Shasta Lemurian

[shiloh]

So what's a Lemurian? People keep asking so I interneted it. It has something to do with a lost land under the sea in the Indian ocean.  But that's silly so I'm just gonna tell people it's a super rad bike race.  The race is one big 26 mile loop with two serious climbs sandwiching some lush flowing single track.

The mass start. I thought I had a good position, about five rows back.  The gun went off, things got crowded, I got by bars tangled for a second and when I looked ahead I saw about 90 riders in front of me.  I must have picked off about 30 people by the top of the first climb.  I had very little confidence descending and was passed about four times.  

Across the dam and onto the single track, I passed another dude. When it opened up onto the short fire road climb I put on another attack.  I passed three or four more people and caught up with Cameron, who had passed me on the first descent. It looked like he knew the course much better than I because he quickly pulled away from me along the single track section. Even with my dropper post I felt like my descending skills just weren't with me that day.  

As I approached the final big climb I began to run into the short course racers.  They were all very good at giving way and letting me by. I gained sight of Cameron again.  I put on a hard effort to catch his wheel.  In the process of catching him I passed another two.  I caught him then decided to rest behind him for a bit. I knew the climb was going to get steeper and I wanted to save a little juice for the tougher sections.

When I finally saw my opportunity, I hit the gas.  I passed Cameron and about five other racers. My legs were burning but I knew that if I held a strong pace up the climb I would be gaining precious seconds that would be hard to make up on the descent.  

I crested the peak right behind two other riders. One pulled away quickly and the other I got around after he screwed up a turn.  I did not feel fast at all and kept telling myself to lay off the brakes.  The trail split in one spot, I second guessed my line choice and ended up riding through the duff slowing me down enough to get passed again. 

Onto the short gravel fire road climb, I could see a hand full of people in front of me.  I decided to punch it but had no punch in the bowl to give. Into the Brandy creek trail I was finally starting to feel some flow in my downhill skills. I was slowly reeling in another dude but wasn't confident I would catch him before the finish.  He screwed up his line and ended up off his bike for a second.  That was just long enough for me to catch his wheel.  Now if the trail would just open up a bit I could get around him.  We crossed the main entry road and I heard Cameron holler "on your left" and he blew by me.  Up the last switchback dirt climb I got around the other rider and made an attempt to catch Cameron again, but it was too little, too late.  I had nothing left to sprint him down on the downhill pavement. 

High-fives were shared at the finish line.  That Battle with Cameron was one of the best i have ever had racing and in the end it was my crappy descending that let him get around me.

I came in 20th place overall, the same place I was in last year only this year I was about four minutes faster with a time of 2:21.

[Jim Hewett]

Nice report, Shiloh.  Interesting that you felt stronger on the climbs than the descents, for once.

[Carl Sanders]

Good stuff. Them mass starts always throw me...way to get back in the game!