Northern California Bicycle Racing Community
Becoming a Mountain Bike Racer
Well, here we are race two for me this year. Luckily I’m still green enough that apocalyptically bad conditions have little impact on the general suffering a typical mountain bike race offers. Not to belabor the point, but the weather was crazy bad. For me, a front fender and helmet muffin cap (HMC) were on the menu. The dry set-up of Racing Ralphs front and back was going to be tested.
As a Cat 2 racer I came into this event knowing that it promised a higher level of competition, even more than the much larger field in a Sea Otter XC race. (Lore has it that “some” Cat 1 level racers not wanting to buy a one year USAC license, opt to get the 5 buck one day Cat 2 license that’s required to start the race). NVDC was my worst result (9th) last year.
The race unfolded as expected. Clearing the run-up with the front group, we slotted in, buzzing the airport fire road section. Because Cat 2 45-55 is the last wave of Cat 2 racers to start, we immediately begin the process of passing what is always the largest starting group in the race (Cat 2 35-44, 43 people). Once we mixed into the younger riders, I instantly lost track of who was in front of me, forcing me to strike up a conversation with the only rider I knew to be in my group. He believed there was one other of our compatriots ahead of us. We rode on together, until late in the single track, when I failed to get through a particularly long conga line in timely fashion. From there on it was splish-splash…keep it upright. More than a couple of interesting moments, thankfully I have some experience water skiing. Fast forward to near the end, after climbing out of the valley of humble pie, I found myself catching a lone rider (David Schaefer) as we approached the last little climb up to the airport fire road. Sure enough, David was in my group. For some reason “Dam-it” was all I could say in the way of an introduction. After apologizing, we shared an awkward moment of silence. It was clear what had to be done, push. I was able to put about 20 seconds between us by the finish line.
As it turns out we were racing for the last spot on the podium, 3rd place. What I had learned from the Cool race had paid off, “make the catch, make the pass”. Sea Otter will happen in six days and will be my last race in Cat 2.
Thanks to Michele and Team Summit, once again.
As a Cat 2 racer I came into this event knowing that it promised a higher level of competition, even more than the much larger field in a Sea Otter XC race. (Lore has it that “some” Cat 1 level racers not wanting to buy a one year USAC license, opt to get the 5 buck one day Cat 2 license that’s required to start the race). NVDC was my worst result (9th) last year.
The race unfolded as expected. Clearing the run-up with the front group, we slotted in, buzzing the airport fire road section. Because Cat 2 45-55 is the last wave of Cat 2 racers to start, we immediately begin the process of passing what is always the largest starting group in the race (Cat 2 35-44, 43 people). Once we mixed into the younger riders, I instantly lost track of who was in front of me, forcing me to strike up a conversation with the only rider I knew to be in my group. He believed there was one other of our compatriots ahead of us. We rode on together, until late in the single track, when I failed to get through a particularly long conga line in timely fashion. From there on it was splish-splash…keep it upright. More than a couple of interesting moments, thankfully I have some experience water skiing. Fast forward to near the end, after climbing out of the valley of humble pie, I found myself catching a lone rider (David Schaefer) as we approached the last little climb up to the airport fire road. Sure enough, David was in my group. For some reason “Dam-it” was all I could say in the way of an introduction. After apologizing, we shared an awkward moment of silence. It was clear what had to be done, push. I was able to put about 20 seconds between us by the finish line.
As it turns out we were racing for the last spot on the podium, 3rd place. What I had learned from the Cool race had paid off, “make the catch, make the pass”. Sea Otter will happen in six days and will be my last race in Cat 2.
Thanks to Michele and Team Summit, once again.
Views: 38
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Comment by Carl Sanders on April 15, 2010 at 5:47am
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Another reference to skiing -- maybe I ought to give it a go to see if i helps!
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