Goal Achieved !

Hit a goal recently -- to complete a Winter fat bike race. I had planned two different races last Winter, but Mother Nature wasn't my friend, with a fickle Winter with inconsistent snow.

This year, my first opportunity was the Fat Chance race at Crystal Mountain on January 20th, part of the Short's Brewing Fat Bike Series. Now, January in the Upper Midwest is an interesting time. I've seen 50F degree days, and as I write this, it's currently -9F with wind chills in the negative 30's.  This race was no exception. Raceday forecast called for a high of 4, with 10-15mph north winds. Yummy.

I threw it out to cycling friends on social media and got some very solid input. Wear layers. Try ski goggles and helmet. Silk liner with a wool sock. So I adopted these, plus some others I'd already used on cold weather rides (half shot of vodka keeps that water bottle from freezing). And then I signed up!

Race day was cold, but didn't seem awful. At least, for a few minutes loading up the vehicle. But I was surprised by how comfortable I felt. The race was either 90 minutes or 45 minutes on a groomed 2 mile loop. Perfect for my first race - not like getting stuck a dozen miles into a 20 mile ride.

If you've not ridden a fat bike in groomed snow, it's interesting. It's cool and quirky, with a very different feel from traditional mountain bike trails. The scenery is beautiful. And it's a LOT more work!!!

The start was pretty entertaining as dozens of not-so-nimble fat bikes, ridden by dozens of not-so-nimble riders in bunches of layers fumbled off onto the trail. The first lap was mostly just finding my groove. I've not done a ton of groomed snow fat bike riding, so the simple act of cornering was a learning experience. Curiously passing (which I was not doing a lot of) actually seemed easier than in a conventional race. I guess that's the slow-mo nature of the fat bike.

By the end of lap one, I had cold fingers, so-so toes, and a rapidly overheating core. Also a feeling that I was going to be happy to finish two laps. But lap two found more confidence, an increased pace, more passes, and just generally more fun! Oh, and I learned that I think the ski helmet/goggles were too warm for this aerobic of an activity. Yup, hot head and foggy glasses.

As I wrapped up lap two, my hardy (or perhaps foolish?) girlfriend was cheering me on, so I figured "what the hell, let's do this..." and rolled off on lap three. This lap was considerably more difficult. First I was cold and fatigued. Second, with the glasses fogging, I had only the vaguest sense for where I was going. But somehow, I persevered, sucked it up, and finished the third lap right near the 45 minute mark.

Exhausted. Cold. Tired. But I did it!!!! This kind of goal setting has become key as I move into the land of the midlife athlete. Set the goal. Train for it. Attempt the goal. Succeed. Set the next goal.

So... you're asking what the next goal is?

How about completing the Iceman Cometh on a single speed? I have to commit by March 1st. So time to train!

-Sean-