If it has a hill

I'll race it. This past weekend I had planned to race in the epic cross country mt bike race that is the Downieville Classic. Two epics in a single week would be too much so I stayed local and instead raced two races on the Coyote Creek Circuit instead.

This race is a circuit race which is basically a longer version of a criterium and usually has a hill. This course has a long gradual hill with the finish near the top. You've usually got a tail wind up the climb and a head wind on the flat.

The first race (open 4s) was fun and very well mannered, I had no trouble staying near the front, moving up at the top of the hill where needed. At one lap to go one of my teammates got stuck at the front so I went up to give him some cover. This turned out to be to much too close to the end, so I pulled the plug and rolled over the line w/o contesting the sprint.

Taking care not to repeat my mistake at Cat's Hill earlier in the season, I made sure to each lunch and stay in the shade as much as possible before my 2nd race. This race was not as well behaved as a few riders were very aggressive in trying move riders off a wheel. There was some pushing from a Penn Velo rider which is inexcusable imho. At 2 to go i was at the front, taking in some wind but holding an inside position. At 1 to go i was about at the same place, around the final corner i lost some position to be around 15th. About 1/2 up the hill the lead group sprints, I turn it up to follow looking for a good line on the right. The first surge starts to fade and i'm going hard but not really sprinting trying to make out where the finish is, is that it yes whoa push the bike forward and finish in 7th.

I think I could have done better if I hadn't waited a little too long to actually sprint, but I'm satisfied with a top ten.

Photo Finish:

Photo by Garret Lau

Leesville Gap RR

I had been warned about the heat, the length, the climb, the awful roads, but I didn't realize how epic this was going to be !

The first 10 miles were uneventfully flat and I kept to the drill, near the front and out of the wind. I had heard that once we crossed route #20 the road turned bad so I was prepared when just before the intersection 2 Davis riders went to the front. I stuck behind them as we hit the dirt. As the road got rougher I got more nervous about not seeing the best line so I went to the front, after about 3 miles of rolling dirt we got back onto rough pavement as we entered the hills. The pavement didn't last long than we were back on dirt. At this point a Z-team rider, one of the Davis riders, and I were taking turns at the front. They both seemed fairly good on their bikes so I felt ok following their lines. Back onto pavement for a stretch and I settled back in out of the wind.

At the start of the climb one rider attacked hard, and I went to follow. He pulled away from the field easily and I worked to stay with him. At this point I had no idea how long the climb was so I decided that instead of trying to stay w/ him and risk blowing I would cover anyone who chased, figuring that we could form a chase group at the end. The climb was long and steep in sections, any rider that came by me I would sit on until he got gassed than I would pass and ride my pace until another came by. We passed most (at it turned out) of the shattered field (35+) ahead of us on this climb.

At the top we had a group of 6 riders together and started talking about working together to reel in the lone rider ahead. Down more rough pavement then back onto some more loose gravel. At this point one of the group gets a flat, so we are at 5. Finally back onto pavement and nice pavement at that. We are all taking turns and working well together put not necessarily at break neck pace. I figured there was no need to as we could reel him in eventually. We continually passed riders in other cats and I'd yell at them if they tried to join, the 35+ riders were particular bad in this respect.

The road starts turning east as we make ready to head back over the hills, and I'm really hoping we don't have to climb as much as we did earlier. More passed riders, but still no leader, jeesh he is a stud ! We get through the feed zone at mile 45 with about 15 miles to go and I'm started to feel it some. I've been eating throughout the race and I've gone through 3 bottles. Down a long fast descent, than back up some and than down and we are back on the flats to the finish. The wind has picked up and is starting to become a factor. I notice some of the group starting to take shorter pulls. Suddenly we loose another rider who has cramped.

We turn south and than suddenly up ahead we see the leader, I'm impressed as he has stayed out front alone for around 40 miles !. He joins us and I can see that he still has some left. I however am starting to loose it and can feel the beginning twinges of the dreaded cramps. No one wants to pull anymore as we have made the catch so we slow.

We hit another dirt section which is loose enough so that there are only two decent lines. Not wanting to have this go down to a sprint I attack to see if we can drop someone, the former leader is right on me. I take it to the end of the dirt but they are all still on. Off the dirt and I'm wonder where the hell is the finish ! Suddenly we are at the 1k sign. I'm at the back and think well do I have one more in me to attack before the sprint. I wind it up and boom my entire left leg seizes, I can only laugh as they ride away.

The four ahead sprint for the win as I roll in to take 5th barely able to pedal. An awesome race and for sure my best effort on the road, plus I got a T-shirt for my trouble :-)

Fruita

Late in the week at Steamboat Springs, CO I arose before dawn to drive down to Fruita, CO to join the Santa Cruz Mt bike gang for some riding on the Kokopelli trail along the Colorado river.

The 7 hour ride in the heat of the day (95+) stretched all of us pretty thin, but we all made it back w/o a spill or too much bonkage.