May 19, 01:44 AM by Steve | Dirt
Posted in Cycling & Race-Report
I raced on the dirt for the first time today, at the Santa Ynez Classic, in the Cross Country “Beginner 25-29” category. It was an 11 mile loop with 1600 feet of climbing. The ground was baked and cracked and some of the climbs and drops were over 25%. I have a really old and crappy Trek hardtail that weighs well over 30 pounds, so Chester let me use his Gary Fisher “Sugar”. Kim and I spent yesterday evening adjusting the bikes and getting them ready, and went out for a 20 minute ride around Los Carneros Lake to make sure everything was set.
There were 3 age groups in my “wave” but I couldn’t remember which number written on the legs went with each one, so I wasn’t sure how many racers I was competing against. Being my first race, I just wanted to survive, and not cause any problems, so I took it pretty easy at the beginning. There was a little climb and we wound around for a bit then dropped back down to the level where we started. When I came to the top of the drop, I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. There was already an accident at the bottom, guys were screaming, and I had to figure out how to get down this thing without running into anyone.
I managed to get through that and continue on, and started passing some of the riders ahead of me that were letting gaps form. I don’t know how important drafting is in mountain biking, but I figured there was no point in getting behind the pack, regardless. I think I was positioned about midway through the group when we hit the first big climb, and I was handling it pretty well until the guy in front of me fell over and I had nowhere to go but to stop. Unable to get going on the 20% grade, I ran up it like everyone else until it was level enough to get going again. This scenario was repeated several times for a while until the group thinned out—when we weren’t as close together, it was easier to go up the climb without having dismount and run with the bike.
At one point I dropped my bottle; I can see why so many mountain bikers love CamelBaks (note: they are still lame-o for road riding) and since I figured that a) it was hot, b) I was already last and c) there wasn’t anyone behind me, so I rode back and got it. You will have to forgive that I don’t remember exactly when and where everything happened, but at some point fairly early on Marco passed me (1 wave back), and later Brandon (2 waves back). Both sandbaggers apparently as they have won all the races they entered! I actually rode with Brandon for a while until right before we hit a feedzone, when the bike refused to shift into the small chainring, and I somehow got the chain jammed between the small cog and the stays. I had to unjam it, and then run up to the feedzone to get back on. I stopped a moment for some water to drink while I was there, and took another cup and dumped it over my head.
Later at the start of another climb I shifted down and the chain started making a racket. I looked down and noticed that it had been sucked between the chainring and the chainstays. I had a hard time unjamming it, and thought I may not be able to continue, but I was able to generate enough force to get the chain out and continue on my way. I think that was my last time “off the bike” until right before the very end, when I couldn’t remember which direction to shift and didn’t make it up the little rise out of the creek bed at the end.
Overall it went pretty well, and I took home a 5th place (not last!) medal despite my mechanical issues. I was able to handle the physical aspects very easily and was passing people constantly on the climbs, but I have difficulty with descents in general and throw in dirt and rocks and ledges and whatnot, and I’m pretty much just a rolling obstacle. Altogether I was stopped for about 5 minutes, only 3 minutes behind 3nd place. You can draw your own conclusions.
Unfortunately I don’t think anyone got pictures of me during the race, so you will have to look at this one and pretend it was. I look pretty good on that Epic, don’t I?
you look great on that podium. Way to go!
— kimberly at May 19, 06:42 PMcool! let’s hit the trails sometime.
— bill at Jun 4, 08:45 AM