The Crusher - Utah Pain Riding What You Bring

July 18th, 2013 3:12pm

The Crusher is the second  "fast local pro taking on the big boys" David vs Goliath type of story we've covered as of late. Most of our readers like to read what its like through the eyes of a pro trying to make it. It's real and not full of the reality TV b.s.  that ruins real events. This time, we have Matt Connors, a local Arizona MTB pro who has tasted battle with the nations elite a couple of times as he continues his climb toward two wheel stardom.   But this week is a different kind of race. Stradlling his Jobbing.com sponsored Frankenbike, Connors shares his story of taking on all comers at the CRUSHER!

For those who don't know what the CRUSHER is, here is a quick background.

 
Photo courtesy of Tushar CRUSHER race site

When Ex -Pro Roadie Burke Swindlehust sat down to brainstorm an event that he thought would be fun you could be sure it would not include the likes of me. Not for any other reason, but the fact that it was dreamed up by one of Americas top pros which means it would be seriously tough. And the Crusher was born. An event held on Burkes home turf in the thinning air of UTAH. With a course designed with no particular favored genre of bike, the Crusher is true "Ride What you Brung" type of event. So now a couple of years in the books and there still is no clear favorite over what type of bike to ride. Cyclocross, MTB hardtail, Road bike, you name it, it's there - and when you have a race that lets you race whatever you're fast on, its got to be a good event. Here is Matts' story in his own words..

The Crusher in the Tusher, 69.9 miles with 10,500 feet of  climbing, half pavement, half dirt. This race is the brain child of Burke Swindlehurst.  A winner of Tour of the Gila overall, Stage wins in: Nevada City Classic, Cascade Classic, Tour de Gap, among many more. The man that loved to bring pain to others and hills what better way to keep doing that after he turned in his pro card then set up a race in his backyard that still does that. In 2011 the Crusher in the Tusher was born. 

2013 brought a more stacked field then ever before. From the 2 time winner Tyler Wren, Utah local and endurance killer Alex Grant, National Cross Champ Jonathon Page, not to mention past Tour of California overall winner named Levi Leipheimer among other bad asses. With the course record set in 2011 at 4:27:04 was definitely in danger as the field that lined up at 8am Saturday morning was going to drop it. The only question remainded was how low would it go?

Matt Connors weapon of choice for the Crusher - fully rigid, Titanium with Enve Cross fork w/disc and Enve Wheels. (and a gratuitous shot of your sponsors truck. Nice touch)

Race morning, sun out, oat meal in tummy and air in tires that means we are racing. At the start line you see all types of people and bike. Since it is such a different style of race people show up on all types of bikes. Full suspension 29ers, Cross bikes, Road bikes, and then the Frankenstein/garage built bikes. This year I rolled to the line with a built bike just for the race. Salsa Warbird cross bike with XT drive train, Flat bard, Sram Force crank, Enve "aero" front wheel, light weight Stan's No Tubes rear wheel. Yes that is a proper garage built bike.

After a crazy pre race skit by some guy dressed as a space man it was time for the call up. Tour of California champ and previous DOPER did not get anything special… second row buddy. He was the last one to get called up before the rest of us rolled to the line. Call up did not matter since the road was paved for awhile and we went SLOW. Still funny to me. It went 45 minutes of slow lets talk pace, right turn, lets separate the men from the boys pace. This is when the fun part starts and the top pro's run away. Around 2 hours in downhill time, this is when the mountain bike dudes show their skills and those roads look for the team car to take them to the bottom. This would be your only "easy" part after you make the right turn. The problem with this point is you still have the hardest part of the whole race ahead of you. I don't know if you should celebrate for finishing what you have done or yell and scream because you have to climb up a super steep long climb that walkingmight be as fast for some riders. Also they have a add station at the bottom of second climb do you grab two full bottles, a 1st endurance gel flask or one bottle so save weight you got to take up to 11,000 ft. This is the point you roll the dice with nutrition. I would take this moment to lose an arm if it helped me climb faster.

Well once you start the journey up the climb.... Yes its a journey, might as well be an eternity too. Don't think about the big ring, front shifter, or brakes for that matter. None of those are really needed for the rest of the race. They have moments of downhill to give you hope but they are areas to play with your mind, F with your legs and crush your soul. No better feeling then to see the sign that says you are at 11,000 ft an elevation. Then there is a downhill we just talked about followed by a right hand turn and 1 mile to go. Which by the way is nicely paved and starts out at 20% grade.... F U!!! Give it all you got for the mile (longest mile ever) and BAM finished with the hardest race I have ever done to date. Yes, harder then Leadville in my eyes.

After all that abuse you just put your body through so how you forget what it felt like and when registration opens for 2014 ill find myself paying for pain again. One would suggest why, and are you sick in the head. I can tell you why; there is no better feeling then seeing how far you can push your body. A guy for Scottsdale, Arizona can not climb mountain in that thin of air. But I sure like the feeling once you reach the top. If you love a challange and need a great race to do in July 2014 look no further then the Crusher in the Tusher.

Look , just two climbs in the whole race, what could be easier?

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