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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) 2020 Short Track Is Coming (Read 14909 times)
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2020 Short Track Is Coming
12/09/19 at 1:14pm
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Dates are posted, but also Short Track. (And Renni) has new trail! I think this will finally balance out the MTB vs Gravel Hammer Fest. It’s roughed in at this point with the bridge connectors complete. It’s not the final product but is rideable. I plan on completing handwork over the next few weeks to smooth it out and we will be completing a work day to weatherize it the first weekend in January to ensure the top surface has 3-weeks to bed in before racing starts. At this point, please ride it and pack in the surface and start identifying areas that need to hand attention, drains and converts. It add a whole new trail climb and extends one of the downhills but does not otherwise loss any trail. Also, the drop line has been reworked to smooth it and choke down some traffic. 

And if you complain about adding more trail for a mountain bike race....there is a special place for you. 

Also, if you are afraid of parking at Renni Park, feel free to park at the adjacent City Park Development where we have a third official trail head. From that trail head we will be connecting more new trails soon. 

So again please go ride and bed the trail and send me a DM on the parts which need to most attention and work to keep racing consistent with the Short Track Brand. I know I have a lot of work to make it so, but I like challenges.
  

I'm glad that this is an environment where you feel free to fail.
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KF YORK
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #1 - 12/09/19 at 3:26pm
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Thank you, sir!

Is the short track trail, along with the additional newness, self-evident?
  

Kevin
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #2 - 12/09/19 at 3:41pm
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yeap. When you get to the bottom of the 2019 trail and head back uphill for the first time the old trail crosses a bridge. The bridge is still there but new short track turns left and continues back up the hill. There is a new extended downhill section which joins back to 2019 short track just above the bridge. If you ride, know that i know it still needs a lot of work.
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #3 - 12/09/19 at 4:03pm
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Appreciate all the hard work out there!  We will have an Excite Bikes ride there this coming Sunday at 2pm (weather permitting) to get the first-timers acquainted with the track.  Heck, that might be all of us from what it sounds like.  I'll post back up here after next weekend.
  

Yeah, to the best of my knowledge:)
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sCvHeaVens
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #4 - 12/09/19 at 6:23pm
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where is the city park trailhead?
  
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #5 - 12/09/19 at 7:32pm
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it is off Speer Blvd., near the intersection of Zilker Park Dr.  a gravel path drops off Speer to enter Renni
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #6 - 12/09/19 at 7:54pm
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If anyone wants pictures and sadness...a semi accurate recap

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sCvHeaVens
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #7 - 12/10/19 at 12:26pm
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gonzo wrote on 12/09/19 at 7:32pm:
it is off Speer Blvd., near the intersection of Zilker Park Dr.  a gravel path drops off Speer to enter Renni



Thanks Greg - anyone who looks up the map there are two Zilker Park Drs essentially; really weird how/why they did that.

  
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #8 - 12/10/19 at 7:57pm
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Sorry - where are the dates posted?
  
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #9 - 12/10/19 at 9:15pm
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Skid Boot wrote on 12/10/19 at 7:57pm:
Sorry - where are the dates posted?


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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #10 - 12/11/19 at 3:45am
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crap, I need to start riding again
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #11 - 12/11/19 at 12:04pm
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pearl wrote on 12/11/19 at 3:45am:
crap, I need to start riding again


No. 

No, you don't.
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #12 - 12/12/19 at 3:42am
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Pearl, you’re still a youth. You can race yourself into shape.
  

Yeah, to the best of my knowledge:)
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #13 - 12/13/19 at 12:50am
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is it “youth”, or “yute”
Homage to My Cousin Vinny
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #14 - 12/17/19 at 5:10am
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Thought about young-un for the NC natives. Both pearl and I are transplants from the garden state. 

We rode the short track on Sunday but not the new section. It was very soft. Saw Neal out there and he was not wanting to add more length to the trail in order to keep lap times lower to keep the schedule in check.
  

Yeah, to the best of my knowledge:)
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #15 - 12/17/19 at 4:31pm
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Is the race based on time or laps? The rules are unclear.
  
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #16 - 12/17/19 at 5:30pm
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The National level short track races I've announced have been based on time + number of laps.

Example from Collegiate National Champs:  "Race duration is 20 minutes + 3 laps"

So a slightly longer lap would add a little time to each race, but not much.  If the lap is longer now could always do something like 20 minutes + 2 laps.
« Last Edit: 12/17/19 at 9:25pm by TrillWill »  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #17 - 12/17/19 at 8:28pm
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SirNotAppearing wrote on 12/17/19 at 4:31pm:
Is the race based on time or laps? The rules are unclear.



In the past, it's been entirely time based.  We've done fewer laps when the conditions were nasty.  It was always unknown at the start how many laps we'd do, although when things are nice like last year, lap counts were almost bankable.
  

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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #18 - 12/23/19 at 8:42pm
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The lap distance needs to come out at about a mile.  It works better for pacing. Yes you can adjust the time of the race but when you have a longer track, the kids lap times will throw the schedule off in a big way.  It is a very long day and if a person shows up for a later race and finds out the schedule is 30 min behind they may leave.  Please do not mess with the timing of the race.  This is one of the last mtn bike races in this area and has worked for a very long time.  Please do not mess with the distance, it works.
  
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Re: 2020 Short Track Is Coming
Reply #19 - 12/23/19 at 11:27pm
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Which distance? Last year, year before, year before that, 4,5 or even eight years ago? The distance has been tweaked almost every year for the past 8 years going back to the last time it ran through the field I believe 6 years ago. In fact the total distance now is still less than it was the last time it ran into the field. 

My main goal has been to add interest and variation every year for an element of freshness and prevent the race and racing from going stale. This year there is only 816’ of new trail (so 15ish% increase). 400’ of it using old sections of short track which haven’t been used in 10 or so years. But it probably won’t get used given the new stuff probably won’t be bedded in in time anyway. 

Personally, I think a lot of races are fading due to complacency and thinking what worked last year will work this year. It is and has been such a great series by Neal and it’s most local riders first entrance into racing. So the main goal is to always keep in mind what has made it such a great series, a fast, fun, simple run in all conditions course. I simply look to add elements that keep it fresh and interesting to racers, add new elements like the Al line B line, all while respecting what has made it fun.
  

I'm glad that this is an environment where you feel free to fail.
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