Downieville All Mountain 2017

[Michael Koppe]

  Initially I wanted to enter the 60+ XC race only, but a spot was available in the 50+ All Mountain event so I signed up. My goals were to PR(2h 45m) in the XC and complete the DH under my age in minutes. I am almost 64 so that meant I had to complete the DH in 63m 55secs  or less according to my calculations. I know a few people in their 50s have done it but not many. Essentially injuries and attrition begin to undermine performance incrementally despite our best efforts. Also I have become more risk adverse in my old age. Despite the inevitable decline I try to maintain my skill level in all my sports and not default to being strictly an endurance athlete. However, I realize I am just postponing the inevitable. My testicular cancer 2 years ago was a brutal reminder. When I ride my bike I pass a number of 55+ assisted living centers in Terra Linda. The cemetery is across the street. It may be bad Karma, but I flip both of them off.

  Despite best intentions my training suffered from some family issues which required my attention and intervention. I failed miserably with the prescribed Jim Hewitt training program, so I adopted the the Cathy Chevron training program which is to ride when you can, have fun, show up for the race and kick butt. I did ride both courses earlier in the week with friends including Cathy which proved to be very helpful. I was forced to push myself in the downhill sections and learned new lines through the root sections. Jim had my bike (Tallboy LTC) totally dialed to perfection. I felt very comfortable. 

  I started with the All Mountain expert racers. I heard the call up for Jim in the Pro category but could not see him. The start of my race always reminds me of running of the bulls at Pamplona compared to the Pro category. I decided not to look at my time on my Garmin and just ride the race according to heart rate and how I felt. In the past I would get caught up in the excitement of the start and overexert leading to cramps. I felt pretty good and managed to avoid the onset of cramps until the creek crossing. Something about the cold water and getting off the bike. Thankfully they were not as bad as usual due to the cooler weather. I backed off and the cramps gradually subsided. On the fire ride after third divide I noticed my back tire feeling a little wobbly in the turns. Somehow I managed to get a nail in my tire. It was slightly off to the side and had sealed with the Stans so I left it in place and added some air. I carried on, but avoided really sharp left turns which might displace the nail. I think I got it when I lost the line on the fire road with all the dust and rode through a gully.

  I did not finish the race well due to some slower riders on the single track section of first divide and knowledge of a nail in my tire. As I crossed the finish line I stopped my Garmin and checked my time for the first time 2h 52m. Not a PR but I felt good and not totally trashed. I was hopeful for tomorrow. I didn't stop at the finish line. I just kept riding to the shuttle and managed to get on the first shuttle with Geoff Kabush and Katerina Nash. Technically at that moment I was tied for first.