Ride Hard, Ride Fast!!!

We left SoCal Friday afternoon and headed for Bakersfield .  My girlfriend’s aunt owns a motel in Bakersfield, so we were able to have a free room for the weekend.  We also just purchased a new 2008 Sequoia therefore we were pretty excited to take on its first trip.  Our goal was to make it to Bakersfield by 3 or 4pm so I can still head out to the Kern River Brewery. To pick up my registration.  Sure enough, as early as we left, we hit the infamous LA traffic.  We didn’t arrive into Bakersfield until 7:30 pm.  Not enough light and not willing to go up the winding roads, we decided to stay for the night and just leave early in the morning.  The races that were scheduled for Saturday were DH and ST.  Utilizing the Sequoia’s navigation system, we arrived at Keyesville timely. I was able to register and prep for the first event which was downhill.  Staying in the same class as I have all year long, I entered the Beginner Clydes. 

Downhill/DH

The Downhill (DH) was a two run format, down two different trails.  There were no shuttles therefore the racers had to ride or walk to the top.  When we reached the staging area up top, the officials were weighing our bikes.  My bike weighed in at 31.94 lbs.

They wrote on our number plate what the bike weighed for the DH race.  As I stated above, they only allowed tire changes so if they saw a big difference in weight on your next race, then obviously you changed something more than your tires.  For the DH I used 2.35 Kenda Nevegals on the front.  With time constraints, I left the rear wheel with the 1.95 tire, also Kenda Nevegals.  For this weekend’s race, I also switch from my regular Marzocchi AM SL 130mm to another Marzocchi AM130-150mm.  I was hoping the adjustability can assist me on the different races.

The first run was down Dutch Flat Road.  This consisted of fast rolling hills that transitioned into boulders.  The run in itself was not technical however without any practice runs, I couldn’t help but to be cautious.  I still rode it fairly fast but feathered the brakes when I didn’t have to.  I reached the bottom without any incidents.

DH - Dutch Flat. Picture by Ben Oakley

DH - Dutch Flat. Picture by Kym Hoang

The second run was down Snake Pit.  Staging was in the same area as the first run and utilized the beginning portion of Dutch Flat Road but then turned into a more technical, rock garden.  Since the beginners started first, we made our way to the top through Snake Pit.  Not having any practice runs, I desperately tried to pick the best lines visually and mentally.  As we made it to the top, the actual “Snake Pit” which was a rock garden was the most technical part of the race.  At staging, I was joined by many of the beginners.  At the same time the officials decided to take a break.  Well, the weather was in the 30-40s…very cold.  At times we saw light dusting of snow and light rain.  When the rest of the racers reached the top, most of us who have been waiting were just about frozen.  With much anticipation for our second run and weathering the cold, most of the beginners, including myself, were ready to get our second run out of the way.

 

Lining up to start, I have to admit that I was nervous, trying to remember how Snake Pit appeared.  My only time on it was walking UP, after my first run.  When I was given the green light I sprinted down the trail.  The first part was fast and fairly easy.  Again we utilized the first part of the last run, therefore I was familiar with it.  At the second half where Snake Pit began, panic kicked it and it showed.  One of my friends who was watching the race said he can hear me breath real hard as I approached the Pit.  With the crowd yelling and screaming, trying to encourage the racers, I was filled with adrenaline.  I was very sketchy going through the first rock garden.  The screams are getting louder and louder.  The room for error was minimal with everyone watching. 


DH - Snake Pit. Picture by Nam D/TKBlazer

As I approached the actual Snake Pit, I picked the wrong line, hit a rock and went over the bars.  Fortunately it wasn’t too bad… minor scrape on the left forearm and palm.  I quickly picked up my bike, adjusted the semi twisted handlebar and jumped back on.  By now another rider has caught up to me.  I let him pass then I started towards the bottom to finish the race.  Very much appreciated the crowd cheering me on despite my mishap.  The encouragement definitely helped.

Short Track/ST

The second race for the day was the Short Track.  ST is, as the name suggests, a short semi-XC course built for speed.  It’s a tight and fast, sometimes elbow to elbow with another racer.  Each class will race for 15 minutes and then 3 more laps.  I felt good after the DH race.  The worst part of my injury was the scrape on my palm.  My forearm was not affected at all due to my protective gear.  With several hours to spare in between the DH and the ST, I switched my front tires from a 2.35 to a lighter 2.1.  Making it a little lighter will help me with the numerous laps that is required for the ST.  I also had timeto have my bike weighed for the ST race - 30.40 lbs. From the end of the DH to the start of the ST, the weather fluctuated from sunny, cloudy, rainy, sleet and snow.  Most of the time we just stayed inside the Sequoia to keep warm from the elements. 

Getting closer to the Beginners ST, I heard several announcements.  All of the Beginners were to race together.  I changed clothes, wore something a lot lighter than what I wore on the DH race.  I still had enough layers to try and keep warm as the climate was in the lows.  Just as I was about finished dressing, I hear the “GO”.  Fortunately we were parked approximately 100ft from the start.  I quickly jumped on my bike and raced to the track. 

Trying to chase the pack. Picture by Kym Hoang.

The embarrassment quickly went away as I was chasing the group.  The track consisted of a gradual climb, quick turns, fast descents that transitioned into turns. 


ST - Pictures by Kym Hoang.

ST - crossing the Finish Line. Picture by Kym Hoang.

The day ended with two trips to the podium.  1^st place in DH and ST for Beginner Clydes.  It wasn’t until later in the day when I found out that I was the only one racing Beginner Clydes.   I was ok with this but would have preferred if there were others that entered in my Class.  I’d like to have the competition regardless if they are better; it takes the fun out of it when there is no one to compete against.  Back to Bakersfield for the night and will be ready by tomorrow for the XC race.

Cross Country/XC

I returned to Keyesville bright and early on Sunday.  This time I came alone without my girlfriend.  With our seven month-old son, it was too difficult to travel back and forth to Keyesville.  Prepped and ready, making sure I don’t miss the start like I did the previous day, I was focused on the the  8 mile+ race.  This time it turns out that there were three Beginner Clydes racing XC.  I was excited as finally I will have others in my class to compete with.  At the staging, we were grouped with the other Beginners, like the previous day.  We were lined up with the likes of various age groups, single speeders, vintage bike riders and women in their perspective Beginner classes.

From the start, we traveled through some parts of the ST then journeyed onto various climbs.  The first part of the trail was fairly normal, nothing too exciting.  Within the first four miles, I can still see one of the riders in my class; the other I passed from the start and haven’t seen since.  As we reached the backside of the mountain, somewhere midpoint of the race, the trail opened up to an epic view. 

XC - Picture by Ben Oakley.

I pushed to the top with the little energy I had left and passed the rider that had been in front of me.  This gave me satisfaction even though he was not in my class.  I crossed the Finish Line with much content knowing that I had completed ALL three races I entered for this weekend. 

Tallying up the points for the Overall Winners for each category was somewhat disappointment.  Finishing 1^st in DH &ST and 2^nd for XC I was confident that I had one of the higher overall scores.  I also contacted the officials prior to sign-up and I was advised that the Clydes were to be a separate category and will be recognized.  In the end, the Clydes were not and they were mixed in there perspective classes.  Yes I was disappointed but still had tons of fun.  I look forward to the race next year and will be better prepared.  I plan on correcting the mistakes that made and will shoot for better results in 2009!

Due to my basketball schedule, I had a conflict with the next two races, Winter Series # 2 & 3.  The next race that I was able to enter was WS #4 on February 23^rd.  Again for this race there were five competitors racing the Beginner Clydes.  Three of the racers were from the WS #1.  This time I came in last place.  I was disappointed as I should have done better.  I did have one mechanical issue where my front tire was not rotating as freely as it should have.  Turns out that the rotor was rubbing against the calipers.  It may or may not have impacted my race but it certainly taught me a lesson to check my bike first prior to the race day.

I entered the last race for the Winter Series 08, which was held on March 8^th.  This time there were only three riders for our class.  Sadly enough I came in last place, 3^rd, however I improved on my time.  I finished the course in 58 mins.  I always try to find a positive with each and every experience.  I will take this part and try to improve on my next race.

Winter Series #5, XC - Fontana, CA

So for the Overall Winter Series 2008, points wise I came in Fourth for my class.  To me this was an accomplishment as I was not expecting to reach this far.  Some where along the line, I got the drive or fever to keep racing and see how far I go in standings.  This is certainly something that I will try to improve on next year’s Winter Series.