|   D'ville report - XC (x-post from SS) | shiggy©®
Sep 10, 2003 12:21 AM | | After driving into the night Thursday I arrived in Downieville around 1pm Friday. Picked up my race packets, talked to Andy aka Rut, Francis, Josh O and several others before continuing to Auburn. Roger and Amanda put up with me in their home Friday (and Saturday) night. They gave me details of the climb to come the next day which confirmed my plan to keep my pace reasonable and treat the XC race as a fast trail ride.
Up early to drive to the start. After putzing around getting ready and a short warm up I lined up for the start - way closer to the front than I really wanted. I am not in the best of climbing form I started as slow as I could. Andy passed me quickly, still on the pavement. Riders streamed past. When it turned to dirt I held my place better. At some point I hooked onto Molly's wheel (a friend of Andy's I had meet the day before). She was also on a SS and riding a strong, steady pace. She kept me from pushing too hard. Still I needed to get off and push. If I stayed on the clean line I could walk nearly as fast as the riders. Off the line in the loose stuff it was almost as hard to walk as it was to ride on the good line! Ended up pushing about 1/4 of the climb. Did spot Photo-John in time to jump back on the bike ;-).
On the "flat" before the last pitch to the summit 15-20 riders when by as I spun away (Roger warned me this was the place to recover). Repassed
i ALL
of them in the the first half of that last climb.
Now I started pushing the pace. Over the top. Down the gravel road (and up the few slight climbs).
Down the first rocky doubletrack I followed the couple others, following the line, going faster than I would have dared on my own. I am not use to rocks like this! I am passing people on the rough line, launching off rocks. I hear - more than feel - my rear tire bottom 5-6 times before it goes flat. I do a pretty casual repair. Inflate the tire a bit harder than before. Add a little to the front tire just in case. Molly goes by and I cheer her on.
On I go, just as fast. The rear end is harsher with 5 psi more in the tire and it bounces off line easier.
Just before the last water crossing on the way to Pauly Creek one of the tandems has munched their derailluer. Saw they after and they "had to" singlespeed it home.
Got caught behind a few slower riders and bottle necks on Pauly. Found some good lines behind another fast guy. Caught Molly near the top of the climb on/to 3rd Divide(?).
3rd Divide was fun and fast. I had not seen it before and rode a few weird lines.
I really started catching riders on 1st Divide. Seemed like the closer to the end, the more I passed. 6-8 on the last section including 2 other SSers. The last SSer let me by almost in sight of the pavement. I looked back and he was pushing hard so I was in full aero tuck and cranking hard on the rises. passed 2-3 more gearies, one on the line.
Still back of the SS pack, 3:08 or so. Did not crash. Had fun. Mostly what I wanted.
Best swag was from Stella Carey. She found a new WTB dropbar at Kelly Bikes and gave them to me. Thank you, Stella! And thanks for the copy of
i The Outcast.
We hung out for a while before driving back to Auburn.
Prepped the Chester for the DH and off to sleep.
DH report to follow. |
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