2017 Annadel XC

[Mark Ingwersen]

 

This was my third time racing Annadel and my first race since a collarbone break in March interrupted my racing plans for 2017. I didn't get a chance to pre-ride the course this year either, but did get some helpful trail condition feedback from friends familiar with the park. Not having my own bike available, I was lucky enough to be able to borrow Greg Alsterlind's Trek Superfly hardtail for this event. I'd been riding it for the preceding two weeks or so and felt I'd gotten the fit pretty well dialed in. Despite my misfortunes at Lake Sonoma with Maxxis Ardent and Ikon race tires in the svelte 2.2 width not being able to fend off sidewall cuts, my hope was that they might survive Annadel's rocky terrain. Over-preparing for the worst, I was ready with two tubes and enough C02 to briefly power a small jet pack. Ironically, just like packing an umbrella only to enjoy a sunny day, my abundance of spares remained unused.

This year the expert class was not divided up into age groups and at the start call 39 riders hustled out to the short, rocky climb that usually causes a colossal traffic jam. In an effort to get a good line and avoid the mess, I placed my self on the left side of the group and tried to stay up front as long as I could. Two riders in front of me got stuck on the climb forcing me to dismount and make a run for it. Once away from that energy sapping clamber, I settled into a brisk pace and mentally prepared for the narrow decent to Channing Road. That first singletrack section still had many riders closely grouped and shuffling for position all while maneuvering over rocks and root drops at good speed. Making a mistake here costs time at the least and severe pain at the worst. Still nervous about crashing, I was glad someone else was acting as a road block that slowed down the train I was smack in the middle of. Once I landed on paved Channing Road, I set in to move up some places I'd given up before Lower Cobblestone. Back on the dirt of Channel Trail there is rarely a good place to pass (My 6'4" frame tends to attract the attention of nearby trees, something Dave Benjamin handled for me this time) and I only got past a couple of others there. I knew a more spacious climb was near and saved some energy for that rather than blow it all here. On the fire road I managed to pass Matt Young from the Roaring Mouse clan among others. Picking off riders here and there, things started to thin out and I was mostly on my own.

I caught up to Dave at the start of N. Burma and hung with a few guys zipping down this fun little descent. Still progressing well, I eventually caught up to Greg as well. This lifted my spirits further since we often ride together and keep a nearly identical pace. Greg being faster than me on many downhills I figured he'd catch me going down the switchbacks to Lawndale. When I came up on what appeared to be a non-racing mountain biker on a full suspension rig, I hollered an "on your left" which triggered him into a full-on sprint. Confused, I guessed he didn't want to let me pass before the the DH section and followed him like an angry yellow jacket. He quickly stopped on the right and let me go. The built up adrenalin shut down my common sense and I had my fastest time on that section by almost 30 seconds. Despite the longer travel fork my hands got a bit numb before turning onto Lawndale. I grabbed bottle feed (thank you Camelbak!) and paced myself up the road. I motored by one pro woman rider as the loop turned back onto dirt through the gate off of Shultz and started to hear chatter and clatter behind me going up the switchbacks. Not sure if someone was gaining on me or if it was passed riders, I notched up the pace a little just in case. The rocky climb was tough on a hardtail, always is, and I was thankful for the taller gears afforded by the 11 speed cassette over my Pivot's 10 speed.

On Ridge Trail, I stayed behind pro-woman Lindsay Dwyer for too long. I heard someone coming from behind but didn't have much room to pass her without being aggressive. Mistake on my part. Matt Young shot past and left me still behind Lindsay. She let me by gracefully a couple of turns later and the chase was on. I definitely did not want a mouse guy finishing without a fight. Matt was surely 10 yards ahead and moving fast but I was gaining on him through the tight turns. When we did an about-face onto Marsh Trail I was getting close. Before the event, this was the section I was most concerned about riding. It is super fast, loose, rocky and a rut thrown in when you least need it. I had become comfortable on the Superfly with its 120 mm RockShox and chase mode was in full force. My only goal was to catch Matt. He was not making it easy though and I skipped over rock sections that surely would have had me grabbing brake any other time. My focus was down trail and the bike was absolutely flying over everything! At the hard right on Canyon Trail Matt finally slipped up and I closed on him. We were wheel to wheel and pushing hard. I took the left side of the trail heading down to the first bridge hoping conditions hadn't changed much since last year. All was well until I hit the first water bar: the front end soaked it up without complaint, but the rear bucked like a furious steed! I barely had a chance to worry before I managed to get the wheel back to terra firma, only to hit the next water bar with the same result. Not believing my luck at avoiding an over-bar excursion I got my weight rearwards and cleared the rest without problems. Matt and I both let off to share a half-second virtual wipe of the brow before drifting across the gravel strewn bridge. I was in front!

Then this Viking guy in a red kit pulls up next to me (wtf did he come from?!) and in a debonair tone said, "before we get into this, you racing masters?" Mistake number two: I said, "no". And off he cranked like I was a five year old racing dad. Well @#$*, that was stupid. Matt nibbling at my back tire, I was too busy fending him off to worry much. After the second bridge though, the Viking was not far off anymore. The three of use tram lined towards the final stretch. Just before the turn onto the straight, I came around Matt for the pass... Way. Too. Early. He tucked in behind only to slingshot past me 40 feet to the line. I knew he was coming but I hit superboost mode with an empty tank. Matt went by and I had to let him go. Damn.

All in all I was glad my bronco riding experience would remain a memory without injury. Finishing in a total time faster than the year before, I couldn't be upset with an 11th place finish either. Team mates Carson Benjamin (2nd place, yeah!), Phil Mooney and Jim Hewett all had times that are unattainable by mere mortals. Greg missed a podium against a strong Masters group by a mere second (yes, just one!) with Dave Benjamin not far behind despite that aggressive tree that jettisoned his Garmin into no-one-knows-where after but not before bruising his shoulder. Cathy took 6th in Expert women and I know that group is fast. Mike Koppe also finished in the top half of Masters! Job well done, ACME!