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Northern California Bicycle Racing Community

 Sunday was a great day of racing at the 20th anniversary of the NVDC. This was my second ever XC race, my first being the Cool race a month back. I am new to the Summit team and excited to be riding with my fellow team mates who are fast and fit. Jim, Shiloh, Ryan and I rode up together in the Summit Van and arrived at the venue early. We had a great setup right at the finish line with all the goods. My Jamis Dakota team with Sram 26-39 chainrings , 11-36 cassette and SID fork was the perfect weapon for the job. I fitted racing ralphs front and rear and had 29 psi front/28 psi rear which worked well for the loose over hard terrain. I did a slight training taper the week of the race and was feeling strong and rested the day of the event.

I was racing Cat 2 35-44. All of the Cat 2 racers were bunched up at the start and I was packed in the middle and not on the front line where I wanted to be. I got bogged down at the start behind many riders and tried to get to the outside and pass as many people as possible on the short pavement climb at the beginning of the race. I got really hung up in traffic as we entered the single track and went into passing mode again as the trail widened up the first switchback. I cleaned the first wall practicing before the start but had to dismount at the race as there were too many racers walking up blocking all the good lines. I dismounted and ran up as fast as my sworks carbon shoes would allow. When I got to the top of the first wall I hopped on my bike and tried to put the hammer down and pass as many riders as possible. I was tired but feeling good as we went up towards the airport. I could see the lead group on the fire road and they had some serious distance on me. I pedaled hard on the fire road attempting to catch up. I figured I was at least 20 riders back from the leader but it's hard to tell with everyone so bunched up.

The track was fairly flat with minor ups and downs for the next few miles. I was trading spots with a rider from Breakaway Bikes.  As we entered the single track I was on his wheel. We were neck and neck through the whoops sections and got by a few riders. It was difficult to pass on the single track. I found myself going slower than I wanted to behind traffic.

This was my first time riding this course but I knew from Strava and my team mates that the last climb was a hard effort. As we started to climb out of the single track and descend a loose and steep fire road I was able to pass some other riders and was still trading spots with the Breakaway Bikes rider. 

The last climb came fast and I could feel that the Breakaway rider was slowing down so I moved out up the last climb and got around him leaving him behind. I was able to pass 3 or four other riders up the agonizing climb. 

Cresting the last climb my legs were on fire. As we got to the final fire road climb and the airport I gave it all I had. I got around 2 more riders here standing up and mashing.

Getting back to the pavement track at the finish I was passed by one rider who was charging hard, he looked much younger than me so I didn't think he was in my category.

My finish time was 1:42:04 finishing 8th in my category. I would have liked to have finished stronger but I was happy with my results.

The next race for me will be the California Enduro Series with my team mate Ryan on April 27th in Los Olivos. After that I will be racing Boggs.

Cheers!

AA Ron

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