2016 Shorty #1

[Mark Ingwersen]

This is the event that pulled me into racing XC! It's local, quick, challenging and incredibly fun. ACME bikes deserves major props for keeping this event going since it caters to just about anyone who likes to ride and builds a fun community of like minded riders. Thank you ACME!

After several years riding with the B's and motivated by fellow ACME team mates I entered the new A 35+ category. This would add a sixth lap to this already grueling sprint race. In past years Dave Benjamin, Greg Alsterlind and I regularly battled at the front of the B group and I grew frustratingly accustomed to taking second place to the incredibly fast Dave. When Mark Buell joined, I could expect an even lower placement. Now, we're all friendly and on the same team. We've often all ridden together since last year and know each other's abilities fairly well. This would be an interesting race season at the Shorty!

The only work done to my Pivot since my last race at SoNoMas was to chisel the mud off the drive train and wipe the frame down. I've come to really like the WTB Weirwolf 2.5 (!) tires which seem wicked quick despite their girth. The local dirt has drained faster than my wallet at a bike shop and trails have once again become rocky, dusty and loose, so I dropped my tire pressures a little to 24psi front and rear to keep from washing out on the lower part of the course, which is notoriously tricky.

As the last group to start, our sparse number of 5 riders launched from the newly aimed start line and right into the single track at the far end of the course. I spontaneously decided to make a run for the front by trying to stick with Dillon Fryer. That was a painful decision. Clearly out of my league, I mashed pedals with everything I had for nearly a full lap before realizing I'd need to keep going for 5 more. Yeah, NOT. I backed off a little only to hear the sounds of a rider hot on my tail. Mark Buell was giving chase and would catch me on every climb (something I've always felt I excelled at) and his resilience was starting to bring down my hope of maintaining position. Legs screaming for relief, I worked to keep pace. Besides the start direction, another new feature was the dip before the start/finish line. In order to reduce crashes on the loose pavement nearby, we were now routed over the grass and through that damned ditch! Hitting it at speed after bombing down the preceding hill was scary and had me tense up each time as I pushed back preparing for the hit that nearly bottomed out my fork each time (note to self: adjust fork!). Thankfully, it's still safer than the pavement and a welcome improvement to the course. Three laps in I had started to increase the gap between myself and Mark by small increments each time I got to the narrow hairpin to the lower section. Dillon well ahead and no one scrubbing my back tire, I committed to pushing myself as far as I could without hitting the feared bonk to see what I had left in the tank. Turns out, not much. Six laps is a lot.

Three to Six miles (depending on group) seems short for an XC race, but this one wants you to sprint the whole way and that changes pretty much everything. I want more and can hardly wait until next week.