April 2011 Blog Posts (8)

Sea Otter slots in as my third race this year.  Unlike last year, any expectations for a high finish were tempered by the more competitive Category 1 (Cat 1) field. Based on past results, in the 50-54 age group, I would be satisfied to finish in the top ten, but you never know how things will unfold. The start line of a Sea Otter race is well organized because of the large “grids”. Standing on the infamous Laguna Seca tarmac, the 25 racers easily fit two deep in the 25 foot wide…

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I started the weekend with the short track race on Friday.  Around 70 guys racing on a course that takes under 2 minutes per lap is a recipe for failure if you are not in the front 20.  Of course, there was the usual pileup in the first turn and then the single file conga line until you get pulled.  I lasted 5 of the 20+ laps.  The postitive thing was that I achieved a very high average heartrate - 170 bpm for 10 minutes.  I have not been able to achieve this in training or racing for weeks,…

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This has not been my race. Last year at Sea Otter, I had just crested the first climb when my pedal fell apart. I coasted down, throwing the towel in a my top ten attempt. Bum deal.

This year, feeling strong and mostly recovered from last weekend's NVDC crash, I felt confident of pulling off a top ten, and quite possibly even a top five finish. No luck. 

Around the track and onto to the dirt, I hung on to the back of the lead riders in my group. Past the first climb and down…

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I've had a number of people tell me they don't race Sea Otter because its not a "real MTB course."  Its true, the riding is not very technical, Its an expensive race to attend, they don't provide as much for the athletes as some smaller local races.  But it's 40 miles and it offers the toughest competition I've found this close to home. 

      After my Eldridge time trail and NVDC I knew I was in the same shape I have been in the last 2 years. So I was expecting a top ten finish.…

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As the Dirt Classic approached, I got a feeling that it would be pretty competitive.  There are usually a few guys going fast this early in the season, but this year looked like a deeper field.  Young new guys like Will Curtis, Tony Smith, Will Patterson, and John Bennet are recent Norcal League graduates who are excited to get their racing careers going.  Of course you have the usual hardmen like Smallman, Timmel, Weir and Moeschler, and the recently returned Michael Hosey.  Clint Claasen…

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Thank god the sun was shining this year.  I was about in about the middle of the pack after the first hike a bike. along the lake I watched a grout of about 15 drop riders who were trying to draft. I hung on a few wheels along that but a group of about 10 broke away as I struggled to bridge the gaps.  I passed one more guy through the whoops and yoyoed off the back of Gaberaham Lincoln throughout the single track.  I got passed two more times on the loose sandy down hill but they both crashed… Continue

The day started out well enough; riders congratulating me on last weekend's Boggs finish, perfect weather, relaxed warm-up, front row line up.  Stayed with the top ten on the run-up off the gun.  Moved up a few positions on flats past the airport. Rode smooth through the looping single track, relishing the smooth ride of my Superfly 100. Easy drop and climb into and out of the big rock-strewn rollers.

All going well. Feeling strong, moving up a few more places. Then, on one of the…

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Last year I'd never even tried an eight hour race. For Boggs V, I gave it my best, not knowing exactly what to expect; I stayed relaxed and calm, attempting to tap the cumulative benefit of a winter's base training.

Somewhat to my surprise, I had finished with the best time and with the most laps among all the experts on that cold and muddy 10 mile course. Only 12 minutes behind Kevin Smallman, I would have been second in Pro and third overall (some single speed dude inched passed me…

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