Addison Oaks Summer Classic PREVIEW

 It is once again race week for me. On Sunday I will gear up and head east to Leonard, MI. This is the plan, barring any circumstances change. :)

It has been a long time since I have ridden at Addison Oaks. It was 9 years ago, back when this race was in the fall. I honestly don't know when it changed, but that really doesn't matter. Because it has been so long, I don't remember much of the course. I have vague flickers of the parking lot and the finish area, but it has changed as well. 

Maybe I over analyze things. Maybe I like to be prepared. I just like to have an idea of what I will have to deal with when I start a race. Well, I like to have plans even for my regular rides. That fear of the unknown is something I struggle with. lol. Or....I just like to be prepared. Yeah, that's it. I like to have my plans laid out and go from there. Not really a fly by the seat of your pants person. Anyway...here we go.

Addison Oaks Summer Classic

Clockwise direction

This event is the fundraiser for CRAMBA. This is the Clinton River Area chapter of the IMBA. This will be race #6 in the Michigan Off Road Championship. 

I had a nice conversation with a friend of mine that knows this course pretty well. Jimmy and I used to race against each other for many years back in the CPS days of the MMBA. He has since moved south, but he took the time to give me some greatly appreciated tips. Was also good to catch up with him, been a while. Time, as usual, flies.

Jimmy pointed out that the course hasn't changed much, other than the start. The start used to go against the grain of the finish. It would create two way traffic on the bridge. The initial climb was then singletrack as well. It was tighter and nastier than the new entry.

Now, the start is a wide grassy area. After a few turns the grass turns to a short section of pavement before entering the woods on a gravel trail. It is still a climb, and will surely put the legs to the test early. This wide climb should create the spacing for the singletrack and break apart the starting group.

At the top of the climb the course takes a left into the singletrack. This is where the old and new courses match up. With heart rate maxed out, just gotta keep pushing on this first section. Its still a bit uphill, there are segments of relief. Nothing super tight in here, just regular singletrack with a few small rock gardens. Looks like room to pass (or be passed) if needed in this first segment. Eventually the woods open up and it seems like you can see a long ways ahead, being able to keep riders in views.

There is a longer bridge over the swamp that throws you into a small climb before a solid descent. Rest the legs here if you can, just don't lose any speed! Eventually the trail opens up into a wider section. Good place to take a drink, or hammer down and get around someone. This is a flowy section where speed can be carried.. That ends soon enough and the trail narrows back down again. A long straight away gives you a view of riders in front of you, and then another open area does the same.  But when you cross the bridge there is a punchy climb, so be ready. Hit the base hard and you should be able to carry the hill.

After some more trail you hit your first paved section. A nice wide blacktop trail that has a bit of elevation gain. Kick back into the woods and its a flowy curvy section with another climb. Seems to be a long climb out of here too. Based on what I see it just keeps going up up up. Not a steep section, but some climbing for sure. Not saying it doesn't get steep in some areas, but for the most part the climbs are just grinders. 

This last section is where a lot of the climbing seems to be. They look to be the most difficult on the course. In most cases you can see them coming, so keep those eyes down the trail. UP the trail? Hmm. keep watching the trail. lol.

Bomb the descent towards the lake and carry the next hill. It looks like some curves that need to be carried. They will steal your momentum, so smooth is king here. Keep climbing up away from the lake, your legs will be screaming here. This last section has more roots than the rest of the trail too, on top of the bridges and rocky areas. 

Then you hit The Wall. It starts slow, and just gets more gross the higher you get. It flattens out for a second, then goes up some more. Then you start a downhill and see the funky rock that has a hard left after it. A bit more climbing and the lap is coming to a close. The legs finally get a break and there is some good downhill for a bit. Another wide section gives way to the last black top segment that crossed the bridge and kicks you back into the grass towards the finish area. Time for another lap!

Nothing really seems to sneak up on you. There are a few climbs straight out of corners, so momentum and smooth lines are important. Gotta hold that speed into the corners to help make the hills smaller. There are a lot of wooden bridges out there, so if it rains at all....be alert. Don't need anyone eating shit on a bridge. 

For me, it will be 2 laps. This is around 14 miles total with under 1000 feet of climbing. With a lot of the climbing in the later part of the lap, it will be interesting coming into the finish. People will be getting tired when the hills really start. Need to temper the efforts on the first section and save the gas for the final couple of miles.....if I can. 

Finish times seem pretty fast....so it should be interesting to see what happens. The start will be key. I would like to be top 3 heading into the woods. I hope the group disassembles itself like it did at the Custer Stampede. I was able to slide into 3rd when we hit the woods and build enough of a gap to not be pressured the entire race. That is my goal again here. There are certain areas where I can take a peek back and see if anyone is coming, but my focus will be forward. If I worry too much about who is coming, I can be distracted and ride sloppy. 

Based on the finishing times from last year I will need to be sub 35 min laps to be top 5. The winner last year nearly broke an hour on his 2 laps. I know I don't ride that fast. I am hoping the distance is a bit shorter than the claimed 7.25, because that makes more sense for the higher speeds. Based on my strava results from many years ago....the laps seem to be sub 6 miles. I should be able to shave time off of my old PR from 2016. I was probably 40 pounds heavier than I am now, so that gives me some hope. My last average time would have landed me in 8th last year. So, that again makes me optimistic for a higher finish. 

If CG (current leader) doesn't show up I will need to place 3rd to pass him in the series. My goal, will be to podium again. I will be shooting for Gold, but I will take anything in the top 3. The temps will surely play a factor. Thankfully I am not as big as I was, so I should be ok. I plan to do a few outside rides this week to get acclimated. 

All of this adds up nothing until the say "3, 2, 1....go!!!!" on Sunday. Maybe some beasts will show up and tear my legs off. Maybe it rains and makes conditions awful. Fort Custer turned against me when the rain showed up. Maybe the body won't be in the mood. A lot of things can happen. I just know I will do what I can to be successful and enjoy the ride. 

At the end of the day I want a safe ride. And I want to win. But I really really want to move up the points list in the series as well. I am currently 3rd (by my calculations). If you reorder because one guy is actually qualified, I drop to 4th. After this next race multiple people will be qualified so the order will change again. Should be an interesting day as I am chasing new foes around. Not quite like old times, but it is good to be back in the woods. 

Goal time will be sub 1:10. That is 35 minute laps. I would love to say 1:06 and 33 minute laps, but that might be a stretch. I guess we find out on Sunday.  (Like I said, podium is the main goal).