11 laps putting them in 6th in their division. They were only seconds away from a podium finish but they killed it anyway! It was awesome riding with good friends at a good venue. I can't wait for next year! Get ready Brian Toro...maybe a duo team next year...? HAHA