2018 California Dirt #3, Hoot Trail XC

[Mark Ingwersen]

Lap 3 and 1:49 minutes worth of trail dust everywhere, I crested the last climb with about 100 yards to the finish line and glanced over my shoulder to see two riders gaining on me. My legs had been on the verge of cramping ever since the flow trail section but I was determined not to lose position and dug into reserves that were all but gone. It felt good to know I had timed my race well and not bonked until... just now. That final push was ultimately pointless since the next racer in my category didn't roll through for another two and a half minutes. Helmeted head resting on my handlebars, I hung out with the others as racers rolled in.

Paul, Greg and I had arrived at the venue to the crisp and wonderful aroma of the Tahoe National Forest on a clear skied day. The first wave of racers were due to start soon but we had a few hours to prepare for our noon event. After registration and cheering Simon at his start we changed into kit and hopped on our bikes for a pre-ride 7.9 mile lap. As if the half-pipe style weave through a gulley paralleling highway 20 wasn't fun enough, the flow trail that came after cruising briskly along the Pioneer Trail was every bit worth the drive from Marin! I had put a dropper on my Pivot Les and swapped out a Maxxis Ikon for an Ardent Race up front, keeping my Continental RaceKing out back. Tires filled to 25 psi, I felt the rear was a bit firm as we toyed our way over fast whoops and around groomed turns, but it did roll well so I left pressures as they were. Heading back up after miles of going down, even the switchback climbs didn't seem all that hard. Near the end of the loop and on a quick downhill straight lay a fallen tree that had a narrow corridor neatly cut through its horizontal trunk. I wondered if this would be a nasty crash site while racing. Luckily, it would not.

As lunchtime approached, we surely didn't have food on our minds. After the wave of pro riders rocketed off into the woods, Paul and his group took off. Mine was next. Rusty the woodsman counted down to our start as I double-checked my gear choice, started my Garmin and was actually excited to go. Eric Hill launched and the rest of us were sucking dust before the first turn. I cruised behind Roaring Mouse rider Rusty Buholz and had the urge to pass and keep up with the leaders who were quickly gapping us. By the time I jettisoned myself out of the half-pipe section onto the Pioneer Trail's smoother surface the two leaders were on the horizon with me trailing Phil Tercero, from what I could tell through the clouds of vaporized soil. I wasn't gaining on him, though. I did catch up to the 19-39 crowd that left a minute earlier and made a couple of passes in the flow trail's wide, banked turns. By the time I reached the first switchback climb known as Zipper Up, riders had spread out and I was nearly solo most of the way.

Second lap same as the first only at a more conservative pace, I felt I could keep going strong. Starting into the third lap I was on my own again. I increased my effort along Pioneer Trail and reeled in the teenage rider that had leap-frogged me on the climbs the past two laps. I wanted to keep him behind me since I knew I was faster through the flow trail (maybe he would block whoever was trying to catch me?) That plan worked, but I felt cramping legs as I rode through the twisted tree-lined trail still having a ton of fun! When I exited the trail onto pavement before Zipper Up, I didn't have anyone behind me within sight but that kid cranked right by me only seconds later. As fast as he shot by though, he was burning out too and I stayed with him. Switchbacks can be a mind-@#$! in the woods. You keep hearing echoes of your own bike and riders around you, never easily sorting out if someone is close. Fighting cramps, I pushed as hard as I dared and kept drinking from what little fluids I had left in my bottles. I figured I was in fourth place and had zero desire to be fifth. Not even thinking of slowing through the narrow gap left by the fallen tree, I drained my bottles well before the final climb and pedaled a little harder. I hit the base of the last climb free and clear then finished fourth about 2 minutes behind the third place rider.

Jim took first in the pro category. Danny finished strong and then went and rode some more (did I say the flow trail was awesome?). Simon, not appearing terribly pleased with his results made up for it by shredding some trail with friends only a short while later and proving that podium or not, mountain biking is fun. We saw Mike start his race, cheered, got an acknowledging nod and off he went. Greg, Paul and I were pretty whipped but felt much better after chips and guac at our 5 minute tailgate party before the drive home. To quote Ice-Cube: "today was a good day."