The LumberJack

For those of you who didn't know I am currently over in North America. Last weekend I raced in an event known as the LumerJack 100. It's in Michigan, USA. The race is 3 laps of about 50kms or 33miles and is part of the ultra endurace series that races throughout the US. The race attacts the bigger hitters of the USA.

The other/main reason I am over here is to promote AY UP lighting systems, so we sponsored the Lumber Jack with our products going to the winner of the single speed class and a lucky draw. Both were stoked with their score. We had a stand set up at the events and performed a number of demos.

Race Day-  Its a funny feeling being surrounded by random people, who don't even know who you are, or what you are capable of, on the same note I didn't know them or how they would perform! I managed to score a front row start, which soon become swamped by bikes as we speed off behind the pace car- they gave us 3kms of bitumen to sort us out before entering the forest. Just like clock work, some guy went past me about 500m the forest, I jumped on his wheel and he lead me to the singletrack in 2nd position, great start. 

The loop is 85% single track and 15% fireroad. The ST was easy, really fast and following, averaging 30km for some sections, no real killer climbs, just 10-15sec of punch to get over them.  So I thought I would try and holh Jeff Shalkc wheel for as long as possible. ( he is the series leader). That lasted about a lap, I was a bit slower through the TA, and he and another guy gapped me. I could see them on the first climb but was aleady in the red without chasing them.  About 10kms into lap 2, 2 other guys passed me, pushing me back to 5th overall. But by the end of the lap I had caught and passed one of them as he looked shattered. ( been there before buddy!) The last lap, the guy who ended up 3rd over passed me, I tryed to stay with him, but in the end he was to fast. Back to 5th and thats where I stayed!

All in all, great race. I would love to do the whole series one day. Check the results here, Jeff is an animal,

Andy