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Taking Some Lumps, But Enjoying the Ride…

July 20, 2010 · Posted in Uncategorized

2010 US National Championships, Granby Colorado

Written By Platinum rider John Biron

Most Masters have periods where we still feel like young bucks, I’ve certainly had a few of those this year, but we also have issues, of one sort or another, that cause us to feel and perform like our age, if not older. My issue is periodic bouts of insomnia where I barely sleep for a week or two. With out sleep it’s nearly impossible to train hard and even more importantly recover. My latest bout couldn’t have come at a worst time, right before the Mountain Bike Nationals. I had just come off a very successful, hard, build block and was looking forward to a two week taper to peak for the Nationals. Wham, no more than 5 hours of sleep, mostly much less, each night for the next two weeks. I’d be going into the most important race of my life with great fitness, but totally exhausted.

I thought a few times about just not going, but decided to suck it up and see what happens. So I made the trek with Teammate Gary Douville out to the Sol Vista Resort, at 9000 ft in the Colorado Rockies. We got in late Thursday and checked in to an awesome condo overlooking the start/finish and much of the racing venue. While Gary went out for a pre-ride, I decided to rest and wait to inspect the course on Friday morning. I took it pretty easy on the pre-ride, but made several short hard efforts, felt pretty good, and actually had some confidence for the next morning’s race.

I got a first row call up along with last years winner, local resident Keith Sanders, and current Mountain States Cup leader Russell Kappius. I’d ridden comfortably with Russell at Sea Otter until a crash let him get away to finish a minute up. My plan was to try and stay with Russell again, but to respect the altitude, and not go anaerobic on the first lap.

The gun went off and we immediately found ourselves grinding up a third of a mile climb at greater than 20 percent. I crested to top in third with Russell off the front and spent the next couple of miles trading 3^rd and 4^th with Durango’s Joseph Burtoni. Just before we hit a long, steep, rocky, single track climb, Keith, using his local knowledge, moved around us and turned up the pace. I was able to hang on, hurting but still in the mix a quarter of the way into the race.

We crested the climb, at the race’s high point of 9382 ft, and dropped into a descent that was a diabolical mixture of fixed and loose rock surround by deep sand, not unlike the old Fall Line descent at Big Bear, only it went on for two miles! Keith and Joseph opened up a small gap, but I still had them in sight when near the bottom I T-boned a hub high rock and stack it pretty hard. I racked my shin on a rock, but both bike and body were still good to go and I was soon back under way. My pace must have slowed a bit because two racers soon went by. Now out of podium position and on the lap’s last climb I pushed as hard as I could and closed the gap to the two who had just passed me. Near the top of the climb we passed Keith who was stopped trying to remedy what looked like a sucked chain.

Again the race turned down for what was a mostly down hill two mile run to the finish. Unlike the upper supper technical descent, this one was a mix of high speed hard pack linked by short switch back sections, with a couple of BMX-like burm and jump sections thrown in. Again my poor descending skills cost me as the two in front began to pull away. Then about half way down a group of three lead by Keith also went by. The altitude must have been effecting Keith too, because as he passed he said, “Hang in there Bobby”; obviously mistaking me for my much older teammate.

I crossed the line to start the final lap in 9^th, but I’d ridden mostly within my limits and felt I could make up some places with a good effort on the long climb ahead. By the top I’d managed to reel in a drop two and was prepared to take some risks to get back into a podium spot on the technical descent. Including the pre-ride this was my third time down this section and despite my crash on the 1^st lap I was feeling faster and more confident this time.

Over confident is probably a better word, because after brushing several trees and rocks with hips and elbows, I heard a loud crack and looked down to see my rear derailleur flapping in the breeze. Pulling over to inspect the damage I realized any hope of a come back was over. A few expletives were followed by a moment of self pity and I thought of pulling out and finding the shortest way down. Then realizing I was near the final climb and if I could push up that I could coast most of the way to the finish. So I used my spare tube to secure the derailleur and chain to the chainstay, and limped to the bottom of the technical descent.

It took over twenty minutes to push, what would have taken five to ride up, the last climb and the S-Works shoes, though awesome on the bike, began to rub my feet raw. Several competitors passed me on the way up, but most graciously offered encouragement. Once at the top I remounted and set out to make like a single speeder. Unable to add speed by peddling, I pumped, glided, and tried to keep as much speed as possible. Lots of people passed me, but only one in my class, and I crossed the line 15^th. I’m certainly dejected not only by my mechanical, but by my inability to hang with the faster competitors, but I’m also proud with my decision to stick it out and finish ahead of nine others, five finishers and four DNF’s.

Overall my first experience and a National level event was a positive one. Some of my favorite memories were seeing a few fellow SoCal racers conquer the altitude and bring home medals. These include local 805’ers Alexis Ryan and Essence Barton taking 3^rd and 5^th in their respective junior classes. There was SoCal Cross’ Dorothy Wong pulling of a 5^th in the Women’s Open Single Speed. Also second year privateer Pro Allison Mann taking 8^th in XC and 3^rd in Super D against a stacked field of seasoned vets. The girls certain represented last weekend.

I also got to know my teammate Gary a lot better and though we both were disappointed with our results we had a great time together. The afternoon we spent sharing some beers and trying to cough the post-race dust from our lungs, while watching the Pro men throw down, from the balcony of our VIP accommodations was especially memorable. Thanks to the Langins for setting us up.

Spending time talking one on one with newly minted National Champ Todd Wells about wining on his first ride aboard the New S-Works Epic 29’er was cool. Todd was really down to earth, talked with me about how my race went, and asked his mechanic to give me a new derailleur hanger when he found out about my bad luck.

Oh and did I mention that Willow Koeber and Heather Irmiger were racing in skin suits! Enough said.