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Lake Sonoma XC Race Report by Susann Novalis Saturday (May 13) was the Day Before Mother's Day Race at Sonoma Lake. What a delight!! If you haven't been to the Sonoma Lake series you should give it a try. Everything is very low key and pretty much a one-man show by a cool guy named Ken. There were just three starts: Experts, Sports and Rookies (regardless of age or gender) with each group lining up behind a rock placed in the middle of the road - how low key can you get? The course was about 6.5 miles and just about all single track. A challenging, cardio course with constant attention getters including lots of serpentines, off-camber downhill switchbacks, short steep climbs, dastardly creek crossings - not a moment to rest the whole time. Rookies did two laps and the rest did 3 laps. Ken himself handed out cups of water between laps. Classes were small - only 3 women in Rookie, 2 women in Sport, no Expert women, 6 single speed guys (no skirts or the other usual defining characteristics though), and small men's classes in all categories. It seemed like everyone who finished made the podium!! The single-speed entry fee is a 6-pack of micro-brew and it was winner-take-all. Wes Taylor and I were the only TWW racers. It was my first multiple-lap race. Most unfortunately I flatted in the second mile of the first lap so I knew I was DFL. I had the expected difficulty getting the tire off and back on complicated by the pressure of the race - but at least the CO2 cartridge worked great and I was back on the course after some delay. Even though I was DFL I still ended up with the 3rd place medallion in Rookie Women - my finisher's prize. I think Wes was 3rd in his much larger class. (Please confirm, Wes) I understand that Ken changes the course frequently - other racers said the course we ran was the usual course backwards. But, it wasn't exactly the usual course because there was about a mile of brank new single-track which wasn't well seated-in yet - this was the section with the steep downhill off-camber switchbacks. The first 3 miles were predominantly down hill and the second 3 were predominantly uphill - but no long climb like Napa Valley Dirt Classic. The course turned on itself often so you could often see other racers coming and going on different parts of the course. It would have been easy to cut the course if you were into that sort of thing. Lots of off and back on the bike by most riders. After the race there was a light lunch and even some beer for the earlier finishers. It seemed like everyone had a tremendous amount of fun, including Ken. I look forward to going back.
Susann
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