Sea Otter 2011

[Paul Montgomery]

Sea Otter slots in as my third race this year.  Unlike last year, any expectations for a high finish were tempered by the more competitive Category 1 (Cat 1) field. Based on past results, in the 50-54 age group, I would be satisfied to finish in the top ten, but you never know how things will unfold. The start line of a Sea Otter race is well organized because of the large “grids”. Standing on the infamous Laguna Seca tarmac, the 25 racers easily fit two deep in the 25 foot wide straightaway. On my right is a racer from New Zealand, looking forward to riding in the TransAlp Challenge stage race in July and on my left a participant singled out by the announcer as having run a sub 4 minute mile in his youth. No problem, I blend… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO….

On the pedals, smooth and fast start, nobody can get around…looking back, the entire field has filed in behind me. Spot the newbie Cat 1 guy…ME. I immediately kill the gas and wait to be swarmed. Before long two guys come around, I immediately stand to slot in behind, it’s tight but I force my way in about six wheels back. So far so good, still on the track, everyone is waiting to drop the hammer on the uphill run to the dirt. Right on cue the group makes the last turn on the pavement, 3 or 4 guys attack and I’m boxed in. None of the riders around me move to follow the acceleration, by the time I can get clear of the wheels, we are on the deceptively stiff uphill, things are getting serious. Now I’m at least 10 or 12 wheels back and going into a slow single file section. Not good, never mind though, the race is long…Focused on damage control, I take back two or three spots on the fast downhill rollers, soon we’ll be in the singletrack, not a great passing zone.

But no… it’s a “new” course this year (no time for a pre-ride), sure enough, instead of turning onto the singletrack we get directed right into a wall…posing as a fire road. Looked bad, but I was able to make up more time and a couple of passes here as well. Off the backside of the wall we were headed into the single track, passed another rider but had to slot in behind the next closest racer. I asked to get by a couple of times, but hey this is a race, so I followed, at a safe distance... Sure enough my compatriot was over cooking the turns and the unstructured sand on the outside of one of the turns set in motion what can only be described as a crisscrossing “now I’ve saved it, now I’ve lost it, now I’ve saved it, now I’ve lost it maneuver”, ending in a high side dismount, placing the pilots head directly in the middle of the track…Watching all this unfold, I had slowed considerably and was able to avoid tagging his helmet, in fact he appeared not to be any worse for the wear, so I got back on the gas. Now with clear track I was able to ramp up the speed. Seeing dust from riders ahead hanging in the air meant I was gaining ground. Now onto a uphill sandy singletrack section, a couple of turns ahead, where two more targets, unfortunately I was not able to reel them in before we reached the more exposed backside of the course.

With a clear view of the course I noticed the second rider ahead was William Buckingham a fast(er) rider from Marin. This is good; I'm catching the group I need to be with to do well. The only problem is I'm alone trying to catch two...looking back I notice another rider closing from behind… hum. Within no time I have someone to ride with, it's the “sub 4 runner” Joe Fabris. Falling in behind I’m able to reset and conserve for the last two thirds of the race. Back into the single track and starting the second set of climbs I make my move to the front. After a couple switchbacks to my surprise I’ve caught up to Buckingham and another rider, and then it happens, CLUNCK...stop forward motion! It's the rear derailleur, completely wadded.

Time to get off the bike and suss out the problem, before any real damage is done...I get it sorted but not sure of the source, meanwhile, I’m passed by four or five riders...Oh my aching...back on the bike and trying to remain calm...not long before it happens again, more time lost and then a third time for safe measure. Seems that the derailleur is not able to “up shift” causing misalignment and eventually the chain to rap around the jockey wheels, so the fix is not to over shift and to shift in s-l-o-w motion to make sure everything stays in line. Great! Now back to the race...first order of business, get back the lost positions.

Grinding up the single track, I make my way pass one, two, and then three riders, only two left by my count. Unfortunately catching the last two escapees takes me until the fire road home stretch section leading back to start/finish. Time is running out. Joe and Craig Lindberg had been fighting for position when I get to them. They had no idea I was closing down, better for me. Joe eventually gapped Craig, but had nothing left when I went by. I could only hope that there were more people between myself and the finish line...

Not to be. 10th place, Cat 1, 50-54, in 1:39:13, congratulations to fellow Cat 1 Sea Otter first timers William Buckingham in 8^th and Francisco Vidal in 5^th. Super competitive field, and even with the mechanical issue I feel good with this result. All in all, racing in Cat 1 Sea Otter is everything I had imagined… for the better; faster pace, no mercy, much reduced traffic and passing only for position. The only question is whether I have enough years and dedication to make up the gap to the podium...stay tuned!

Thanks to Michele, Porter and Team Summit for their continued support.

[Jim Hewett]

Good job, Paul!  That's three of us with derailer issues!?