Cool Mountain Bike Race 2010

[Jim Hewett]

You never know what the weather is going to be like at this race. Last year was raining and very sloppy. This year it was sunny and still sloppy. I have to say I prefer the sun to the rain, and I don't mind the mud so much.

I won this race last year, pretty much riding by myself from the halfway point. I was hoping for a little more competition this year and I got it.

Timmel won the race in 2008 and he was here again this year. I knew there were some fast young guys that would be keen to challenge, especially early in the race. I anticipated just under 2.5 hours of racing for the 3 laps pro class was doing, kind of long for a XC race. I knew this kind of thing would come down to pacing, avoiding mechanical issues with all of the mud, and staying hydrated and nourished.

As usual, everyone went crazy at the start to get into the narrower trail first. This was pretty unnecessary, as it opens into rolling fireroad really quickly. I played it safe and moved up once we were onto the wider stuff. After a few miles, I stopped avoiding the puddles. I've never had chainsuck issues with my 1x9 drivetrain and I wasn't too worried about my brakes getting fouled. The first lap is a good time to feel out the biggest puddles for good lines, which comes in handy on the next laps. I did get some serious spray on my glasses, though I was able to wipe them clean.

Within 5 minutes 4 of us had separated from the rest: Timmel, 2 young Cal Giant riders and I were away! I recognized one of the young guys as Cody Kaiser, a local cyclocross talent. The word from the first Norcal High School race was that he is a fast starter. Definitely important in CX, but obviously only part of winning a 30+ mile XC race.

Once we started the steep climbing, Cody and his partner attacked and moved ahead of me and Timmel. Timmel chased and I kind of hung a little back. I didn't want to dig too deep this early. I kept them in distant sight with Timmel between us. The wide open sections allowed me to see really far ahead and I had plenty of time on that lap to gauge time and distance gaps. You have to remind yourself that the gaps are really about time. Of course you get closer in distance to other racers moving from a downhill to a steep climb, but once they crest they are opening a larger distance gap. This can seem discouraging, but over a long race you can reel in a minute pretty easily. I just tried to keep it steady, pushing but not pushing too hard. I did notice McNaughty in the distance behind me a few times. He was keeping a good pace and as close to me as I was to the leader.

Close to the end of the lap I caught up with Timmel, who seemed to be slowing. We talked a little and agreed that the Cal Giant guys probably wouldn't be able to hold this pace for three laps. We came through the start/finish area together, about 45 seconds back from the 2 leaders. I took a bottle from Michelle (thanks!) and kept on motoring.

I noticed the gap getting smaller and turned it on a little, which caught Timmel out. I pulled away from him and started to close the gap on Cody and his teammate, which I calculated would happen in this, the second lap.
We played the "in and out of sight" game through the trees, but I could see that I was gaining on them. The steep climbs were a test, and I could see one of them off the bike and back on a little ahead of me. Whether that was due to mechanical problems or physical problems, it was encouraging. We were over an hour in at this point, and I decided it had become apparent they could not hold their first lap's pace.

I guess most people that have raced know the feeling of being both the chaser and the chased. Which do you prefer? I usually like to get a good lead and ride to maintain it. Seems safer, in case you have mechanical issues or the rare cramping situation. Chasing is only fun when you feel you are stronger than your quarry and it's hard to know who is fit this early in the season.

We came through the start/finish within 50 feet of each other and started on the last lap. I quickly overtook Cody's partner, who didn't fight too much, and then Cody. I could see he wasn't going to give up too easily as we switched the lead a couple of times on the wide open fire roads. He turned it on to get ahead of me before one of the long fire road descents, but I came around him and let 'er rip through loose rocks and mud holes that I had mapped well on the first two laps. I opened a gap and added to it a little on the climbs. I judged his time behind me by the same landmarks that I had judged mine behind him on the first two laps and maintained 30 seconds or so until the end. Damn fine day of racing!

Stats: 20.3 lb Fisher Superfly 1x9 (34x11-34), Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 Snakeskin front and rear.

4,000+ feet of climbing, 31 miles, 2 hours 23 minutes, Avg HR - 153 bpm, Max - 174 bpm, Avg Speed - 13 mph, Max Speed - 34 mph. FIRST PLACE PRO CLASS!

[Kevin Weitz]

Fantastic, got excited just reading it. Sorry I missed it.
Kevin

[brian p neary]

Congrats Jim--keep it going! I like the stats--gives me a point of reference on where I am fitness wise vrs a pro!
Brian