I managed to convince my housemate to drive down... I'm on call for a sick family member, so it was a quick down and back trip.
6 hours in the car and $50 in gas for 4 minutes of racing!.. and I got smoked At least I wasn't the sand bagger (though I would've got smoked in the Beginner race too.)
It's a long, steep hike up to the gate. It took about a 1/2 each time.
My first practice run I was outta breath at the start. I hammered the beginning flat, but quickly thought better of it and decided to save it for the race. My fork was bobbing like a prize fighter and my tires were way too hard. All of the corners were off camber and the surface was sand over... i donno... packed sand? It was slick in parts. There was a fast slight left and both tires slide sideways a good foot and caught traction again. Then came the switchbacks... deep rutted sandy switchbacks. I could not carry speed through them to save my life. I tried hitting them fast with a foot down and I'd just slide. Next time I tried hitting them slower and smoother and I still couldn't carry any momentum. I took it easy on the uphill section and just noted where it was... One more practice run and I should have the course dialed.
By the third time I pushed my 40lb, high bottom bracket FR bike up the hill for the race start, my right calf was starting to cramp. The start was reminiscent of what I saw at the Sea Otter DH this year. I waited in line for a good 45minutes in the sun and wind (at least it wasn't the rain and wind ) My start came and I just wanted to catch the dude in front of me. Not gonna happen with my lack of speed and minute starting intervals. I absolutely pinned it in the first section, breathing harder and more determined than I think I've been on a mtn bike. I got to the first steep and just kept pedalling. the second steep had some ruts up top, but i knew to just keep pedalling and fly right over them.
Well, I hit the brakes when I came up to them I got back up to speed in time for the first rutted, sandy left. lost a lot of speed and mashed as hard as I could 'til I got to the switchbacks. i really need to work on carry speed through the switchbacks. I came through one with both wheels locked and sliding sideways a good four feet before I was able to get back on the pedals. I managed the second to last deep and tricky corner pretty well and mashed as hard as I could knowing the uphill was looming. I decided to stay in a high gear and mash somemore and though I cranked up the compression on my fork and had the shock pretty stiff, i still lost a lot to bobbing. Finally I came flying into the finishing stretch only to be outsmarted by the last tricky corner at the bottom of a creek bed. I finished pooped at 4.04.something... A full 22 seconds behind 1st... i suck!
place number time name/class team town
PRO-SEMI PRO (250P)
1 259P 3'13''.96 Shawn Wilson Oakley/Gamut/Summit Bicycles
2 263P 3'14''.12 Jimmy Amaral Point One Racing Gilroy
3 261P 3'20''.31 Ryan Stayskal Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Los Gatos
4 264P 3'22''.94 William Roussel Specialized/WTB/True Salinas
5 255P 3'24''.92 Roger Evans Hayes/Rogue/ODI Aptos
6 265P 3'25''.73 Johnathan Clark SF Dirt Lab San Jose
7 256P 3'26''.86 Richard Joesph Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
EXPERT 19-34 (350E)
1 359E 3'19''.69 Chris Resendez ABS Santa Cruz
2 357E 3'24''.76 Shawn Siebe TrailHead Cyclery San Jose
3 351E 3'25''.20 Clayton Crothers Santa Cruz Mtn. Clo. Redwood Estates
4 350E 3'26''.61 Michael Burkhartsmeyer Sno-White Aptos
5 352E 3'28''.82 Eric Arce Dirt Bag Downhillers Mammoth Lakes
6 354E 3'29''.86 Jamie Perugini Monster/Family Cycling Felton
7 353E 3'30''.27 Brian Hamilton Trailhead Cyclery/SDG Monte Serano
8 356E 3'30''.83 Ryan Randall Felton
9 355E 3'30''.89 John Guio Pico Performance San Jose
10 360E 3'37''.49 Josh Lister Santa Cruz
EXPERT 35-44 (101E)
1 111E 3'14''.28 Keith DeFiebre Calabazas Prunedale
2 113E 3'26''.85 Mr. E. Brecheen Mr. E's racing Aptos
3 106E 3'31''.28 Jack Perry Trailhead Cyclery San Jose
4 104E 3'34''.31 Randy Hall Footloose Sports Mammoth Lakes
5 114E 3'38''.56 Richard Mauger Intense/661/Azonic Santa Cruz
EXPERT 45-54 (442E)
1 442E 3'31''.41 Patrick Tidd BTU Oakland
2 443E 3'32''.05 Scott Seery Team Wrong Way Pleasanton
3 447E 3'34''.03 Mike Amaral Point One Racing Gilroy
4 450E 3'41''.59 John Sampson X-Fusion Los Gatos
5 449E 3'46''.70 Andrew Kestler Summit Bicycles Los Gatos
6 456E 3'50''.19 Brad Williamson Family Cycling Center Aptos
7 445E 3'57''.01 Rich Davis self San Jose
SPORT 19-34 (740S)
1 746S 3'37''.15 Brian Damschen FIP Racing Monterey
2 745S 3'50''.42 Tim Lukko Point One racing Gilroy
3 940S 3'51''.66 Tom Morrissey TrailHead Cyclery San Jose
4 740S 4'00''.41 Toren Stouch 661/Motor Tabs Salinas
SPORT 35-44 (850S)
1 858S 3'42''.59 Daniel Abernethy Team Wrong Way Santa Cruz
2 851S 3'49''.18 Gordan Dent Mr. E's Racing Scotts Valley
3 855S 4'01''.11 Tim Fontenot Saratoga
4 856S 4'04''.82 Dennis Reilley Retrotec/PBR St. Helena
SPORT 45-54 (250S)
1 262S 3'52''.37 Dave Kranich ` Scotts Valley
2 258S 3'57''.84 John Casey Azonic/Kenda Berkeley
3 257S 4'12''.83 John Winkler Mt. Helena
BEGINNER 19-34 (937B)
1 937B 3'56''.91 Evan Strong Capitola
2 938B 3'58''.34 Chad Vautour Pico Performance Manteca
3 939B 4'20''.63 Gregor Hamer Salinas
4 941B 4'39''.20 Scott Wharton X-Fusion Campbell
HARDTAIL (1-99H)
1 44H 3'32''.89 JohnGuio Pico Performance San Jose
2 55H 3'33''.48 Johnathan Clark SF Dirt Lab San Jose
3 57H 3'35''.26 Jacob Hyde Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
4 42H 3'43''.28 Nash Livingston Los Gatos
5 45H 3'53''.40 John Sampson X-Fusion Los Gatos
6 38H 3'54''.38 Jordan Kestler ME Los Gatos
7 39H 4'03''.90 Andrew Kestler Summit Bicycles Los Gatos
8 43H 4'07''.00 Chad Vautour Pico Performance Manteca
9 58H 4'12''.08 Tony Tarumoto Carmel
10 40H 6'33''.69 Logan Kosher Carmel
11 77H dnf Keith DeFiebre Calabazas/Ritchey/Oakley Prunedale
SINGLE SPEED (740SS)
1 744SS 3'32''.43 Shawn Siebe TrailHead Cyclery San Jose
2 777SS 3'36''.12 Keith DeFiebre Calabazas/Oakley/Ritchey Prunedale
3 741SS 3'37''.96 Brian Hamilton TrailHead Cyclery Monte Serano
4 742SS 4'02''.28 Dave Kranich Scotts Valley
5 743SS 4'14''.81 Brad Williamson Family Cycling Center Aptos
6 747SS dns Josh Lister Santa Cruz
CLYDESDALE (851P)
1 852C 3'59''.03 JohnCasey Azonic/Kenda Berkeley
2 859C 5'17''.90 Patrick Finch FIP Racing Los Gatos
PRO/EXPERT WOMEN (440W)
1 460W 4'03''.79 Rosie Bernhard Santa Cruz
2 458W 4'15''.18 Kelly Moore Monterey
3 464W 4'16''.33 Crystal Theesfeld TrailHead Cyclery Santa Rosa
BEGINNER WOMEN (850W)
1 853W 4'29''.18 Amy Caserta Trailhead Cyclery San Jose
2 854W 4'58''.37 Kristy Sumwalt Trailhead Cyclery San Jose
JUNIOR EXPERT (1-99JE)
1 36JE 3'19''.19 Keith Morelan Cerk Racing San Jose
2 29JE 3'21''.18 Daniel Burkhartsmeyer Spy/Odi/Gamut Aptos
3 54JE 3'23''.96 Christian Fernandez Trailhead Cyclery Los Gatos
4 31JE 3'26''.35 Alex Amaral Piont One Racing Gilroy
5 35JE 3'27''.20 Tony Gerbino Cerk Racing San Jose
6 32JE 3'28''.18 Jordan Jacob Mammoth Lake
7 41JE 3'28''.32 Rye Livingston Trailhead Cyclery Los Gatos
8 33JE 3'29''.20 Allen Stoddard `GAMUT USA Salinas
9 49JE 3'30''.66 Chris Lauber Gilroy
10 34JE 3'31''.29 Tristan Littlehale S.C. Syndicate Saratoga
11 30JE 3'31''.33 Kenny Evans Aptos
12 56JE 3'32''.97 Bryce Shaw Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
13 37JE 3'34''.33 Nick Caron Watsonville
14 53JE 3'36''.22 Nathan Podshadley Rideactionsports.com Gilroy
15 52JE 3'37''.08 Matt Collins Hank & Frank bikes LaFayette
16 50JE 3'37''.30 Jack Fogelquist Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
17 47JE 3'43''.64 Jacob Crocker Utopia Optics/X-Fusion Soquel
18 46JE 3'44''.13 Hans Keisler Fox/TLD/Mr. E's Aptos
19 48JE 3'53''.31 Samuel Burton Santa Cruz
20 51JE 3'58''.51 Clayton Gjerstad Cycle Sport/Plantronics Santa Cruz
JUNIOR 16-18 (638J)
1 644J 3'29''.27 Jacob Hyde Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
2 639J 3'31''.34 Jason Peters X-Fusion/Intence Los Altos
3 641J 3'34''.30 Ryan Ramos Morgan Hill
4 638J 3'39''.18 Joey Okamura X-Fusion/Calabzas Carmel
5 640J 3'46''.16 Jordan Kestler ME Los Gatos
6 642J 3'47''.23 Will Schuahacher Transition Ras Tres Pinos
7 643J 3'53''.07 Jason Plough Jelly Belly Fairfield
8 646J 4'02''.40 Tony Tarumoto Carmel
9 645J 4'02''.84 Taylor Shamshoian Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Santa Cruz
JUNIOR 14-16 (101J)
1 109J 3'40''.24 John Asuncion Blue Whale racing San jose
2 101J 3'40''.42 Max Rausch MSR Monterey
3 120J 3'44''.42 Eli Riedl Joselyn's Pacific Grove
4 112J 3'45''.17 Ethan Lemon Mr. E's Racing Aptos
5 103J 3'46''.57 Jarred Albarran Seaside
6 110J 4'01''.08 Aidan Magee Watsonville
7 105J 4'02''.31 Vince Lucido Seaside
8 115J 4'08''.43 Jesse Wilkinson Mt. Hermon
9 117J 4'10''.30 Brian Haskell 408 Free Riders Los Gatos
10 108J 4'10''.48 Clayton Grissom Salinas
11 119J 4'19''.84 Jacob Janavich 408 Free Riders Los Gatos
12 107J 4'22''.44 Brian Guidotti Salinas
13 118J 4'32''.46 Jake Boettcher 408 Free Riders Los Gatos
14 102J 4'37''.00 Nick Watson Monterey
JUNIOR 13 & UNDER (442J)
1 463J 3'56''.77 Felip Walker Azonic Scotts Valley
2 451J 4'01''.61 Zachary Minden Mr.E's Racing Watsonville
3 462J 4'09''.12 Koa Shevling Pacific Grove
4 461J 4'16''.97 Will Wagner Los Gatos
5 453J 4'44''.10 Chase Lammerding San Jose
6 446J 5'49''.58 Drew Rausch MSR Monterey
7 454J 7'51''.59 Chad Lammerding Specialized San Jose
PIXIE (851PX)
1 857PX 30'17''.41 Peter Nell Scotts Valley
CHAINLESS (442NC)
1 455NC 3'34''.23 Keith DeFiebre Calabazas/Ritchey/Oakley Prunedale
2 452NC 3'35''.59 Jimmy Amaral Point One Racing Gilroy
3 463NC 3'40''.61 Jamie Perugini Monster/Family Cycling Center Santa Cruz
4 448NC 3'46''.24 Jack Perry TrailHead Cyclerey San Jose
5 457NC 3'51''.43 Will Schubacher Ras Transition Tres Pinos
6 459NC 3'52''.81 Christian Fernandez TrailHead Cyclerey Gilroy
7 465NC 3'57''.18 Jack Fogelquist Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts valley
8 466NC 4'01''.00 Egor Strbac Scotts valley
Well, it was my first race as an expert and frankly, I feel like I got my a*s handed to me. (Finished 5th in Expert 35-44) In all fairness though, it was only my third ride on the new bike, I'm still recovering from a 2nd degree AC separation and haven't ridden more than 3-4 times in the month before the race.
As always though, it was a great race that's run very well and very low key. Looking forward to being a little more competitive in the next race.
edit: Thanks to Rick for hiking around and taking pictures!
JUNIOR 16-18 (638J) 1 644J 3'29''.27 Jacob Hyde Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Scotts Valley
2 639J 3'31''.34 Jason Peters X-Fusion/Intence Los Altos
3 641J 3'34''.30 Ryan Ramos Morgan Hill
4 638J 3'39''.18 Joey Okamura X-Fusion/Calabzas Carmel
5 640J 3'46''.16 Jordan Kestler ME Los Gatos
6 642J 3'47''.23 Will Schuahacher Transition Ras Tres Pinos
7 643J 3'53''.07 Jason Plough Jelly Belly Fairfield
8 646J 4'02''.40 Tony Tarumoto Carmel
9 645J 4'02''.84 Taylor Shamshoian Scotts Valley Cycle Sport Santa Cruz
I was happy with my run...Btw thanks to Rick for the great pics!
Hello all... Yes CCCX races are back in the swing.... Lots of good time and good competition.. I thanks all for coming out and having a good time.
I waited in the start line as well, never been like that before so i think it wont happen again we HOPE.....
Theses courses are fast and you need lots of pedal power and endurance. If you have any questions to get ready for the next race let me know..
John Guio CSCS
Pico performance Mtb team
Hello all... Yes CCCX races are back in the swing.... Lots of good time and good competition.. I thanks all for coming out and having a good time.
I waited in the start line as well, never been like that before so i think it wont happen again we HOPE.....
Theses courses are fast and you need lots of pedal power and endurance. If you have any questions to get ready for the next race let me know..
John Guio CSCS
Pico performance Mtb team
Hey John... thanks, despite my report I had a great time. It was totally worth the 6 hours in a car. I'll be back. I didn't mind waiting in line for the start either. Lot's a cool people to chat up and no one was really b!tching like many were at the sea otter.
....I waited in the start line as well, never been like that before so i think it wont happen again we HOPE....
Yeah, that was a first. I enjoy how low key everything is, but I think they need to start enforcing start times a little. I was scheduled to go off at 1:35, got up there about 1:10 and didn't go until 1:49. I did my part and was responsible enough to be up there on time.....I'd like to see others do the same.
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At least I wasn't the sand bagger (though I would've got smoked in the Beginner race too.)
) My start came and I just wanted to catch the dude in front of me. Not gonna happen with my lack of speed and minute starting intervals. I absolutely pinned it in the first section, breathing harder and more determined than I think I've been on a mtn bike. I got to the first steep and just kept pedalling. the second steep had some ruts up top, but i knew to just keep pedalling and fly right over them.
I got back up to speed in time for the first rutted, sandy left. lost a lot of speed and mashed as hard as I could 'til I got to the switchbacks. i really need to work on carry speed through the switchbacks. I came through one with both wheels locked and sliding sideways a good four feet before I was able to get back on the pedals. I managed the second to last deep and tricky corner pretty well and mashed as hard as I could knowing the uphill was looming. I decided to stay in a high gear and mash somemore and though I cranked up the compression on my fork and had the shock pretty stiff, i still lost a lot to bobbing. Finally I came flying into the finishing stretch only to be outsmarted by the last tricky corner at the bottom of a creek bed. I finished pooped at 4.04.something... A full 22 seconds behind 1st... i suck!
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Originally Posted by RickR
