Saturday, July 25, 2009

TTT is two weeks from today!

Time is flying and the 09 Tranquilty Tire Tantrum starts the second half of the Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath MTB Series in two weeks - Aug 8!

I've been getting a few questions and have now updated the course map and lap count info at http://members.cox.net/tpmbt/ttt.htm.

This is the same course as last year with a new Inner Loop Bypass trail about 100' into the Inner Loop. The Juniors, First Timers, and Cat 3 race will also ride the Ice Loop this year, but not the Camelback (blue section at the top of the SouthHill).

3 hr, Cat 1 and 2 will ride the full course which includes the Inner Loop and Camelback.

Trail conditions permitting, we ride Tranquility Mondays, rolling by the Fort St. parking lot a little after 6 pm if you want to ride along.

11 comments:

Shim said...

Had a chance to ride a loop this afternoon, alot of new speed killers were added since last years races, what's up with that?

Sorry, a lot of people are talking about it, someone had to ask.

buconine said...

A majority of the re-routes were to battle erosion issues that popped up this spring. The trail now sheds water better than ever and will require much less maintenance.

Other re-routes were added due to city projects that forced us to modify the trail to keep riders away from construction zones.

There were also some optional technical sections added to challenge riders. Tranq has been tagged as "too easy" for alot of years. We are hoping to change that tag as the trail continues to grow.

Overall lap times haven't changed much and most users are really enjoying the new trail additions.

Anyone will any concerns or complaints about the trail are welcome to come out to a trail day and discuss their opinions. Most of the Tranq Trail Council are also available on the MNR to discuss trail conditions.

dale said...

Maybe 15-30 seconds more per lap than last year.

Big difference for cat 1 masters is that they will do the same number of laps as open this year.

Female cat 1 is four laps.

pd said...

this chunky cat 3 rider thinks the course has improved significantly. a couple of sharp turns, but overall, great stuff!

Shim said...

One thing to take into consideration,when you add the speed killers to avoid erosion you create a new problem with the new breaking bumps that are sure to follow. Just something to think about.

buconine said...

I don't think the braking bumps will be an issue, time will tell. Either way, not much can be done a week before the race.

Race prep trail day is Aug 4th @ 6pm. Hope to see a good group out to get the trail trimmed up and ready for racing.

Enjoy the ride!

dale said...

Very few ride a cat 1 race-pace everytime they're on a trail. Speed is not the holy grail for every trail ride, at least not for me. We try to flow trail but we don't always get it right.

We work with what we got, permission wise, land wise, and ability wise. As buconine said earlier, become a part of the trail crew and share your expertise and muscle so we can build better flow and lower maintenance into the trail.

I'll even make it easier for you shim, come out on a monday night and ride with us and identify your speed killers and how you would flow them better. What you identify as speed killers I probably consider ttfs.

Shim said...

Your wrong on one point, speed does rule, always.

Anyway, I'll have to set up some time to come out with you guys, Tranquility is just so hard for me to get to. Maybe in the fall, with four little kids, 50% travel and 60 hours a week of work its just hard to find the time.

buconine said...

nah, speed doesn't rule. Watching a dad and his kid out for thier first ride rules. Having a little girl stop everyone on the trail to watch the baby turkeys playing in the creek rules. Having a guy come up to you stoked that he cleaned a section he has been trying for weeks to do rules. Seeing the neighborhood kids riding all over the trail all summer rules. Buddies hanging out after the ride telling stories and having a good time rules.

The race is one day of 365. That day, speed rules. For the rest of the year, speed is secondary. I'd rather ride for fun then speed...

Opinions may vary, but that is mine...

Shim said...

Jeez Sally I think I'm gonna cry. At my house its watching the four year olds race their scooters down the sidewalk side by side, throwing elbows, balls to the wall and after one of them hits the deck, he picks the gravel out of his knees, spits a little blood and does it all over again. In your world I bet every little league game is called a tie to spare someones feelings.

Just kidding...

buconine said...

ha, i figured someone was gagging on the fuzzy, happy bunny post. It is all in good fun. Hope to see ya at the races. We adjusted some of the speed killers down to speed bumps for ya...