WADE'S JOURNAL
April
1, 2001
Here I am sitting on the plane on the way back from the ABA
race that was in Houston, TX, and I realize I have not updated
my journal from last month. Seems like the days are just slipping
away. Last month was not that bad: I was really busy with
the Sea Otter Classic race. Getting my bikes the week before
the race and trying to get them dialed in with Sean my mechanic,
was a little hectic. I needed to do runs, to test it out but
then again I needed to rest for the race. Four full straight
days of bike building, practice, qualifying and racing sure
made me tired the week after.
Before
the Sea Otter, I raced in El Paso, Texas with ABA. This is
one of those races that you know how it is going to be all
weekend. Dry, dusty, dirty windy conditions ... a lot of riders
are tempted not to go every year. But we all still go as there
is a race to be raced. This year was no different; it is fine
during the day but when the sun starts to set the wind starts
rolling in. It was so windy on Saturday that the AA pro class
voted to race one main. It is not that bad when the wind is
blowing in the same direction, but when it is a cross wind
then we start to worry. When going up to the gate to get our
lanes, we were all wondering who was going to be on the inside,
as they would get the majority of the side wind. It happened
to be Robert MacPherson; Robert DeWilde was also going fast
that weekend and he was inside of me as well. So, I somewhat
had 2 fast riders blocking the wind for me. MacPherson, DeWilde
and myself
snapped out of the gate, then it was a race to see who was
going to jump the first set of doubles down the first straightaway.
DeWilde was slightly in front, so I tucked beside him so I
could jump the doubles OK, but I forgot to lift. I cased and
bounced to the flat. Then I see Robert in the corner of my
eye all out of shape, the wind had got him bad, and he came
down hard. DeWilde got over the double fine so I had my work
cut out for me to reel him back in. I was working hard and
got back with him and down the last straight. I was ready
to blow right by, but I had to much speed as it was a tail
wind and over jumped one of the jumps and lost my momentum,
so I had to settle for 2nd for the day.
Sunday
was a different story as ABA ran the races fast to beat the
afternoon wind. I felt strong that day and finished, 1st,
2nd, and 1st in the mains which gave me the overall win with
MacPherson finishing up 2nd for the day.
That
next week was the Redlands Road Race (where my teammate Roland
Green won 2 stages of the race) so the Team truck and Mechanics
were near by my house. As my mountain bike frames were not
built in time for the team camp in Solvang, we decided to
do a 4 hour training camp at the MTBPlayground.com.
My bike arrived on Friday so I met Chad and Sean on Saturday
and got to ride my new mountain bikes before I had to race
them the following weekend. It was a blast; I haven't ridden
a mountain bike since my win at the Norba finals in Mammoth
last year. Sean was working his butt off as we were changing
things around every run so I could get the right feel on the
bike. By the end of the day I still needed more time on the
bike to really get it dialed in. It was a totally new Fuel
Trek Frame with new Rockshox forks and a Fox rear shox. Till
this day I really don't know how to dial in my suspension
so it is hard for me to tell Sean what I want changed. Bottom
line I just need my time on my mountain bike so I can get
a real good feel.
So
I headed up to Monterey Wednesday, as we had practice for
the mountain cross race. This is a new series organized by
Eric Carter, with 4 riders racing on the same fast, huge,
jumpy track. The track had a 43-foot roller to step up, only
about 5 or 6 people ended up jumping it in practice, so they
had to fill in the step up section so the rest of the field
could get over it safely. It was an awesome feeling, pedaling
as hard as you could and just flying through the air. Riding
this course was tough on the legs, as you need to pedal hard
for each jump, as it was so big. I didn't want to practice
that a much but I needed time on my bike and it was just so
much fun to ride. Friday was Qualifying and the first 3 motos.
I ended up qualifying first and winning all of my races. The
finals were on Sunday, with 32 qualified riders, we ended
up having 1/8th. I won my 1/8th, ¼ and semi final. In the
final there was me in lane one, Cedric Gracia in lane 2, Brian
Lopes in lane 3 and Sean MacCarrol in lane 4. I had a terrible
start, which gave Brian the room to move across on Cedric
and myself. With nearly landing on the hay bail in the first
corner I had had to settle for third in the first corner.
In the second corner I high-sided of Cedric's back wheel.
I need to really get on the gas down the steepest part of
the course before the biggest jump so I could make my move.
I was flying down the hill and ready to blow past Cedric but
he looked over in the air and cut me off for the next jump.
I had to
restart
my momentum again but by the time I got going Sean past me
in the next corner. By this time Lopes was well gone. I had
one more shot to come back, I caught back up to Cedric and
Sean across the Studder bump but did not quite get in front
of Sean before the last corner. Sean ran me a little high
which allowed Cedric to catch up on the line. All three of
us crossed the line within a wheel apart. Lopes ended up winning,
Sean 2nd Cedric 4th and me 3rd. I need to work on my start
on my mountain bike so I don't get balled up so much in the
race.
Dual
slalom was all on Saturday: Practice, qualifying and the finals.
Again I qualified first and transferred to the final round.
Just like last year it was Brian and I in the final together.
I know Brian was going fast as he has been back on his BMX
bike in the off-season. Brain totally snapped me out of the
gate in the first run and beat me by 0.13 of a second. The
next run down the course I got out much better. We were running
real close and I may have had the lead by a little, I know
I had to give it all I had and hope that I could hold on to
it. Coming to one on the tightest corners on the course towards
the bottom I ended up going in just a little too hot. I was
starting to slide on an off camber rut. My bike was trying
to climb the rut, which started to break loose my traction.
I thought I was going to be able to make it around but my
front end just gave a way. It was going to be a real close
race, but when is it not a close race between Brain and I...
So
I was a little bummed on my results at Sea Otter but I realize
I am sitting pretty good coming into the mountain bike season.
I qualified first in both, road my new mountain bike for maybe
a total of 2 hours since August last year, I feel strong and
I know what I need to work on in May when I have time to play
on my bike.
A
few AA pros tried their skills at Sea Otter: Thomas Allier,
Steve Veltman, Greg Romero and Jason Richardson. With Thomas
being the only one to Qualify in the Dual and getting knocked
out in the first round and Thomas, Steve and Jason qualifying
for the mountain cross but getting knock out in the early
rounds, I think they realize now that there is a different
talent needed to race mountain bikes than in BMX. A few more
pros are going to give it a go in Big Bear, the first Norba
race this year, June 2nd weekend.
I
have to tell you that I was really tired and beat after the
Sea Otter race. It took me nearly all week to fully recovery
to where I felt good in my training. By the following Monday
before the Houston race I was starting to feel a lot better.
I had a real relaxing weekend, not doing much physically and
just enjoying one of my off weekend's in the Valley and on
the beach.
I
did a photo shoot that Tuesday and Dropped of Pete Dylewski
at the airport as he was flying back east for the 2 NBL races
back to back. I fly out on Friday to Houston and got a phone
call from Robert saying he missed his connection. This meant
that we were going to miss practice Friday at the Nationals
as we were sharing a rental car and hotel room for the weekend.
I was not that bummed on missing practice, as I really needed
that little bit more rest for the body.
The
track was tight and fun to ride and over before you new it,
one mistake and you are in the back of the pack. I qualified
to the mains and stepped it up a notch and got 1st, 2nd, 1st
in the mains, which gave me the win over all Saturday, with
Grant second and Robert 3rd. Sunday was pretty much the same,
Riding it safely in the motos and qualifying to the main.
I was feeling strong winning the first main from the start.
Second main I had to battle it out with my trainer, Grant
White in the last corner to take over the lead and win the
second main. 3rd main I was winning from the start and shut
it down in the last corner as I knew I had won overall as
I had a 4 point lead going into the last main. Robert past
me on the line which gave him second for the day, Grant 3rd
and me the overall win.
I
have another weekend off and I plain to relax a little and
get ready for my next ABA race in Bakersfield, in 2 weeks.
I have a few photo shoots lined up before then so it will
be a lot of fun.
Well,
my dinner is getting cold on the plane, and if you know how
much I love food, I must get going. I will try to be more
up to date on my journals so you guys don't think I am a lazy
ass!!!!!!!!!
I
am also buying some sweet new parts for my XR 50. Check out
http://www.fast50s.com
for the entire hop up kits for your 50's. When I get it all
together I will post up a photo. I am also getting a triple
clamp Rockshox fork and Fox rear shox for the rear, shimano
Disc Brake, on a 16" wheel on the front. It is going to be
a sweet little ride when it is all done.
See
you soon,
Wade Bootes
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JOURNAL ENTRIES
April 1, 2001
March 1, 2001
February 1, 2001
January 1, 2001
December 1, 2000
