Hi All!

Not much to report on my end. I ate right before hand, felt decent during the race (basically, I never felt like I was going to puke), and rode a good race. But I seem to be getting old, fat, and slow. Probably just the heavy travel schedule and what that does to my riding schedule taking effect. Bad news is that it looks like I will be traveling even more for a while to come...

I came in 20th place with a time of ~2:02:41. I had stopped for a minute or two to give a friend a spare tube and CO2 cartridges, which cost me a minute or two. Not doing this would have moved me up a place (the guy in front was 1:00 ahead), maybe two.

The recent rains did some good and some bad to the course, yet it was as fun as always. One climb at the front was as slick as snot (bad). The dusty decent before the nasty climb wasn't dusty (good). About halfway up the climb was a 100 foot long mud pit (bad).

Singlespeed class had its normal group of weirdos. One guy in a CalTrans orange uniform, a guy or two wearing kilts, and a guy with streamers on his handlebars. I think there were about 25 singlespeeders total.

Some potential issues at the start with the race, but it appears to have worked out. The loudspeaker wasn't that loud, so no on could hear. And the volunteers holding the sign didn't seem to be there for everyone except men and women experts. It would have been very easy for someone in a later class to start with an earlier group (whether on purpose or not). Overall, still an excellent race and one which I would recommend that everyone try to do next year.

Big congrads to the *MANY* TWWers who placed, including Keith White who took first in his sport class, Loren (sorry, don't know his last name, though 'Sandbagger' may be appropriate being that his time was faster than mine) who took second in his beginner class (perhaps first - there seemed to be something amiss with the guy who was in first's time), and Kirtsen 're-dislocate the shoulder yet still take second' McDaniel.

Peter

Race Report by Rob Butner

Well I had a great time today at the wet and muddy course up in Angwin. My first experience on this course and with a 22 mile race. Felt good today headin out but mechanical problems struck quickly when a small tumbleweed got caught up in my chain, jamming my rings and rear cogs. As the last of the Start #3 racers past me I was wondering why I come and do these things. Was it just me or was anyone elses tires magically turn in to slicks right there within the first few miles. In any case I continued and caught up to a TWWer and was gettin back into a groove.

From here on I basically had a great time. I lost my ability to clip into my pedals for a little while due to the mud. The Whoop-de-do section was a lot of fun, although I did not clear all of the ups(something to work toward next year). The single track was amazing and relatively easy to get through. A few close calls with some trees and a ten-foot drop down to the fire-road at the bottom of one of the single track sections(anyone know which section I mean?)

What was with that CLIMB people?????!!!!!!!! Wow... I decided to be like Mark Davidson and put some Cytomax in my Camelback. The stuff worked fine, but that climb kept going up and up and up. I remember during a particular hike-a-bike section Mark rode up behind me and shouted "Get back on that bike Rob!". I guess the shouting was too much for him. Moments later he tipped over with the comment "I'm one to talk...".

A second wind seemed to kick in toward the end and I flew into the finish. (Maybe it was all the around-my-age girls that were directing the racers toward the end.)

Ended with a time of 2:16.10 14th out of well.....15 in Sport 19 to whatever age.

Was really happy with all the water stations. Was glad to see so many college girls at a race for once. (okay, so they were all volunteers that go to school there). And I was glad to see so much red TWWers at the starting line. Congrats to everyone for showin up and racing in this weather!

-Rob Butner-

Race Report by Nick Relampagos

Real good turnout for all TWW'ers! The Sport 35-44 and 45-up were combined so the whole start line was a sea of red TWW jerseys. Organization was not as good as last years but the volunteers were on par. Conditions were pretty good considering the recent rains. There were a couple of mud bogs and a couple of slippery as hell hills.

Memorable moments for me:
- Mark and I dicing it up on the roller coaster hills which were all cleaned.
- Mark and some other guy playing roller derby sliding off course and both magically were able to recover.
- One tight singletrack switchback that I overshot with speed and 15 feet later found myself back on the course! No crash, I just had to press the wrinkles out of my saddle.
- Scott Seery and I riding together and crossing the finish line, hands held high and people cheering! Finish time for us 2:12:47 and :48.

Congrats to all that finished and podiumed.

That's all for me.

Nick

Race Report by Keith White

As you've all started to become accustomed to, I'll add my story.

Notice the acronym has been changed. Not nvDc, but nvMc. In this case dirt changed to Mud. So, I was really having second thoughts about even doing the race. Brand new frame, wheels, cables, seat post, all built up on Saturday(by me) and never even ridden before sunday. And rain and mud to boot. A real recipe for disaster. But, TWW needed more red shirts at the start, so I did it. Showing up at about 8:15 thinking the race started just after 9, only to find out my start time is 10:45...I could have slept for at least another hour and a half...oh well.

Plenty of time to make any adjustments to the bike(didn't actually make any), warm up. Stretch. Hang out. Get to the start line about 25 minutes early and hang around with Jeff Hane, then Joel, then just about all TWW jerseys show up. What a sight. At the start TWW red was about 7 across. It was cool. 3, 2, 1, we're off. Good start, in the lead 10, then the lead 5, then hit the singletrack in 2nd. Some big dude in front of me taking the whole trail. Moving over whenever there's a place to pass...oh well, at least I feel like I could pass if I really wanted to. But, I'm never this close to the lead, so I figure I better just hang out. Then some dude passes me and I'm not going to let him go, so I pass the big guy too. Off we go. I'm handing behind this guy, he seems a bit faster. We hit the open fire road and are just cruzing. I'm feeling like we are moving easy and I want to lead the race for just a minute(bragging rights and all since I've never done it before). So, he and I trade the lead about 2 times. I can see him look back and I ask how we are doing. He says they are closing a bit. So I think it's time to go a bit faster. Figuring we would do it together...but he can't keep up. I'm breaking away from everyone. This just doesn't seem right. Back into the woods...passing slower class riders. Then here comes the whoops...rewind all the email...oh screw it. Middle ring, 5th gear. There's a nice little rock at the very top of the first one and several spectators handing around. So, I figure style is very important. I hit the rock, do a little cross up and fly down. Then jam up the other side... next one shift to 4th and away we go.

Soon I'm back in singletrack...weaving in and out of trees. Riding people's tail until they get sick of it and let me by. Actually everyone was very good about asking if I wanted to pass and letting me go as soon as there was an openning. Well everyone except 2 or 3 groups who didn't want to loose place to eachother. So, I had plenty of rest time in there. What a fun bunch of singletrack. There was a couple of climbs that were so slick I got no traction and had to run them somewhere in there. But other than that it was good. I was starting to get a bit of a sore back, but doing ok. Then the death march...well for everyone else anyway. I rode almost the whole thing. Only one stetch of about 50 feet which was too slick other than that I rode it all. Pass the last water station and ask them when the down starts....PLEASE...soon they say...which is the right answer, but it is a LIE.

I want to continue to jam, so I start pushing. Ouch, what's that. My calf starts to cramp...then the other one...then my right quad...so I slow a bit and just try to spin them loose again. Never cramped before in my life so I'm hoping this is the right solution. Spin for a while and I start to loosen up again...whew. I thought my race might be over right there. Break out onto fire road...I can't believe I'm actually still in the lead. I have a chance to win. Never thought this possible. Hammer on the fire road, and back into the singletrack start. Big old mud bog with about 2o people watching. Splash through and comment to the crowd about not looking good for the photo finish...on to the finish area. I raise my hands in usual victory fasion(always do). No crowd response...so I yell at them...then they get into it. Cross the line, they note my number and my race is done. Thank goodness. What a rush. I love it when the race is over....

It sure was great to see all the TWW racers. What a turn out and what a great showing. The race director even said to me after the race... 'you're on Team Wrong Way right'. We definately made our presence known. Congrats to all the team. To finish that race is a victory.

Keith
PS. Sandbaggers move up....

Race Report by Adam Strunk

Well folks, I was out to outdo my self. No disappointment there!

Race chronology:

1. Show up with nicely bruised left quad from Tae Kwon Do tournament Saturday. On with the mineral ice!

2. Rear flat one minute before the start. This has to be a record, even for me. (Some of you may recall my 3-4 tube day at Rockville but at least that was WHILE RIDING!) Of course, they start my group early! A quick fix but I am already about 5 minutes back. Start jamming past a bunch of laughing onlookers as I scream to the starter "My group already started"!

3. Quickly discover that my seat is not really fixed. It seems to like to pivot back on any hard bump. Dismount and repair.

4. Race past lots of people on the long flat section. How, exactly, could one catch people ten minutes into a race when they started 5 minutes back?

5. Whoop-de-dos: clean em all. Pass more people.

6.. Seat goes again. They all pass me back.

7. About this time my bike computer disappears. That's okay: it has never been used before.

8. Race for a while, passing where possible. By this time I know I am not winning anything and am just trying to ride a good race.

9. As soon as the hill comes (which hill? you know which hill) I truly discover the meaning of chain-suck. Result: a broken chain suck guard (why Klein puts those on if they don't work I will never know) and a bent inner chain ring. Makes the climb even more fun.

10. Become paranoid that I will be the last person on the course. Start jamming insanely trying to pass as many people as possible. Pass several people, including one coming into the finish area.

11. Finish!!!!!

The moral of this lesson is to offer more prayers to the bike gods and not let people kick you in the legs the day before a race. Anyhow, it was a FUN race and you have to love that single track.

See ya' on the mountain,

Adam

Race Report by Susann Novalis

My class, Beg Women 35+, started in the last group with Beg Women 19-34. The group before us included a few Beg Men classes. I hit the entry single track with the last 3rd of my group hoping to pass some women later on. I passed one or two women early on, but then there was no one in sight so I rode alone for quite a while. I was riding well and was a little surprised that I couldn't even catch a glimpse of anyone ahead of me - where were those other women? and how did they get to be so fast?

After what seemed like half an hour of solo riding I saw a racer in the distance and figured this was my chance to increase my race standing. I increased my pace and the distance between us shortened gradually but surely. I was getting excited about planning my pass and was desparately hoping that she would be in my class and not in the younger group. One hundred feet - fifty feet - twenty feet - the adrenaline rush was starting - then I noticed - in horror - the hairy legs!! I was overtaking a man from the previous group - damn!! This hairy leg scenario repeated itself over and over at least 8 to 10 times, with each time my thinking I was about to score. I was getting really distraught about all those hairy legs. Where were all the women?? After a while I figured it out - these guys weren't really racing at all although they had race numbers - they were probably just out for the ride.

Anyhow, I eventually caught up with and did pass another woman , but it turned out that even she was not my competition because she was in the younger group (and in fact a student at Pacific Union College). I glanced at my watch as I passed through the Finish and was thrilled to see that at least I had achieved my goal of finishing under 3 hrs even though it was clear that I wan't going to podium since I never even saw the fast gals after the first few minutes. They never did post the results of our two classes so I'll have to wait until they post to the website.

Easily three or four times as hard as the Sea Otter but a terrific course. Can't wait till next year now that I've done the preride!

Congratulations to all TWW members who rode. We really dominated the scene, didn't we?

Susann

Race Report by Rich Henthorn

This was the first time I had ridden up at Angwin, and it's perty sweet. Definitely, it lives up to the hype (or lack of hype).

Results:
Time - 2:05 and change
Place - 12

It was pretty cool having about 6 red TWW jerseys starting in the front row. We garnered our share of attention, to be sure. The singletrack sections were really fun. Even though I am not the smoothest rider through the twisties, just racing through the woods provided a lift and helps dull the racing pain. I need to work on that area of "my game".

I went down at one point. Wheels slipped-out from under me on some slick roots. Got back up right away and continued on. Fortunately, the "crash-effect" wore off quickly and I was back in race-mode in just a few minutes.

The climb out of the valley was not as bad as I had imagined. I reached the top after hiking some, but riding most. I was thinking there had to be more, but was thankful there wasn't. Thanks to all for building it up to be very bad. Maybe the air-conditioning provided by the weather made it, how you say, not so bad. Oh yeah, the rain really started to come down after the awards. 6 hours earlier and the race would have been mucky as all hell.

After the climb, I caught up to Jeff Hane. He was working on his bike, rinsing mud off his chain with what remained in a water bottle he picked-up on the trail. I think I surprised him (or maybe pissed him off), because he got right back on his bike and took off. I was too blown and couldn't respond at that point, but I kept him in sight and was slowly reeling him in on the gradual fireroad climb back to the finish. I saw him peek back at one point, so I know he was trying hard to keep me away. Once I reached the airport and saw him enter the singletrack, I knew I wasn't going to catch him. Oh well, I figure if I hadn't been trying to catch him, someone might have caught me, so it made both our times better. Better him than some other bozo (like Russell).

Anyway, great race. Great turnout for the team. Good results. I'll be back next year.

-Rich

Race Report by Loren Thomas

The weather was great. I thought it was going to rain, but it just lightly sprinkled. Most of the terrain handled the rain of the previous day quite well. I got a good start and quickly moved to second place behind Justin. I paced myself without letting him get too far ahead. After a few miles I decided to push just enough down a smooth downhill to get around him. He yelled "bye Loren" to me as I passed. The rest of the race went like this: Hear someone approach, hope they aren't in my class, ask what class they are in, not in #15(Beginner men 27-34),OK let them get by, push to follow them as long as I can. The first 17 miles were pretty easy. Some fun single track, which I obviously wasn't going fast enough on, because a "freight-train" of Clydesdales caught me. I let two by me and tried to follow them. I didn't mind letting a few riders by, because I knew I had the lead in my class. But somewhere after the start of the long climb, a rider with #15 pedaled up from behind me. I passed him back, but he had a lot more energy than me and was able to leave me at the next ascent. I didn't spend much time disappointed about losing my first place spot. I had held it for the first 17 miles, and now it was time to keep my second spot. The long climb had my legs burning and my heart pounding, I didn't think it was possible, but I kept going. When I crested the final accent, I was so happy I shifted to my big chain ring and pushed hard....ooh, calf cramp! Stretch while barreling down the hill...OK. I kept up a fast pace down the track and was able to recover a little before the finish. The last quarter mile had people lining the track. The first group was gathered along a swampy section waiting for tired racers to wipe out in the mud. I pushed hard through it to give them a good show:) Actually I pushed hard the rest of the way. Finished the 22 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes and some change. There was lots of confusion on the results. The timekeepers had me as third, the preliminary posting had me as second. Somehow the guy that passed me averaged 30mph during the last five miles (uphill)? He had the fastest time of the day! Something was wrong, but the protest period was over. Next thing I know the announcer introduces me as the first place guy! Surprised and excited, I accepted my award. Yeeeha!

I got lots of "advice" about moving up to the sport class. A few suggested it would be OK to collect a few more podium finishes. I think I will try to collect a few more top finishes before I step up to the big boy class. Call me what you must, but this was only my second race!

Loren "sandbagger" Thomas

Race Report by Dawn Weathersbee

The start of my 2000 season was, well, as I had expected. Lessons from a hard day:

No train, no gain, much pain. As God is my witness, I will climb hard during the work week!

Mud, well, it's slippery and makes it difficult to go fast.

Chest colds prevent you from getting much air into your lungs.

Camping in the rain can be fun when Mark Davidson is the Subaru Hotel concierge. He fluffs a nice therma rest.

TWW is a huge team, and we've got some fantastic riders. That makes my red striped chest swell with pride.

NVDC is an awesome and fun course, well, if you took out all of that damn climbing.

Whoop de doo's are whoop ass fun!

When you are a slow Sport class racer, the beginners eventually catch you, then they crash in front of you in overehuberant downhill maneuvers, after which they stand in the middle of the funnest section trying to fix their bikes. It pays to go fast enough to stay away from them. As God is my witness, I will do speed intervals during the work week!

Don't believe someone who crashed and hit their head when they say that they're alright. Make sure they can stand up wothout swaying before you ride away (unless you're winning, which I wasn't,then just ride on). I may be slow, but I still got my skills. Didn't crash, once.

Wisdom comes with age ( or is it just complacency?). If I am physically weaker, I am mentally stronger. Three years ago a finish like yesterday's would have really pissed me off. Now, it's just incentive to work harder.

Thanks to everyone who showed up and made me feel good when I dragged my sorry butt across the finish line. It makes it more gratifying to have a cheering section.

Dawn