Murphy Mack's Mendo Madness

[Carl Sanders]

 

Driving under towering redwoods early Saturday morning, down a long dusty washer board road into the heart of Jackson State Demonstration Forest, just inland on the northern CA coast, I finally rolled to a stop in front of a rustic cabin behind an aged Mendocino Woodlands Association Sign. I had arrived for my next challenge.  

With Marathon Nationals in Bend, Oregon only a couple weeks off, I was looking for a another local dose of screaming fast single track on a moderately long 40 mile course that would prime the engine and sharpen my edge for one more go on the big stage up north. I’d seen the flyer for this strangely appealing inagural event and Murphy Mack’s Mendocino Madness seemed to fit my training objectives.  As a race promoter might, he promised unbelievably epic single track, hot showers, private cabins, gourmet food and grand time for all. How true it all was!

Out the gate, the run-up the first single track had me gasping for air; lungs seemingly unable to keep up with the aerobic demand of another bullet fast start. Eyes watering, legs burning and my chest exploding, I watched Dario Frederick of Whole Athlete chase down Brian Astell of Marin Bikes across an ever widening gap out in front of me. Not wanting to explode, I backed off a notch, letting John Hunt, another Whole Athlete Coach get by, only to jump past him across the top onto the first rippin’ single track descent.

On each lap, no greater fun can be had than barreling through a corner finish, tires gripping only outside knobs, watching the timers and cheering by-standers scatter and jump clear of the mad racer cutting his edge closer on each pass.  Simple amusement and good tunes on the ear buds made the race fly by. 

On to the first climb of the forth an final lap, I caught and passed Brian, who to my surprise, seemed to be cramping hard from the sustained and intense effort against Dario early in the game. Knowing Brian had technical skills well beyond my reach, I pushed hard, over the next and last climb, vowing to hold steady on the downhill to keep Brian at bay. 

Up the final 1,000’ climb, I again dug deep, grinding up the steep, chin-to-the-bars loose sections, glancing back at each short plateau to see if Brian was anywhere in sight. I was alone. By the forth lap, I had now dialed the lines on the buffed out single track, off-camber corners, rutted fire roads and blown out sections. I just had to keep it together for the final drop back into camp.

Blasting across the finish alone, my second place finish in Pro at 3:37, was just 5% off Dario’s time of 3:26. Closing the ranks behind me were Brian, close behind at 3:39, then John at 3:47 and Josh at 4:08. Had I let off the gas on that final lap, I’m sure Brian would have caught me on one of the more technical descents.

40 miles almost seemed kinda short -- felt I could have gone out for a few more laps, maybe even closed the gap on Dario. Next time.

On Sunday, I joined a ‘guided ride’ led by Ben Jamin’ (that was how he introduced himself and yes, he was from the Mendocino area), as well as Brian (riding 2.55 Weirwolfs F/R w/ just 20 lbs psi in each), Ellen of Rock Lobster (riding some borrowed old clanky single speed with skinny tires), Charlie of Whole Athlete (a local who grew up nearby, riding a full-sus maching with fat tires and a gravity drop) and Krishna Dole of Superpro (on rental Tallboy, wearing knee pads and shin guards).  I had my Superfly hard tale, no dropper and mediocre technical skills.  This would be a day of reckoning.

The four hours that ensued were among the most mind-blowing single track experiences that I have ever had; we railed bridges, blind drops, ramps, bermed-out corners, log crossings, chutes and even ladders! I was completely turned around bombing through the Mendocino redwoods and pygmy forests in the fog on trails with names like ‘Total Confusion’, ‘Widow Maker’, ‘Gunslinger’, ‘Endo and ‘Ride Thru Tree’. I would have been absolutely lost without hope of recovery, had I tried to find any of these routes on my own.

 

Watching Brian nail the technical obstacles with his trials skills was unbelievable. The guy would hop, spin and jump on and off logs, teeter over rickety structures, tumble and fall and bounce back up for another go. Charlie sandbagged all day. Krishna flowed effortlessly down everything. Ellen cranked up every hill, mashing her only gear and managed each drop without a single scratch. I wished I had my SF 100, but stayed upright, yelped, whopped and hollered a bunch. Totally amazing. 

Good times!

Off to Bend!