Just saw the recent posts here about the Rampage. I had a really great time. After riding unicycles off and on for 31 years, this is the first time I’ve ridden with other unicyclists. Also, the first time I’ve entered any event.
I’m now planning on making it to the Asheville MuniFest October 28th-30th.
Riding with other unicyclists definitely adds to the experience. There were six of us that started the 'Rampage, but Jeff and BenNC took off fast from the start, so we didn’t see them until the end of the race. Jeff was faster than 14 of the mountain b*kes I believe. Makes me want to work harder on my MUni skills, that’s for sure.
After about mile 14, I still felt great, but I didn’t want to have to keep stopping every 20 yards to dismount for the oncoming mbikers,(who were all very encouraging with their comments by the way;“You’re the man”,“You’re my hero”,“Stud”, etc. were comments that I’m sure all of us heard along the route!). So, I chose to head to my Suburban to retrieve my video camera and my 36er, so I could get a little footage.
As I cruised around the finish area I got the chance to meet and converse with some very cool people. One couple I met is planning on releasing a DVD of the event in a few weeks with all of the video and still footage that they took during the ride. I’ll post about it in this thread when it becomes available.
The organizers told me that they had nothing but positive comments from the mbikers regarding our unicycling presence at the event. They want to see more of us next year, and they are planning on reconfiguring the route so as to avoid the stream of oncoming traffic next year.
NurseBen let me try out his GUni 26er after the race, it was the first time I’d ridden a geared uni. It took a few minutes to get used to, but I was psyched that I was able to complete my first upshift without falling. I vow to get one soon, and make it into a 36er GUni…(mostly for road riding, I want to try for 30 mph; 20 is my top speed on my ungeared 36er).
Speaking of 36ers, I think a 36er would have been great on a lot of the course, but there were a number of hairy steep rock-garden sections that would require some great braking and advanced MUni skills in my opinion. I am ordering some longer Sinz cranks today, so I can 36er MUni on more of the trails at Chicopee (Gainesville, GA).
Okay, guess I’ll stop with the story for now. Can’t wait to ride with you guys again!
Rhino
1st Place - Jeff 2nd Place - BenNC 3rd Place - Chris
Next year I’ll be there! I for one still like an early start, especially if there is still the MUni option to go 40 miles. I can see if you’re doing the 20 mile then a later start would be fine. But for 40 miles I need as much daylight as I can get!
