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Today was my first actual XC Race! It proved to be a great change of pace doing something NOT on the Main Divide! Big Bear is truly beautiful this time of year and the riding is epic. We headed up Friday night to get acclimated to the 8000 foot elevation and hang with Jen and Julie for some pre-race fun. Chris and Jen took some really great and fun pics from the weekend. (I should have Jen’s pics to add to this post soon)

Race Report

Being my first race this entire event was a learning experience. My race start time was 11:22 am. We headed to the course around 10 am so I could get in some warm up time. I did a good amount of mini climbs getting warmed up and quickly realized how much riding at over 8000 feet was going to suck. I was already feeling it in my lungs and throat. They started lining us up around 10:30 so everyone would be ready for the PRO riders start at 11 am sharp. They successfully launched each class one minute after another. Around 11:15 my nerves kicked in. I was listening to the race chatter from fellow competitors and going over my game plan in my head. At 11:20 just minutes from my launch I flipped the Ipod Shuffle to ON and chose my starting song, “You’re the best around” by Joe Esposito. Don’t know it? Think, Karate Kid, now you do.

5..4..3..2..1.. and we were off! From the get-go, everyone in my class went out strong including me. The first 3 miles were brutal and proved to be the determining factor for the race. My early race thoughts of who was obviously sand-bagging in my class were true. 3-4 of the riders were big ring climbing up with ease while the rest of us “true CAT 3 beginners” were doing our best in 2-1. About 1.5 miles in my throat and lungs were hurting. The elevation got to me and for a moment I feared this race was really going to suck. Around mile 3 I started to feel better and my legs finally felt strong. The course starts off on Trail 2N10 which takes you up to basically “the main divide” on Big Bear Mtn. It traverses across the top of the mountain above Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. The next couple miles were rolling hills with enough fun downhill fire road that it made the climbs feel okay.

Around mile 6 is where the fun began. Dropping down into Plantation Trail was very welcomed. It’s a nice singletrack trail with big swoopy turns that seem to be made for 29-inch wheels. Ahhh yes! Sadly, it only lasted about 2 miles and back up the fire road I went. At this point my legs were feeling great but my throat was killing me. I had never been on the bike at such a high altitude and I was feeling it. The next few miles were tough, I was being passed by a few people I swore I wouldn’t let pass me. I got a little bummed until I ran into the drop-in point for the PRO riders. Somewhere around mile 12 both courses joined and everyone would take on the remaining 5 miles together. As if motivated by faster riders I seemed to get a second wind and left behind several riders I had shared back-and-forth maneuvers with over the previous 5 miles. I stood up on the bike, dropped a gear and smashed up the last few climbs leading back up to 2N10. Back at the top I questioned whether or not I should have just done that as my legs were yelling at me, “WE HATE YOU!”. The next few miles across the top were downhill and fast. I mashed the big ring to try and make up lost time and get to that sweet last singeltrack leading to the finish that I knew was coming.

Coming into the turn for the ST way too hot I almost went over the bars. There was a brief bit of climbing to start the singletrack and then it was all down hill baby. About a mile in I hit a pretty technical rocky downhill section that several riders walked. I knew it was going to be something gnarly because of the six photographers lined up coming into the turn. The slow moving walking riders gave me no choice but to get off my bike and walk with them. Not 200 feet past the rocks I came across a female rider that had gone OTB and wasn’t moving. There were 5 other riders with her taking care of her so I proceeded on and prayed for her quick recovery. The next mile or so to the finish was filled with rocks and roots and loose sand, enough to keep you on your toes. As I rounded the last turn and crossed the finish line I felt relieved hearing my name come across the loud speakers and seeing the smiles from my friends.

I had a great experience today and look forward to more Team Big Bear events. It would have been nice to see more ST and less FR but that’s how it goes sometime. Also, if they could find a way to close the road to vehicles that would be amazing. Almost ran into several trucks and even one moto.

Special thanks to Sean Flynn of Surf City Cyclery in Huntington Beach, CA. He asked me to fly his colors for the race and provided me the gear to do so. I wish I could have got on the podium, maybe next time. I ended up in 9th place out of 20 riders in my class. My finish time was 1 hour and 52 minutes. Not bad for my first try at high altitude. If I do the Big Bear Shoot Out 2 in July, I plan on erasing at least 20 minutes off that time. I know I can do it!

Getting ready to ride!

Staging

The PRO women getting ready to shred. That’s Allison Mann in the middle showing off her SHO-AIR colors.

Where’s Jordan? lol

and we’re off!

Cruising across the finish line, lungs hurting but one happy camper!

Chillin after the race waiting to see who finished after me in my class.

Quick new gear update: I picked up that awesome new lid you see on my head this week from Surf City Cyclery. It’s the 2009 Specialized S-Works Helmet World Champion Edition. Today was my first ride with it and WHAT a difference it made. Much lighter than my Fox Flux helmet and way better venting. Really didn’t feel like I was even wearing a helmet all day. The low profile look is also welcomed.

Saturday we did a little pre-riding around the lake. Check out Jen hammin it up for the cam!

Big Bear Lake is so beautiful this time of year!

Chris wanted a shot of us all riding and he did it. Im a dork.

Chillin out at Dana Paint Park. I didn’t know there was a Dana Point in BB!

Julie, Jen, Chris and I posin!