Almost three years after my first race I finally won one.
To be honest, I was a little upset that I was even going to this race. I had to cancel my plans to race the Funcky Chicken national in Oregon, because this race was rescheduled on the same weekend. At the same time, that also motivated me to do well. I had ridden this area only once, 2 years ago. I hated the dusty conditions, and I actually swore that I'd never return. Really, the only reason I did, was to stay up in the points chase.
My brother and I drove up saturday for the sunday race. We were able to sign up then and meet up with our normal group of riding buddies and set up camp. After a decent nights sleep, it looked like a nice day to ride. The A/B race lined up for a 9am start. I took my place in the second to last row with the other vet's. The start was a short straight with a 180 degree right hand turn and then lots of fast fireroad. I was prepared for a long race of 2 loops of over 40 miles. When the gun went off, I got a good top 5 start. At the turn. I swept outside and went right into a ditch. I kept the bike running, but came out in dead last. I caught up to the back of the pack pretty fast, but then came a huge wall of dust. I felt my way through for several miles, making a few passes and getting passed once. The dust started to ease off, and I settled down and really relaxed. Just about that time, we turned into some great singletrack. Anyone who knows me, knows that I live for single track. Many miles have been turned on the narrow trails with guys like Mr. WR, Dirt Bike Dave, Fremont Guy, Ret Sr, Kelly and all my NorCal riding buddies, especially my brother. I really got comfortable in the still moist single track, but quickly became stuck behind slower traffic. I methodically passed whenever I got the chance, and some guys even pulled over after battling for awhile. I had repassed the one guy who passed me when he rode into some bushes. I wanted to get away from him, because he was ahead of me in the standings. There were still others in my class way ahead of me out of sight. The loop had a little of everything in it. It all seemed very familiar to the terrain I ride near my house. I rode smart, saving energy, but still charging. I battled with one guy for several miles before getting by on a steep rocky downhill. A little later, I spotted a guy who also was in my class and ahead of me in points. I really put my head down and again made a pass on a steep rutted downhill. He tried to pick up the pace and stay with me, but I eventually pulled away. Then I spotted 2 bike ahead. I instantly recognized the hemet of my friend Kelly, who started a row ahead of me and was looking real fast. I again reached down and charged, realizing that I was doing well at this point. I followed for a long time, stalking him silently, as my 200 could not be heard over his 520. We each caught and passed a couple more riders and finally, on yet another downhill, Kelly lost the front end in a rut and I sped by antagonizing him as I passed. The last part of the lap was a 3 mile run through a creek bed. This was one of the best parts of the loop. I railed hard through the bed and the water crossings. Finally came the start/finish line and the pits. I pulled in and was greeted by a stunned pit crew. My brother told me that I was doing well. I stayed focussed and took off on lap 2. I rode the first 2/3 of the second lap as good as I possibly could. I got into an epic battle with a fellow 200 rider from the row in front of mine. We actually passed several A riders as we battled between ourselves. Eventually, he pulled a small lead after we left the single track, but I could see him just in front of me. I then managed to crash twice in about a 5 mile span. I regrouped quickly and caught back up to the 200 rider. Then, he crashed and I got by. He came back by when I got stuck in a mud whole behind an A rider. I then decided to settle in and finish strong, but conservatively. When I reached the creek bed, I gave it every last bit I had. I again caught the 200 rider and passed him when he overshot a turn. We blazed the last mile or so and I barely beat him to the finish. It didn't really matter, because on adjusted time I was already ahead of him, but it was fun anyway.
So that's how it ended, over 80 miles full speed, and then having to drive 5 hrs to get home. It was worth it though :thumb: .
To be honest, I was a little upset that I was even going to this race. I had to cancel my plans to race the Funcky Chicken national in Oregon, because this race was rescheduled on the same weekend. At the same time, that also motivated me to do well. I had ridden this area only once, 2 years ago. I hated the dusty conditions, and I actually swore that I'd never return. Really, the only reason I did, was to stay up in the points chase.
My brother and I drove up saturday for the sunday race. We were able to sign up then and meet up with our normal group of riding buddies and set up camp. After a decent nights sleep, it looked like a nice day to ride. The A/B race lined up for a 9am start. I took my place in the second to last row with the other vet's. The start was a short straight with a 180 degree right hand turn and then lots of fast fireroad. I was prepared for a long race of 2 loops of over 40 miles. When the gun went off, I got a good top 5 start. At the turn. I swept outside and went right into a ditch. I kept the bike running, but came out in dead last. I caught up to the back of the pack pretty fast, but then came a huge wall of dust. I felt my way through for several miles, making a few passes and getting passed once. The dust started to ease off, and I settled down and really relaxed. Just about that time, we turned into some great singletrack. Anyone who knows me, knows that I live for single track. Many miles have been turned on the narrow trails with guys like Mr. WR, Dirt Bike Dave, Fremont Guy, Ret Sr, Kelly and all my NorCal riding buddies, especially my brother. I really got comfortable in the still moist single track, but quickly became stuck behind slower traffic. I methodically passed whenever I got the chance, and some guys even pulled over after battling for awhile. I had repassed the one guy who passed me when he rode into some bushes. I wanted to get away from him, because he was ahead of me in the standings. There were still others in my class way ahead of me out of sight. The loop had a little of everything in it. It all seemed very familiar to the terrain I ride near my house. I rode smart, saving energy, but still charging. I battled with one guy for several miles before getting by on a steep rocky downhill. A little later, I spotted a guy who also was in my class and ahead of me in points. I really put my head down and again made a pass on a steep rutted downhill. He tried to pick up the pace and stay with me, but I eventually pulled away. Then I spotted 2 bike ahead. I instantly recognized the hemet of my friend Kelly, who started a row ahead of me and was looking real fast. I again reached down and charged, realizing that I was doing well at this point. I followed for a long time, stalking him silently, as my 200 could not be heard over his 520. We each caught and passed a couple more riders and finally, on yet another downhill, Kelly lost the front end in a rut and I sped by antagonizing him as I passed. The last part of the lap was a 3 mile run through a creek bed. This was one of the best parts of the loop. I railed hard through the bed and the water crossings. Finally came the start/finish line and the pits. I pulled in and was greeted by a stunned pit crew. My brother told me that I was doing well. I stayed focussed and took off on lap 2. I rode the first 2/3 of the second lap as good as I possibly could. I got into an epic battle with a fellow 200 rider from the row in front of mine. We actually passed several A riders as we battled between ourselves. Eventually, he pulled a small lead after we left the single track, but I could see him just in front of me. I then managed to crash twice in about a 5 mile span. I regrouped quickly and caught back up to the 200 rider. Then, he crashed and I got by. He came back by when I got stuck in a mud whole behind an A rider. I then decided to settle in and finish strong, but conservatively. When I reached the creek bed, I gave it every last bit I had. I again caught the 200 rider and passed him when he overshot a turn. We blazed the last mile or so and I barely beat him to the finish. It didn't really matter, because on adjusted time I was already ahead of him, but it was fun anyway.
So that's how it ended, over 80 miles full speed, and then having to drive 5 hrs to get home. It was worth it though :thumb: .