CCCX #2

[Jim Hewett]

The forecast for this race was pretty bad the week before.  Rain and maybe snow.  They changed the venue from Toro Park to Fort Ord to lessen the impact due to wet trails.  It became less dire but still discouraging as the race approached.  I pretty much figure nasty conditions are part of mountain bike racing, and since this was a training race on the schedule, I made my plans to be there anyway.

The weather and conditions could not have been better.  It was mostly sunny, 50-something degrees, with very few puddles and lots of perfectly moist sand.  I raced without leg or knee warmers and felt fine.  Anyone who did not make the race due to the forecast really missed it!

I had lost over two minutes at the last race due to 1x10 chainguide problems, so this time I didn't take any chances.  I ran the full chainguide with pulley - heavy, but reliable.

It was a different crew than the one that toed the line at the first race of the season (see my report).  Max Plaxton was around for Specialized business, so we had the honor of racing with a really fast national pro.  Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz, Rock Lobster) and Kevin Smallman were there, more realistic competition for me and fun guys to race with.

I came into the race with a bit of fatigue in my legs after a couple of good interval sessions in the training week, but some good intensity during this race was also part of the plan.  The start rolled out slowly enough, up the pavement into the wind.  We turned left for a fireroad climb and I moved to the front and turned it up a little.  I rode in the front for the first lap or so and then slowed a little to let Scott in front and survey the group.  As expected, Scott, Kevin, Max and I had made the first pace selection.  Surprisingly, Max seemed content to sit on in the back and let us control the race.  We slowed a little and talked some, hardly going at a Pro XCT pace, but enjoying the great conditions, beautiful weather, and fast bermed turns.  Scott and I traded the lead for another lap, until, halfway through the third of five, Max decided to get his heartrate up.  He muttered something as he passed me in high gear on one of the climbs, and I did my best to pursue.  His pace was pretty fast, something I may have been able to hold for a half a lap at full tilt.  I decided to slow a little and worry more about Scott and Kevin behind me.  We rode seperated with them in sight behind for awhile, but I came through the finish area a bit ahead.  Someone told me I was in first place, but that didn't seem to make any sense, as I had not passed Max.  I turned it on a little up the fireroad climb, now pretty heavily into lapped traffic.  Unfortunately, I was stuck behind a slower rider on the berms and definitely lost some time.  I tried to make up for it on the subsequent climbs, starting to feel the burn in my legs when I stood to pass more riders.

As I neared the finish line on my fourth lap, I got the feeling someone was gaining on me.  I looked back to see someone moving up through some racers I had lapped and figured it was Scott.  I had hoped that I was far enough ahead to not see him again, but it looked like he was getting a second wind.  I stepped on it and hurried through the  finish area to go out on my last lap.  As I got into the berms again, he was on my tail.  We started climbing and talked a little, and it was then that I realized it was not Scott but Max.  I was unaware that he had stopped for a wheel change, I guess to try some other tire combo, and I had actually moved into first place.  We rode together until about 10 minutes to go and he cranked away from me.  I rode the rest of the race feigning pursuit, but actually just making sure I didn't fall out of second place.

 I raced my Superfly with a 36t ring in the front and 11-36 in the back.  Maxxis Aspen rear, Schwalbe Rocket Ron front.

My time was about 1hr 42min, Elevation gain 3300ft, 26.5miles, 15.5mph avg speed.  My heart rate tells a tale of relatively low intensity:  159bpm avg, 168bpm max (this will probably be my average at a Pro XCT!).