Downieville Pro XC: 24th

[Carson Benjamin]

This was the first time since I started racing mountain bikes I had committed to racing the Downieville Classic. After I contracted pneumonia following Sea Otter, I was finally able to return to racing in late-July and saw Downieville as an opportunity to gain high-intensity fitness as I build towards the Collegiate National Championship in October.

Downieville is one of the most highly-regarded American mountain bike races for both its festival atmosphere and course, which has remained largely unchanged over 22 years. It has a reputation for being a test of both rider and equipment, or in the words of my friend Dean, "Downieville kills bikes."

The only mountain bike I own is a 2017 Trek Top Fuel, so my first task in preparation for the race was to turn it into as much of a trail bike as possible. I installed a 150mm Fox Transfer Dropper Post and seated a pair of 2.4" Maxxis Ardent tires onto my moderately-wide rims. Both of these changes helped me keep it rubber-side down during my Friday shuttle run of the XC race course descent, though my bike was still outside its comfort zone in the chunkier sections of Third Divide trail. 

I was feeling better on race morning than I had the entire week after fighting off the beginnings of a small cold, but didn't manage to complete my usual warm up routine. I had a sticker on my race plate assigning me to the Expert 30 & Under group instead of the Pro category, then ended up standing at the start for so long my legs were completely cold. Nevertheless, I rode myself into the front group of 6 immediately after the start and felt comfortable until I suddenly cracked. I floundered for a few minutes while losing positions, but found a rhythm and quickly made up ground. I was charging by the top of the climb and started the Sunrise descent in 12th place.

I lost a position to Tristan Uhl, but stuck myself onto Scott Chapin's wheel for the Babyheads descent and was surprised at how well I was able to keep up, considering he was riding a much more capable bike. My bike stopped shifting on the first bridge crossing Pauley Creek, and I lost ten positions and two minutes while I retensioned a shifter cable that had rattled loose from the rear derailleur. The rest of the descent was mostly without incident, and I only lost one position that I did not make up before the finish. I haven't seen any final results, but I was told I finished 24th after outspriniting two riders to the line.

It is frustrating to imagine what could have been, but bizarre bike failures seem to be the theme of every Downieville weekend. Fortunately, Otis represented Team Acme on the podium in the Under 18 race with a hard-fought 2nd place after talking down his chances all week. I'll be back in Downieville next year with a bigger bike and a tightened shifter cable.