Race Report

Race Report by Rich Henthorn

When: Feb 22 & 23
Where: Granite Bay, Folsom Lake State Park near Roseville, CA
By: TBF Racing

Race 1: MTB Duathlon, Saturday
Result: 3rd of 6 relay teams
Format: 2 mi run, 10 mi MTB, 2 mi run

I teamed up with Celia for this race. The weather was about as good as can be expected for February - highs in the 60s, but only about 50 at start time. Celia got off to a good start, ran the 2 miles of trails and came in to the transition area after about 17 minutes. I started the bike leg in 5th place, I think. Of the relay teams in positions 1 to 4 at this point, all the runners were male and a couple were track stars running close to 5-minute miles.

Most of the MTB course is 1-track, which made it difficult to move past the hoards of slow riders (but fast runners) in front of me. Good practice for the Sea Otter, I suppose. The course is fun, though. No steep climbs, a singlespeeders course to be sure. I think I was in the big ring except for one 1/4 mile stretch. It was impossible to tell who were the relay racers, but I must have passed at least two of them. I entered the transition area after 35 minutes. Celia held off the teams I must have put behind us and finished with a total time of just over 1:10. Good enough for 3rd. First co-ed team by far, and definitely the fastest 40+ team.

Race 2: MTB Challenge, Sunday
Result: 4th of 28, Sport 40-49
Format: 10 mi course, 2 loops for Sport-class racers

Another beautiful day. A bit warmer, even. After the duathlon the day before, my plan was to start off moderately, but also not to get behind a lot of slower riders. We start 2 minutes after the Pro/Exp field with the 20-29 age-groupers, I am in the 2 row, probably around 10th once we all get rolling. After about a minute of smooth gravel path and passing a few racers, we make a turn into the first 1-track section. Of course, the guys in front miss the next turn and take the lead group right over the course-tape and into a picnic area. The main group behind us stays on course, and there is a moment of indecision on everyone's part. I just kept going, passed the guys in front and decided to just merge back into the main field. Most of the others followed me, and now we were behind 2 or 3 of the main field. No harm, no foul, right? I mean, we are now worse off than before. That's how I rationalized it.

But, at the next sign and turn, the guys who are now in front have to be shouted at by me and others to "Turn left!" Geez, are these guys paying attention? I decide to pass all those guys and lead for at least awhile, since I knew the course pretty well from the day before and I don't want anyone leading big chunks of the field off course and perhaps further in front of me. After 2 miles, the course enters a wide section leading to the parking lot. I pass by the spectators at the main venue and enter the main 1-track course in 1st! To my surprise, I lead my field until about mile 8, when 2 guys passed me. I stayed in 3rd for almost the entire 2nd lap, in 4th for about 30-seconds, and even in 2nd for a brief time. I finished in what I thought was 3rd, in 1:26+, within sight of the guy in front of me. Turned out that 1st and 2nd finished more than 13 minutes in front of us. Hmmmm. That's kind of fishy and I suspect they made a "course change" that benefited them somewhat. 13 minutes? No way. Plus, I thought I was tracking people pretty well.

Anyhow, it was a low key event, and I didn't exactly follow NORBA rules precisely either. Great promoters and atmosphere (except for some sketchy course markings in a couple spots). The course is about 80% singletrack, twisty-technical, not rocky or sketchy. Real fun.

I'm not sure I'd recommend the race for anyone but singlespeeders for the reason that it won't prepare you for any races with even a moderate amount of climbing. I think I had less than 1000 ft for the entire 20 miles. That's usually the amount of climbing in the first 5 miles of most races. But, there isn't a separate SS class - you just have to race against the gearies.

See you at the races.

-Rich

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