BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
That’s the sound my bike made when it broke. The rear triangle had snapped and was rubbing on my tire. Panic time, I am racing a series final in a few days! (this happened last Wednesday) Luckily I had time to find a loaner. My friend Brent came through lending me his Niner Air 9 for the race (sweet!). I had time to squeeze in one ride on it before loading it up for Big Bear.
Sunday morning I woke up in Big Bear not feeling very good, my stomach was funky. I had brought some Perpetuem, so I drank that instead of eating something solid. It went down OK so at least I had some calories in me. Then before I knew it, it was time to get in the line up and go. The race started off pretty fast. This time I was jersey hunting, I knew what at least one of my competitors in my age group looked like (green SoCal Endurance jersey). I settled in behind him, kept him in eyesight, and kept pace.
I kept him in sight for about an hour, then lost him on a long singletrack down. I had never ridden it before, and being on a different bike threw me off a little too. Looking at the map beforehand I had thought this was a big fireroad bomb but surprise…. tricky singletrack instead. My stomach continued to feel funky, and I was getting really, really thirsty. It was impossible to eat or drink on this section as it required both hands on the bars and a lot of focus.
After that was a chewed up, super chunky fireroad that descended rapidly. It was about a half hour descent, it took you a long, long ways down the other side of the mountain. I got a chance to drink and ate a part of a bonk bar on a flat portion. I started to feel a little better after this.
About two hours in I hit the first feed zone. The temperature was already just over 100 according to my Garmin. No sign of the green jersey. I grabbed my stuff out of my feed bag and took off.
The long steady climb continued through a valley (very scenic by the way DT) all the way out to Highway 38. After that we made a sharp turn onto a singletrack with some serious exposure (more than San Juan Trail) for 7 miles. I was starting to feel better after eating more bonk bar and gels through the valley, but hadn’t hydrated enough before the ST so I had to stop and chug some liquids in the middle. I took it real easy through here with the exposure, not knowing the trail, and not feeling 100%. I wondered for a while how BobG would like this trail. :)
After what seemed like going to Nevada and back we hit some pavement and looped back up to head back to the feed zone. I was starting to synch up with more riders. I was also finally starting to feel OK. Shortly after this we hit the feed zone again where I loaded up with more cytomax and some banana bread. Then it was time.
On paper this is where the race started. A huge ass climb 3.5 hours into the race that would take about an hour. Did I mention it was around 100 degrees out? It is called 2N06 aka Radford Truck Trail, and it is a beast.
I started out slow and steady. It was so hot I was moving from shady spot to shady spot even if it was a longer path. I slowly started passing riders as they succombed to fatigue. It felt ridiculously hot, my Garmin peaked at 102 degrees. Other riders had stopped and started walking but I didn’t stop spinning the entire time. I passed a lot of people when I saw it….the green jersey. I got past him and continued. Yes!! My heart rate was fairly high but I was able to maintain it and hold my pace, even clicking down a gear here and there.
I knew I was doing fairly well when I eventually got to the top and no one had passed me. Then it was all literally downhill from there on fun singletrack. Zoom-zoom! I couldn’t let green catch me now!
Down and out and past the finish line. Sweet! I headed back to where I was parked for a cold one. Some guy flagged me down, ‘Hey are you Paul’? It was the guy who had taken 1st for the series, Dave Sullivan (dude is a serious blazer). I knew right away he was my type of people by the 22 oz Stone Ruination he was enjoying. We chatted for a while and traded war stories as I busted open my 22 oz Pizza Port Wipeout IPA. Man did that taste good!
So came in 2nd for the race, and 2nd for the series. If I had not passed up green and one other guy I would have came in 3rd for the series so that felt good. Thank goodness for huge ass hill climbs in hot weather? Great way to start the summer!!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/190192176
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