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Race Report by Nick Relampagos Beautiful weather, lots of shade trees, lots of vendors (not as much as Sea Otter) and if you didn't mind biking 1/4 mile to the venue,,, parking was good! I got there at about 7:15, just as I pull up Jeff Hane also pulls up. I ride down to the registration booth to find they open at 8am. Jeff and I pick up our packets and start our warm up around the last loop of the course. I thought to myself ' this isn't too bad'. 9:05 we start. First part is rolling hills, not too bad, it gives everyone a chance to find their place. 1st hill, everyone I spoke with that pre-rode the course said it was fairly loose and technical climbing, It felt like it was a 1 mile Rockville Camper Hill climb. Towards the top there was a Rockville type trail, mild climb but tight and embedded rocks on the trail. Here comes the fun part, the downhill! Tight singletrack with divots and stutter bumps and mud holes and switchbacks and water bars and stutter bumps and a series of logs on a downhill that looked so fun I had to show all the spectators lined around it that I could do 2 simultaneous nose wheelies without even trying! The Disco Flyover was in the far side of the course, you had to take a hayride or bike to get there, then the course turned to a half mile gravel road which took you back towards the venue for another climb that came out of nowhere. After climbing the second hill which was easier than the first hill, you came upon a loose, steep, wide right hand downhill turn which woke people up the the benefits of technical riding. I took this with my rear end sliding out and hitting the berm then shooting off to another downhill section onto the venue loop which was a good breather and around to the start/finish line. My race was uneventful. My first loop was the hardest just getting used to hammering up the hill (28min.). My second loop was faster with less traffic on the hills and my lungs and legs in a rhythm (27min). My third loop I pinch flatted, or so I thought, and quickly changed my tube filling it with a C02 cartridge. I was surprised in not loosing much time, I was telling myself that C02 was "the bomb!".....until I got my second flat right at the end of my third loop. With no more tubes or C02 I was out. I went to one of the vendors booths to fix my flat and watched the finish of my race. I got home later that day and found a thorn was in my tire, maybe from riding uphill in the grass. I saw John Heim, Justin, Lloyd, Anthony, John Dillow and a new TWW'er David, I think that was his name, and Jeff. I guess this is a true World Cup Course, hard and technical. It didn't cater to the beginner racer. They only threw the Sport and Beginner racers in on Saturday to increase participation and the beginners had to start at 4pm. As soon as the beginner racers started, all the vendors started closing up shop. The announcer also mentioned to all the beginner racers lined up that if they don't complete their second lap by 6:00 or so would not be allowed to start their 3rd lap! I thought that was bogus, you pay your $40.00 and you can't even finish your race! That's like saying, last one finishing, turn off the lights! So that's my review, time to train for the NVDC and have some real fast fun. See Ya! Nick
Race Report by Lloyd Ranola Since Justin has no e-mail, and I'm not about to write up a ride report for him, I'll put in a quick congrats to his hard work in the Beg Men 19-24: a PHAT 10th place!! Lloyd
Race Report by Jeff Hane 5:00 AM. A truly ungodly hour when no real human should every be awake let alone getting up to go do a race, made even worse after a bad night of sleep. However, the little birdies sing quite loudly at that time and there is not traffic so I guess that's nice. I jump into the car about 5:30. Make good time on the drive up and pull into the lot the same time as Nick and 2 other friends of mine. Nick and I grab our registration then go out and start doing some short warmup laps. I haven't been feeling 100% for a few days so was willing to keep the warmup short. Nick and I get to the line really early, about 30 minutes before the start and nab a couple of primo starting positions. This turn out to be good because we in front of most of the 100 people in the class. The start begins with a short sprint on pavement and then into the dirt. I get out quick, and make it to the dirt in good position. Nick passes me on the fireroad so we are both in the top 15 at this point. Perfect as far as I'm concerned. We start the climbs which are loose, dusty and rocky. Total luck gets me thru the first climbs without having to dismount. Most of the field is not so lucky because when I get a chance to look back a big gap has already start to form between the lead group and everyone else. Anyway, start down the first downhill section, over the logs and thru a scary looking mud hole. I come out of the mud hole and the rear wheel slams into a bump, my ass slams down on the back of my saddle... SNAP! WHACK!!! The snapping sound was my front seat clamp bolt snapping and the whack was the seat flying up and, well, whacking me someplace I don't like being whacked! 10 minutes into the race and I'm out:( Jeff
Race Report by Jon Heim Well, no DNF here but almost a DFL. I entered the masters 30+ expert class so I wouldn't have to wake up so early, and the distance was the same as the sports. I got the appropriate butt spanking I expected. There were 100 starters. I don't know if they had posted all the results when I checked them, but I was listed as #77 out of 78. It was a grueling race, especially for a (recently converted) downhill racer. I think this race completes my conversion to DH. Back to eating hamburgers and poptarts. Jon Heim
Results:
Suarez, Justin - 10/56 - 1:24:16 - Beginner Men 19-29
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