Downieville 2018 day 1 Cross Country

[Greg Alsterlind]

My 3 rd race here but my first All Mountain. I had this race as my most import of the year. I bought a TREK Fuel EX 9.8 with this race in mind. With a lot of help from Jim Hewett, I had the bike set up to weigh in at 27lbs. I ran Maxxis Minion  SS 2.3 tires front and rear. I swapped the FOX 34 Performance fork with a Fox 34 factory 130mm. The bike felt fast up hill and was a big improvement over my Top Fuel for the down hill. Jim and I got up Friday morning the day before the race and met up with Mark Buell for a down hill run at a slower pace. Saturday morning was very smokey from all the Cal fires and the air was bad. Mark and I set out to preride with about an hour and 15 minutes before the start. With about 50 minutes before start time, we lined up giving up on a warm up for a decent position on this super crowed course. I would not recommend this. I felt good for about 20 seconds and then my legs filled with lactic acid and I lost all power for the next 10-15 min. By the time I hit the first technical loose climb I was feeling better. I made it through without get off for the first time during a race. Everything was looking good as I looked up ahead and didn’t see large groups of people walking. Then it all changed , my rear tire was losing pressure so I pulled over. My valve stem was bubbling Stan’s sealant and I new if I pulled the tire and installed a tube any chance of a top ten finish was gone. I decided to try and tighten the small metal nut( get the large plastic one) and burn one of my 2 CO2 cartridges (always bring a pump). In less than 2 minutes I was back on the bike but not for long. My next stop was a long one having to install a tube. I only had a small CO2 to fill it but I was close to the first feed aid station and thought I could fill it there. This trail is too punishing and with one tube left and no pump, I didn’t want to chance it.  I got off and started to walk when a rider lent me his pump. At about 1 hour 30 minutes I made it to Packer Saddle (about 20 min. Behind my goal). As I started the new PCT section I was now in with a large group of Sport class riders. I picked my way through most when I came up on team mate Paul Birich (life saver). We stayed together as we started down from the summit. I flatted almost immediately and thankfully Paul was right there with a CO2. We got back on and stayed together the rest of the way stopping once more for my last flat of day at Polly Creek. I was disappointed but riding with Paul down 3rd and 1st Divide was a lot of fun and his positive attitude was good for me.