first time at afton first race is afton

[Earthman]

ok i am far from the best mtber in the MN i know that. i went out to afton today to check the course out. it seems like there are a lot of sketchy areas and some places are just down right deadly. sketchy is fine in my book but deadly is not. a lot of trail seemed weak and breaking apart and not that sustainable.

i have my own personal fear of rock but then again i did eat it hard one time on a rock and pushed my handle bars straight through my body. so i can deal with the rocks i just do not like them.

it just seems like some of the areas much like "jzipfel" post (http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14352) i feel that some areas are not going to work at at 3am when you are biking.

which i will plan on walking up at night.

on the plus side a lot of the course was fun and it kicked my ass which is something i look for when biking. there is how ever a fine line between kicking your ass and beating it. which the afton trails seem to ride that line alot

i also was a little confused on the route.
are all the cut aways going to be there and how well marked is the race path.

i would rather walk a part then have a cut away and really if you give some one the option in a race i would guess that people will take the cut away.

i know that afton is more of a expert tail so i am fine with going slow and i am not really trying to bitch about it. am just saying that it seems to zigzag the line between sketchy and deadly at 3 A.M.

i am still looking forward to the race since this is my first one ya i know i picked a hard one for the first race, ya i am doing it solo. i just plan on cutting my lap time and amount down from what i thought i would do.

feel free to say hi when passing me or use my passed out and beat up body as a marker point when racing. please note that i said marker point not log ride.

[transplant]

Josh, it's a booger of a course, no doubt. Just go slow and all will be well, even at night. After a couple of laps, you'll know what to expect, and where. I had two crashes last year DURING DAYLIGHT, while my night laps went smooth. Go figure. I also walked a lot of the uphills last year and I wasn't the only one. This year is a solo effort on my part, too. Look for a white Jeep Cherokee with a red Santa Cruz Superlight and a Rocky Mountain Blizzard nearby. You can set up next to me and we can be miserable together:banana: I'll be getting to Afton about 2:00 on Friday, leaving to sleep at home for the night after 3 laps and then back early Saturday.

[phaberman1]

Those sections that seemed to be breaking apart are actually new and just getting broken in, and I believe will firm up during the race.

[Fool4TheCity]

I rode it yesterday and went down twice, and have a couple of minor scrapes on my leg to prove it. Afton is tough, it always has been always will be. Is it getting worse? Yes and no, there are a couple of areas that don't make much sense and are just plain dangerous. There are some areas that are very fun, and some leg, and lung busting climbs (I made it up the man-eater yesterday).

I heard from some Penn Cycle guys that Gary Fisher visited one of their stores and wanted to hit a local trail. They took him to Afton and he hated it, said it was probably the worst trail he has ridden. So they packed up and went to Lebanon Hills and he loved that trail.

At 3am some of us will be better off sleeping and getting an early start on Saturday. Although some fresh morning dew can be more hazardous than the darkness. Especially when you're going down a hill and get into the grass trying to make a turn.

Good luck, have fun, don't get seriously hurt! Survival is my goal.

[Buck]

I'm glad people think it is dangerous and tough, Troy, Larry, Taz and Crew are doing some cool progressive things for all you XCers out there!!! Have fun on the course! finally sounds like there are some real mountain bike trails to ride!


L8R
Buck

[Tetreves]

finally sounds like there are some real mountain bike trails to ride!

Are the rest fake? :p

[Buck]

Are the rest fake? :p

no there just not H-COR, hahaha
Different strokes for different folks I guess. :banana: :laugh:
L8R
Buck

[yetirider]

ok i am far from the best mtber in the MN i know that. i went out to afton today to check the course out. it seems like there are a lot of sketchy areas and some places are just down right deadly. sketchy is fine in my book but deadly is not. a lot of trail seemed weak and breaking apart and not that sustainable. ....

feel free to say hi when passing me or use my passed out and beat up body as a marker point when racing. please note that i said marker point not log ride.

Just take it easy out there and walk when you aren't comfortable.... Almost everyone does it! There are sections after riding a few test laps yesterday taht I will most likely walk... I do agree that the line is being walked tightly on this one... having ridden quite a few 24 hour races and this one is becoming one of the more technical. H COR makes the attendance drop in most of these as the other venues have found out.

I don't think what they have layed out here is "H COR", it is certainly ridable and fun...

[Buck]

I don't think what they have layed out here is "H COR", it is certainly ridable and fun...

it was a joke...:eyeroll:

Anyway those guys are being super progressive as far as XC trails in MN goes. I like it! And like everyone has already said if you can't ride it walk it.
L8R
Buck

[Earthman]

thanks for all the info i heard the gary fisher story as well. itt went about the same.

i will be out early light blue escort wagon with a light and motion sticker and a MOCA sticker both yellow.

i will be riding ( pushing/walking ) my fisher Tassajara ( black and red ) with my new crank bro peddles which seem to be a bis-nich to get out of.
so i might be laying down alot still clipped in.

nice to know that every one else thinks it is one hell of a course

but assuming i do not crash and i have enough energy left i have a fun little treat for every one on my last lap. not saying much because i have know clue how i will do or if i will make it to my planned 3pm lap.

[Tower]

If your looking for the person who has defined the course, you've found him. As I've stated in the past numerous times, in addition to issues we are looking for your solutions. So, if you've got a section you don't agree with, what is your alternative?

Yes, this is a demanding course, but none of the trails would be considered "extreme" in the xc sense of the word. Just ride within your limits and have fun.

There has been way more preparation that has gone into this course than in years previous.

Additionally, for the past 2 months we have attempted to recruit people to come give us a hand who were interested in the 24 Hour event. We got zero replies from the 24 Hour crowd. That just tells me that either people are working on other trails or the 24 Hour isn't that important to them to invest their time in helping establish the trails.

So, the group of 4-5 people just went with the vision that I had which was to get rid of the cruising meadows section. I found out that in order to do that we'd have a few obsticles (or pipes) to overcome. We had a Morc Master Trail Builder help us map out the course. Thanks to him we eliminated about half the labor required.

I'll be out at Afton tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday. Investing my time in the trails. Look me up if it's that important to you. We've got plenty of tools to share...

Maybe you'll enjoy it and come out this Fall when we break ground on more new trail...

[Magic]

Let me start out by thanking everyone for their comments on the trail and course layout. It's great to get feed back. But like all trail builders here is my time to set some of you straight.

If you feel you can't ride a section, GET OFF YOUR BIKE AND WALK. There is no shame in walking a section. It seems most of the complaining has come from people on the MORC forums. Strange how that is, because when I'm out working on the trails, the input and feedback we get from the riders is they like the new layout. So in my mind the majority wins.

As for the Gary F. story, that's just what it is, a story. If Gary F. don't like it does that makes it a bad place to ride? Don't follow the heard people. We didn't build Afton to please that windbag of an aging rider.

Lastly, if I hear one more person whine about: I can't ride this at 3am when it's dark, cold and I'm tired. Well hears some words to think about, STAY IN THE TENT.

If some of this sounds harsh, good. We built what we thought would be an entertaining and good course for you all to ride. If you don't like some technical features, walk them. If you don't like the climbs, walk them or stay off your bike. We as trail builders have asked and asked for your input and solutions to the said problems that you have with the course, but still nothing. So if you want to ride smooth featureless trails, look else where. This state has many to choose from. But if you want a course that will test your mental, physical and bike handling skills, you've just found it.

One thing riders must remember is alot of the new trails are just that, NEW. They will pack in with riders riding on them. Thanks for letting me rant. I hope everyone has a SAFE and FUN race, and I hope to see some of you out at the race.

Trail Boss #2

[iceskier]

I rode prerode the Afton course with another team, and I thought the course was great!!! The additions from last fall and this summer are super!! Too bad I cannot be in the race:mad: .

I have always thought that riding(surviving) the 24 Hours of Afton was a badge of honor and when the race was done, I felt great that I had completed it!! The mental and physical challenge of the race is what makes it stand out as a great endurance race. After you race it for the first time, you know what it takes to be prepared the next year!! I hope everyone has a safe and fun time!!:banana:

[Wolfchimp]

Very nice rant Troy! Like I have said before...I just rode the trail for the first time last week. Yes, there are some tough, sketchy spots but always thought that MTB races were supposed to be a challenge. The night laps will be a little tough in places but oh well. Suck it up. Afton is not a typical MN MTB trail and thats what i like about it. I'm looking forward to kicking my own A** this weekend. Bring it on!

[Magic]

Thanks Greg. Why aren't you riding this year? If you can make it down for the fun, look me up down their. I'll be with my old teammates of LCR Racing (formally known as Team Ricco). Glad you liked the course, we'll have to get out and ride the Farm or Mammoth before the snow flies.

[Magic]

Thanks Porter, I'll look for you down in the valley and we can shoot the breeze. Have a good and safe race.

[iceskier]

My wife is in a wedding in Owatonna this weekend. She said I could go to the race and skip the wedding, but I am not going to fall into that trap. I shall be thinking of everyone and their suffering through the night, but nothing compares to the feeling as you complete your last lap and know you are done:crazy2: .

Troy, we ride the Farm and Mammoth at least 3 times a week. I will comtinue to post group rides, especially at Mammoth.

[TML]

My wife is in a wedding in Owatonna this weekend. She said I could go to the race and skip the wedding, but I am not going to fall into that trap.

That's funny! ;) But very fitting, as I'm sure a lot of us have been in similar situations.

I'm not riding the 24 this year either. Sure had a blast with you guys last year though. Decided to check out the race at Camden State park over by Marshall this weekend.

The 24 hr course sounds pretty awesome this year. Thanks for all the hard work Troy, Larry and crew! I'm looking forward to riding it sometime soon.

And like Troy said, I'd like to get down to the farm and Mammoth some time soon as well. I'll keep my eyes out for one of your group rides if I'm able to make it.

[RedSquirrel]

I rode last year and frequent Afton. My kids helped build a section too (it's out of the 24 hr though, for saftey.)

Anyway, I will say that the course will be faster than last year lap to lap.

Also, I find the new stuff not the most challenging areas. The rock garden at the top of the cliff area, decending into valley area, and woods before the far side downhill the most challenging areas. In other words, I beleive what was in before more of a challenge than any new stuf.

It will be a gas folks! Be safe, have fun and may the light force be with us.
geek out

[Tower]

Yo Heath, not only did your kids help build that little technical ditty, it's named after them... DLA:D Duncan (5th grader) has done more trail work than many of those that lurk on these forums...

Will see you out there on Friday... Keep an eye out for any trail maintenance needed. We'll be camping by the Larson Cycle Banner next to our arch rivals (and brothers of dirt) the Farm Team...

Troy is leading the "24 Hours of Trail Work"... So Heckle the Heckler when you see him... He'll be working his "Magic", one minute he's there the next minute, gone...

[1x1Clyde]

Larry and Troy your vision is great at Afton!

I pre-rode yesterday, this is my 5th 24 hrs of Afton, and the changes are sweet! I hope is wasn't me misreading the map but are we going up all of Manhandler or just the top like at the Afton Avalanche? I hooked a quick left to proceed on the downhill instead of dropping to the Whistler loop?...sorry I don't have the map in front of me...but after going to the bottom and back up Manhandler my lap time was still only 54 minutes with a less than race pace - I took a few breathers -
The little "under the pipe section" section is killer, I can see where the new singletrack needs some tires on it because it is still pretty soft.
The Log Pile is awesome along with the bank slalom into the chalet, that should entertain the fans, especially at night!
I agree w/ Troy and yourself, no more dirt road races and if you think you don't want to ride the section, Walk it! I am sure I will be walking some rock/root sections during the wee hours of Saturday!
Excellent job! Sorry I didn't help with trail work but I am on daddy duty Thursday evenings!