2017 Rockhopper XC

[Mark Ingwersen]

By mid September the MTB racing season could be merely something to fondly reminisce. Then along comes the Monticello Cycling club's Rockhopper to cap the year's competitive dirt riding. I raced it last year when it took place in the sun burnt hills by Vacaville's Lagoon Valley Park but this year, the event was moved to Rockville Hills Regional Park.

My racing season having started late if you could call it a season at all, I was mentally still excited to go. In the week before the event I finally secured a new (to me) bike and speedily worked to set it up and learn it's traits. I was still fidgeting with lever positions after checking in Saturday morning and never managed to pre-ride the course until the hour before race start. Jim Hewett, my friend Waily and I rode up to the start area and then rolled right into a warm up/ pre-ride of the course. As expected, a dusty and dry surface with some shady trees (more on that later) were on the days menu. Away from the start and beyond the lake the dirt road was fairly smooth save for lengthy ruts on the uphill. Only a short stretch into the first downhill I was surprised by scattered rock outcroppings that would make going at speed with riders dodging for position somewhat of a challenge. A few tree roots here and there, but otherwise not too technical of a venue beyond that. On the back side (or where ever it was, because this course had us turning and doubling back enough times to loose orientation) I noticed the narrow trail now off camber and thought to myself, "careful on this part". As if to burn this thought onto my organic hard drive as I aimed around a curve, my front tire missed the trail by an inch then instantly dropped away. Using this opportunity, I surveyed the ground close up and confirmed a respectable layer of dust. Fantastic. Not even halfway done with a warm up lap and already showing battle scars. Perhaps this would be a good thing though; wouldn't want to get too comfortable with my descending prowess. One more switchback climb followed by a rocky fire road DH. Up ahead I watched Jim skid right past the not immediately obvious course marking tape. This would be one of two turns that would later have me struggling to keep the front tire from slipping away. The second one a left, high speed turn down to uphill transition seemingly paved with loose ball bearings. This course would require focus. Focus in the technical parts as much as focus remembering where they are since most would usually appear from behind a turn or bush with little warning.

At the nearly punctual start, I queued up with 19 others to assemble the pro/ expert category. 20 miles in 4 laps would leave enough time to find my place and I chose to start without a blast from the canon approach. Most others did though. I felt like I was the latern rouge but I climb well and moved up spots on the first hill. Then came those hidden rocks. I botched a turn and let Isaac Levine go by. My front wheel pin-balled through the rocks but I made it through the rest without any troubles. I was tailing Dave Hacket and would gain a little on climbs on the first two laps. He would always be just out of reach, but I figured a strong effort on the final lap could real him in which left me to focus on keeping Isaac behind me. None of the climbs are very long, there are several good passing areas and some fast fun singletrack to flick your way between the trees.

On the shady side the trail cuts a narrow line with some rough sections and a few root drops. There are a few low hanging branches, too so I had to play limbo without benefit of a dropper post. Tamarancho has a way of grabbing my handlebars and angrily yanking me to the ground. Rockville meanwhile, is more subtle but no less violent. This time my limbs were spared in exchange for a "crossing of the eyes" as I ducked a branch hanging over a root drop. To be clear, the saddle was in a most uncomfortable location. I'm installing a dropper post today.

Thankfully, that was my only mishap. Dave Hacket, transitioned from "I can catch him" to "where did he go"? I lost sight of Isaac behind me as well. So I spent two laps on my own, lapping a few slower riders occasionally, making sure to push hard enough to keep my place and relaxing just a little to enjoy the ride. I finished fourth in my age group and eighth overall and Jim led the race start to finish for a well deserved podium topper.