20th Annual Keyesville Classic

20th Annual Keyesville Classic
3/15-16, 2008
XC, STXC, DH
Lake Isabella, CA

 

Don't think we can make it, but if it's anything like 2005, I won the most money I have ever gotten at a race...$100

 

I Remember The 2005 Races.
Cash Prices For Experts And Above.
I Only Got A T-shirt. Raced Sport

 

Looking forward to it!

 

I will probably go. That course is a lot of fun. It has been a couple of years since I have raced there. I am doing good at the Southridge races, so I should go....

 

They went back to using the original course which does not include the ability to shuttle. You have to ride/hike to the start of the course. It almost sounds like it is more of a Super D than a DH course. I like the one we raced in '05 (and the fact that I won $75 for 2nd behind you!).

 

All I got was a bent wheel and a DNF.

 

Same weekend as AZ Spring Fling

 

Is the DH mellow enough to do on a 80mm hardtail?
Wondering about the stage race. Or might do vintage.

 

I should SO do the stage!!

Um, I only rode a portion of the Keyesville trails.. on my Enduro last summer... Personally? No. YMMV. You could very well be a lot faster than your competitors for XC and ST, and then be able to go a little slower on DH. Just lots of steep stuff, mostly. I'd imagine that with all of the rain so far this winter there should be good conditions, though.

 

Conditions

It has rained a lot lately. The dirt is nice for digging. They just did a bunch of trail work on Dutch Flat. From what I hear, they are going to run the DH course down the bottom part of that. If they do the course will be a lot more difficult. I would not want to ride it on an HT. The XC course should be great as long as it keeps raining some. I will post up more info on the DH course if I hear anything.

 

Anyone else considering going? Camping, hotel?

Justin and I are kinda liking the stage race idea. He is toying with the idea of running the Socom :lol: Wish his Lunchbox would be built by then... #-o


Jeff - how would a 4" 29er do on the DH course?

Can I make up enough time in XC and ST (which I've never done)?

 

I'll be be camping, even though I have lots of friends in the area, I'd rather camp and be a part of it.

Bionicon will have a booth at the event as well, so I might help out those guys, I might race, I might volunteer, but I'll be there in some capacity.

I spent ten seasons working the Kern river as a guide, so it's like home to me in many ways.

 

I looked on the website and it says the classic Snake Pit downhill. The snake pit itself is rocky and you would want some travel to go through it fast. If I remember right the sections above and below the Snake Pit are not that rough, just some ruts. The Socom might be a little overkill but I would definitly race that over an XC bike. Besides, you will want the Socom if you are going to ride in the backyard.

 

We both want to do the stage race, so it's just one bike for all 3 races. There's no way I could use the Demo, and I may be too slow on the Enduro for XC and ST. Hmm..

Such dilemma's!

 

If this Snake pit section is short like rattlesnake or rock-it, it might make more sense to race the Dos. Losing some time on a tech downhill section seems preferable to carrying 7 extra pounds on the other 2 races. Can components be changed on the bikes between races like tires or chainrings, and seatposts?

 

Anyone know what the camping is like there? Weather? Me no likey the cold.

Thanks,

Carl

 

HELLLL no! The Dos doesn't do DH :lol:

I'd probably bring the Canzo. You thinking about going still?

If we could switch wheelsets that'd be dialed. I wouldn't change anything else.

 

The area is an unimproved camping area. There are a few pit toilets around. No official campground. The weather in mid March is a crap shoot. It could be 80 or it could be 35 and snowing. Usualy days are in the high 50s and nights are upper 30s to low 40s. Hope that helps.

 

I just noticed on the KC entry form (PDF available here) that the "stage race" is being run in the same style as Downieville's all-mountain race. You have to ride the same bike on the DH, CC, and ST courses, and of course, race in the same category.

I did the Downieville all-mountain race last year and it was an eye-opener to say the least! For D'ville there was a bike weigh-in each day and digital photo taken of the bike. The KC entry form just says "on the same bike," no mention of weigh-in or anything else so I'll see what I can find out. For D'ville there was no changing wheels, tires or anything.

There was a great article in the Nov/Dec 2007 Decline mag about the Downieville all-mountain race entitled "a race for the bike you ride every day" and it looks like Keyesville might be moving in that direction as well. The title of that article summed it up pretty well.

I'm not sure if this category, or the way they're running it this year is new for Keyesville, since I haven't been to the event in many years, but I'm pleased to see the idea spreading. It should be good!