Cruz'n the Hood, Old Cabin Classic 2017

[Cathy]

Saturday, May 13, was year number two for the now annual event called The Old Cabin Classic.  Held in Santa Cruz, amongst the redwoods and grassy fields and expansive ocean views, it is hands down one of the most beautiful and wild places to race.  The race is hosted by the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, and the race is a direct result of their dedication to expanding trail access for mountain bikers in Santa Cruz county.  With the cooperation of the California State Parks, the second annual event at historic Wilder Ranch took off without a hitch.  A portion of the proceeds will go towards future trail development at Wilder Ranch, and I, for one, cannot wait to see the new trail systems.  

I believe more than 400 riders signed up to race either one, two or three, 11-mile laps around a stunning course loaded with climbs and miles of single track. This year the organizers chose to start the beginner and sport classes earlier in the morning and run the expert and pro classes beginning at 1:00 pm.  Probably a very wise choice so as to keep the lap traffic to a minimum for the pro and expert racers doing three full laps.  The ONLY problem with that is, this time of year in Santa Cruz the wind picks up right around noon.  And it likes to blow, especially on the open ridges.  But, fortunately, much of the course is also racing in the trees, up and down single track and through flowy meadows.  So, whether or not the wind had any bearing on the difficulty of the race, I am not sure.  But there was most certainly a headwind in a few fire road sections.  

For the day, Team Acme Bikes had four members racing in the expert and pro categories.  Jen, myself and Mark Gibson all raced in our Expert age class, while Jim represented in the Men's Pro class.  Jim, Jennifer and I all stayed in Santa Cruz Friday and were able to pre-ride the course Friday afternoon.  (Which also meant we got to sleep in a bit since our race did not start until 1:00.) I understand Mark really did not get to check out the course at all, and barely had a warm-up, so I imagine he was a tad worried about his race.  

As for myself, I lived in Santa Cruz and have been riding the trails there for 20 years.  I knew that even out of shape and not riding or training for racing, I could ride these trails and race well.  So that is what I had in my mind at the start, lined up with my ladies.  Having raced the inaugural Old Cabin Classic last year I knew, too, what we were in for, racing the three laps.  So when the guy said "GO", I was ready for a very long ride.

I took off hot at the start, knowing I would be caught immediately on the fire road climb up the hill.  But surprisingly, only one other lady in my class was there to challenge me on the climb.  I let her go up the road, but as soon as we hit the switchbacks to the top, I made myself push and pass her.  All I could think of was getting to the first downhill section on the Old Cabin trail without anyone in my way.  I just knew I had to get to every downhill before anyone else because that is the only place I can make up time.  So that was my plan...for the whole entire race.  Just get to each downhill before anyone else.  I would ride up, pushing my out of shape legs, just because I did not want anyone holding me up on any one of those fast down sections.  For whatever reason, by the end of the first lap, I was out ahead in my class.  

I never stopped believing one of the ladies from my class would come swooping by me in the next two hours.  We were all getting tired, but I knew I could not maintain my pace.  But I also knew the brutality of those 11-mile laps.  By the third lap, I began cramping on the climb out of Enchanted.  I yelled and cursed at my legs, slowed my spinning, and let the cramps subside. I knew I was almost done!  Well...once I hit the fun Twin Oaks trail, climbed the dumb-ass grunt climb up the fire road, pedaled through the 50-mile an hour headwind to Zane Grey, and finally, brutalized myself on my hardtail down the Zane Grey rocks and endless brake/hoof bumps to the "Shit, there's still more climbing?" sections of Zane Grey, that is...

But as I crested up and out of Zane Grey, I hooted with joy and hit the last fire road to the finish line hard. I knew there was not a soul behind me and I was going to finish and win my class.  As I rolled across the finish, I saw Jim there waiting for me.  He was second in the Men's Pro class!! And Mark got second in a field of 40 + Expert men.  Great work you guys!! I know that was not easy.  And many, many kudos to Jennifer for coming out and going into this blind, not really knowing what to expect from three full laps.  You killed it! Let me tell you, just finishing the three laps was an internal game of psychological warfare, in my mind.  

Once again, team Acme Bikes showed up and demanded respect.  Well done you guys! 

Until next time,

Cat