Iron Angels Mtn Bike Race
March 4, 2001
Well, I really squeaked under the weather wire on this one. Yes, heavy rains and thunderstorms were predicted for this afternoon in Angels Camp but the morning report just said rain so I decided to give it a go.

Angels Camp is in the Sierra foothills/gold country off 49 about 2 1/2 hrs from San Francisco. The race is put on by Velo Promo and a foothills bike club called Golden Chain Club. The whole thing was reminicent of the Billy Cross series at Lake Sonoma: in this case the Glory Hole Recreation Area at New Melones Reservoir, a really nice guy Robert (the analog of Kenny) who staged a true grass-roots race, and a multi-lap racd with a 6 mile lap. The weather prediction keep most people away: there were only 47 in all categories (in a good weather year there can be 250). Robert waived the late fee so race day entry fee was $20 plus $2 for an NCNCA one-day license. Apparently the 3 people who were supposed to assist him today didn't, so he drafted his 3 kids to do the sign-in and be general gofers (again, similar to Kenny and his family efforts at Lake Sonoma)

The race class decision was easy for me: Beginners started at 9:00 and raced 2 laps while Sport raced at 10:30 and raced 3 laps. The civilized start time and my desire for a longer race made Sport a no brainer. There were only 3 women in the class and, to avoid suspense, I report that, once again, I've come up with the infamous double: podium and finishing last all in the same race. The other 2 women really spanked me!!

Rain threatened during the morning as the Beginners started out. It even held off for the first 2 Sport laps. The real problem was the wind: there was one section where we took the full brunt of a very strong headwind and it was all we could do to keep from getting blown all the trail. Needless to say that on the 3rd lap this section was really brutal as the wind was now joined by a light rain. The trail conditions were muddy and deteriorated during the 3rd lap. But there were no stream crossings. The course was 6 miles of rolling hills with a few very short and steep climbs and perhaps 2 technical sections. The Expert/Pro classes started at 12:30 and did all their laps in a light rain (and of course the wind). For some reason the Exper/Pro guys (and they were all guys today) don't believe in fenders (not macho enough?) and they really came in completely spattered head to toe with mud and with drag strips on their shorts about 1/2 inch think with mud.

The top 4 in each class got nice teeshirts and after everyone had raced Robert held a raffle. The prizes were not at the same fantastic level as those at the Cool race but nevertheless a raffle is really a nice was to end the day. As it happened the weather caused all the Beginners to leave right after their race with only their teeshirts and many Sports left too. So all the spoils went to those few of us remaining. A few lucked out with K2 pedals (SPD compatible), Geax tires, Blackburn CO2 cartridge pumps, etc. I ended up with a pound of Peets coffee and a plaid sleeveless flannel shirt in XL (now you don't come across a plaid sleeveless flannel shirt very othen so this is a real gem of a shirt.)

All in all it was a really fun day. And yes, the sky opened up on the way home and there were times when I couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of me (at 60 mph, of course)

This same group is sponsoring other Mtn Bike races so get out your calendars:

  • June 3 Lyons Lake Race in Sugar Pine
  • August 5 Leland Meadows Mtn Bike Race in Pinecrest
  • Sept 23 Sugar Pine MTB Challenge in Arnold
  • Bear Valley Mtn Bike Race - no date set.

Susann Novalis

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