California Golden State Downhill Championships Race #3

[allison]

Winston - great RR and pics I've missed seeing them here on STR!

[Winston]

THANKS!

Originally Posted by allison

Winston - great RR and pics I've missed seeing them here on STR!

[2wheel_lee]

4X RR: Other than a quick spin around the Fullerton Loop a few weeks ago, this was the first time I really rode the new Black Market Mob. The bike felt really good, and it was very easy to get used to, especially after just riding my BMX bike the night before (I'm not so good at jumping from bike to bike).

This was also my first time on the Fontana 4X track since the Winter Series. I heard they made some changes to the course, and sure enough, some of the jumps were different, and some were bigger. The first roller after the start had a step added before it, making it a step jump. The big change was to the take-off on the doubles after the first turn. The take-off is steep! And it really launches you skyward. Somebody cut the lip off the jump off to the far right, but the face is still a bit steep to speed jump. The doubles between the second and third turn were also beefed up a bit, with the front face of the landing whoop cut out a little bit so it would be hard to roll at speed. The landing had also been erroded exposing a few big rocks. The following berm was also built up a little bit.

In practice, I knew I had to figure out how to jump the doubles after the first turn, but I wasn't feeling the love - it scared the crap out of me. My first attempt was to manual the outside where the lip was cut off. That's where I learned that it was tough to manual at speed - and the first time I'd manualed anything on that bike. I came really close to crashing. My next attempt wasn't much better. I figured I'd try jumping the doubles. My first attempt at that went bad as my pedal hit a rock in the ground coming out of the turn. I almost crashed right there. My second attempt, I apparently accidentally did a bunch of upshifts in the turn, and it felt that my driveline locked up...I went skidding over the doubles. My next attemp got botched somehow, and I fumbled my way over the jump. I was feeling really crappy about this time. I'd have felt just as well to go home at this point.

The next attempt finally got me into the air over the doubles. I knew the face was steep, but it felt even steeper when I hit it. I did kind of a nose landing because of a bad weight shift in the air. I wasn't feeling very well yet. On the next attempt, I finally nailed it perfectly. I figured I'd follow up with another attempt, but it was another front wheel landing. Oh well. It's rider's meeting time, and racing soon after. I never really practiced the rest of the course. I figured that if I can get a holeshot and lead to the second turn, I could hold off my competitors through the rest of the course.

Participation at this event was pretty small. There were only two other guys in my class, both who were under 18 (guys of this age are the worst, because they have not fear! I'm getting too old to battle with these guys!). One of the guys said he does a lot of DS racing, but I didn't talk to the other as much.

Toward the end of practice Eric Carter moved some haybails in the first turn to push people to use the berm, instead of inside line dive tactics commonly used. This was a good move - Thanks EC!

Because there were only three of us sport guys, and only two beginners, Donny of SRC was about to combine us, but after I questioned his explanation of how were were going to qualify, he decided to keep us separate. The three of us sport guys would run two motos, with the results of the final moto breaking any ties.

For the first moto, I lined up on the inside. When the started said "7 seconds" he dropped the band! It caught us all off guard. Nonetheless, I got the holeshot, and lined up for the first turn. I reluctantly aimed for the doubles, but I went for them anyway. I cleared them without much problem, and continued to cruise around the rest of the course maintaining the miniminum amount of speed needed to hold off the other two guys to the finish line (I wanted to save my energy for the second moto).

I again lined up on the inside for the second moto. This time, I came out of the first turn lined up for the right side of the doubles. Despite my failed attempts to manual the double before, I'd try it again in a race. I was pleasantly surprised, when I nicely manualed over the first whoop. I don't think I could have cleaned it any better. Again, at this point, all I had to do was hold off the other guys to the finish.

I was somewhat glad to see some of the pro photos to see that EC and others were doing the same thing (manualing the outside, then cutting over to the left for the second turn). During the race, many of the fast guys were flubbing the doubles as well.

Although I'm sure many of you are thinking that I belong in the expert class - I know this because many of you have told me - but I really don't think I belong there. There is a huge difference between me and even the slowest expert. They are on a different level.

I was glad to see Jeff, mfoga, and julia out there! Good to see STR represented in almost all of the classes!

Thanks to all who came out to support the 4X racers: especially Elvia, Fred, and of course Dino, who helped push the bikes to the top of the hill.

[mottmcfly]

I put some pics up here in case anyone missed the other DH pics post.

Congrats again to everyone who came out!

http://mottmcfly.smugmug.com/gallery...05337703_JeLyG

[Bullcrew]

Originally Posted by mechmann

THANKS for the killer RR!
yeah... that sandbagger justin wasn't on the podium this week!

congrats to all my O class brothers for their awesome race runs!

my RR summed it up though. crashed my brains out in both runs.

we will see if i can put together two decent runs at Woodward for the series. either way i will be racing expert at the annual, which is probably why i crashed so hard multiple times. i am pushing pretty hard to be faster so that i can compete with the experts!

Sorry to hear about you crashing J.
I should be at woodward (wife/bz permitting), either way I hope nothings injured and the rides OK.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by Winston

Race Run #2


Fossil Ladies Expert Class Podium shot:

Thanks Winston, I love you too!!!

[2wheel_lee]

Uh, Winston thank you for the awesome RR, but...uh...Denmo may call you out to the 4X course...to even things up a bit. I hear she's getting good with the proper use of her elbows. I'm just sayin'...

[destroyer]

Thanks for the pics everyone!

Did they pump the first double on the 4x course full of steroids?

[DownhillWebKook]

Perfect day for a race--nice breeze, good temperature--it felt like when I started here as a beginner some years back.

Can't break 8th!

Coming off a pretty good result at Sea Otter I felt pretty confident that I was capable of winning. I haven't been on the top box since my first race in sport class a couple of seasons ago. As an expert I have been locked in upper mid-pack--to the point where I will get 8th no matter what! Before this season I was training very hard and felt that I was riding really well until I broke my collarbone on the Push-A-Kona ride in November. That set me back quite a bit both mentally and physically.

A win...finally!

I have been training really hard since January, trying to heal, to get back up to speed and to get my head back on straight. Finally I got a win this weekend with a 2:00.xx in both runs. It felt really good to have everything line up with the new team, the first race at Fontana with the new Yeti 303 and the Bike Co./Houseman kit. Big House and Joe were stoked to see me on the box and my old SBF teammates were really proud of me. I also had my family there to see. All of those factors combined with putting in the time to train and practice just feels absolutely amazing when it comes together in a win. I have been chasing it for quite a while with only marginal success.

A different approach

I tried a different approach this weekend that I think may have worked well.

My usual approach is to 1) Walk the course and get a visual imprint of the top section at a minimum; 2) Run the top 1/5 or so at cruising speed; 3) Do a full run at cruising speed; 4) Hike back up and section the course starting at high speed and ratcheting down as necessary. Repeat 4) as often as needed to get into "robot" mode--no thinking, only action.

So I made a slight modification at item 4). Rather than starting at high speed and working down, I did the opposite--starting at cruising speed and working up. There is a subtle difference in that by working down, you're trying to prevent failure: go into a corner, blow it, "nope, too fast", slow down, repeat, and so forth. By starting slow and working up you build on top of repeated success--go into a corner, "that was easy, but I can go faster", and so on until you finally do blow the corner. This last approach takes more time, but really feels right. I think one modification I would make is to throw in a "semi-balls out" run at each section to figure out the upper limits a bit sooner. Also, a couple of top-to-bottom full runs at near race speed would be good toward the end of practice day to figure out pace. On each run I had a lot left in the tank because I under-paced for both runs (having not done any full runs at high speed). Other than that, I think this approach is much more sound psychologically as it errs on the side of improving on success rather than preventing failures.

Oh yeah...

You might try getting a Yeti 303 with Fox racing suspension, Shimano mech, Maxxis tires, Easton components, an SDG saddle system, Troy Lee racing kit, MucOff bike cleaning supplies, all put together at the Bike Co using DeWalt tools under the supervision of Joe Binatena with Rich Houseman and Kevin Aiello in your pit.

Cheap plug, but I had to do it!

Long report, but hopefully there were some good tidbits in there.

See you at the races!

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by destroyer

Thanks for the pics everyone!

Did they pump the first double on the 4x course full of steroids?

Yes, and they exceeded the PSI rating

Actually, only the take-off whoop was modified. It's maybe almost a foot taller, but the face is steep. But the jump really isn't bad, but I just don't have much recent experience with these kind of jumps. It's really not bad, but I think it's a deterent for some beginners (except for the one kid shown above who's just sending it big time).

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Yes, and they exceeded the PSI rating

Actually, only the take-off whoop was modified. It's maybe almost a foot taller, but the face is steep. But the jump really isn't bad, but I just don't have much recent experience with these kind of jumps. It's really not bad, but I think it's a deterent for some beginners (except for the one kid shown above who's just sending it big time).

Yeah that first double was a major deterrent for me even taking the cut out section. I almost ate it a few times, that was the end of my race too unless the other guy crashed, I had to slow so much to keep that jump under control. If I had been able to make that double I would have had a shot. I really need work on my jumping ability.

[lizardking]

Thank you!

[Bullcrew]

BTW: Denmother Kicked MAJOR ARSE!!!!!!!! She went out of the gate and railed the corner as well as didnt slow down in the rock chute!
Way to go!!!!!

[davidB]

man i want to learn to downhill one day

[rjcornelia]

Originally Posted by pmortuary

So My Race weekend began on Friday with Mud wrxkid and (ritto I forget his Screen name) Mud and I ran the hill atleast 8 times It sucked hiking so much but it was cool having the hill almost to youself. And lets not forget denmother and Roger too. They were out working hard.

Saturday I decided with so many runs friday I could afford to sleep in and show up late for practice. It's a good thank the GF lives in moval gives me a great base on race weekends. So Yeah wrxkid and I ran the hill a few times and I tried to help out as much as I could (he's gonna be fast)

Sunday starts with one of the nicest days I've seen in Fontana. Just a light breeze and even a little chill. The kid showed up around 8 and we geared up to Run some shakedowns. Both of us had a few things to work on and by the end of practice we were very confident in our ability to lay down some solid runs.

Had a great 19-26 Beg men group of 10 deep today that was awesome to see.

First run, Just before he leaves the box The guy in front says "let me know when you're catching up" Never a good thing to hear but, hey I'm out to have fun riding my bike. Well he was right I caught him at the 3 "waterfall" drops after the saddle. Not the best place but he tried his best to get out of the way. I get doen and after they post times I was listed with a 2:40 8th place. I was totally at a lost, no way I could have been that slow but I said hey whatever I guess it's not my day.

Second run starts I He turns around again and says" I'm either going to crash or see you at the finish" That's the kind of comitment I like hearing. I told him " alright cuz I'm chasing you to catch you this time. I get a great start clear the first corners the the up&over rock. Sailed thru the big 3 drop sections with more speed then every before I bounced my feet of the pedels. The next stuff was kind of a blur just putting down everything I got. Right as I enter the last rockgarden before the road I see this dust cloud in the left at the bottom. Alright caught him in a good spot but unfortunitly he washed out, but much grass forgetting out of the way so fast. Cross the line and stop to root on the 27-35 guys.

So after times get posted I got to check and see if aI made up any time. Low and behold the times were mixed and I was in first with a total 4:04 and change.

Thanks to all the STR and other folks that make racing so fun.

P.S. Dirty thanks for the pic

congratulations dave, you were right when you thought your run couldn't have been that slow. good thing they fixed the error. 4.04 total...doesn't that put you in competition in the sport class? SAND BAGGER! lol.

this weekend was miserable for me in regards to racing but i met some really cool people i hope to ride with again in the near future. dave, again congrats on taking home the gold. chris, i gotta see this helicopter you've been talking about. kiet, i love your white IH sunday, it definitely is "teh sex." joseph, you inspired my future DH build with your feather light rig...definitely a sweet setup you got going. gary, always a pleasure to ride with you and congrats on achieving a podium finish.

i look forward to next season. this time i'll be trying to keep rubber side down, hehe.

now where are these pics?

[wrxkid]

Hey, first off, great meeting everyone. I never felt like the noob trying to get into the fontana pack. It's much easier when you meet guys like dave who will show you lines all day and hike up with you to just show you a quicker spot. Thanks man, I really appreciate that. Good meeting Rito, Gary, and everyone one else. Thanks Roger and Nancy for the tips on Friday too. I'm definately hooked and will be at Elings Park.

[Mudman]

definitely good times! great meeting everyone including 2 or three new people. Met someone named Martha on a Giant Reign, Travis(bullcrew), Schwinstr8, and a few others. Nice people!

Congrats to all that raced. It was a lot easier dealing with the annoying weather when good friends are around to chat with. Can't wait to race again.

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by davidB

man i want to learn to downhill one day

Should have stayed around you could have demoed a Sunday just had to pay the $5 practice fee.