Sunday, June 16, 2013

Tulsa Tough

It's hard to put into words how awesome Tulsa Tough was, but I'll give it a shot.

I only raced Sunday, but got an incredible experience with Cry Baby hill and the insane fans on the hill. Even after getting advice from Aubree Keck about lining up early, I still managed to find myself towards the back of our 100 person field when we lined up. Having never ridden the course before, the first 5 laps were simply trying to figure out where I wanted to be in which corners. I would lose some positions in one corner, gain them and some extra back in another, only to get pinched in another corner and lose them again.

Finally after 5 laps, I made a concerted effort to move up in the pack. Half-way through our 55 minute race I found myself around 20-30th place. I managed to stay there for the rest of the race. I should've moved up more going into the last lap, because I got caught behind 3 separate crashes in the last lap. Thankfully, none of them took me out, but all of them made me lose time on the guys in front of me who weren't involved in the wrecks. I finished the race in 30th place, which met my goal of finishing in the top half of the field (I actually got top third)!

If you've never been down to Tulsa Tough, you need to go next year. The crowds were insane, the Pro/1 guys were ridiculously fast, the atmosphere is incredible, and the course is a ton of fun. From the smell of beer and bbq going up cry baby hill to the smell of hot brake pads going down the hill, even the smells are interesting. I'll definitely be back next year, but for all three days this time!

Men's 1/2 race on the start/finish straight.

Half-way up the hill at the turn into the party.

Cry Baby Hill in full swing.

Start of the Men's Pro race.

Looking down towards the start/finish straight.