BASP #3, Golden Gate Park

[Jim Hewett]

Second week in a row racing at Golden Gate Park.  This one was a little more serious and less sloppy than last weeks SSCXWC race.  The weather was cool and sunny for our afternoon start and the Elite men's field was loaded with talent.  I recognized the usual podium finishers, as well as Justin Robinson, Ned Overend, and a Jelly Belly pro I had seen at a DFL race.  As there were only 60 feet of climbing per lap, I knew this would be a fast race.  I'm reaching the end of a fitness peak and the end of my cyclocross season, so I hoped for the best and anticipated some suffering.

The course was soft and a little moist, but not wet enough to kick up any mud.  There were three jumpable barriers, a short stair section, and the short steep climb towards the end of the lap.  One downhill section had a few roots and off camber spots and lines for passing.  I knew I would suffer on the 2 long paved sections, but I could tell it would be fun.

A front row call up was helpful and I entered the dirt in the top 8 or so.  Aaron and Scott were at the front and pushing hard, and things strung out quickly over the first couple of laps.  Tobin Ortenblad, who had been absent from the last race and recieved no call up, came by me on the start/finish paved section and was moving along well.  I found myself out of the lead group and racing with Krishna Dole, Justin Robinson, Mitch Trux and a few others.  I pulled off some good surges and attacks, but I couldn't make anything stick.  Krishna slowly rode away from us and Cameron Falconer moved into the mix.  Mitch went the way of Krishna, and at the start of the last lap, Cameron, Justin and I were bearing down for the last lap looking at 7-9th place.  Justin was just ahead of me as I made my way around Cameron.  We were hammering the hills and keeping things going on the flats as we came into the corners that lead to the short climb, barrier, and paved finish section.  I could see Justin pass the Jelly Belly racer just before the Jelly Belly racer washed out in a corner.  I was slowed for a second getting around him and I dug hard to close to Justin again.  Cameron was right behind me and also digging deep.  We all grunted up the short climb and tried to keep the power on to the last barrier.  Justin dismounted for this, though he had been hopping it for the whole race.  This encouraged me to jump it and push hard, but he got onto the pavement ahead and I couldn't catch him on the final sprint.  I ended the race in 7th place, off the podium for the first time this BASP season.  I wasn't too happy with the result, but I had a lot of fun racing with some new guys.  I was encouraged that my last lap was my fastest by quite a bit, but I am definitely feeling a diminished fitness.  I had planned to do two more races, but I think I will skip next weekend's and may not do the Coyote Point BASP.  Maybe it's time for the holiday break and the beginning of training for next year's mountain bike race season?