California Golden State Downhill Championships Race #3

[mfoga]

It was nice day not to hot nice with the breeze. Day began with the XC race.

The group rolling out.



Making the first turn.



Allison making final turns of lap #1.





So then I started to practice for 4X with Julia. Man the first double was a pain not being able to clear it. Did some trips down the upper half of the course.

Grabbed an IH Sunday Demo to take on the downhill course and me and Mark(Trojaninsomniac) get in line with Justin to head up the shuttle. We missed the first one by a few people so I decided it would be best to head back since 4X practice was running. I will grab one after 4X Get a feel for the full track now.

So the racing starts.

We end up running two Motos for Beginner Mens. First Moto I find out that not being able to do the doubles ended all chance of winning. Still having a great time, until Moto 2. Same problem not doing the double gives me no Shot to win. Take the turn that foes from upper half and the lower half, start to wash out and next thing I know is my palm is slamming into a rock leaving a huge bruise and a partially sprained thumb. I grab my bike to get up and finish and wait are the bars supposed to be almost parallel to the wheel? So I try to fix it but doesn't work so I pull off not to delay the next race any more.

So I end up getting 2nd, but there were only two in my division. Still had a great time can't wait to get better and race again.

Thanks to all that came to watch and cheer us on.

Congrats to Julia, Lee and Allison on all coming in first in there races.

A few pre/post race photos. (I am still seeing what else can be salvaged)

[mfoga]

The after effect.

[Rockinthecasbah]

sorry I missed 4x today, but it was chew yetis bday so I had to go on his ride that track has claimed us all

[Dino Brown]

RACE PICS ARE A FEW MINUTES AWAY!

[allison]

Did I miss something? Where is the thanks button??

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by allison

Did I miss something? Where is the thanks button??

Problem with the update. Also I have more pics of you here.

http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/mfoga/Fontana/

[davidB]

got under 50 minutes on xc course today lol slow as molasses but getting there

did it on a 1x9 (32-11/34) which somehow got me up hell hill. Had you told me after the first time i raced there i'd take off 17 minutes and clean that hill in anything other than my granny gear, i would have called you crazy. Didn't have much of a choice today on this bike.


but another 2nd place (3rd time now) because i can't beat one dude who always gets me by a 2 minutes or so. arrrrrgh, one day.


didn't stick around much longer after the race but a different 2nd place trophy would have looked cool.

Heh, that first picture shows exactly how few people there were today.

[mfoga]

I meant to get some pics of you too but I missed you through the turns and got the wrong guy in the first turn.

[Dino Brown]

Race Pics next....

[allison]

EDIT: manual thanks to Dino and Mark for the photos!!

Got out to Fo-Town this morning and the tumbleweeds were blowing. It was a ghost town! Chief was joking that the 2 people signed up for XC needed to head over to the starting line.

Justin and I registered (DH and XC, respectively) and then started to head back to the truck. Talked to Herber for awhile, stood around. A few others showed up (D'Elia's, Nancy and Roger incognito with NO BIKES, David B).

I did a little bit of warm up, and headed over to the XC start. There were about 16-17 of us I think I heard? Small showing I think because of the Cal State XC series race tomorrow up at Big Bear.

At any rate. I had done the math and figured I should win the SRC series jersey for sport even if I raced the next two as Expert in XC. They started out by saying I'd lose my points entirely, and then Donny said something that they may even transfer my points (I'm assuming this is only the case if there are no expert women 34 & under as SRC members).

At any rate, I had come out for 3 laps. It was my first time racing 3/expert. Not ready to move up at the national level (depends on what races we are doing this summer), but locally I was ready. The XC guys on MTBR were on my case after my last race report saying it was time at least locally to try a few out.

They also told me I shouldn't expect to podium my first race out - little do they know!!

So, we lined up. Since there were only 17 of us, they decided on a mass start. They asked pro's/experts to head to the front. So, I figured why not. Even though I knew the sport guys were faster.

I joked with Herber that I'd beat him off the line (I actually did, but he was out for fun more than anything).

Many of the racers wound up passing me up the short hill past the 4x course and it pretty much stayed that way. Passing was NOT an issue today!

I tried to keep the pace up, but manageable. I didn't know how I'd feel on lap 3. I actually felt really good, and finished lap 1 feeling strong, and in about 40.5 minutes. Strong time, especially for not going all out.

Lap 2 I also felt good, but felt like I was taking it sort of easy. There was literally almost no one out there.

A Bear Valley guy was just in front of me on the pavement so some of the DHers were giving him a hard time about me being right there. One guy joked he should at least slow down and get my #!

So I actually wound up passing him on the pavement, and he stayed pretty close by for the next bit. I thought he'd pass me on the long fire road climb in the middle, but I didn't see him again.

I wound up crashing on the back side singletrack descent, after you go through the cul-d-sac and head up the short climb where it is pretty rutted. I'd crashed there at NMBS Fontana, and it was a bonehead move. I'm fine with the ruts usually, but there it always gets me.

Got back up and continued. No damage (a little blood, and lots of dirt).

Finished lap 2 in about 43.5 minutes. Still really good time/pace. I was shocked when I was passing the 4x course and my time was an hour 25. The finish line was a bit different/shorter/straighter than normal, but not by more than 20 seconds. 30 at the MOST.

I wasn't even working hard! My avg. HR was around 170, not too shabby.

The third lap was tough. My legs didn't want to middle ring up the pavement. I figured I'd granny up everything else. I took it easy and was hoping to finish in under 2:15. I kept looking around, but no one was out there. The marshal's were long gone. Good thing I'm honest!

Finally I came back around and finished up, in 2:10.30 or something. I was pretty pleased with my time! My 3rd lap was around 45 minutes, so I fell off a bit; something I'll need to work on.

I wound up making the short steep climb after the flats once, and the rocky steep climb twice. Not bad for me (I've only ever made it once before). All the steeps at Vail are definitely helping me in that area!

I felt pretty strong, so was happy about that. Looking forward to continuing my training and hoping to be somewhat competitive at the So Cal Triple Crown Series later this year (Bonelli, Mt. SAC, Fontana).

After the race we saw Dino, and met Mark and Mark. Gary showed up a bit later.

I got to see Julia and mfoga race 4x, along with Troy, Lee, etc. It was cool! I'd never really spectated 4x before.

FWIW, Julia had the dialed line. She just needs to work on speed/confidence out there I think!

I have a photo, but since I'm on Nancy's computer and not mine... I have 2 pieces of advice for Julia:

1. Learn how to 1 finger brake
2. SMILE!! You're supposed to be having fun If not, at least fake it. That is what I do.

Anyway, thanks to all that came out to support the racers. It was great seeing Dino and Danny, and meeting both the Mark's.

It was sort of an odd day. We're all sitting here at Casa de Denmo in the middle of the evening (it's still light out) while they enjoy Knott's and no one really knows what to do

All in all, great day for me.

Justin went down pretty hard in the middle of DH practice. Messed up his shifter, and the fix took about 2 hours. Our bike rack is broken (he's out fixing that). Harvey is out bleeding his brakes; Andy's fixing his shock.

So, lots of wrenching going on tonight

If I knew how to work the TV I'd watch Season's!! (I like it, btw).

Photos and DH race report coming up tomorrow. But, I'm not racing DH. So, it'll be a spectator's report for me!

Originally Posted by davidB

got under 50 minutes on xc course today lol slow as molasses but getting there

did it on a 1x9 (32-11/34) which somehow got me up hell hill. Had you told me after the first time i raced there i'd take off 17 minutes and clean that hill in anything other than my granny gear, i would have called you crazy. Didn't have much of a choice today on this bike.


but another 2nd place (3rd time now) because i can't beat one dude who always gets me by a 2 minutes or so. arrrrrgh, one day.


didn't stick around much longer after the race but a different 2nd place trophy would have looked cool.

Heh, that first picture shows exactly how few people there were today.

I have a great photo by Justin that shows the small crew as well.

Great job on shaving 17 minutes, dude!! Keep it up and you'll get him. 40 minute lap times are just around the corner Course it'll be time for sport before that!

The trophy's were pretty cool. I honestly wasn't gonna grab one, but it's the stars one they give out for the Cal State DH races. They are a little more sturdy than the plastic trophy's.

Originally Posted by mfoga

Problem with the update. Also I have more pics of you here.

http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/mfoga/Fontana/

"Thanks" on both accounts

[TrojanInsomniac]

The trail gods definitely weren't on my side today. My plan for a ride fell through due to reasons beyond my control. Once things settled down, I decided to make the trek out to Fontana to watch the races and possibly take a few runs on the DH course.

This was the first time I had experienced a 4X race. It was definitely full of drama and excitement. I was amazed how high some of these pint sized kids could loft their bikes in the air (also w/ style)!!!!!!

A big congratulations to Julia, Lee, Mark, and Allison for a job well done........and I know Justin (MechMan) will tear up the downhill course tomorrow!

Here are a few pics from today........

[Just_me]

from Denmo:

I had every intention of racing 4x but Rog's company picnic took precedence! I did get about 6 practice laps in. And we practiced DH yesterday so we'll be ready for tomorrow.

[Dino Brown]

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES....

[Julia12]

Congratulations to all the racers today. Congrats to Mfoga on his first race on such a heavy bike. I had alot of fun today. Most important glad Fred and Dino made it out to my race. It was so cool to watch Jeff race he's very fast. Lee is always fun to watch, mfoga sorry I missed your crash. Heard Dino was pushing you too hard. Thank you guys for the support.

I don't really know what to say about my race. I was the only girl in my beginner class. I raced with an expert and pro racer. The girls I raced with today were good racers.

Julia12

[allison]

Lining up with the Pro(s)



The entire field



Up at the head of the pack we talk shop, yknow...



Adrian



Takin' off (Herber is NOWHERE in site! ahaha!)



Look at him trying to catch up with Eddie and I!





I think this was lap 2?





The end!



Nancy and Brittany heading up for more 4x practice



I think this was mfoga?



The Pro's



Experts



Sport



Women



Pro's again



Expert



Troy



Beginner?



Julia





Freight train



I saw this little guy as I was heading down after 4x.