Brace Yourself...Race Season is Coming

Crap its been a long time since I've updated this jam.  WHAT THE HELL HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

Part of the problem was I finally pulled the trigger and reg'd for the Wildcat 100(K) and then immediately realized I was staring down the pipe at 66 race miles in early May and it was basically April and I had just about 0 actual real world miles in my legs.  Its kind of hard to blog when you are trying to jam as much saddle time as you can into most of your free time.

Happy to report I can take a blog breather because the last few weeks have gone pretty damn well.  Commuting got underway, trying to get a few days a week where and when I can.  I've gotten some good road rides in around here as well as one bigger one down south with Bully and Matt C.  My legs have felt pretty ok for April.  Some of my Strava numbers are promising, VAM on a few of my climbs is already looking mid-season and energy levels are still decent even after long hours in the saddle.

Confidence level is pretty good for the Wildcat.  The 100K SS field is pretty small right now (only 5 of us) and after a bit of internet stalking I think I should probably be battling for the win.  Unless we've got a darkhorse roadie who can throw down serious watts but never races.  I know my body at this distance and I recently found a bit of info on the course and I think it will suit me.  Nice easy warm up to about mile 15 and then two enormous climbs back to back...almost 15mi sustained to about mile 30 then big long descent and what looks to be a predominantly flat drag to the finish.  They are claiming 6265ft total elevation gain.  About on par with the NH100 but this looks like climbing that will be much easier for me to manage.

Still trying to figure out my nutrition plan.  An email to the promoter about whether or not there are going to be any drops has gone unanswered so I'll probably have to prepare like there won't be any.  Shouldn't be a huge problem.  The NH100 has only had drops for the last two years, I've done this distance without them.  Figured out a way to turn my little top tube mounted bag into a Stinger Waffle dispenser.  Haven't tested capacity but I bet I can get at least 8-10 in there.  Good thing too because it kind of looks like there is a pretty big gap in between aid stations mid course.  Race management is going to be pretty important.

I'm swinging down to Chainline after work today to sit over the bike with the new fork installed to get the fit comfy then we'll trim the steer tube and finish that all up.  After that its just bolt some brakes on and cable them up and its rideable.  I've got some new rubber I'll eventually need to mount as well but I'm gonna wait a week or so so I've got fresh Stan's in there for race day.  I'm extremely pumped on this build.  It's definitely going to look WAY faster than I actually am.  Which is good.  INTIMIDATION IS KEY.

LOOK AT HOW FAST IT IS