Had a great race today at SoNoMas, and secured a solid 2nd place. It was a rough course, but luckily no crashes or mechanicals. It was a hot day, but I stayed cool. Full race recap to follow.
Boggs Race Recap
Photo by Zach Pina of Kitsbow
Long overdue, but better late than never. My wife and I drove up to Napa on the Friday before the big race. We stopped in town and had an amazing pizza dinner with her uncle in St. Helena. I had to get to bed as soon as possible because tomorrow was going to be a long day. I wake up around 5 the next morning and drive up to Cobb, about an hour north of St. Helena. I get to the race site and pick up my number plate. I get my gear together, find a decent drop zone for my bag along the trail and warm up for eight grueling hours of fun.
I had a number of friends in the start field. I line up at the very front and wait for the gun to go off. People are wedging themselves right in front of me, which is fine because there'll be plenty of time to pace and pass. I wasn't about to put the hammer down, but I want to be able to put in a good first lap, and not get stuck behind traffic. Among the people to cut in front of me is Levi Leipheimer, racing on a three person team. It's really cool to see him doing more mountain bike events these days. The last time I raced with Levi was at the first Grasshopper race.
The start is fast, and I try not to blow up in the first lap. However, the first thing I notice is how soft and loamy the ground is. Or perhaps I have a slow leak… It turns out that I have a slow leaking rear tire, and I'm not even halfway through the first lap. Oh shit. I feel rim strikes here and there, hoping my tire doesn't roll off the rim. I dial down my speed a bit, but make sure I don't lose position. Luckily, halfway around the loop I come across the SuperPro tent, blaring music and handing out bacon. I yell out for a floor pump, and they direct me to the end of their tent. My friend Adam is there, and holds my bike upright while I frantically pump air into my wheel. I go 40psi to make sure the sealant does its job, and that I don't have to pump it up again for another hour or so.
I'm already stressing out and start to lose focus. I mark a few people in my category and get to work. By the end of the first lap and through the finish/start loop where everyone is waiting to relay off to their team members the line of racers is pretty stretched out. My first lap was around 40 minutes, and I plan on averaging a 45 minute lap by the end of the day.
By the third hour I'm starting to feel the effects of my hard effort, and start to be more mindful of my nutrition. The weather is starting to heat up, and I don't want to dehydrate. I picked up some Osmo drink mix the other day, and decided to go with it, but only filling half of my bottles for the day. I alternated from Osmo and water, and found it to be really helpful without upsetting my stomach. Every lap I'm picking up a fresh bottle and either a pack of GU Chomps or a Clif Bar. It seemed to do the trick. I think for the next endurance race the only thing different would be to run Osmo the entire time, and maybe add a mini Coke or a cold Starbucks drink. I could have used that towards the end.
With two hours or so to go I'm really feeling the course and hold a good consistent pace. My hands and feet feel so raw at this point from being rattled for six straight hours. I wish I had worn gloves with a bit more padding. And, of course, my ass is hurting, but I'm feeling great otherwise. I'm gauging my effort and think I've managed to hold onto the top 10, despite having to stop a few times to refuel and refill my leaky tire.
I'm on my last lap, and I decide to really push hard to make sure I hold whatever position I've held over eight hours. I pass at least 15 or so people on the last climb back to the finish line with 5 minutes before the eight-hour mark. I could do another lap, but it won't count if I go over eight hours and 45 minutes. I've been averaging 50 minute laps towards the end, my last being a 48 minute hustle. I roll across the finish line, and the crowd is yelling at me to do one more! I knew it would be a risk to go out for one more, but I'd have to really push myself to make the cutoff. I succumb to peer pressure and head out for one more lap, the crowd applauding me as I roll through the neutral aid station. Halfway up the fire road climb I realized I had enough, and shamefully turn back down the road. I knew I had a put in a solid effort, and it would be a huge risk to go out for one more lap that may not count.
I get back and notify race officials that I'm done, and head over to the live results. I'm in 3rd place! I hang around the finish line for a bit, and go back to my car to clean up. I meet up with the rest of my friends, swap stories and have lunch. Awards is quickly underway, and I step on the 3rd podium spot. However, after checking updated results later that evening, I find out I had been bumped down to 4th. Someone ahead of me squeezed in one more lap, just a minute or so before cutoff time. I'm bummed for a second, and happily accept my strong 4th place result.
I did 10 laps, 81 miles and climbed over 12000'. Boggs was a great way to test my endurance, having done a lot of shorter XC courses earlier in the season. I learned more about my nutrition, and feel like I've got that dialed down for the Leadville qualifier in Tahoe, followed up with the Leadville Trail 100 in August.
3rd or 4th
I had a great race, finishing in either 3rd or 4th out of 30 solo expert racers. I was awarded 3rd place, but the updated results later in the evening pushed me down a spot. It was a bummer, but still a great result for me. I did 10 laps, 80 miles and 12000' of climbing in eight hours. I'm so exhausted now. A full race recap soon.
Lemurian Race Recap
My 3rd place finish began with a road trip up to Redding the day before with my friend Josh, also racing my category. We stayed in town versus camping, opting to stay comfortable in air-conditioned rooms with soft beds rather than dealing with the heat and bugs. It got up to 90º during the day, but it didn't concern me much because of how early the race started.
We get to the race venue early to prep our bikes. The sun was shining, and the temperature is a perfect 70º or so. We parked close to our other friends, Jeremy and Austin. The parking lot is quickly filing up with racers. We estimate a turnout of over 400 racers, half of which do the long course, all starting together at once.
I went out for a quick warm up, hitting up the last single track climb with a few tight switch back turns and got to the very front of the start line. I knew it would be critical to be up front if I wanted to stay with the lead and be out of harms way, a lesson I learned at the first Grasshopper race.
My friend Jeremy, getting ready to start. He put in a massive ride, too, securing a 7th out of 60 in his age group alone, just 9 minutes off my pace. Very impressive.
Nothing new to my race whip. I've had a slow leak in my rear tire, but the new Orange Seal sealant seems to be doing an ok job of stopping it. I'm not 100% convinced it's better than Stans, but time will tell. I also rebuilt the seals on the air cartridge of my SID fork, and so far so good. I ran with two small water bottles, which was the perfect amount of water, a saddle bag with a C02 pump and a multi-tool.
However, the revelation of the day was wearing a sweat band underneath my helmet. I've consistently had the problem of sweat falling into my riding glasses. I usually am able to ride with them for 30 minutes before the problem starts. The thin sweat band by Halo has a rubber channel on the inside to help funnel moisture. I didn't have single drip the entire time. It also helped keep my eyes from stinging with built up sweat.
So onto the race. The start was fast, and my goal was to stick with the leaders as along as possible. It was long arduous four mile climb before it dropped down into Gas Can. I kept up well enough, but started to lose contact with a mile left of reaching the top. The field of 400 quickly thinned out to 20 or so strong riders.
The Gas Can descent was fast and scary. It had a ton of rutted out sections. Thankfully I was at the front and had enough space between the rider in front of me for the dust to settle down. I'm always a bit more conservative on the downhills, focusing on control and safety. It was fun, and definitely set the precedent of things to come later in the race.
We hit a short section of road across the dam before hooking back up with single track. It was again very fast and a bit rocky at times. The groups were starting to run back into each other, but I kept my pace quick, not letting too many people go by. The single track mellowed out a bit and started to really flow for the first half of the course. I knew I had to save myself for the latter half of the race, where it starts to climb back up to the top, and into the infamous downhill back to the finish line. This was a true mountain bikers course in that there were plenty of hike-a-bike sections and water crossings. Real adventurous and fun.
The flow of single track gave way to some fire road and back onto more single track. At this point, past the first aid station, we started running into racers doing the intermediate and short course, making it difficult to maintain a concentrated pace. It wasn't much of a problem for me, as everyone I passed was gracious enough to give the lead chase group enough space.
I turned up the pressure, and started to attack a bit more, especially on the climbs. I could see I was gaining ground quickly, passing a few racers in my start group. There was one section that I thought I'd have to walk up, but I just kept my head down and spun my way to the top. I knew I made up a lot of time on the climb, but I was so tired by then. And then it started to go downhill.
It was one of the craziest descents I've ever done. Super steep, lots of ruts and overall just super fast. I really had to concentrate on staying upright and not overshooting the turns. I knew I was probably going way slower than the rest of the field, but that's fine with me. All of my friends were running dropper posts, and with good reason. It was that crazy of a descent. I had a feeling I was somewhere in the top 20. By the end of the descent I get caught by a few pros that I was battling with the entire race. I was close to having nothing left in my tank, but knew the race's end was just down the road… or it should have been.
My pace was definitely slower, and I started to develop a pain in my side. It was really hot at that point, but I was certain I had enough water in my system to make it to the end with out cramping or bonking. The trail was very rocky and rolling, but I could tell I was getting closer and closer to the finish. I noticed the camp ground near the parking lot, as well as the single track switchbacks. I get caught be a few riders, but decided to make a move and surged past them with haste. I powered my way down the finish line with a time of two hours and twenty minutes. I was aiming for a 2:15, so I was really stoked with my effort. I finished 3rd out of 47 in the senior class, 15th overall out of 240 long-course races, and if I had raced pro I would have come in 10th out of 20.
My category was super tough, with the top two being locals. They had a the advantage of knowing the course and being more acclimated to racing in hot conditions. It felt great to get onto the podium after having such a disappointing race at Sea Otter last weekend. The key to my success was staying off the bike a bit more, focusing on recovery and getting my legs to feel like they have power again.
My friends Jeremy and Josh, post race, enjoying the scene and good company. The race was one of the best I've ever done. It was well-organized, well-marked and marshaled by awesome volunteers. Never once did I feel like I was lost. They got on with awards quickly, and had a great burrito truck for all the racers. The best part was the location. Such a beautiful part of Northern California, right next to Shasta lake, flanked by high mountains.
This week I'll be preparing for one of my biggest races of the season, the Boggs 8 hour. I just need to make sure I recover quickly and reserve my energy for the coming weekend.
Lemurian Podium
I had an amazing race, and finished the 26 mile course in two hours and 20 minutes, snagging 3rd in my category and 15th overall out of 237 starters. My time would have put me in the top 10 of 20 pros that started/finished. I felt great the entire time, except for the very end when my sides started to cramp. It was a hot day of racing, but the Lemurian Shasta Classic was definitely one of the best cross-country races I've ever done. A full race recap to follow, so stay tuned.
Cramps, Crash & Bonk
You can't win 'em all. I didn't have a great day on the bike. I didn't fully recover from the Napa Valley Dirt Classic last weekend, and insisted on riding a bunch beforehand. I paid the price dearly. I finished in 12th, but out of 21. I think there were a few DNF's, but still not a good result. I was 8 minutes off my time from last year, which was even harder, considering I crashed and it was 90º+.
It started with light cramping, then full on cramps 3/4 of the way through, a crash halfway into the second lap, followed by full on bonking. It was a slow crawl to the finish line. I just wanted to finish, but at least I soaked in the incredible views along the way. Gonna rest up like never before for next weekend's Lemurian Shasta Classic.
Other than the race I had an amazing day meeting my bike's makers, Open, as well as my new employer, Specialized. More on that soon!
Napa Valley Dirt Classic
Here I am coming into the finish at the Napa Valley Dirt Classic up in Angwin, CA, just outside of St. Helena where I finished a solid 5th place. I was half a minute down from 4th and a few minutes from 2nd. 1st place was way out there to be considered in the same class. I had a very good start, almost getting the hole-shot at the top of the road climb onto dirt. I wanted to make sure I positioned myself well enough to gauge the leaders. It wasn't going to be a long day in the saddle so I knew I had to pin it from the beginning.
At the very top of the first climb I dropped my chain, losing at least five or so places. I knew I should have replaced my chain the night before. Lesson learned. From there I was chasing the chase group. I lost contact with them halfway through the first loop and rejoined them on the rolling sections of trail. When I say rolling they really rolled, dipping straight to the bottom of a riverbed and back up. I kept my position well enough and managed to drop the group as soon as the climbs became steadier and steeper. The trails were sweet. Lots of tight corners and sweeping single track.
By the halfway point I knew I had made up some ground, but didn't know exactly how far back I was from the lead group. I passed a few folks, either in my start group or stragglers from the pro field. I put my head down and continued to work. I dropped my chain a few more times, and really started to panic at this point, and thought it would eventually be the end of my race day. I tried to manage my shifting by not shifting down to the small ring as much as possible. Only on the steep pitches would I have to risk the downshift.
A familiar face rode by, someone I raced with at the Old Caz Grasshopper Adventure Series. We traded off places on the rather steep and slippery slopes of Pope Canyon. He had overheard someone describing the terrain like 'kitty litter'. It was really loose dirt atop hardpack, making it rather difficult to keep a straight line, especially through some deeply rutted sections. I managed to drop him at the start of the big climb out, leaving no mercy for my rivals. Reminder to self: replace worn out, nearly bald Racing Ralph tires before Sea Otter.
I got into quick-spin mode and worked my way past four or five riders before it began to flatten out. The grades were so steep, at some points averaging 20º or more. I was expecting more of a climb, not to say it wasn't easy, but it was shorter than expected. I also kept looking down at my Garmin thinking there was at least another four miles or so of trail, but before I knew it we were already back on the cow fields adjacent to the airport. From the top of the airport was the short descent back to the finish line. There was one rider who managed to escape on the long climb out. I tried to bridge up to him, hoping to make a pass before the downhill, but he knew I was chasing and didn't let up. I should have fought harder, but for some reason I didn't think he was in my category to matter.
I came in with a finishing time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, my goal for the day. It wasn't fast enough to podium, but I felt really great considering how competitive and large my category was. I finished 5th in my age group and snagged a 7th overall out of 70 starters.
I've got to carry this fitness throughout the week and into Sea Otter, which is on Friday. I'm feeling really good, but Sea Otter is a whole different kind of race, twice as long and potentially twice as hot. Last year I barely finished, with a respectable 9th place. This year I want to podium. It's a lofty goal, but I've improved tremendously as a rider/racer this past year.
5th
Put in a great ride this morning, getting 5th out of 26 in a stacked Cat. 1 (19-34) field. Our start group was massive, with about 60 or so riders, all crushing it up the road to get the hole shot. I ended up finishing 7th overall in my start group. I lined up at the very front and sprinted my heart out for 3rd position coming into the single track. I dropped my chain a few places, chased the leaders, came back at the end on a monster climb and almost caught 4th. Very fun course, another real mountain bikers course. So happy with my result especially going into Sea Otter later next week. Full race recap to follow.
The Big Sandy Race Recap
I had a great day on the bike on Saturday, winning the Expert 19-34 category. I finished the 23 mile course in roughly two hours. It had 3,700' of climbing, with lots of fun single-track climbs and descents. The turnout was pretty good considering all of the other races going on the same day. There was the big Fontana race as well as CCCX. I chose to do The Big Sandy because it was a real mountain biker's course, and it did not disappoint, well mostly.
After a long day of traveling on Saturday, resting for most of the day today, I'm finally finding the time to reflect on my race win. On Friday I got about four hours of sleep before I had to pack up the car and drive another three and a half hours down to Auberry, CA, just outside of Fresno. I left around 5am and got to the race site around 9am, roughly two hours before race start. The drive down was easy. It got very scenic as soon as I got towards Auberry, rolling hills and mountain ranges out in the distance.
The start of the race was down in a canyon, near the beautiful Milerton Lake State Recreational Area. I recognized a few guys from the races up in Granite Bay, and knew there was some fierce competition. My friend Ryan was there, too, and knew he would give everyone hell. He won the overall race, setting a new course record, as well as winning close to $400. Well deserved. I had plenty of time to warm up, as did the temperature. I was expecting it to rain, but it was blue skies all day long.
The start field, which included pros, experts, men and women, as well as the sport and single-speed category. They let the beginners and folks doing the short course early before unleashing our group of well over 50 riders onto the long course. By the end of the day I believe I finished 6th or 7th of that massive start field. Before I knew it we were all sprinting up the short section of pavement before hitting the trail. I had a rather bad start position, but hustled my way up to the top 15 riders before the single-track. It was a decisive move that proved worthwhile as the long train of riders quickly stretched out.
The first climb was long and steep. I knew it was my chance to gain some time on the leaders before it dropped back down the backside of the mountain. It was four miles or so of deep and dusty trail, my heart rate was through the roof, and the sun was blazing. I only had one bottle with me over the 23 mile course, but made sure I hydrated days before the race. I managed to move up from 15th all the way up to 5th by the top of the climb.
The downhill on the backside is world-class. It had lots of sweeping turns, drops and rock gardens to keep me alert. The hardest part was navigating through all the sandy sections, which took a while to get used to. I conjured up my newly found skills and let my bike carve and drift. I didn't get caught till halfway down, getting passed by a rider I had passed earlier on the climb, but my goal was to stay upright without any crashes. I nearly ate dirt towards the bottom over a series of sizable drops followed by a sharp left-handed turn through a tight boulder section. Momentum is your friend when dicing through the rough stuff.
The course looped back on to the first section of single-track we started on, finishing up what's considered the long course start loop. What a hell of a loop. I get back up to the start area to continue onto the rest of the course, getting feedback from spectators that I wasn't too far off the leaders, and that I was currently in 6th. From there the trail was an undulation of rolling single-track, some of the best I've ever ridden. It cut through pastoral hills and trees, rocks jutting out from the greenest grass I've ever seen. The land's so fertile and beautiful I can imagine it being difficult to hold a race there, let alone be allowed to ride.
Having studied the course profile I knew it was a matter of holding my momentum and speed, punching up the short climbs as quickly as possible. I kept looking back, and saw only one guy trying to bridge up to me. After five miles or so I lost sight of him and kept working. I eventually caught glimpse of the rider that passed me on the downhill early on, slowly catching up to him on the climbs, only to be dropped as soon as it went down. We played cat and mouse all day, but I was never able to bridge up to him.
I was running out of water fast, but knew I had enough in the tank to get me to the finish. Eventually I started catching up to the the earlier groups doing the short course, passing most of them on the climbs. We were following a trail that hugged the lake, a steep slope overlooking the water below. Speed boats hummed along, and all I could think was how nice it would be swimming in the water right about now. I wanted to soak in the views, but had to concentrate on the trail in front of me.
The last climb before the finish was long, steep and painful, but not as hard as everyone made it out to be. Having done most of my training on the steep hills of the Marin Headlands I knew what kind of pace and effort was needed to make to the top and still have enough left to finish strong. I put my head down and went to work, passing even more riders, but never quite catching the guy in my start group. The downhill to the finish line was really fun and fast. It was a sharp turn to the right, down to the riverbed, and back up a loading dock to the finish line. Kind of an awkward way to finish, but I was sure glad that it was over.
I knew I had held my position for most of the race, but didn't know how I placed within my category. I saw my friend Ryan, chatted a bit, congratulated him on his win, and started the waiting game.
The Big Sandy is a point-to-point race. One of the last remaining, other than Downieville. They had a real nice party vibe with beer, music and food, but no real way of knowing when to expect a lift back to the start. It was fun for a while, but I knew I had to get going. More and more racers finished, but still no shuttle service. We had been waiting there for two hours, and I was starting to get irritated. We find out eventually that the shuttle service won't start till after the awards ceremony. I wish they had filled us in earlier.
Naturally I miss the first shuttle, which is basically a truck and a van that could fit accommodate eight people at a time. It was at least an hour before the next round, and I started to get worried I may never leave for at least two more hours. Ryan managed to talk to a fellow racer into giving me a lift back up to the start. If it weren't for him I would have been screwed. My wife was worried sick about me. I wasn't able to text her because of the lack of phone reception all day, and not being able to get to my care because of the shuttle was just making it worse.
It was a great course, and ended with great festivities, but the lack of organization of information and especially the shuttle system will keep me from coming back again. It really ruined my otherwise amazing day on the bike.
My bike, as always, performed like a champ. I had the early advantage on the big climb towards the start, as I rocketed past a bunch of riders. The power transfer and lightness surely helped in securing my position towards the front of the race. I never felt fatigued over the rolling and somewhat bumpy course. It was definitely a hardtail course.
This race win was special to me because it was on a real mountain biker's course, with lots of climbing and technical descending along some of the best single-track I've ridden in a while.
1st
A quick update with my race down at the Big Sandy. I won my category, expert 19-34! It was a great day on the bike. Full race-day recap to follow.
Hero Shot
My CCCX hero shot, by Steve Anderson.
CCCX Race Recap
What a race. The CCCX was really different from most XC races I've done before. It was relatively flat, lots of single track, but very fast. It was almost like a XC short track or cyclo-cross race. The start whistle went off, and it was a mad sprint on pavement for the hole shot before it turned onto single-track. I sprinted towards the front, trying to catch up to my friend Ryan, but knew I had to back off the gas a tad, otherwise there was not point of return towards recovery. The pace was high all throughout the hour and a half long race, and I never backed down.
My wife and our friend Grant joined us and provided support for me during the race. Because the course was so close together they picked the perfect spot for taking pictures, hanging out in the sun and handing me water along the way. My friend Giles (pictured above) came down to race as he preps for Sea Otter and other more endurance style events. He and I both agreed this wasn't our ideal course, but it'd be good practice and experience at the very least.
I lined up alongside a couple of pros, my friend Ryan being one of them, and the rest of our group of 30 or so. I was a bit nervous because they stacked my category with all the younger fellas (19-34 Cat. 1). There are some really fast guys, and I knew I had to stay at the front from the start to get a good result.
I met some really cool people right before the race kicked off. Dean, who regularly rides the Marin Headlands, noticed me at the line. He's got the ultimate commute from Mill Valley, through the Headlands and into the city where he works. He was riding a 2011 Stumpjumper Comp 29er, the same bike I had a couple of years back. Then I met a nice guy by the name of Jeff who was aboard a custom pink and silver bike with a Lefty fork. I forgot the name of the builder, but it was one hell of a ride. Jeff went on to catch me halfway through the race and finish 3rd. 2nd place was just up the way from us, less than a minute or so.
The course was five miles long, without a lot of climbing. Not my ideal course, but it was familiar in that it raced a lot like the Granite Bay races I won last month. There were a few punchy climbs before it dropped into what seemed like endless downhill single-track. I pre-rode a portion of the start to get a feel for the terrain. Lots of sandy and dusty turns. Much like Sea Otter, which is just a half hour south of Fort Ord. I knew there weren't many opportunities for me to make up time on the climbs, which I consider my strength, so I had to make sure my efforts were timed and considered. I utilized many of the helpful tips I've been getting from my friends David and Jeremy about cornering, and it really paid off in this race. I was able to hang with everyone, and not lose too much time descending.
The chase group was pretty close to the leaders. It consisted of myself, Jeff, another Cat 1 racer and a single-speeder, whose front brake howled the entire time we were out on course. We all traded efforts, going back and forth with leading, surging ahead, getting caught, and finishing. I was the first to give out, conceding my position, but not by much. It really hurt, but I was really happy to have held my place, having sustained such a huge effort for the entire race, and finishing 4th.
I really worked myself over this race. It was good prep for Sea Otter. I learned that I need to work on my start sprint a bit more, and to be able to recover quickly from short punchy efforts. I also shouldn't get too comfortable when leading a chase group. Getting caught halfway really challenged me mentally. Physically I had just enough to finish within a minute of the top podium spots, but if I paced myself better maybe I would have had the win or a place or two better. I can't really beat myself up about it. I just have to learn from it and improve. I've come so far in a just a year. My early races last season were wrought with crashes and just getting back into the rhythm of racing. Towards the end I was seeing improvements with my fitness and handling skills. Starting off the season with all good results is something to be pumped about.
My bike performed flawlessly like always. It was the perfect setup for this style of course/race with lots of punchy efforts while maintaining a high average speed. It was also easy to stand up mash on the pedals and accelerate quickly. It's just so responsive in all respects. Carving the smooth corners was a lot of fun on this bike. It just held its line. I'll definitely be running the Racing Ralph tires for Sea Otter. I just had the fork seals serviced this week, and it never gave me any problems. I also picked up some new Giro fluro high-bright yellow gloves so my crew could identify me as I flew by.
My friend Ryan, whom I saw only once at the start, was the overall winner. It was his first win as a pro! I'm so proud of him. He was riding a Santa Cruz Tallboy with fully inflated tires and maxed/locked out suspension. The course was so fast that you really didn't need much to get around, just mad skills.
Here I am with the top 5 of the 19-34 Cat. 1 group. Oh yeah, there's Marlow, too. The race organizers weren't too organized in getting the results together. The awards ceremony took way too long, which got progressively worse as people started to get restless and leave. At the end of the day I was super happy with my result, getting to race and hang out with my friends. Afterwards we went down to Monterey, grabbed lunch and checked out the aquarium.
4th at CCCX
I did really well today at CCCX today, finishing 4th with only a minute or so separating the top tier. A full race recap tomorrow.
Make That Two
I won my race today! That makes two wins in a row. My goal was to keep up with the pros and see how long I could hang at their pace, but they were flying way too fast for me to hold on. However, my finish time wasn't too far off. I even bested my time from the last race by three minutes. I finished the day 9th overall, some 10 minutes off the best time, which was set by a high school kid. I felt solid, and my bike performed flawlessly.
The day started out grey and chilly. We left the city with more than enough time for me to pick up my race packet and warm up. My friend David also showed up to race. It's always nice to see a familiar face line up next to you.
I had a great start, lining up at the front line. I was next to a pro, whom I raced with at Old Caz a while back. The countdown was quick and we were off. I held my position for most of the flat section before we hit single track. Then the group immediately started to stretch out. I knew I would be chasing a lead group of pros, but wanted to make sure I was positioned well within my respective age group. Into the first lap it was just me and a younger expert racer. We were quickly joined by that high school racer who just dropped us and never looked back.
I had my nutrition and hydration dialed in, feeling great through all four laps. By lap three I needed to toss my riding glasses to my wife. In one swift motion I said to her "Glasses.", tossed them into the air, and she caught them. Everyone around her was thoroughly impressed apparently. We make a great team.
I traded positions with one other racer for most of the race. I'd bridge up to him on the flats and uphill only to be caught on the downhill coming back into our successive laps. I managed to drop him on the last lap. So I thought. With less than a mile left I look back and see him charging hard. It was quite the effort, but I dug deep and managed to hold him off. We weren't in the same age category, but it didn't stop me from pushing. It's a race, right?
I finished in two hours, four minutes and 54 seconds. My Open once again proved itself more than race worthy. I felt so fast every lap, and found it effortless to just stand up and mash. It carved every corner with precision and rocked all the rock gardens and technical sections.
We stuck around for the awards ceremony and made sure that my race standing was legit. Last time we left soon after the race was done, only to find out I had won via the website. It's the first time I got to stand on the top step of a podium as a Cat. 1 racer. I felt so accomplished and proud of all the hard work I've put in over the past couple of years. I'm looking forward to seeing how I do later in the season, hoping I can maintain my high fitness level.
A special thanks to my wife for being the best crew possible as well as a great event photographer, not to mention keeping our dog, Marlow, happy and safe as everyone passed by.
My First Win
Today I won my first Cat. 1 mountain bike race. I've won quite a few races in the past, from racing the Junior Exert and Senior Sport classes, but never as a Senior Expert or Category 1 racer. It's a big deal for me. I finished the 32 mile course in two hours and seven minutes, just four minutes off the overall race winner's pro time. I also finished 3rd overall out of my start wave of 44 experts and pros, 4th overall if you factor in the crazy-fast high school kid that started a couple of minutes behind and finished a minute ahead of me.
I felt really good coming into the race. I carbo-loaded the night before and got plenty of sleep before our two-hour drive north to Sacramento. The race started at 9am, and I wanted to get there with an hour or so to sign up and warm up. I had a very light breakfast of coffee, a banana and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I found that my body responds well to a light meal an hour or so before a race, no energy gels or drinks, just water.
I rocked my new Open kit to go along with my bike. One of the highlights from the race was when a guy behind me midway through the race asked "What's Open?". I replied, "It's a bike brand." Then he said, "Cool. Ok, let's work together and bridge the gap. Just do me a favor and let off those brakes around the corners." On lap three I saw him nursing his left leg, having crashed into a sizable boulder. We all have our race strategies. I just tend to take less risks and stay in control.
The race start was insanely fast. I lost what seemed to be 20 spots before I found my rhythm. The course was really fast and flowy. There was one big climb halfway through followed by some pretty fun and technical descents. There were even a few crazy rock gardens and technical features to keep me on my toes. I was really impressed with the trails, despite the lack of climbing.
As the race progressed I learned to let off the brakes a bit and just carve the corners, drifting around a few. I'm really loving how responsive and secure my Racing Ralph tires were feeling. They're definitely my race-day go-to tire from this day forward. I'm still a bit slow on the descents and especially cornering, but it's a skill that takes a lot of time to develop. My new bike and setup allowed me to attack everything with confidence. I didn't crash or have any mechanical failures.
I got a side cramp on the third lap, which caused me to slow my pace a bit. I lost a couple of places, but didn't panic. I knew I just needed to drink a bit more water, stay focused and keep hammering once the pain subsided. By the start of the final lap I punched up the pace, feeling really good and strong till the very end. I passed quite a few people throughout the entire race, getting passed only a couple of times. My big move started halfway through the last lap as I caught a few more riders from the lead group.
With all of the overlapping of age groups and categories I lost sight of how well I was doing. There were a ton of beginners and sport riders on course by the start of the second lap, which added to the difficulty of the race, having to pass and make risky moves to keep position, but it wasn't too bad. Most everyone knew the rules of racing, allowing me to pass by. I crossed the finish line, and still felt great. The 32 miles went fast.
Not that tough of a post race pose, but it felt good to have finished strong. I collected myself for a brief moment before checking my result. TBF was very organized and had results posted on a screen soon after finishing. I checked my time and place and saw that I placed 4th… Not the result I was expecting. They didn't have finish times yet, so we decided to head home early, a bit disappointed since I didn't make the podium… so I thought. As soon as we got home I posted my ride to Strava and checked the TBF Racing site for official results. To my surprise they had updated times and correct results. I had won! Had I known we would have stayed to receive my price and top spot on the podium for a photo.
I'm definitely doing this race and future races again. The course, while not to my strengths (length and climbing) it was really challenging and fun. All the flowing single-track and technical features was a blast to ride, especially for a first-timer. Kudos to TBF Racing for putting on one of the most organized and fun races I've been to in a while. Despite the confusing results they put on a great race. The entry fee was a bit steep, but I learned why. Good job, and see you next time.
Thanks again to Andy and Gerrard at Open for designing the best XC race bike, as well as Jayson and crew over at Pro Bike Supply for making the dream build come together.
Tour de Palm Springs
I did the 15th annual Tour de Palm Springs this morning. What a ride! I opted for the 100 mile course. It was a benefit ride for non-profits in the Coachella Valley area. While technically not a race I decided to push my race pace anyways and see how fast I could do the dessert course. I wasn't the only one with the idea. It was fast and furious from the start.
I clocked the fastest time of the day, finishing the 103 mile course in 4 hours and 49 minutes, averaging close to 22 mph. Certainly the fastest I've done a century. Not sure how many were in my group, but it was definitely in the hundreds, if not thousands out of the total 8,000 riders, doing various course lengths.
The start of the race (above) was a mix of casual riders and some serious looking teams. It was also near freezing at our 6:30am start time. The pace was quick, but not too fast. We all knew it was going to be a long day in the saddle. I easily kept up with the lead group, splitting it apart on the first gradual climb, a sleeper with 1000' of elevation gain. We battled heavy side/head winds for the first 10 miles. It was just me, and two other guys at this point before the course turned east, and we just let it rip, reaching 42 mph on some stretches.
We hit the first SAG and decide to keep going, putting in a good solo effort before getting caught by a fast-moving group. I jump on their train, and ride it out till the next climb where I distanced myself once again. I was riding solo for a good 10 miles before getting caught by a smaller group of six. We worked together across the rolling dessert roads before a crazy fast descent where I had a hard time just spinning fast enough to not get dropped. We hit 48 mph, and I knew it was crucial for me to hang in this pace line as long as I could, but I kept saying to myself if this was the pace for the remaining 60 miles I don't know if I have it in me to survive.
We reach the 3rd SAG stop, and everyone in my group decides to stop to refuel, but I kept rolling. After all it is a century ride. I had enough water and food on me, but I knew it was risky going out on my own for 60 plus miles. 10 miles roll by, and I keep looking back to see how much distance I've put between myself and the next chase group. What am I thinking?! It's not a race. It's a ride, but it didn't stop me from pushing hard. I was really into a nice groove up until I started hitting more traffic lights, keeping a keen eye out for all of the various course directions. By mile 80 I was convinced I was going to get caught, but still no sight of any chasers. I've got this.
With 20 or so miles to go I dig deep and continue to drive a steady state pace, watching my heart rate drift. I'm going to pop at any moment. Luckily with all the stop lights and eventually running into other riders from the 55 mile course I found my second wind and brought it home, feeling really good. I've never really done a proper road race before, so this will be close enough in my books.
My bike, artfully pictured above, proved, yet again, to be a great machine. It felt really good and responsive, especially in all of the climbs. It handled the flats and various attacks with ease, but most importantly it was comfortable over the 100 miles. I had my GoPro camera attached, and captured some great footage of the start through the first 20 miles. I hope to have an edit share by next week.
Now it's time to relax and enjoy the rest of my weekend in Palm Springs. Where's the beer at?
Old Caz Race Recap
Dead front and center at the start line of the Old Caz race in Occidental, CA, the first of the Grasshopper Adventure Series, where I placed 10th overall. I managed to line-up at the front, knowing I didn't want to get caught up in the traffic of over 300 eager racers. To my far right sat Levi Leipheimer, also awaiting the start, but not as an official racer, per se. A few announcements by the race organizer, and we're off.
A full race recap after the break, but I'd like to thank Edie of Kitsbow apparel for snapping the great pictures in this post.
I was really nervous at the start, not knowing if I came with a disadvantage racing my Open 29er amongst a sea of cross bikes. The start reminded me a lot of Leadville, a mass of hyped up dudes ready to shred. I got boxed into the middle of the lead group and wiggled my way to the outside line where I'd be able to move more comfortably. There was an immediate climb and no sign of anyone slowing down. My heart rate was through the roof, but I held my own and kept up with the lead 30 or so racers.
Upon the first drop into gravel road I knew I brought the right bike of the day, as people were slamming their brakes and sliding off the side while I kept my line and leaned in with confidence. All of my riding/training in the Marin Headlands is paying off big time as I found myself passing people left and right. The long fire road descent finally gave way to rolling country road where the ground was still frozen with spots of black ice.
Meanwhile back in the pack, my friends Peter and David got caught up in a crash over similar black ice, but near the start and on the road. It took out maybe 50 people. It really sucked for them, but I was glad I started so far at the front.
As soon as we hit the first section of flat road I knew it was critical to stay with a group and work together. I don't have much experience riding in a pace line, but I managed to hold my own, trading pulls with some really strong riders. I'm starting to see the lead group stretched out with three chase packs.
Heading into the first dirt climb I do my best to scoot past as many riders as possible, knowing it'll be the only way to make up time on the leaders. The dirt climb quickly descends down a gnarly fire road mixed with some single track. The course cuts through some closed gates where you have to dismount and climb through. Again, I gain time going down having fatter tires and front suspension. At this point I begin to see the carnage of bodies on the side of the road, fixing flats.
This marks the start of a long road climb to the halfway point of the race. I push a bit harder than I wanted to, trying to make up more time while distancing myself from the larger chase group along the flats. My Open O-1.0 shines in long sustained climbs. It probably weighs as much as most of the cross bikes out there, and that's with suspension and fat wheels. It's also the first race on my fairly new bike. It went beyond my expectations as it carved down the hills with ease and held its own and then some up the climbs. I put my head down and go to work. Nearing the top I start to feel the twinges of cramping in the backs of my legs. I'm hoping I didn't push too hard to leave me with little at the end.
This is where the fun starts. I reach the top of the climb and start to bomb down a fire road which quickly turns into a slippery mess. I pass even more bodies fixing flats and realize the lead group has got to be less than 20 or so by now. Again, I brought the right bike set up as I fly down the trail. It starts off rather smooth, but quickly turns rocky and muddy. I'm following a guy on a full-suspension 26" mountain bike and watch him tripod around each corner, causing me to loose momentum. I back off my speed knowing I don't need to put myself at risk. There's still halfway to go, and I need to make sure I recover while I can.
At the very bottom of our descent is a creek crossing. The guy just ahead of me tries to ride through only to get halfway across. I got the tip early on that it's not rideable, so I dismount and carry my bike through the crossing. I didn't want the creek to wash off my chain lube, which is why I decided to carry it. My feet, of course, are cold and wet.
On the other side I quickly mount up and pedal past the guy that was just ahead of me. I slowly pull away on the climb and make my way down the backside before hitting an intersection. A guy on a cross bike seemed to be turned around, and I decide to read the road and make a right turn based on how much more traffic it had. I ride to the bottom of that country road and hit another unmarked intersection. Left? Right? I don't know! I circle and wait 10-15 seconds before the guy on the full-suspension bike appears and leads the way. I give him my thanks. He had ridden Old Caz before, so I knew I needed to stay close.
We're soon joined by a cross racer, and the three of us start to work together as we make our way back along the second half of the course. Our pace was too fast for the cross racer and so we became two. We had built up a really good lead, and didn't want to give up what we worked so hard for. The course is beautiful here, following a creek through shady trees, but no time to enjoy the scenery, really.
We were out on our own for at least 15 minutes before hitting the main road back before the last and final climb. I spot a group of riders way out in the distance and decide to attack in hopes of bridging up to them. After a few minutes I catch up to them, but realize they were just a group of roadies enjoying their Saturday. Not a moment later a freight train of racers charges by, and I'm quick to react and jump on the tail end.
The group is composed of the mountain biker I worked with earlier, a few cross riders I passed along the downhill, mixed with a few racers I dropped on the climb. They clearly worked together to chase us down, and I knew it was critical to stay in this group. We start trading pulls, and again I hold my own. I'm actually feeling pretty strong despite knowing I've got about 8 miles of racing left, 3 of which end on a monster climb to the finish line. I have to make sure I don't blow up, and ride smart. Two cross guys turn up the pace, splitting apart our pace line. We regroup, but I could tell everyone is fading fast.
There's about 6 of us in the chase group as we make our way to the base of the last climb. Once I knew the only way to the finish was up I attacked and didn't look back. I quickly put distance between myself and the group I was just in. I catch a few riders right away as well as one of the two cross guys that blew our group apart. I'm looking at my Garmin expecting the climb to go on and on. It's getting steeper, so much in fact I gear down to my small front chainring, the first time all day. I spin and catch another rider.
A few minutes roll by, and I get passed by a fellow 29er. He must have put in a massive effort to bridge up to our chase group and hammer up the climb. I didn't have much left to contest my position, but I knew the finish is nearby. Up ahead I see a small group of people by the side of the fire road. I round the corner and spot an even bigger group. I must be close. Before I know it I'm asked for my name as I cross the finish line.
To my surprise I finish in 10th place with a time of 3 hours 18 minutes, just behind 9th place, and just 10 minutes behind the podium. I was super happy. Thinking back on the start, seeing over 300 people line up, I never dreamed of finishing in the top 10. I was hoping for a top 50 finish at most. I was lucky. I made the right moves. I came in with the right training and bike, and it all paid off.
At the finish I met the fine folks of Kitsbow mountain bike apparel. They make super amazing tailored clothing specifically for mountain biking, the Rapha equivalent. Edith took a picture of me and my Open bike and newly minted Open kit, courtesy of Andy Kessler, co-founder of Open Cycles (thanks, Andy!). I'm so happy with my bike, the recent tire change and knowing I crushed it on a 29er hardtail.
I wait at the finish line for a bit to see my friends roll through. I love the atmosphere after a race like this. People laid out on the ground, depleted and already swapping stories. It was so much fun. I can't wait for the next Grasshopper, though I doubt I'll do as well as I did today. I did learn a lot; race tactics, pacing, being patient and knowing when to attack. Starting off my year with a big result like this feels good. I just need to build my confidence a bit more, knowing what my limiters are and working on them.
10th Overall at Old Caz
A quick post about my race today at Old Caz. I finished 10th overall out of like what seemed to be at least 200-300 amped up cyclocross racers. I'm super happy with my result, and felt pretty good throughout the entire race. I guess all that winter training is paying off. A full race recap to follow very soon.