2016 Annadel XC

[Mark Ingwersen]

I wish I would ride Annadel more often. Not that Marin County trails aren't already fantastic, but variety keeps life exciting, right? Although Santa Rosa is nearby, the trails are quite different. More singletrack, more rocks and less shade is how I see it. I raced here last year and placed well, missing a podium spot by less than a few seconds which was incredibly frustrating! That was the last time I rode here as well so my memory of the course was limited to major events.

Aside from a cleaning and fresh chain lube, my Pivot didn't get much attention since last week's Downieville sufferfest. I did swap the dropper post for my carbon one to shed ballast. Sometimes the mental trick of lower weight makes a bigger difference that the actual saved grams. Greg played shuttle driver once more bringing our group of three ACME riders plus freelance rider Marc up north for a very cold check-in and pre-ride at 6:45 Saturday morning. We were all shivering like chihuahuas as we unloaded bikes and geared up. This was Santa Rosa however and it was guaranteed to get warm quick. Marc and I lost sight of the others after a pit stop and went for our warm up from the start line: a quick loop over the first climb and descent. That helped me get over my chills and I finally ditched my extra clothing before the start.

I lined up with Mark Buell at the expert men start. We agreed that staying to the left on the first climb would be best... if we didn't get jostled out of trajectory by a mass of bikes. Start was called two minutes after the pro and single speed riders left. He and I worked our way to the left and managed the climb well. A downed tree at the top of the climb squeezed us all into single file after which a rocky climb had me doing a short sprint, bike bouncing all directions, as I got past a few riders to try to get to the technical downhill narrows. I got ahead of Mark and wasn't able to look back until much later since the first part of the course required I pay close attention to where I put my front wheel. One rider got past me but then over shot a hairpin so I maintained my position. I trailed another rider through the first descent since passing would have been risky at best on the narrow and technical section. Once we hit the paved road I almost passed him before deciding to hide from the wind behind him instead. Just before the turn off on to the next trail, I sprinted past. It was early in the race and I was moving faster than I should but kept going. When I reached the second climb up a fire road width path, I caught up with a few single speeders who must've been out geared on the road. Positions swapped a few times and I kept charging making sure to not loose the riders ahead of me. As apposed to last year when I raced the sport category and felt like I was reeling in slower riders with ease, the expert group was really moving and I was often on the edge of my limit. Luckily the course winds its way up and down so I had moments to recover between climbs. What really helped were the rock strewn descents that slowed down a few riders enough for me to skitter my way past them.

It was after one of these sketchy speed bursts that I started to hear an ominous creaking from my bike's head tube area. There's nothing like racing and trying to diagnose an unnerving noise at the same time! Was my front end about to fall apart? With the creak loud enough to announce my progress around the course I was getting nervous about the switchback drop to Lawndale Road but forced myself keep pace. I'd been trailing two guys on full suspension who were slower than I'd expected down the rough stuff and I regretted not trying to pass them earlier. I got by them as they grabbed water before merging onto Lawndale and hammered to make and keep a gap before getting back onto the trails. The babyhead climbs were tough and I was really struggling. Just after passing four riders on a technical section I missed a right hander and they went by me again. I got by them again later, but the extra work would cost me on the last climbs along the continually rough single track before the wooded downhill. Leg cramps were trying to sneak in every time I stood on the pedals to shimmy over rocks and now I had to get around the short course riders too. I put aside my friendly demeanor and started shouting "coming through!" so they'd get out of the way.

This being only my third time riding Annadel I had no clear idea of what was still to come until I reached the woods and was heading downhill again. With no more climbing to worry about, I pushed harder. The section was longer than I'd remembered and the drought must have made it rougher as well. Having Downieville flashbacks I kept searching for a smoother line in futility. I didn't have anyone near me in either direction so there was less pressure but I didn't want to loose position by a small margin like last year so I kept at it. By the time I'd gotten to the gravel road just before the finish I was on fumes. I once again looked back to see no one. Relieved I cruised over the finish for 6th place and ended my racing season in good spirits.

Thank you ACME Bikes and the entire ACME team for an amazing year of mountain biking!