"The Accidental Detour"

[Cathy]

Sonomas 2017

“The Accidental Detour”

Another beautiful Saturday to undertake a seriously challenging ride in one of the most scenic locations.  After the adventure of The Lake Sonoma Grasshopper just two weeks ago, I pretty much knew what to expect.  

What I didn’t expect was to once again, make game-changing mistakes in the route. Well, I still would’ve been pulling up the rear, regardless, but it would’ve been nice to put up a better showing for myself and my team.

Nevertheless…

After a brief 10-minute warm up I hopped in line near the back and waited to start the race.  The pedal up the road was smooth, and I settled in and took it easy, just pacing and breathing well.  Turns out that ride up the road was the only part of the race where “breathing easy” ever crossed my mind again.  As we turned up the single track to the 35-mile course, I knew I was in for it, as immediately we all dismounted and started pushing our bikes up the very first climb.  Shucks, I’m not even ashamed to admit that was just the first of a few hills that triggered a forced dismount and hike-a-bike.  

Once the caravan got moving again, I was able to find a place and try to do some riding.  I was feeling better than I expected and at mile six I remember thinking, “Hey, I might be ok!” Mile six!!! Hahahahahahah! I really and truly had no idea what I was in for after all, now did I?

But, I was riding well for a minute or two, and locked my sights on the ladies in my class.  We all hung together for about the first hour, and then hit a nice little descent where I was able to overtake them.  “Woo-hoo! Now this is riding!”, I inwardly giggled as I flew by them as they were skidding down the hill.  And down I kept going…unfortunately…off course, and missing the uphill turn.  Boom, dead-end.  But, no, this girl thought she heard the guy say there would be grassy areas that didn’t look like a marked trail, so she kept on going.  And when the trail obviously ended, she decide maybe there was a way to hike through the grassy canyon to the road beyond.  Hmm…well, maybe walking down that canyon and back up again through overgrown tick-infested grasses and shrubs wasn’t the best plan after all.  So, calmer senses prevailed and she began the trudge back up the way she came down.  

(Switching back to first person, now).  As I walked my bike back up to the trail and found the turn I missed, I felt a sense of calm.  I decided to enjoy the day-the sunshine, the warmth, being out on my bike and the incredible scenery.  And for a few miles, I really did enjoy myself.  There was some really smooth, fast and flowy single track that I had all to myself.  I didn’t even hammer it, just let it flow.  Before long, I started catching some riders, and even managed to catch up to one of the gals I had been with before.  There was still so much work ahead that, had I known, I may have wanted to use those bail outs.  But at that point, I was still ok.  I made it through the first feed station and got passed by one of the ladies in my class when I stopped to fill my bottle.  I quickly took off and ended up catching and passing her again.  (Side note: She would pass me again later).  At this point, I was still not last in my class and felt fairly confident I would hold that position.  

But there was more mis-adventure ahead.  I was one of the, well, not to offend anyone else who made the same error…shall I say, foolish ones that followed a false detour sign up a very, very gnarly dirt trail previously cut in the side of the hill.  This little climb involved carrying my bike, and at one spot crawling on my knees to lift my bike up and over a steep part of the trail.  Not only that, but the downside was nearly impossible to traverse, let alone ride, and most of that involved carrying the bike as well, as I slipped down the wet dirt. And guess, what?  The detour? It was totally unnecessary! As I slid out of the trail back to the actual route, I looked back up the road and saw the detour sign where I had took the stupid detour.  I swear, and I’m not good with distance, but it must’ve only been about 20 feet.  I could’ve stayed on the fire road and descended that 20 feet!  I’m guessing I wasted ten minutes or more using the “accidental” detour.  I’m still laughing (crying) over that one!

Anywhoo…

I did gain a fellow companion in that mini time warp.  His name was Bill.  He had followed me up the detour.  After that, we were inseparable all the way to the finish.  He would climb, wait for me.  Sometimes he let me in front on some of the down sections and then I would wait for him.  It became a nice and comfortable pattern and we were pillars for each other.  I think the detour took too much out of our legs, and the last ten miles really put each of us to the test.  Bill is 62.  And Bill was pretty amazing.  He called me kiddo and I kind of liked that.  So, I am thinking that I am glad for all of my mistakes on this day of racing because I got to meet Bill.  

I’m pretty sure there were points towards the end where I was pedaling so slow that no human being should’ve been able to stay balanced on a bike.  But I just kept turning my pedals.  When we finally saw the road I shouted an “Amen!”, (much better than the other cursed words I had been mumbling earlier).  Once we reached the top, Bill and I put our hands in the air and coasted down the hill.  It was incredible! But then I heard the sound of tires, coming up fast…and man, it was one of the ladies I had passed.  Somehow she hadn’t got ahead of me when I took the “accidental detour" and was now making a move.  I said, “C’mon Bill! Let’s go get her!” So I made the sprint of my life to catch her, after she had caught and passed me.  And I did.  I passed her.  But then, dammit, here she came again, and she was way stronger than me in the flats and over took me at the very last turn to the grassy finish.  Well, I knew at least I had finally got to have a race!

It was fun to see all of the riders from our Team Acme finished and hanging out in the shade, commiserating and replaying the day’s adventures.  I hope everyone had a great experience.  And a special congratulations to Carson for finishing third in the very deep Men’s Pro class! Way to go everyone for showing up and putting out the effort!

Until next time,

Cat

Oh, PS- I got last place in my class and I still have leg cramps, lol!  

[Rob 'RJ' johnston]

You deserve a beer for that one Cathy!