Had some great TWW results this weekend, excellent weather, a fun time at my place on Saturday, and few good wrecks too. I'll let someone else post the results - I claimed a DFL yesterday though... I fell victom to wrapped up chain on the DH course on my race run, and had to stop and get off of the bike and fix it. It turned out to be a broken piece inside my non-Shimano freehub on my Hayes Elite rear hub - gonna try contacting Hayes today.

Race Report by Scott Seery

I made my DH racing debut yesterday at Santa Teresa, riding my flamin' orange Intense Tracer. Although not really set-up as a DH rig, I figured it would be adequate for the job. Well, yes and no, as it turns out.

After registering, Ron, John H, Anthony and I made the climb to the top for a practice run, not a tough undertaking for me on a 25 lb bike with a full compliment of chainrings, but tough for those poor guys on true DH bikes (Ron, John). We regrouped at the top, and decided who would go first, second, an so on. John went first, then Ron, me, followed by Anthony. We gave each other 10 or 15 seconds or so between starts.

Once on the course for my practice run I quickly determined that the course was not technically challenging at all, but VERY challenging just to be able to get enough traction to scrub speed and get the front end to take a bite in the numerous, loose, tight corners. I was running WTB Nanoraptors front and rear, awesome tires for XC work, but not really the top choice for the angular-marbles-on-hard-pack that this course was composed of. It became clear that I needed a big ol' meet on the front to really get hooked up. Oh, well. After a couple of near off-course slides in the upper section, I managed to get to the lower single track unscathed, actually getting close enough to Ron to have been able to take a shot at him if we had been racing. We caught the shuttle back to the top.

Come race time, I was the last to go of the TWW group. I started out well, faster than my sole practice run, a little too fast as it turns out. Just before I saw Mike S and friend, and Peter's wife Hisami, I took a short excursion off-course after my rear slid off and over the outside edge of a tight left hander, ending up testing the abrasion resistance of the borrowed set of Azonic DH shorts I scored from Anthony (I had forgotten mine).

Back on board quickly, back up to speed, around a few more corners, really cranking, when suddenly ahead was a tight 90 degree right hander at the end of a short but steep section of loose, gravely stuff. Hard on the brakes, butt on the rear tire, but nothing's hooking up! I'm heading WAY too fast into the corner, two photographers and a big poison oak bush my only hope of stopping. Suddenly, I was body-slammed. Ouch! My bike popped up somehow, landing on its wheels and actually started going on down the course the right way with me still on the ground trying to figure out what had just happened! I jumped up and chased after it, catching it in full stride just as it fell over. I hopped on with missing a step and kept going. I don't think I lost 5 seconds in the ordeal.

Onto the single track after a 100 yd uphill section, totally anaerobic now, heart and lungs hurting, but determined to finish as fast I could. Phew! There's the finish line, just over the narrow steel bridge (who's the genius that built that there?). DONE!

We rode the shuttle back up, hung out for a little while , and then Ron and I took off before we learned the results. Looking around, it appeared that I was the oldest guy in the race, so I may have medaled just for finishing.

By about 5 o'clock last night I was in some pretty good pain. Today, it was tough to get ready for work. Bruised ribs....again! Hard to lift my right arm, don't dare sneeze or blow my nose. Ibuprofen will be my best friend for a week or so.

At any rate, it was fun, but over quickly after a lot of waiting around at the top. Next time, somebody remind me to put a big, fat tire on the front. Please?

Scott

Race Report by Joel Northrup

First off, Scott and Shaney, thanks for the post event BBQ!!! Awesome food. Also congratulations on those who placed and medaled in both XC and DH.

-------- Humor ON -----------

I had a great time out there until....... Anyway, I arrived early and felt great, no rush, no anticipation, and the last time I did one was June! I felt comfortable and calm. I started out pushing pretty briskly, my heart rate is starting to peak, but keeping a good smooth pace so that I would last. Everything was going great. Oooh this feels good. I was jazzed that I felt so good and kept pumping harder and harder and harder until....it went soft. I got off and I tried pumping it faster and faster, but it wouldn't get hard enough again.... My tube that is, my front tube and I couldn't fix it. And I really was looking forward to popping the cork afterwards.

-------- Humor Off --------------

During the race, I was surprised to be anywhere close to the front and after burrito hill, I knew this was going to be a good race. I saw Keith do his endo, very, very slowly. "Are you ok?"..."Yep". It didn't look that bad and I was surprised that he didn't catch back up right away. Then I kept pace with Jon and John and we were kicking butt. When it came to Rocky Ridge, I still felt great passing here and there so I kept it in the middle ring and a few down on the rear. I kept thinking, "the faster you go, the faster you GO!". At the top, I was in the lead for the TWWer's, yeeeha here comes the downhill. I started thinking, "hmmm, this bike sure is feeling cushy soft". Oh well, the Intense Tracer is a soft ride, but this started to feel weird. Ughhhhhh!!!!!!!! Dang flat tire!

So I popped the bike over, still no one passing, pull the tube out and change it...still no one passing. Try to fill it too fast....shouldn't have done that! I froze the tube with the CO2 and it CRACKED! Double ughh! Now people were starting to rush by. "It's over." So then my "pal" Rich (congrats on an Expert 2nd place!) stops to help a helpless rider, "here's a tube, I patched it a few times (8+), but it WORKS". Ok, I'll try it. Ughhhh. No more CO2. Then, the all so generous "Big Head and Ankle" Keith passes by and gives me his pump. I start pumping...hissssss....pump....hissss...pump....hissss. Ugh, I knew that a tire with 8+ patches had a good chance of leaking. Thanks for the thought anyway Rich :o) I'll get you a tube the next time you need one without patches. So I put the original slow leaker tube back in and rode back to the start. Kiersten saw me coming and kept saying "no, go the other way". So I DNFed, but had a GREAT time (uh, other than the friggin long wait for the awards).

Race Report by Jon Heim

Summary:

XC:2/15 sport 30-39
DH: 1/5 sport 30-39

I just got a couple of new steeds in the stable so I figured what better way to break them in than the last TWW points race of the season. Besides, I had to get enough XC points to pass Rich Henthorn.

XC:

I hadn't ridden the technical part of the course - opting to preride the DH course on the Thursday preride. At the start I went out near the front to see how I felt and was feeling okay enough to try to stay there. Keith predictably went by me early on. The log hop-up and technical rocky climbs were very cool - I like that kind of stuff. Joel and I got stuck behind the slow train in the funnest most technical downhill section which was a major drag. So many times I felt like stuffing the inside corner, but I restrained myself. We passed Keith in this part - he looked to be in pain and it turns out he was. Joel was climbing strong ahead of me. My new Superlight was hooking up like velcro on the climbs and just what my back needed over the rocky terrain. I was running the 2.1 NanoRaptor up front and a 2.0 RacingRaptor in back, a good combo. Joel, Rich (who raced Expert to get more points than me, second place - way to go), and I had a TWW peloton going for awhile until we hit the fireroad climb. I dropped my chain off the small ring when I down shifted and had to hop off and remount it. Saw Mike U. at his point and he was nursing a bad back. John Hillstrom was in the lead at this point and held it for first place - way to go. (BTW, John - I have your medal and jersey, see you at Rockville?). Came up on Joel on the fireroad and things weren't looking good for him. At this point the field was pretty strung out. Played cat and mouse with some skinny climber type guys who I would pass on the downhills, only to have them pass me on the climbs. At the very end I caught one of the collegiate racers and I decided I would give this young whipper snapper a run for his money and started sprinting. I caught and passed him as we hit the parking area and he started sprinting too. I beat him though the fence and we almost ran some people over. In the confusion I forgot we had to turn right there. It must have looked pretty funny. Anyway, I ended up 2nd out of 15 in sport 30-39. Won a medal and $10 gift certificate from Mikes' Bikes.

Scott 'n Shaney had a great apres race BBQ at their house right next to the park. Thanks a bunch for that.

DH:

I almost raced my XC bike due to the nature of the course, but opted for the better tires, brakes, suspension, and chain retention of my new Yeti DH8. It is one sweet machine. As you've read the top is steep and loose fireroad, with lots of tight turns. The bottom is flat singletrack with a @#$$% climb. Just before the start I maxed out the compression damping of my rear shock and raised my seat so I could pedal a little better. Those off camber loose turns still hair me out. I can't just let it go and rail them. There are a few banks that I tried to remember from the preride, and I would pedal the straights, but I feel so slow in those corners. I hit the single track after redlining on the climb. I was going okay until I washed out in one of the last right hand turns. I stuffed my bars in the dirt and banged my right knee and hip pretty good. I didn't really feel it in my knee until this morning and now I am limping a bit. I got back up and sprinted in for the finish. I finished 1st out of 5 in sport 30-39. Ron Chai got 3rd (Ron - I have your medal, Rockville?). For this effort I won a medal, $20 certificate from Mike's, and a Specialized helmet (a timely thing as my current one is cracked). Two medals in one weekend was a satisfying way to end the season.

Thanks to Mikes' Bikes, Stanford Cycling, and Scott 'n Shaney for a great weekend.

Jon Heim

Race Report by Keith White

So, let me give a detail or two that I remember about the XC race on Saturday. Oh, and I like racing on Saturday, it gives you a whole day to recover before work.

After a nice long delay to the start, we were all lined up at about 11:30. Most of the TWW racers were in this class I think. There were at least 5 of us. At the command we were off. This is one rough start. Not to hard an incline, but it's so bumpy that you can't sit. I got off good, and was in the top 5. After about 1/4 mile, I was in the top 3 and things turned a bit steeper. Then I jumped up to #2 just passing Jon Heim before the hill crested. That didn't last long as the course turned down, he flew by me. Then we hit a right hander the started up again. I took back 2nd and was looking at the leader about 20 yards up. No reason to kill myself catching him, there's plenty of hill left.

Across the bridge and onto the singletrack. Hairpin turn and a small straight before a phone pole hop up. The leader got off and ran over it. So, I see he can't be that technical a rider, so I know he's going to have trouble ahead. I easily clear the log and look back. There's a less skilled rider blocking Jon, Joel and one other person. So, I back off. I know the course and know I can rest if that guy is blocking. We start a rocky decent. The leader is about 100 yards up, but I know I'll start to catch him here. I'm about 100 yards ahead of the next pack so I'm just going to cruz until we hit rocky ridge. Besides, I crashed good in this section on Thursday. So, I bounce along the rocks and start to get thrown a bit.

NO, don't touch the front brake....Ahh shoot. As I start to head over the bars(again on an easy straight section), I think Ok, I'll just run it out like I've done 100 times before. As I touch down, my ankle folds over on the rocks and I continue the roll onto the rocks. I come to a halt on the ground, and quickly scrable off the trail. I'm in such pain, I can't determine what is exactly wrong for a few minutes. I was most worried about my right wrist which was tingling...

Everyone passes by asking if I'm ok. I always answer yes, but think to myself...nope, I'm f'd up. After the last racer from my group passes by, I look around and start to wonder how I should get back to the car. I could head back the way I came and possibly run into another group of racers, or I could continue down the course and do all the rocky switchbacks in pain. I hoble up, look around, straighten out my bars, and start to roll down the trail. Hey, this is ok. I can roll without much trouble.

After I get to the bottom, I pass someone with a flat. So, I'm not even in last place anymore....I pedal the way I have to go either for the car or the course. Hope starts to return. If I don't complete the course, I don't maintain my points leadership ahead of Loren. Hey, besides, it's probably good to keep the joints moving right? I'll give one loop a shot and see if I can stand it.

Then, I pass Scott taking pictures(see me with thumbs down). I relate my woes. And start the rocky ridge hump. But, I pass another flat, and am catching someone else. I must go on.

I look down to see my ankle fairly swolen, but not hurting enough to stop me. I must finish the race to maintain points.... The rocky ridge climb is a bitch for my ankle, but I make it up and passed someone too. Then I see Mike U. up by the peak. He's just hanging out(bastard I'm thinkin. races expert and still has enough energy to climb up and cheer people on). I slowly pass and we talk a bit. Down and around on the fire road. Climbing again, I run into Joel who has his bike upside down. I stop and talk to him, bad luck with the CO2. I give him my pump so he can at least ride back, and if I get a flat I'm surely not going on, so I won't need it.

Then it hits me. Loren won his race. If I finish I only get 16 points. That's not enough to keep me in the lead. What the hell was I thinking. I must get moving to break into the top 20 at least. This really pisses me off, I was wasting time, just thinking I could finish...I step it up. Now I'm looking for one after another.

Victim after victim. I start to prey on the people ahead of me. Slowly picking them off. Back around to rocky ridge. Oh man is this hurting. But, I see another 3 stretched out ahead. I'll see if I can get 2 before the climb is over. After the peak, I see my next 2 which I'll try to get on the next fire road climb. The downhill really hurts the ankle, but the scary part was bunny hoping over a water bar, and my right foot unclips mid air. Not a big deal normaly, but I'm doing about 30mph and landing on a bad foot.....I just hope I hold on.

The next to are just head on the climb. I catch one early. The next one doesn't see me comming and isn't so happy about me getting by and tries to retake the lead. Not a chance sucker. Then into the singletrack. So far no TWW folks. The TWW team is really good. Then I see the first red jersey. I have no idea why Nick just gets out of my way. He could have held me off for a while at least. Then I pass one more person before I see Sterlachinpoko at the end of Hidden Springs. I call out to him "Oooohhh Peter...I'm comming to get yoooouuuuu".

Finally I catch him on the last fireroad climb before the decent to the finish....

Finish, and right to the ambulance for an ice wrap. The swelling is good, the medic thinks I'm an idiot(as do most people actually). Shower, change and over to Scotts for some good grub and good chat.

Next day, my swelling is about 1/2 way up my shin and all the way down to my toes. My foot is black and blue on both sides. It hurts like hell, but I got 10th. Which keeps me in the lead for points. Lance Armstrong only has one nut, but he didn't lose it in a race....sissy!

Keith

Race Report by Dave McCrimmon

A big thanks to Scott & his wife for the great BBQ.

Its not a lot of fun to cheer people on when you would rather be racing. Maybe next time I will not go one for one with my customers on a night out. Not easily said as done when the beers are free (company paid).

Sunday was time for the Dirt Crit. Not a stellar turnout but still a good time. I ended up in DFL or 2nd depending on how you look at it, by less than six inches. Need to work on my sprinting. There were only two Norba riders in a heat of 15. We ended up in 5th and 6th. I encourage anyone who is looking for lung pain, max HR, and leg burn to join the next time. We did just under seven miles in 20 minutes plus 1 lap. My speedometer had an average just under 17mph.

Peter S and I then headed up and watched the DH. We had a great section for viewing but no carnage. We were sitting in a section that had a long straight away into a some sweeping bends. Quite a few people got loose and one person almost flew over the berm. Jon H. came into the section really hot and came right at us on the preride. We also saw Scott S. stop on the side of the trail for some necessary repairs.

Everyone may not have raced their best but it looked like everyone had a good time.

Dave

Race Report by Nick Relampagos

My first experience at Santa Teresa was Thursday before the race, I felt good and loved the technical descends and rocky climbs. Race day came and I felt pretty good, lots of TWW'ers. The first lap was uneventful, I saw Keith and Joel off to the side and asked if they were ok. Second lap I decided to take down a Power Gel before the Rocky Ridge climb and Peter passes by, we trade places a couple times and I started cramping, I do my best to suck it up and finish. I could hear a rider coming up fast behind me in the singletrack section and it's Keith, I didn't want to hold him up so I pulled over, anyone else would've had to follow. I finished in 13th 1:41. Lauren C. did great on Saturday racing sport womens, finishing in 1:44 beating all of the collegiate womens times and winning a Stanford Jersey! The only thing I'm happy about is,,,, I beat her! We all stuck around for the awards and thanks to Scott and Shaney for the great hospitality at their house.

Congrats to all the medal winners!

Race Report by John Hillstrom

The race was great. As promised, the downhills demanded good knobbies and some serious focus, and also as promised, there was a lot of powersliding. I'm quite sure the rear of my bike has never spent so much time next to me instead of behind me - I'm going to blame it partially on the Ritchey Zed 1.9 I'm running in the back which is only good for going straight on hardpack as far as I can tell. In any case, I scared the crap out of myself a number of times. I also walked a lot of the technical climbing stuff - unlike the rest of the TWW log-hopping studs. I think I can thank mechanicals for my good finish - Joel blew by me on the first lap looking strong and it was only that flat the put him out of first I'm pretty sure. John Street also dusted me and then succumbed to a loose stem and then a major food bonk. And I had the worst chain-suck ever, starting the with the 2nd backside climbing section on the first lap. I couldn't use my little ring at all, and I had to stop every 10 minutes or so and wet my chain from my camelback (which was filled w/ 1/2 gatorade and it still helped!) to prevent it from sucking constantly. I can safely say I'm throwing away my Pedros Ice Wax, or at least, only using it on wet winter rides. It was TERRIBLE. However, staying the middle ring meant I caught and passed a few people I probably normally would have left in front of me. I guess there's a lesson there but I'm not sure I want to learn it.

I was pretty sure Jon Heim and I had 3rd and 4th since I knew 2 guys that started with us were ahead of us. Apparently they were youngsters and not in our class since he and I finished 1 and 2. BTW, Jon's finish was hilarious - he and a Stanford rider sprinted full-bore to the end of the corral and needed to make a 90 degree right to get to the finish stretch - neither of them apparently even attempted to slow down until they completely missed the corner and headed through the crowd and into a ditch. I guess it pays to scope out the last 1/2 mile, eh Jon? My carpool buddies brother was in town for the day so we had to jet back to the City to entertain and thus I missed what was surely a great BBQ. Next time I hope!

-John