So No Mas: 50K was hard enough!

Due to nearly 100 degree heat and some confusion on the course, the 2 lap race was called at 1 lap.  Probably the hardest 30 miles I've ever ridden.  Nearly all singletrack with no place at all to recover.  Short descents into dry stream beds with sharp transitions into steep grinding climbs.  In and out of trees, thru shoulder high grasses, sliding down sketchy sandstone, a little something of everything.  Amazing course and amazing people making it happen!  

I especially enjoyed that I got to ride with Scott S for most of the race.  He kept a perfect tempo and we kept each other out of trouble.  Thanks Scott.  You were a great sport letting me suck on your wheel for so long.  Let's get out to Downieville soon!

Thanks go out to my buddies Aaron, Stef, and Ari at Bespoke Cycles SF for their ongoing support of my bike habit.  The new tires saved my butt on a couple of occasions out there...  Happy anniversary, guys!

Jessica was as amazing and awesome as ever.  Got me up in time to leave for the race, drove the whole way, did her own 30 mile road ride in the same terrain and heat, showed up at the finish line with a cold beverage for me right at the end, and then helped serve 100 pasta and sausage to 100 hungry racers and their friends!  Many thanks, my dear.  Many thanks!

And Che and Cairenn were on hand for drinks and snacks in Healdsburg and then treated us to their amazing hospitality afterward.  Staying with them at their place above the Valley of the Moon is beyond awesome.  Home made breakfast with that view...  Just wow!   Waaaaay better than battling traffic in 90 degree heat.

Carlos the promoter wrote a great synopsis (including a course profile with elevation gain) here:  http://www.bikemonkey.net/?p=4643

Next up: Downieville Classic XC in July.  But before then, some fun non-race adventures.  Stay tuned.

Lake Sonoma Season Opener

climbing, originally uploaded by alefdeux.

Up before dawn to eat, dress, load up, and drive to Lake Sonoma.  Beautiful and chilly morning.  Lots of eager folks out.  130 participants.

The course was a classic from back in the day.  A 5 mile loop of technical single track.  Almost all of it either up and muddy or down and sketch.  No place to recover really.  Just hit the gas and hope you don't run out of fuel before the appointed time.  I didn't place highly, but I did what I'd come to do.  

First lap - took it easy to learn the course and get used to my new bike.  Second lap - slowly build the tempo without blowing up.  Last lap - I'd say "pour it on" but really it was just "finish with some to spare".  

My watch said 35 minute laps for a total time of 1 hour 50 mins.  My official time was 2 hours 1 min.  Not complaining either way.  I went faster than the last time I was there, which admittedly wasn't gonna be hard to do.

Really the best part was the cheering section!  Jessica rounded up her folks and our dear friends to come out and holler and ring cowbells!  They really got into it.  We all stuck around for the burgers & beer.  I was proud to show them what I'm really into.  Glad to say they "got it".

After the race, we all palled around in Sonoma county.  A little wine tasting, a visit to the Voigt ranch, chillin' at home with CV2.  Couldn't have been a better weekend.

Thanks to Jessica for being the most awesome team-car driver / photographer / cheerleader a weekend warrior could ever want.   And thanks to Ma & Pa and CV2 for coming out to add to the mayhem!  

And again thanks to Aaron, Stef, and Ari at Bespoke Cycles for supporting my bike habit!

edit:  Official results got posted just a bit ago.  My watch was correct after all!  Average lap times around 37 minutes!  w00t!

First Race of 2009

For me anyway.  

This Saturday is the Lake Sonoma Series #1, produced by the fine folks at Bikemonkey! 

15 miles of pure, sweet singletrack.   

Pure, sweet, mid-pack, Sport-class suffering.

Been training in preparation.  I'm pretty excited.  Looking forward to having my folks around to see me.

I'll let you know how it goes.