Team Santa Cruz 2008 Race Reports

Downieville Classic, Downieville, ca USA, 7/12/2008

Erik Thunstrom

Darik, Poncho and I, headed up to Downieville a week before the race to get familiar with the course, and to just have some fun fishing, swimming, and camping in the Sierra Buttes area of Tahoe Nat’l Forest.

Our first morning there I took Darik up Butte Rd. to show him what he was in for on his Downieville Classic debut. This is where the race starts. You just start going up a series of long switchbacks for about 8 mi. The climb is fully exposed with beautiful views of the valley floor. It starts paved and then turns to fire road at the first switchback. As you continue it gets steeper and narrower. In many places there is only one good line. It pays to know the climb. After one last gravelly climb you reach Packer Saddle, this is where you start descending. This year we started our descent down the new Sunrise trail, a really fun, technical piece of singletrack which spits you out onto the 93-3 fire road which is basically a series of rollers which eventually turns into the infamous “baby heads”. Now at baby heads you must negotiate a mostly fast descent on a loose, rocky jeep trail. It’s very easy to flat here as Darik found out. Next up, the Pauly Creek trail descent…no your not out of the rocks yet! I love this trail. It has a little of everything, flats, steeps, rocks, mud, loam, creek crossings, swim holes…Darik and I take a break and go down to the swim hole under the first bridge to cool off, it’s hot out! It seems like you’re descending forever when you finally cross a big bridge and start going up for a little bit. At the top you begin the 3rd Divide descent. I think this is the fastest part of the course. Fairly smooth with long arcing turns, but watch out for the rocks and roots that pop out here and there! Next you pop out on a fire road descent for a couple of miles until you reach the 1st Divide trail. The beginning section of this trail is mainly flat with some rock structures here and there. Then you descend for awhile, do a short climb, then basically descend into town where you hit pavement to the finish.

It took us a long time to finish the course and Darik was pretty intimidated. He was wondering whether he could get it done come race day. I continued to ride the course over the next couple of days. I got Darik a shuttle to the top on Thursday and we descended Sunrise, Butcher Ranch, 3rd Divide, and 1st divide…what a blast! That was the last ride before the race.

That night Jason R. and Larry H. arrived in camp as planned. I was glad that they were here, as their presence alone would assure that Darik would not back out come race day. We all chilled out Friday and just fished and swam, except Larry who rode to town to register.

Race day! We were all up early…even Darik. The start was at 0900. All Mountain gets to go first. Then a huge Pro/Expert/SS group. Then Sport. Then Beginner. Larry and Jason left on time, but I got held up by guess who? I really had wanted to get up front at the start this year. As it was, I would start near the back.

The start was mayhem…it would be minutes before I mounted my bike…no worries, this year I was determined to go with the flow. Sarah K. and I found ourselves spat out the back immediately. We watched as they all sprinted off pedaling hard. We smiled and looked at each other “they don’t know what they’re in for do they?”

I kept an easy tempo through the first couple of switchbacks, only passing where it was easy. At Colombo Mine I was going well and pushed the tempo up some. I was passing a lot of riders yet still sitting in where necessary, not battling anything or anybody. My ride continued like this all the way up…it was fantastic!

At the top of the climb I was joined by Emma G. She looked back, made sure I was on her wheel, and then pulled me all the way through the first fire road descent, and the gravelly climb up to Sunrise trail. This was the beginning of a wonderful collaboration which would last all the way to Baby Heads. We kept passing riders all the way! With my gearing at 32x22 I could never have gone that fast without her.

Sadly, I had to say bye to Emma at Baby Heads. I rode it fast and was passed by only one rider on a full suspension. I railed through the top of Pauley creek and made contact with two riders. We stayed together for a ways, but the lead rider was holding us up. The other rider and I got away at Butcher. I passed another couple of SS’s. We were flying.

Just when I thought I had turned into Superman reality slammed me back down to earth. My front tire grabbed and started wandering up the bank near the bottom of Butcher. I was flying! Trying to correct and reduce speed I did a 30yd front wheelstand before flipping over and stopping dead.

Back up and at ‘em. I had lost next to no time…but had I learned anything? I was still smoking along when I got to 3rd Divide. I started out mellow, but started feeling like Superman again…my speed was insane…40mph? I was running into the back of traffic, dusty, can’t see, braking, wham! I’m down hard! I get back up and am trying to mount…something’s in the way, can’t get my hand on the bar. It’s my finger! It’s just flopping down and I can’t make it go back up!

I had to tone it down a little after that. Still riding fairly fast, though I have to dismount over a few rock sections that I would normally ride. I make it to the finish in town with no more incidents.

After getting my finger taped up I see Emma. We embrace. She tells me she flatted at Baby Heads and ended up taking 6th in the expert women. I get my free beer and hang out at the Santa Cruz compound waiting for Darik. He comes through a couple of hours later in his first Downieville Classic. No flats, and still has plenty of water. “ Dad, it wasn’t that hard this time” he says.

Back at the campsite we went over our races. Jason, now in the All Mountain finished 20th, beating quite a few pros including Davey Lopes. Larry had the race won but flatted on 1st divide. Opting to ride it in he finished 2nd…good call as 3rd place was only 20s back! I finished 12th beating out a few old nemesis’s. And Darik finished 4th with no incidents. All in all a great showing. We all decided to come and do it again next year (with the exception of Darik who wants a year off to recover). How about you?

Deer Valley National MTB Race, Park City, UT USA, 6/28/2008

Ron Riley

Deer Valley National MTB Race – June 28, 2008

The weather was clear and the temperature mild but warming as the five of us rolled to the start of our 65+ Expert XC race. This was the fourth race of the National Mountain Bike Series, and was being held at the Deer Valley Ski Resort just outside Park City, UT. I’d raced against all of these gentlemen before and felt I had a shot at making the top three.

As we started the long double track climb just after the start, I was in third. The 7000 foot altitude didn’t seem to bother me as much as I’d expected and by the top of the climb I’d gotten by Fred Schmid (75 of Waco, TX) into second. Fred passed me again as we entered the first downhill single track section. A bit later, as I pulled over to let some of the Expert Women pass, Jim Simons (65, Bozeman, MT) snuck by, too….damn! On the next uphill section, I was able to get by Jim for good. The single track course wound back and forth across the ski runs and bordering forest. The many switchbacks required full attention and left little time to admire the beautiful landscape that included wild flowers of all colors.

Harriet handed up a fresh bottle as I went through the Feed Zone to start my second and final seven mile lap. I was still in third.

The Deer Valley XC course is mostly single track where passing slower riders requires a little cooperation. When I’m being overtaken by a faster rider (happens a lot!), they’ll yell something like ‘on your left’ and I move over as far as I can or even pull off to my right so they can get by. This works fine most of the time. Saturday, though, as I’m grinding up a rocky single track section, I hear riders coming up behind me and one yells ‘right’, so I start to move left only to hear that nasty knobby on knobby ripping sound along with a few expletives. Evidently, he’d wanted me to go right!! Oh, well. Luckily none of us went down and I was even able to give him a push as he went by.

After this little episode, the trail headed downward and only a few more riders had to get by me before the finish. I finished third in 2:04, about eighteen minutes behind the class winner, Jurgen Leiser (67, Colorado Springs) and sixteen minutes behind Fred, who was second. After these first four races, I’m in second place overall for this best five of six races series.

Happy Trails - Ron

2008 CCCX Downhill Spring Series Finals, Salinas, CA USA, 6/22/2008

Grant Stoner

CCCX Downhill Spring Series Race 8

Toro Park, Salinas, CA. June 22, 2008

Only 3 SCCCC team members representing...

Racing in two categories, Grant Stoner got 3rd in single speed for the day & 2nd overall in single speed for the series (check for the white Flying V in the podium photos), then went on to place sixth for the day in Sport Men 35-44 and fifth overall in the series in that category...

Deborah Vitale got 1st in the race & 1st in the overall series win in the sport women class!....

Quasi team member & team sponsor Mary-Anne Hunter got 1st place in the expert woman catagory, & also fastest woman time of the day......... Not bad for her 1st downhill race ever!

Congrats to all!.......G....

Sea Weasel Pro/Expert Singlespeed, Laguna Seca, Ca USA, 4/20/2008

erik thunstrom

The Sea Otter XC course was the same as last year. Darik raced Saturday in the Sport SS.

We had to get up really early for this one. His start was at 0730!!! Mannacle's son Justin would be racing in the same group as well.

Upon arriving we noticed that it was very windy. We drove around a little and found a nice protected spot from the wind. It was also quite cold.

Got Darik down to the start where we hooked up with Mannacle. Looked like a BIG field and I didn't see any kids, 86 riders. Saw Rita & Tim in their dynamic duo superhero get ups. They looked fantastic!

Still very windy and cold…..and they're off! Mannacle and I ride down to the feed zone and wait for our riders to come through. Darik comes through a little ahead of Thomas Mendoza who is racing in the Jr group. We head back up "the grind" and wait at the finish.

Lots of racers coming in at the finish. Justin comes in at 31, pretty good for not riding much. Thomas comes in at 6. Where's Darik? I thought him and Thomas would hook up for sure.

It turns out that the wind ,SS gearing of 32:18, and three row stud belt would conspire against Darik, forcing him to dismount and walk all the way up the Skyline climb home.

After freezing our asses off for over an hour he would finish in 81 out of 86. I think he was by far the youngest rider in the group.

Mannacle, almost frozen headed straight home. Darik and I went back to our sheltered spot and enjoyed some BBQ hamburgers. Later we cruised around" the village" for a little bit, got some cheap chain and tires. The weather was so terrible though that we soon left, high tailing it for Mannacle's house where we would spend the night.

Mannacle and I got up early the next morning and headed back out to our race. Weather was much better this time. Not a lot of wind, but cool out. I did a lap around the race track.

Lining up I was looking around and saw a lot of familiar faces, all of them top notch. I love riding with good riders!

We got our start and off we went. We rode the race track like the beginning of a Saturday ride. Even though I was geared fairly low it was easy to stay with the group. A bunch of guys drilled it going into the dirt on the first short climb. I just kept a steady tempo and made it to the first fireroad descent in the company of Cesar, Hoopty,and Sully.

At the start of the descent Hoopty pops a wheelie and rides it probably half way down! That set the tone of the race for me and I just followed Hoopty through some rollers catching air with him on every bump. I was just going to have fun.

We came into the first singletrack with me leading our small group. I pulled all the way up to the bluffs where Hoopty and Cesar moved out. Coming into the first sandbox descent I passed Cesar. Coming into the steep singletrack climb that was up next, I let him around thinking he would just vanish up the climb,but his gearing being so tall he had to dismount and run it when it got to steep, I was able to stay with him all the way to the top.

Dezmin W. would go by me on the way to the sisters. When I rode up the first of the sisters I saw Sully parked doing his recover thing and gave him five. Dano was also somewhere nearby because he was borrowing one of Sully's bikes and it was geared a bit on the tall side…coincidence?

Somewhere near the back of the lap, Sully again like a bat out of hell! See Ya. Held steady up skyline and got a bottle feed from Alf E. I railed the last singletrack section and did a cyclocross dismount to shoulder it up the steep pitch to the racetrack passing a SS in the process. You gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold them…..

Anyways, I get to the bottom of the racetrack expecting to take a long desired drink from my water bottle…but it's not there! It was actually sunny and I was feeling pretty hot. Concerned about cramping, I backed off my pace thinking the feed zone was a long way to go. Luckily no one came around and I made it to the feed zone in good shape, receiving another bottle there.

I pretty much rode alone the rest of the way to the finish and was happy with my ride finishing in 28 with a lot of riders behind.

NMBS XC Race #3, Santa Ynez, CA USA, 5/17/2008

Ron Riley

National Mountain Bike Series XC Race

May 17, 2008 Santa Ynez, CA

Submitted by Ron Riley

Harriet and I drove down to Santa Ynez Friday morning. When we arrived at the race site a little before noon, the temperature was already in the mid-nineties, and only a slight breeze kept the dust moving. After I picked up my race number, I took off for an easy pre-ride of the course. I made it about two-thirds of the way around before I decided I’d had enough of the heat and dry, rough, single track.

Five 65+Expert riders took the line Saturday morning for our 25 mile (2 lap) race. The skies were clear and the temps were already heading beyond where sane people should consider riding a bicycle. The Santa Ynez XC course features four climbs up the same ridge. The first two climbs are the steepest and all single track. The third is all fire road and the fourth is the longest and again all single track. Almost all the single track is rough, cracked dirt. Only a few oak trees offer a moment of shade over the entire course. I was going to be tested!!

For much of the first lap, I was in third and doing OK, trying to drink from my two bottles when I could afford to take one hand off the bar. On the long single track section at the end of the first lap, I’d slipped into fourth and I knew I was in trouble. Harriet handed me a fresh bottle as I went through the feed zone and when she asked me how I was doing, I lied and said OK.

On the second lap, I had to walk much of the tougher climbs and, even when the trail headed down, it was hard because it was so rough and I was so hot and tired. At the two neutral water stops, I took water on my back, helmet and some to drink. Before the last climb, Brian went by and I was now fifth. Finally, after a little over three hours, I finished. I was seeing stars and hyperventilating for almost another hour. When I went to get up for the awards presentation, I started to cramp up. For a moment I didn’t think I’d make it. Lesson: hydrate or die!!

Happy Trails, Ron

sea otter, monterey, ca USA, 4/19/2008

rita leon

Yep cold howing winds all Right!!

Sea Otter on Saturday was Cold Cold Cold for us early morning racers..

I decided to race tandem this year.. after racing the past 5 years solo in beginner and sport cateogry, I needed something new.. and not only new but crazy fun.

Tim Watson (Rock Lobster) and I decided to go as Superman and Wonder Woman (my costume was better!)

A cold windy day with Dry sandy trails was extra crazy to boot....

Mark Wier and another supersonic guy got 1st

and a couple who won the downyville classic Tandem! were 2nd. We were about 2 minutes behind them.

I started the race with my Linda Carter spin in front of the announcers.. With no one else "really dressed" we were quite the site... The Retrotech people had some 70's garb on but that seemed to be a hinderance for racing....

Off we go.......

We were in the lead pack all the way around the track BUT

got caught in that BIG HUGE rut on the turn out of the track and some one yelled, oh look out Superman that there is some kryptonite!

We were passed by 2 teams and were not able to catch anyone until the trail 50 climb after the first single track off the downhill fire road.

It was the top of that where we passed teammate teenage angst, 13 year old Derek on a single speed.

For the super duo it was rough loosing the lead pack and catching them was even harder..

It wasn't until after the first sandy down hill which we cleaned with flying super colors that both of our superpowers kicked in. We even made that hairpin turn after the second sandy downhill climb!

This tandem race was the best team challenge I have ever experienced.

After the race:

We could not stay in our costumes long after the race but did a 10 minute round around the venue which

people really enjoyed. We wanted the kids to see us....

If you did not get a chance to see our coustumes I can send you some photos.... Erik and Mike saw us....

That's it for me until Cross Season. I just might wear my wonderful costume for the Halloween race!Over and Out!

Napa Valley Dirt Classic, Angwin, Ca USA, 4/13/2008

Erik Thunstrom

I did this race last year right after some good rains and the conditions were mainly tacky with some slimy mud here and there. This time around the conditions were dry and loose…I wasn't prepared. My minimal tread NoTubes Crow tires work well in sand and dirt, but in loose gravely or muddy conditions they don't work at all…I feel lucky to come out of this one with just some road rashes to show for it, well…and one cut.

This is a tough race, it starts out benignly, fooling you with a stretch of fire road early. Then you go into a bunch of singletrack. Technical sections pop up on you here and there keeping you focused. Then in the end back on fireroad/jeeptrail, you hit a series of hideous climbs and descents. Most riders are pushing their bikes at some point. Then you end the race as benignly as you started on mostly flat fireroad.

I got confused and lined up with the pro group at the start. After a couple of miles there were just 3 of us riding together. I new I was in trouble when I could not hook up on a sharp fireroad turn and hit the deck. Into the steep singletrack sections I had no traction and just had to ease off and survive…I was letting a lot of gearbies from the next group by wherever I could. I couldn't even get traction on the steep bumps that pop up here and there, which is usually one of my strengths! With a lot of encouragement from other riders I kept trying though and actually was having a pretty good time.

Coming through a steep descent I was following a gearbie's line which took me too far to the outside of a turn. There was a tree with a limb coming right at me! I couldn't corner and just had to take the fall line right…through…the…limb! Whew, I thought I was going to hit the tree!

My next trial would be a series of steep, loose, rutted out descents just before you start pointing skyward. No traction here either…it was some loose shale like material. I would just come to the top, select the best line, and let her rip. If I used my brakes I'd just start sliding and loose control. Somehow I made it through unscathed.

Now it was time for the steep hills. My goal was to shoulder the bike and run them all. My run was more like a shuffle however but I dug down deep and made it over the first 2 or 3? I spy a SS up ahead pushing his bike up yet another steep pitch. Knowing I'm overtaking him I stop my shuffling and walk it trying to conserve energy for the rideable grade that I know is coming up. As I pass him Nick H…in 2nd in the expert SS goes by riding it. As he goes by he tells me that I'm crazy!

I get to what I consider the rideable grade, do a running mount and start hammering upward. As I go down the fireroad and hit the flats Dan S goes by me. Next up is Blanco and I grab his wheel. I attack on the last small climb before the finish, but back on the flats he counterattacks. I again grab his wheel, but then start thinking…I started in the wrong group, I'm really minutes behind these guys, why am I battling? I let Blanco go and finish with no one else coming around.

Upon finishing I went and told the race official of my incorrect start. He said he'd correct my time. With the corrected time I finished in 9th.

Meanwhile, Darik started his race in the Jr Expert category. Leaving without a waterbottle, he suffered dearly on a hot dry day, on a long hard course. With no competition he got to go up on the podium to earn a deserved 1st place finish. He also reported that all the descents were easy and that he really enjoys this course. Bravo!

Note: ran a 36-21 gearing which felt pretty good…taller gearing might be good for the start.

Sea Otter Classic XC Race, Monterey, CA USA, 4/20/2008

Ron Riley

Sea Otter Classic – April 20, 2008

65+ Expert XC Race

Five of us ‘old guys’ were on the line on this clear but chilly Sunday morning for the 65+ Expert twenty mile (one lap) cross country race. Terry Dahl, 66, from Santa Barbara and current number one nationally ranked 60 Plus Expert, was the heavy favorite. On paper, I had a shot at second having previously bested the remaining three riders.

Terry led the pace line around the race track with me in a nice second position. I had a little bobble as we went from the track to the dirt, and Russ Fay, 65 of Orangevale, CA, got by me. I was still in third as we crossed the road at the end of the first single-track section, but Buz Brockway, 68 from Granada Hills CA, was right behind me. As we started up the next single-track, Ray Mendoza, who’d started in the group behind me, went by and we wished each other well. By the end of this up hill section, I’d dropped Buz and caught Russ. I was able to get around Russ just before the first downhill “beach” section. I heard him crash behind me as we started down this long, wheel-grabbing sand box. I, too, fell victim to the sand monster, and crashed into the brush. Russ was by again before I was able to pull myself out of the sage and get going. He didn’t get far, though, and I was able to pass him for good on the first real climb up Trail 82.

Things went well until the last tough climb up Trail 32 where I lost traction on a loose switchback and fell. No harm done! The rest of the course was just a long haul back up Jack’s Road, a little more single track, and then the dreaded Skyline. If you haven’t saved a little for this last long uphill section of fire road, you’re in trouble and leg cramps are lurking very close. I was wearing a big smile as I made the last little single track climb up to the racetrack and the short downhill dash to the finish. Yahoo!!! Second place!!! Terry was first in 1:50:51. I was 7:39 back and Russ was 12:17 back in third. Buz finished fourth and Brian Kinnery, fifth.

Happy trails – Ron

CCCX #4, Fort Ord, Ca USA, 3/30/2008

Erik Thunstrom

CCCX 4 was your typical Fort Ord race. It was cool and windy with lots of pedaling. Keith added a couple of new trails which were used, along with his new burm sections.

Darik didn't race today because of a cold,but, he was on hand to help out with the bottle feeds (more on that later).

I had what I felt was my best MTB race so far this year…there were a few different if not new faces in the lineup, Aaron K and Ruben V would be lining up with the usual cast of characters. I figured Aaron would knock me down a spot and Ruben would be a wild card…it's already tough enough!

I got a good start and came into the singletrack with most of the group behind me. Shortly thereafter Caesar would go by followed by Aaron , Greg, and Ruben. I was feeling good and this early in the race I was happy to have a couple of riders out front.

By the second lap Ruben had dropped off. Aaron and Greg took turns at the front and I just sat in wondering when they would drop the tempo so that I could take a pull! Through the flat twisty return section a gap was opening up to Greg. I told Aaron I could close it so I pulled through to Greg. I looked back, but Aaron wasn't able to stay on my wheel and I couldn't see him. I still felt good and pulled through again and just kept my tempo the same…I guess Greg popped , I was alone.

At the beginning of the third lap, the Langley train was within my grasp as we began the climb up the finish section. One of his teammates was kind of dogging it up the climb, so I came around and latched on to Langley's wheel thinking it would be a good one to follow through the climb and the upcoming windward false flat. Much to my surprise he sits up and pulls over. After some banter and the dawning that someone has to do some work I pull through. I pull all the way up and still am pulling into the wind on the false flat, till I'm saved by a SJBC member who pulls through strongly about halfway through the windward section. Langley goes with him and I work hard to stay on their tail. I stay with them all the way to the end of the flat return section where I'm spun out and have to say adios.

Coming in to the fourth lap I'm all alone and hit the windward stretch knowing I'm going to have to time trial it in from here or…maybe go easy and let someone catch me and stay fresher! Greg catches me near the road section and just attacks me immediately. Well, if he wants to play like that!

Last lap. I grab Greg's wheel at the start of the windward section. I try taking a pull half way through but he just comes back around again battling me, so I just sit on and start telling him about how Darik handed me an empty bottle through the feed zone. We both chuckle. We talk for a while through the flat return section. Before the gravely descent I try a small attack to see how he responds knowing I have one more chance to get around him on the steep final hillclimb. He responds well and counterattacks. We hit the shortened road section. Earlier I had always sat up through this section and I knew Greg probably thought I would do the same here. Instead I pulled through and held a fast tempo to the last hillclimb where I attacked with everything I had left. At the top of the climb my legs were locking up, but looking back I had opened up a good 40yd gap. Greg claws his way back and tries to come around me three more times to the finish without success and I finish seconds ahead for 4th place.

NOVA National Stage Race - NMBS #2, Fountain Hills, AZ USA, 4/4/2008

Ron Riley

NOVA National Stage Race – NMBS #2

McDowell Park, Fountain Hills, AZ

April 4, 5, 6, 2008

By Ron Riley

I’ll skip all the non-essential driving, motel and restaurant details involved in competing in this mountain bike stage race.

Friday’s stage was billed as a Super D that was actually a six and a half mile time trial over a sweet single track that was only slightly down hill and required constant peddling. The Pro Men and Women went first at 15 second intervals. It was interesting listening to their banter and trash talk before they started. I was the first of the 65+ expert men to start and was able to stay ahead of Fred Schmid (75 of Waco, TX) and Jurgen Leiser (67 of Colorado Springs) for about half the way to the finish. Fred finished first, Jurgen second. I was third and Brian Kinnery (66 of Santa Maria) was fourth.

Saturday’s stage was the short track and was 20 minutes plus three laps. Lapped riders would be pulled. The 65+ Men would start with all the men 40+. I didn’t expect to last long. The course for this event was a half mile loop with a short run-up half way around. Again Fred and Jurgen were ahead of me until the run-up where I was able to catch up by carrying my bike CX style while they were pushing. Brian and I made two laps, and Fred and Jurgen made three laps before being pulled.

The third and final stage was Sunday’s Cross Country race. For the AARP gang, it was two ten mile laps. This was the same course as last year: fast single-track without any major climbs but lots of rocks and cactus. The temperature was maybe 65° and the skies clear for our 8:20AM start. I found my pace and was enjoying this smooth and easy part of the course. The desert was painted with red, yellow, purple and white flowers. The toughest section for me is the Pemberton Trail at about mid-way in each lap. A rocky downhill followed by a long loose sandy wash and then a long very rocky uphill. I made it in good shape. I was in third place as I went through the feed zone at the end of the first lap when my ever faithful and patient wife, Harriet, handed me a fresh bottle. The second lap went well for me though the younger riders lapping me required more attention to the trail and less on the wild flowers. About a mile from the finish, a rider passed me and then flatted right in front of me! I actually got to pass somebody!! Tubeless rims and tires with sealant are a MUST on this course. The 65+ Expert XC finishing order was the same as the first two stages. I was 18 minutes behind Fred, 10 minutes behind Jurgen and an hour ahead of Brian.

Next NMBS race is May 17th in Santa Ynez.

Happy Trails - Ron

TBF Mountain Bike Challenge #3, Granite Bay, Ca USA, 3/16/2008

Erik Thunstrom

We left San Rafael at o'dark00. It had been lightly raining the day before and I was ready for mud? Got to Lake Folsom at about 0730 and pulled in next to the Ebberoths. They had driven in from Marina and it only took them an half hour longer…go figure!

Anyway, the weather looked great. It was mostly clear and cold and the trails were dry…except for the mud hole. Darik and I geared up and proceeded to chat excessively, wasting our time as usual instead of warming up. Mannacle showed up with about a half hour to go and quietly got ready to race.

We made it to the start on time…and then we were off! I tried to stay with Mannacle and two others on the front, but their pace was terrific and my legs said nooo! I started using other riders to close the gap knowing the climb was coming and managed to stay close enough for comfort. I've never seen Mannacle start this fast, it was truly impressive.

As we finished the first descent I was still in good position and saving energy when over a bump a rider goes down right in front of me. Boxed in with nowhere to go I begin trying to ride over him and his bike! The attempt fails as he starts moving his bike around trying to extricate himself from his predicament. I have to dismount loosing the lead group and allowing more riders around me before I can remount and get back up to speed.

I'm rolling well and picking off riders. A Roaring Mouse goes down hard in front of me but I get around the mayhem by picking a line through some boulders. Now there's no one in front of me and I know the faster riders are just ahead As I plow through the mud hole for the first time.

Still no SSers on the second lap. Coming to the mud hole the second time I think I'm on the right line when suddenly I get swallowed up by a deep, muddy, stinking hole and get launched over the bars landing right in the gooo. I'm right back up and at 'em but I can't see well through my mud splattered shades…I don't want to slow down to stow them so I just keep riding. Looking back, it was a bad decision. I lost time through the long fast twisting winding section to the start/finish straightaway/sandpit section.

Third and final lap. Yea a SS'er. As I overtake him he responds and grabs my wheel. A little later he attacks and I let him through to gauge . His gearing is quite a bit lower so I know I can beat him in the sprint at the end if I have to. I let him stay in front.

Coming to one of the rock sections there's a BIG boulder. I've always seen a line traversing across it's face and I'm thinking this is my last chance to try it in a race this year…Impulsively I do it. It starts out well but suddenly my front tire rolls off the side of my rim burping air from my Notubes set up. I finish it off sliding down the wall on my knee and pedal. Decision time: keep riding to the finish with about 10# of air or fill it with the CO2 canister?

I keep riding with low psi and get reeled in by two more SSers. We're almost to the sandpits now though and it's pretty straight. I rev it up and stick to their wheel. Right before the sandpit I attack pulling through and keep up the attack through both sand pits. I don't look back and just keep the pedal down. As I hit the final straightaway section a gearbee goes by and I latch on to his wheel to the finish. Yeah Baby!

I end up finishing in 4th. Not good enough for the podium…but I know I can do better. I didn't get any stories out of Darik , but he raced well on his SS coming in 6th.

CCCX#4 crampfest, Fort Ord, CA USA, 3/30/2008

Michael Mann

Of course I rode out to the race venue on Saturday and did a lap. I have to tell you Kieth did an excellent job setting up the race it had two new single track sections and no long road sections. The one problem was I was so excited to race the new course that I threw all common sense out the window and I rode from there and did a lap on the Sea Otter, then I went home. While I didn't do it fast is was probable more mileage than I should have been doing the day before the race. Sometimes you just don't think straight ???

We started with the pro-semi pro men and from the get go I could tell it was going to be a long day in the saddle. I lost the lead group on the first lap, but was able to latch on to them on the second lap going up the long windy climb to the turn around. Kieth and some other gearbys came by us on the climb and almost caused a little ruckus on a pass off the trail on the left side. Bye the time we hit the top I just had to back off a little because my legs felt like two pieces of wood. Coming into the third lap I was really looking forward to a new bottle with a Gu but Dearwig was daydreaming and totally missed the hand-off , not that it would have helped me anyway I could feel it wasn't a very good day. Needless to say but on the third lap I started to cramp and by the fifth lap I was cramping in places I didn't know I had from my hips down to my toenails. I limped to the line and didn't even stop because if I did my legs would have locked u p like Fort Nox. I rode to the start road and spun down for about fifteen minutes, then I gathered up my stuff and limped home. Earwig had a good race and was able to pull out a good finish ,I think fourth ? in an epic last lap battle to the line. Thanks Dearwig for the bottles I did get. We will see if the next race is a little better! hopefully this is a one in a million deal.

CCCX#4 crampfest, Fort Ord, CA USA, 3/30/2008

Michael Mann

Of course I rode out to the race venue on Saturday and did a lap. I have to tell you Kieth did an excellent job setting up the race it had two new single track sections and no long road sections. The one problem was I was so excited to race the new course that I threw all common sense out the window and I rode from there and did a lap on the Sea Otter, then I went home. While I didn't do it fast is was probable more mileage than I should have been doing the day before the race. Sometimes you just don't think straight ???

We started with the pro-semi pro men and from the get go I could tell it was going to be a long day in the saddle. I lost the lead group on the first lap, but was able to latch on to them on the second lap going up the long windy climb to the turn around. Kieth and some other gearbys came by us on the climb and almost caused a little ruckus on a pass off the trail on the left side. Bye the time we hit the top I just had to back off a little because my legs felt like two pieces of wood. Coming into the third lap I was really looking forward to a new bottle with a Gu but Dearwig was daydreaming and totally missed the hand-off , not that it would have helped me anyway I could feel it wasn't a very good day. Needless to say but on the third lap I started to cramp and by the fifth lap I was cramping in places I didn't know I had from my hips down to my toenails. I limped to the line and didn't even stop because if I did my legs would have locked u p like Fort Nox. I rode to the start road and spun down for about fifteen minutes, then I gathered up my stuff and limped home. Earwig had a good race and was able to pull out a good finish ,I think fourth ? in an epic last lap battle to the line. Thanks Dearwig for the bottles I did get. We will see if the next race is a little better! hopefully this is a one in a million deal.

Southridge National, Fontana, CA USA, 3/29/2008

Ron Riley

The venue for the first event of the 2008 National Mountain Bike Series was a city park not far from the intersection of Highways 10 and 15 in the community of Fontana, California – the Kaiser Steel production area of fifty years ago.

Southridge Park has hosted many a mountain bike race over the years, and its trails are steep, fairly technical single-track with plenty of rocks, ruts and sand – your typical Southern California urban adventure.

I pre-rode the six mile plus loop on Friday: three climbs with three nasty descents and a somewhat flatish half-mile section to the finish. All the Semi-Pro men and expert men under 50 would be doing three laps and starting first. 50+ expert men and all the expert women would start next and do two laps. As usual, my goals for the next day’s race included not getting run over by riders trying to pass me.

My 8:20 start Saturday was under overcast skies and temps in the upper 50’s – nice. I’d raced all the other four 65+ experts on the line before and was hoping for a fourth place finish.

As I hit the first climb (in fourth place), I waited a little too long to down-shift and stalled which caused Buz Brockway, 67, who was behind me, to also stall. I got going again and managed to open up a little gap on Buz by the top of the first climb. He’d raced here many times and has always been faster on the descent than me. Sure enough, as I pulled over a little to let some faster riders by, Buz got by too! I was able to catch him by the top of the next climb, but couldn’t get by and on the descent he was gone for good. At the bottom of the third and last big descent, there’s a choice of going down a steep narrow cement drainage ditch or one of two gnarly loose single tracks. In pre-riding the course, I’d picked one of the single tracks and made it. This time, I wasn’t so lucky and crashed pretty hard at the bottom. I escaped with a skinned elbow and tweaked handlebars.

As I went through the feed zone at the beginning of my second lap, I handed Harriet my riding glasses because on the climbs they were fogging up and I couldn’t see. The second lap was a challenge as the faster riders doing three laps had to get around me. On the uphills, no big problem, but on those narrow, rocky, loose downhill single track sections, I just had to pull off and let ‘em by. On more than one occasion, it was more of a ‘crash off’’.

Finally, after almost two hours, I was finished! After washing off the dirt and blood and getting a hot link sandwich at one of the on-site food vendors, I was trading stories with the other ‘old guys’. As the fifth place finisher, I occupied the final spot on the award stand.

Harriet and I stopped for dinner in Watsonville and were home by 7:30. Next week – NMBS #2 in Fountain Hills, AZ.

TBF race#3 series final, Folsom, CA USA, 3/16/2008

Michael Mann

We left the house on Friday fully expecting to see some rain over the weekend that was forecasted, but with a few sprinkles and a little wind on Saturday the race was looking to be the best in the series. I headed to the race on Sunday under Blue Bird sky's the only ? was how wet the coarse was or how much it had dried out. Thank goodness the High School League had sent 450 kids over the coarse the weekend before, it was in great shape almost completely dry just the one big mud bog on the back side.

I was feeling really race ready and I was hoping Earwig was rested and ready to go too. At the gun I knew that I wanted to start hard and stay up front with the young guns because I had to probably finish first if I had any hope of taking the series in the masters division. Everything went just as planed ,and on the road section before the dirt climb I was even out front with the Kisenator. I hung with them for one full lap when coming into the sand pit the guy in front of me locks up the front brake and over the bars he goes with me doing my best impersonation of him almost landing on his bike. I decided from that point on I wasn't going to be following anyone if I didn't have to. Things got a little dicey on the next two laps with lap traffic, but I seemed to run across most everyone in good spots and it didn't slow my pace at all. Before I knew it I was on the home stretch flying to the finish line. I crossed the line in first place in the masters divisi on and I was the fourth place S.S. overall, only about two minutes back of the Kisenator. Luckily my competition finished about six minutes back giving me the series win. This is such a great venue for racing ,I cant wait for next year. Earwig had a good race finishing in fourth place and Dearwig finished a very respectable sixth in his division.

Earwig and I went and did an extra lap while the race was finishing and when we got back I hung around for both the awards ceremonies and it was time to get out of Dodge. We were going to BBQ but my other half was having a major case of ants in her pants so it was time to go.

Keyesville Classic MTB XC Race, Lake Isabella, CA USA, 3/16/2008

Ron Riley

This race was presented by the Southern Sierra Fat Tire Association on March 16th near Lake Isabella, CA, just east of Bakersfield. It was part of a three day mountain bike racing weekend that also included short track, downhill and vintage mountain bike races.

Harriet and I arrived at the race site about noon on Saturday. After picking up my race number and timing chip, I took off on a pre-ride of the cross country course. Ten minutes into the ride it started to snow!! For the next hour plus it snowed or rained or the wind tried to blow me backwards. I was more than ready for a hot shower and dinner after that eight mile adventure.

By my 11:00 start Sunday, the weather had improved to scattered clouds, cool temps and gusty winds. Six of us started the 50+ Expert twenty-five mile (3 lap) race. I was doing fine, making all but one of the short but very steep climbs. Just before I finished my first lap, two Pro's, who'd started ahead of the Experts, lapped me at what seemed like an incredible speed. Harriet handed me a fresh bottle of liquid as I finished my first lap in a bit over an hour - two to go!

The course was challenging with the toughest climbs and downhills on the single track section that made up the middle third of the course. On my last lap, I was able to ride up the steepest climb that on the previous two laps I'd had to push my bike over the top. I finished in 5th place in 3 hours and 24 minutes. As I packed up my bike and changed clothes, dark clouds and cold temps returned. I didn't warm up until we got back down to Bakersfield.

TBF race #2, Folsom, CA USA, 2/24/2008

Michael Mann

It was a cold blustery day and the rain was coming down in buckets sideways, as the players left all of their common sense at home, leaped from their nice warm cars on to their steeds of all different colors and sizes to prepare to do battle. It would not only be a huge test of human endurance but a great test of every manufactures bike parts and if they could stand up to the brutal conditions Mother Nature could provide. After a futile attempt to warm up in the water logged parking lot it was finally time to get the show on the road . With the prevailing conditions everyone and their brother seemed to be on a S.S. for the day. Deerwig, Earwig and I rolled to the line and conditions only promised to get worse as the laps started to count down. I lost my riding partner (Earwig) after about 1/2 mile into the coarse due to thick slime and a bad tire choice .All I could hope for after the last shenanigans was a flat free race .

The wind was blowing so hard across the big flat before the first sand pit and the track section going past the restrooms that it felt like if you stopped peddling you would be going backwards. You had to stand up over the bars and give it all you had to gain any ground at all. I got a small pull through that section on the first lap from a gearbee, but on the second lap I was on my own. About 1/2 way into the third lap I caught a S.S. from the open class and was just waiting for the right time to make a move .We were heading back to the open area when we ran across Mike from Josselyns Bikes he tried his best to stay in front us but he was all over the trail due to lack of brake pads. He bobbled on a sharp corner and the S.S. was able to squeeze by him, now with Mike between us I thought it was going to be perfect to make the S.S.er work the windy flat for us and we would make our move after the second sand pit, but when we get to the perfect area Mike jumps on it and goes to the front, and the S.S.er jumps on his tail with me last in line. I had to peddle my A$$ off to stay on the back working a lot harder than I should have had to. The S.S.er was able to make it past Mike in the first sand pit and coming into the second sand pit it was S.S., gearbee and me, a perfect setup for the track section. Mike makes a huge bobble in the second sand pit creating a small gap between the S.Ser and myself, I trying to close the gap when I run across Deerwig tootling his way down the straightway, I yell at him GO DEERWIG! GO! he jumps on it giving it all he has for about 30 yards and when I went by him I could see that it just wasn't enough to close the deal. None the less we gave it the old college try.

I ended up being the 6th S.S. to cross the line and the 2nd place finisher in the masters division. There wasn't very many riders to cross the line that day with brake pads, along with a long list of other none working bike parts. The weather never cleared so needless to say we tucked or wet muddy tails between our legs and headed for home.

TBF MTB Challenge #2, Slickville, Ca USA, 2/24/2008

erik thunstrom

What can I say about this one except rainy, windy, slimy? We took off in the rain and ended in the rain on this fine Sunday race, the worst part about it is I had too much fun!

I lined up with the Mannacle in SS. Darik went Novice SS. As we started I was feeling remarkably good for spending the last 3hrs in the car battling storm conditions. I was hoping to ride with Mannacle and do some work but that plan changed as soon as we hit the dirt.

As we hit the singletrack I immediately went down. My tires had no grip whatsoever in the slime...I was doomed to just try and ride the course without killing myself. I aired down a little and just kind of rode sideways a lot. Sometimes the rear wheel would come all the way around and actually be ahead of the front wheel. After awhile I started getting a good feel for this and it actually became fun. I aired down even more.

Meanwhile way up ahead Mannacle was battling for first when they ran across Darik on his second and final lap. Mannacle told Darik to pull...and pull he did!

Finally finishing my third lap I was having so much fun that I decided to go out and do one more. About a third of the way through it my brake pads were gone. I ran into a strong lady SSer finishing her last lap...she didn't have much brakes left herself, so we just tooled along chatting and foot braking in the mud.

When I got back to the finish Mannacle showed me his 2nd place plack. Darik was in the car with the heater and windshield wipers going. Darik finished ahead of a couple of the 19 under novice kids, and I finished ahead of a few SSers as well Yeah!

CCCX#2, Fort Ord, CA USA, 2/17/2008

Michael Mann

I left the house on Sat. afternoon to take a look at the course and although a lot of it was the same just in reverse, there were a few new sections. Keith and his compadres had cut in a new single track descending from the water tower down to Intergarrison Rd. SWEET ! I couldn't wait to see how it would race. The course also had the long road section all the way down Intergarrison Rd. to the new construction gate, not a crowd favorite.

I arrived at the race about 9:30 on Sun. expecting to see Deerwig finish his race, never expecting he would be at home snug in his bed w/Teddy. Dan rolled in shortly after, so we set up the tent and kicked back to watch the races for a while. At the start of the Sport race, Dan and I ventured up the trail to the turn-off of the road start. When we were standing there it was the coolest thing, you could hear the hum of the bike tires coming up the road. It sounded like someone had kicked a hornet’s nest and they were headed our way. We went back to camp to get ready and when we got there Ron & Harriet had just arrived; thank goodness they did because we couldn't interest anyone in bottle hand offs. KUDOS TO HARRIET.

We went out about 20 minutes early to do a little warm up, then rolled up to the line for a 1:20 start. Rod decided to start us with the 35-44 group this time, not nearly as twitchy as the week before. The hanky falls to the ground and it was off to the races for five long laps. We flew up the road and took the left up the hill; I tried to stay with the lead group but could only just hang on to the gearbees in the back. I just couldn't stay with the gearbees on the road section and quite frankly I was glad to be away from them on the downhill sections because they were all over the place. Earwig was riding well and with those big 29 in. wheels I couldn't stay with him on the road section either. By the time we started the second lap just about everyone had opened a little gap on me. I passed a few gearbees and when I started the third lap I could see Earwig just out in front of me. We linked up after the downhill from the water tank with a gearbee between us. Earwig took the long pull to the top and just before we got there he pulls to the side and says, "Is someone going to take a pull!" The gearbee was next in line but didn't feel very much like sharing, so I jumped in the front and took a pull all the way to the road section. The gearbee goes for it on the road, and again I could only hang with and Earwig him for about 2/3 of the way. I had to really work hard to catch back on and I finally linked up again after the water tank downhill when Earwig moves to the side and the gearbee takes over, but his pace is really fading. When we hit the pitch up in the climb I decide it’s time to go to the front and take us to the top. I didn't think I was going very hard, but when I looked back Earwig and gearbee had fallen back some so I slowed slightly thinking they would hook back on . When I looked back again the gap was still growing, so I just decided to go for it. It did feel good to take a slight break on the third lap, I wish it could have been longer. I spent the next two laps pretty much riding alone with the exception of passing a few more gearbees. I pushed hard to the finish crossing the line in 5th place. In the distance I could finally hear the fat lady sing.

The weather had really changed by the end of the race; it felt like the temperature had dropped 20 degrees. Too cold to stay and BBQ, so Dan , Earwig and I decided to move the post race festivities to a local tacqueria for some warm food and B.S.

I would like to thank Harriet for the bottles and thank Ron for the never ending smiles as you round the course . THANKS!!! I know it makes me faster.

County Line to County Line Singlespeed Jamboree, Santa Cruz, Ca USA, 2/16/2008

Mike Evans

The County Line to County Line Race Singlespeed Jamboree

There aren’t many rules to this race, but here they are:

1. You must race on a bike with one gear, fixed or freewheel.

2. You must ride on Hwy One from just before Waddle Creek where the San Mateo county line meets the Santa Cruz County line to Davenport (10 miles).

3. Once in Davenport you must ride on or next to the railroad tracks as long as they are in sight until you can drop down to New Brighton State Beach. (15 miles).

4. Ride on the beach from New Brighton to the Pajaro River where Santa Cruz County and Monterey County meet. (15 miles).

I’ve missed the county line race for the last couple of years due to various reasons and I was really looking forward to this year’s version. I keep sealed in a plastic bag a chain ring, chain and cog just for this race. When I broke open the bag the night before the race (always a mistake) I discovered the chain was partially seized and the master links were missing. No worries, I thought to myself, I’ll just use my existing master links from the chain on my singlespeed. Unfortunately the 9 speed links will not fit the old 8 speed chain. Since I use a full suspension Santa Cruz Superlight frame for my singlespeed the chain length has to be just right. If it’s too short it will rip the chain tensioner (Shimano 600 road derailleur) off of the frame when the shock compresses and if the chain is too long it will throw off during rebound. I had to experiment with chain rings and cog with the chain I normally use for my 34X18 combination and after all of the smoke cleared I ended up with 38X16 gear combo. As I test rode this combo in front of my house the day of the race I knew I was in big trouble as this set up seemed huge even on flat ground!

After doing the usual hang out at Waddle Creek, we were herded to the county line for the start of the race. Rick muttered something and we were off. Nobody got a real good count, but there were at 80+ of us! I was at the front and lead the group up the hill past Waddle Creek, but this didn’t last long as I soon was having a very difficult time pushing my gear up the hill. I felt like a big diesel truck as my rpm dropped! We had just dropped into Scotts Creek and I had dropped the group I was riding with on the decent and as I started to climb out I came across a downed rider on a tri bike. It appeared that he had hit the sand the gets blown off dune onto the bike lane and went down. Since he was in such a precarious position and almost in the roadway I stopped along with Ducky from Team DFL. The first thing I did was to chuck his tri bike onto the sand dune and I then inquired to his well being. He said he was alright, but couldn’t get up? I gave him the once over and nothing appeared to be broken. It appeared he may have been having stomach cramps or had an abdominal pull. I got him to sit on his butt so he was square to me and pulled him up with both hands. As he rose, I noticed he wasn’t wearing a helmet. I then laid into him about the lack of a helmet and with that Ducky and I were off. A helmet will not save you when a car smokes into you at sixty miles per hour on Highway One, but it will certainly help save you from yourself!

The pavement section ended at Davenport and we entered the railroad section that would last until we got to the beach after Capitola. There are many short cuts before you reach town by using the farm roads that parallel the track. I used everyone I knew about and in the process passed a bunch of people who had passed me while I assisted the tri guy. By the time we reached Wilder I was fried and my calves were on the verge of cramping. We hit the Westside of town and I passed a few people who were having mechanicals or flats. I re-passed teammate Barnaby Lee just before the old Fun Spot near the Boardwalk. Barnaby seemed to be struggling on his cross bike in the think layer of rocks that cover the rail ties and surrounding areas. I passed the harbor and I come upon teammate Philip Sims who was going very slowly and he pulled over to let me by. As I approach 17th Ave I seriously started to melt down. The combination of the slight up hill, gravel and rocks and the big gear I’m try to turn had me seriously contemplating turning around and going home! By the time reach 30th Ave I’m pretty delirious and the kid who was riding next to me has dropped me like a bad habit Just before I reach the trestle at Capitola a vaguely recall seeing Eric Richter and few other people cheering me on.

I finally reach the beach and popped a GU. I take my helmet off and fasten it to my handlebar and go down to the hard pack sand and start peddling. Just before the cement ship I come upon teammate Brij Lunine and Aaron Kereluk both of whom are changing flats. As I reach the end of the private section of Rio Del Mar, Brij and Aaron come blazing pass me like I’m standing still! The beach conditions of this year’s event are the best I have ever seen! The beach is bermless and flat and relatively firm, but this is little consolation for me as I just can’t seem to get on top of my gearing and get the rpm over 70. I come across Brij who has flatted again and ask him if he needs a tube, but he waves me off. Around La Selva Beach I come across the flaming wreckage that was once Rod Hernandez. As I look at Rod on the way by him looks positively cracked. I have never seen him look so bad. I pop my last GU around Manresa and wish I have never heard of a singlespeed bicycle! My legs are on fire and are on the verge of complete lock up, my hands and arms ach and my crouch has gone completely numb. I desperately start looking for the slightest incline in the sand so I can stand up and pedal and let a little blood back into the areas that are being starved. About this time out of nowhere Barnaby passes me! I jump on his wheel and last there about 30 seconds. My legs won’t respond and feel heavier than wet cement. Barnaby looks very smooth as pedals off to the horizon. I continue on my solo low rpm death march pass the Pajaro Dunes and finally to the river. I get off of my bike and my right hamstring immediately locks up. As I wither in agony I look at my watch and realize I have chopped 12 minutes off of my best time. I think I finished in the top 20 or 25.

As I ride back up the beach to the parking lot at the end of Beach St. I realize that we have had a very decent tailwind for the race and start to freeze as I pedal slowly into it. After having my legs alternately cramp on the way back to the parking lot, I find Nancy and the van and gingerly change cloths to avoid more cramping. The real hero of this race is Nancy who not only chauffeured Melanie, Barnaby, Norman and myself to Waddle Creek for the start of the race, she also stopped at Mark R’s brewery to pick up two kegs of beer for the party, made two giant bowls of pasta salad and then on her way to pick us up stopped and got the ice and more goodies to eat. Without her support, this race for me wouldn’t have been possible! We get back to Rick’s shop and there is actually quite big spread of food which is actually a relief from the early days of this race when the post ride feast consisted of PBR, Ho Ho’s and steak! Nancy piles my flambéed carcass into the van and drives me home where I have another feeding before passing out.

I broke the cardinal rule of bike racing and worked on my bike the night before the event and paid dearly for it! Even though I chopped a lot of time out of my personal best, I will attribute it to the tail wind and perfect beach conditions and not the large gear I was pushing!

CCCX #2, ol' Ft. Ord, ca USA, 2/17/2008

rita leon

I pre rode the course the course on Saturday, which turned out to be the better weather day. Great course to say the least. Climbing, a new trail with mini berms, some technical stuff and a fast road section with a nice tight up hill at the end (the same one for cross). I knew tomorrows race would be a blast! I got to the course and met Shelly now Jocelyn's on the road section with one chick on her with 3 male team mates I was certain they were cheating. I met her on the other side of the course and Shelly was still pulling that chick! I got to the the SCCCC camp and was greeted with the usual smiley faces I adore. Yes, I agree there is quite the pack of SS along with the Content Works guys who all proudly show off their rigid 29ers.

Gave me a little inspiration. Hummmm.... I actually might come out on the 1st and race my rigid Cannondale just to show them girls can too!

OH, I did not race that day. I was on my pretty little Kestrel who is up for a strip down and new pain job from Cycleart but I was there to support you all! That is what sportmanship is all about. SMOOCH!

CCCX#1, Fort Ord, CA USA, 2/10/2008

Michael Mann

Bare with me this is my first try at this . I have to tell you Ive had a little reservation about moving up to the expert singlespeeders this season . I didn't think it would be as much fun stepping up to a little bit more serious level of racing and getting used as a mop to clean the trails , or riding most of the race by your self . We had such a great group of riders in Sport S.S. the past two years , it was a blast ! So, it was time to paint my nails , fix my hair , pull up my dress and go racing .

I wanted to get there early to see some of the High School kids do there thing ,so I arrived just after 9:00 . I ran the coarse the day before and new the big hill off of Inter Garison Rd would be the best place to see and feel all the days suffering , so I did some quick pre-race tuning then went to the top of the hill to see if anyone besides me was going to leave their breakfast beside the trail . To my surprise everyone was holding their chow fairly well , most just gasped for air like a fish out of water.

We lined up for a 1:20 start with the 19-34 group and of course the start was fast and furious . Once we hit the single track things settled down for a minute and it was time to "ride safe and have fun". I like that motto . At the top of the first climb Earwig locks tires with a gearbee and almost goes down . We get back into line and on the next climb its time to go by Earwig and I spend the majority of the race battling with some gearbees trying to keep up, or set the pace . I didn't see another S.S. the rest of the race . On the last lap I had worked hard to pull ahead of some gearbees ,and on the last hill I look behind me and hear comes the Dennis train . I was going to pull to the side and let them buy , but D-train tells me to go for it . About 1/4 of the way up the hill D-train uses me as a blocker and comes motoring by me on the right . I try to hold his pace for as long as I can , but 50 feet from the top my legs explode and I scream my way over the top and down to the finish .

It was a very challenging course for the first race of the year , but team SCCCC S.S. crew gave it all they had ,blood , sweat , and gears, all one of them . After the race we had a great time BBQin and trying to figure out if Earwigs skin suit could be patched . Always looking forward to the next battle .

CCCX Mtb #1, Crashtown, Ca USA, 2/11/2008

Erik Thunstrom

Darik, Poncho, and I arrived early at the old scout camp at CCCX's Fort Ord venue. We drove right up alongside Mark Kintz's Cavalry high school cycling team. A few of the local Norcal leaugue teams were here testing the waters before the beginning of their season and there was a big line at the registration desk.

Darik's bike seemed to be working fine so we put his number on and off he went to warm up. I had a lot of work to do on my bike so I missed Darik's start, but was able to check him out at the gazebo which was the finish area. He was pretty far back there being the only kid on a SS. I had planned to pass him his bottle as he went by but he didn't want it as he grunted up the first short climb.

I finally got the bottle to him on his second lap, and he was still riding strong in the back of the field. Darik would finish last for his race even though he rode strongly…SSing is not an easy way to go fast, especially on a day like today with so many short climbs…Darik told me later he could not ride the steepest ones. Way to tuff it out son.

Meanwhile back at our team pit area I was getting a little edgy about my new tire set-up that I'd just put together the night before. It is a NoTubes tire rim combo and was not holding air very well. I was also trying to install my brakes, and was feeling like I just wasn't quite prepared to race.

With tire psi seeming to be holding fairly well I went and rode around before the start. As Mike M. had warned me the course had every climb that Keith could throw at us. It would be tough.

Getting ready to line up I heard the field was stacked…Cesar would go SS, Sully was there, and Nick Hanni. These guys are all SS monsters…even though I can't hold a candle up to them I love lining up with riders of this caliber.

We started with the19-34group. I immediately latched on to the back of the geared group and drafted up the uphill start section. We were thick when we hit the singletrack ,but everyone made the transition fairly smoothly. Things bunched up on the first climb. My wheel overlapped a geared guy in front of me and I had to dismount momentarily loosing a few spots in the process. I was still sitting in good position after the second short climb and began to settle in. Keith De. And the 35-44 group were coming up the third climb so I got out of their way on the worst of the double track thinking the other SSers behind me would follow suit. No such luck! A steady train of SS and geared bikes started going by to my left and I lost a bunch of places. As soon as I could I jumped back in determined to stay with the group that just got by. My teammate Mike the Mann was in there with them just ahead of me. As we hit the flats in the back half of the course I jumped on Tim K's wheel as he was making a big move. I was a half inch off his wheel as we hit a rutted section. Next thing I knew I was in the rut and going down hard. I was back up and at them fairly quickly, but had lost contact with the group I should have been with.

I think it was the very next lap, descending a short corkscrew to fire road my tire suddenly folded under the rim and launched me head first into the bushes on the left side. My bike still attached to one of my cleats I got to watch a few riders from an upside down perspective descend the section…pretty cool! My tire was partially off the rim with leaves and twigs sticking out from under the bead. I got it seated fairly well and went for my CO2 canister. It had been so long since I had used it last that I had to try to read the faded directions…It took me awhile but I finally got the tire inflated and made it back to the pits for one more final pump up, which got me through the race. Needless to say I DFL'd.

The best part of the day was hanging out with Mike ,Dan ,Elizabeth ,Darik ,and Poncho BBQing venison and hamburgers after the race. We've got a great SS crew in blue!

CCCX Mtb #1, Crashtown, Ca USA, 2/11/2008

Erik Thunstrom

Darik, Poncho, and I arrived early at the old scout camp at CCCX's Fort Ord venue. We drove right up alongside Mark Kintz's Cavalry high school cycling team. A few of the local Norcal leaugue teams were here testing the waters before the beginning of their season and there was a big line at the registration desk.

Darik's bike seemed to be working fine so we put his number on and off he went to warm up. I had a lot of work to do on my bike so I missed Darik's start, but was able to check him out at the gazebo which was the finish area. He was pretty far back there being the only kid on a SS. I had planned to pass him his bottle as he went by but he didn't want it as he grunted up the first short climb.

I finally got the bottle to him on his second lap, and he was still riding strong in the back of the field. Darik would finish last for his race even though he rode strongly…SSing is not an easy way to go fast, especially on a day like today with so many short climbs…Darik told me later he could not ride the steepest ones. Way to tuff it out son.

Meanwhile back at our team pit area I was getting a little edgy about my new tire set-up that I'd just put together the night before. It is a NoTubes tire rim combo and was not holding air very well. I was also trying to install my brakes, and was feeling like I just wasn't quite prepared to race.

With tire psi seeming to be holding fairly well I went and rode around before the start. As Mike M. had warned me the course had every climb that Keith could throw at us. It would be tough.

Getting ready to line up I heard the field was stacked…Cesar would go SS, Sully was there, and Nick Hanni. These guys are all SS monsters…even though I can't hold a candle up to them I love lining up with riders of this caliber.

We started with the19-34group. I immediately latched on to the back of the geared group and drafted up the uphill start section. We were thick when we hit the singletrack ,but everyone made the transition fairly smoothly. Things bunched up on the first climb. My wheel overlapped a geared guy in front of me and I had to dismount momentarily loosing a few spots in the process. I was still sitting in good position after the second short climb and began to settle in. Keith De. And the 35-44 group were coming up the third climb so I got out of their way on the worst of the double track thinking the other SSers behind me would follow suit. No such luck! A steady train of SS and geared bikes started going by to my left and I lost a bunch of places. As soon as I could I jumped back in determined to stay with the group that just got by. My teammate Mike the Mann was in there with them just ahead of me. As we hit the flats in the back half of the course I jumped on Tim K's wheel as he was making a big move. I was a half inch off his wheel as we hit a rutted section. Next thing I knew I was in the rut and going down hard. I was back up and at them fairly quickly, but had lost contact with the group I should have been with.

I think it was the very next lap, descending a short corkscrew to fire road my tire suddenly folded under the rim and launched me head first into the bushes on the left side. My bike still attached to one of my cleats I got to watch a few riders from an upside down perspective descend the section…pretty cool! My tire was partially off the rim with leaves and twigs sticking out from under the bead. I got it seated fairly well and went for my CO2 canister. It had been so long since I had used it last that I had to try to read the faded directions…It took me awhile but I finally got the tire inflated and made it back to the pits for one more final pump up, which got me through the race. Needless to say I DFL'd.

The best part of the day was hanging out with Mike ,Dan ,Elizabeth ,Darik ,and Poncho BBQing venison and hamburgers after the race. We've got a great SS crew in blue!

CCCX #1-45+, Ft. Ord, CA USA, 2/10/2008

Mark Knutson

A beautifully crisp, sunny morning awaited for my first mountain bike race ever. I'm usually found on the road riding recreationally as I have up to this point in my life. After competing in 9 triathlons last summer, I realized that I did better at the cycling portion than the swimming and running. Although I still plan on doing 4 Olympic distance events this summer, the intrigue of bike racing has led me to join this Santa Cruz Race Team. After a meeting at Phillipe and Mo's a couple of weeks ago, this guy Peter Jones convinced me I should try a mountain bike race coming up at Ft. Ord. Although I don't have the best equipment I thought I'd give it a go. At the start line, many of the 20 or so folks in my age group were giving me a funny look at my custom made 1984 Moots Mountaineer, decked out with the original fenders, pannier rack and no suspension. I started towards the rear of the pack just in front of Peter and ended up first to the trail turnoff. Shortly after, a guy from a Los Gatos race team passed me and I hung on his tire until we reached the first big hill. As we climbed I decided to go around him. He fell as I made the move and knocked me from my machine and apologized. During the remount 4 or 5 riders passed including Peter who was just flying up the hill. Over the course of the first 2 laps I continued passing some the folks that got me on the hill and started reeling in folks from the younger age groups. I was just getting into a steady groove when about a 1/3 of the way on the last lap my saddle broke right off the seat post and bounced behind me on the trail. Without stopping I accessed the situation and realized I was standing up the rest of the race. Given my situation I was still able to pass two more people, but a member of my age group who I had passed earlier had me in his sights. Without the advantage of weight on my rear wheel, the last few climbs were not as efficient and he started to gain on me towards the finish. I could feel him but refused to waste the energy to look back and charged as hard as I could through the finish line and beat him by a small margin. The excitement of just finishing in those circumstances was very rewarding. Little did I know that I actually placed 4th in my age group and discovered that Peter won our age group outright. Some equipment upgrades are in order. Hopefully I will be able to do this race again soon with a little more experience. Thanks Team Santa Cruz members for the impetus to race.

CCCX MTB#1, Payneville, CA USA, 2/10/2008

Dan Henderson

The season snuck up on me like a benign cold. Winter I train in the dark woods, nearly every night unless it’s raining when I spin inside with a movie. I had been doing long and easy rides until two weeks before the race when Erik told me about it. Then I started intervals reluctantly.

The lack of high intensity rides made me ill prepared for my first race in expert class, especially with riders like Caesar and Sully. I was spun out with a low gear at the start and I spent the first lap trying to catch up with everyone who had dropped me in the first minute. After tasting a little blood in my lungs and going lightheaded, I decided to lay low and just try to finish. There was no way I was going to catch anyone unless there was a mechanical or crash.

Erik was the only one who had any problems. He crashed twice and seriously flatted. When I saw him he was on the side of the trail trying to get his tire back on his rim. There were a couple of expert geared riders I was with for a while but aside from that I was on my own.

I got my ass kicked: 18 minutes off the winner, 8 minutes back from my new and very welcome teammate Mike. Erik was 8 minutes behind me but would have beaten me easily if he hadn’t spent so much time cartwheeling.

Could be a rough season, but I’m going down swinging.

CCCX Race #1 Cross Country, Fort Ord, CA USA, 2/10/2008

Peter Jones

I'm glad that I joined the race team last summer. I had raced a handful of last season's cross country races and was consistently middle of the pack in my beginner 45+ category. Thanks to Mike Evans for encouraging me to try cross races to improve my bike handling skills and to maintain a faster pace. Thanks to Eric Thunstrom and David Gill for repeatedly harassing me about spinning too small of a ring without going anywhere. Thanks to Dave Hopkins for impressing upon me the importance of staying on the rear wheel of a rider that passes and pushing to close gaps. Thanks to Ray, Jeff, Ron, Harriet and others for general tips and encouragement. It is all very intuitive stuff, but being new to racing it has been very helpful to know what is important to focus on. It suddenly starts to come together and I am feeling more like I am racing as opposed to just riding. Now, there are certainly other things that I feel I could have figured out on my own that were working against me, like showing up to the wrong race venue or standing in line for the port-a-john when my race was beginning, but it was certainly helpful having team members point out these errors and having it reinforced by being fined those imaginary bfd team points.

I'd be surprised if there was a person who owned a two wheeler that did not get on it this past weekend. After a rough weather January, we all got a good reminder why we live where we do. Sunday 7:15 a.m., I picked up my buddy Chuck Greer and headed to Monterey. Very healthy turn out for first race of the year - over 20 riders in my beginner 45+ group. I lined up on the back row for the start but got myself up to about 6th before the single track, staying within shooting distance of the leaders but not wanting to go out too strong too early. By the first climb, we had already caught the 35 - 45 group and the groups immediately blended so it was difficult to tell if you were passing someone in your own group. Most riders were climbing the hill slowly, single file in the preferred line but it presented a good opportunity to pass a lot of riders by riding in the grass. Throughout the race I tried to keep a manageably decent pace - steady on the climbs and getting back up to speed after the climbs before resting. By the end of the second lap, I had settled in racing a rider who I would catch on the hills but would pull away from me on the downhill and flat runs. On the 5 mile course there were about four climbs. I felt good and my plan was to pick up my pace so I could be as close as possible to him on the beginning of the final climb and then attack on that climb and hopefully get a gap that would hold for the final downhill and to the finish. We had both picked up the pace and as we approached the final climb we caught another rider. I attacked the climb standing up and staying in my big ring passing both of them. Half way up I looked back and one of them had responded and was on my rear wheel, but by the time I had reached the top I had my gap. Tired now, but keeping focus, I got back up to speed, down the hill, around the hairpin and to the finish and held him off by 3 seconds. Very satisfying that my plan had worked and feeling excited that I had likely placed 3rd or 4th - much improved from my middle of the pack finishes at the end of last season. To my surprise I had won a race!

Congrats and welcome to newest team member Mark Knutson (aka Triathlon Mark), placing 4th in his first race (inches ahead of 5th). He came equipped with a clunker of a bike, complete with full metal fenders and a cargo rack, but by the end of the race no seat. By next race I imagine that the non-essentials will be lost and the essentials will be better secured.

Great way to start the new season. We both had a great time. The place is like a big playground for cyclers.

Track Bs Points Race, San Jose, CA USA, 2/9/2008

Ken Sato

This was the third and final race to raise funds and get some winter race training for the local PROMAN UCI Track Team. The goal is to send their riders to the UCI World Cup races in Australia, China, LA and Denmark (see http://web.mac.com/robevans1/ODHBikes/Blog/Entries/2007/11/8_World_Cups!!!!!.html for more info).

The weather was great on this Saturday afternoon about 70 degrees with a light breeze. I wasn’t feeling like my form was good but decided to race anyway. There was a great turnout with enough racers for A, B and C fields.

With a 51X15 gear I lined up with the Bs for a 50 lap points race with sprints every 10 laps (5, 3, 2, 1 for 1st thought 4th place). I’m not going to give a blow by blow account of the race. Basically there was a break away of 6 riders that lapped the field. I was able to bridge up to the break but only got 2 points (4th place twice) so I am guessing I came in about my usual 5th place. I am happy with that considering my training, age, weight and lack of talent.

I would also like to give a plug for the unofficial race I do every year on Super Bowl Sunday in Chico know as Paskenta. It is still officially a touring century but for many it is an unsanctioned race with a finish line and rotating trophy. Other than the 4 to 5 hour drive I highly recommend it.

TBF Mountain Bike Challenge 1, Granite Bay, Ca USA, 2/3/2008

Erik Thunstrom

The weather was looking pretty ominous as we packed up Mike and Jackie's car in the steady light rain. After getting Darik, Poncho, three bikes, and all our gear in, we were off.

We got to Mike's Mom's house after dark She graciously made us dinner and put us up for the night. I took Poncho for a short walk, it must have been blowing close to 25kts with light rain…it was cold out.

In the morning things had changed. The wind was gone and you could see a big break in the sky where the nights storm was receding. Things were beginning to look promising. We packed up and headed to the race with the sun shining through scattered rain clouds.

We arrived at the event with about 30min. to spare…not much time. It was probably in the upper 40's and chilly. We were scrambling now to make our prospective starts…Darik would be racing Juniors on his SS, Mike and I were racing SS master. They do a wave start here with different groups going at 2min. intervals.

Darik and Mike left before me, and as I approached the starting area I could see neither. I was looking in vain for Mike and the other SS's when I heard Darik yelling at me "Dad they already left, go!" So off I went.

I started off trying to go hard but my legs having not warmed up said no! I listened to them and backed off instead settling in to a moderately hard tempo. Within the first half mile I began reeling in riders. 3-4 bikes had already suffered technicals going through the first series of puddles and mud. I was feeling better now…at least I wouldn't finish last!

I love this course up here. It winds it's way through oaks with lots of twists and turns and little rocks here and there. There are very few straight sections, except along the start and finish straightaway which is ideal for a sprint finish. There are also no long climbs, just short ones. Basically a power course with lots of cornering on double wide singletrack. perfect for SS. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention , there's a really big puddle/pond that is responsible for quite a few endo's including yours truly last year.

Anyway, at the mid-point of lap two I finally overtake a SS of some speed. It's Scott C. I battle him at some of the Pilarcitos cx races. He appears to be fading,but, as I pass him he responds and stays on my wheel. He takes a pull when we hit the straightaway by the start/finish as we start our third and final lap. He's running a bigger gear than me so I make sure I'm pulling when we hit the short climb after the start/finish area. Scott stays on my wheel through half the lap, but over a rock section I open a gap and put a few riders in between us.

Suddenly I see Mike running alongside his bike…he's flatted! He tells me he was leading our group and to go!!! Almost to the start/finish section now. Scott C has somehow managed to claw his way back to my wheel. With a mostly straight course left I let him take a pull and just sit in. I take a dig through a deep sand run-up and lead him to the next short sand section. I ride it putting in a short attack to open a gap and make him work for it. We're at the final finish straightaway. Scott's back on so I sit up and let him pull through. At about 200 yds Scott starts his sprint. This is what I've been waiting for. I manage to stay on his wheel up to about 50yds to go and then I come around to begin my sprint. I'm inching forward steadily and beat him at the line by no more than an inch! Now that's racing!

I go get Poncho and take him for a run/spin down. Mike amazingly finishes ahead of three or four SS's as he runs his way to the finish. He's looking poised to have a great season if this race is any indication of his fitness right now.

Darik had a good race. I put him in with the14 under juniors thinking they would put in two laps of about 7mi. each. Much to our surprise they only did one. Darik rode it on his SS staying in 3rd position with a rider on his wheel to the finish, where being under geared and thinking he had one more lap to complete, lost the sprint and settled for a 4th place finish on the day.

After wiping all the mud off and rinsing the bikes we set up the BBQ and enjoyed some buffalo burgers and Metaxa.

CCCX #7, Seaside, CA USA, 1/6/2008

Mike Evans

Although this wasn't your typical cross course, it was a hell of a lot of fun to ride! I did a recon of the course with teammate Philip Sims and didn't feel all that great. After watering the Master A race, I still had an hour to kill and simply froze my butt off while waiting! I ended up wrapping myself up in towels to keep warm. It was finally time to warm up for the race and while out on the course I suddenly realized I was feeling pretty good. This has not happened in a long time. The race started and we immediately started up the long climb and I was pleasantly surprised to be behind Erik Thunstrom and Stella Carey at the top. By the time we descended the hill and hit the pavement, Erik had a little gap on Stella and myself. I was able to close the gap before we hit the dirt again. By the time we hit the big climb again we had dropped Stella, while Erik opened a tiny gap on me. I was chasing Erik pretty hard, as I still had him in my sights, but as we arrived at the double log section I was pretty gassed. I normally bunny hop from the tops on my cross bike handlebars and not from the hoods or the drops and as I approached the first log I failed to reposition my hands from the hood to the tops and I never lofted my front wheel high enough to clear the log. The simplest things are difficult when your heart rate is over 180bpm!

As I was flying over the handlebars and through the air about to do my impersonation of a lawn dart, I consciously thought to protect my ribs. My right shoulder hit first. I just sat there for a second or five stunned until some lady from the side of the course began to remove my bike. I later found out it was Sabine. I grabbed my bike from her and continued on. It became immediately apparent that my right arm was not working well and my shoulder was just killing me. About this time Stella went ripping past me. I was still in shock as I went past the finish line and I debated with myself if I should pull the plug and drop out, but I just couldn't do it.

For the next three laps I chased Stella as hard as I could and got to within 5 seconds of her, but I was having problems. I could no longer stand and pedal. This made going up the long hill particularly fun! I also could no longer pick my bike up to port it and consequently I had to push it up the hills. By the time the last lap rolled around I had lost all impetus for the chase. I think what ever adrenalin that had entered my body after the crash had worn off and now I was seriously hurting. In certain instances, the last lap of a cross race can be very lonely as you are left with your thoughts to ponder like why the hell didn't I stop racing and go straight to the medic for ice? I thought about this a lot on the last lap and I decided that somewhere deep inside of me no matter how inconsequential my results will be I have to finish the race. I don't know why. I have never been happier in my life for a cross race to end.

The net result of all this was a mildly separated shoulder and a little sprain to my neck. As it appears that we are both in the running for the Crash Test Dummies of the Season award, Teammate Brij Lunine posed this question to me: "Would you prefer more crashes with less consequences like me or a lot less crashing with more consequences like you?"  As I sit here and write this I would definitely prefer Brij's method!

CCCX #6 & Peak Season #2, Seaside & Santa Cruz, CA USA, 12/16/2007

Mike Evans

CCCX # 6 Fort Ord, Seaside December 16th

I'll keep this short. Due to my rib injuries I was not able to race or do anything else for that matter for almost a month except eating and I gained 10 lbs in the process. I wasn't expecting much from this race; I was just happy to be back on the bike. The race started and for the first lap all was wonderful. I was taking turns pulling with teammate Erik Thunstrom and feeling great until we hit the climb past the start finish line on the second lap where I absolutely blew sky high. I blew so hard that on the following descent I had a very difficult time controlling my bike, as I seemed to have lost all motor skills. By the time I reached the bottom of the descent I had come to the conclusion that I didn't need to re-injure myself and put it on cruise control for the rest of the race. Although I will admit that the hill past the start finish just crushed me every lap!

Peak Season # 2 Harbor High School, Santa Cruz December 30th

I didn't feel that great before this race and things went downhill from there. At the beginning of the race I was behind teammates Mike Mann, Erik Thunstrom and Mike Martin just before the first big up section in the eucalyptus forest, when Mr. Martin decides he needed to get to the hill first and cuts to the inside of the left hand corner, then bobbles the initial ramp up to the forest, causing all four of us to stumble or fall allowing the group in front of us to get away. This was no big loss to me as everybody was going to get away from me today with no real fitness to speak of, but it did irritate Erik and Mike. I spent the rest of the race enjoying the course at Harbor High which took a little bit away from the pain.