Over the Hump Is Back!

Race 1:  The weekly sufferfest is back!!!

The first race of the year is always a bit of a shit show.  It always sells out (600+ racers) and things take a bit longer because everyone needs to sign waivers in person and pick up the number plates they'll use for the year.  This year was no different as the start was delayed from 6:00 to around 6:30.

That's a lot of cars waiting to get in.

This is important because I had no idea what times things would actually get started and was out riding around trying to stay loose they brought out the signs for the starting rows.  I did what I could to get up front, but I was stuck about 4 rows back and when the race started I got pinched out by the starting banner which pushed me even further back.  Once I got clear of the start I knew I had to pass as many people as before the course narrowed for the first climb.  I immediately went back to the usual OTH "Red Mist" as I swung around the pack and pedaled as fast and as hard as I could.  I ended up in the top 10 by the climb and continued to work my way by people throughout the first lap.

I was up to 4th as we started lap 2 and was in a good 3-way battle with 3rd and 5th.  We went back and forth and maintained a bike length lead over each other for the next two laps.  Ryan Hughes was in first place and he and the guy in 2nd had a good lead.  I could see them up in the distance, but knew there was no way we were going to bridge up to them.

Red Monkey Sports

I kept thinking I had something and would kick it up a notch at the finish and end up 3rd. Well with about 4 minutes left in the lap I figured it was my time and I took off.  I got a quick gap on the two other guys and was now in 3rd, but then one of them went by me and before I knew it he was gone.

I was pretty pumped to end up 4th on the day considering how bad my race started.  Plus, I didn't feel THAT bad out there (certainly better than I have at the first race previous years) and I got to see a ton of people I hadn't seen since last August.

This is my buddy Masa.  Somehow he fell in the only mud puddle in the entire course.  He's super energetic and it's awesome having him out at the races.

People and bikes everywhere.  Not a bad weekly crowd for a Tuesday!

Race 3:  The Birthday Race!

I had to sit out the second week due to some sort of food poisoning/stomach flu, so I was fired up for week 3.  To make things even better, this race happened to fall on my birthday!  I learned from my mistakes in week one and got to the line early enough to get towards the front which would make things easier on the first lap.

This week’s race ran the opposite direction of weeks 1 and 2, which I was happy with since I always seem to race better this direction.  I've never been able to figure out why, but all I can think of is the first major climb is later in the lap and it allows everyone to settle down a bit before heading up hill.

I'm a big fan of the new Fullerton Bikes kit! Photo: Called to Creation.

I got a great jump off the line and was in 3rd or 4th by the time we entered the first section of trees.  My plan was to hang out there for a bit and see what the leaders had.  Before long people started dropping off and by half way through the first lap the lead group was down to 3 of us, with me in the lead.  I didn't know the guy in 3rd, but the guy right behind me was the same guy who beat me at the finish in week 1.  I settled in because I knew this is going to be a fast race.

The climb on the back half of the course is not long (around 2 minutes), but what it lacks in distance is made up for in grade (the bottom is around 18%).  To make things worse, there's a tight left hand turn right at the bottom that prevents you from carrying any real momentum into it and there's usually traffic and people walking.

I made a pass back for the lead on the climb as the leader was stuck in traffic and decided I would take off and try to get a gap and put additional people between myself and 2nd and 3rd.  I had a good sized lead by the end of the first lap, so I figured my move worked, but a few minutes later I looked back and noticed they caught right back up.  At this point we were dealing with a lot of slower riders from other classes, and I don't think they realized they went by me while I was in a pack because they took off and were gone.

Leading the way early on lap 2.  That guy behind me ended up winning.  You can see he's laughing at me.

By the end of the second lap the leader was nowhere in sight, but 2nd place was only about 10 seconds in front of me.  I did what I could to catch up, but lets be real…. that wasn’t happening this late in the race.  I was worked from the pace of the first two laps and had a better chance of throwing up than catching second.

I ended up 3rd on the night, finishing about 10 seconds behind 2nd, but over a minute behind the guy who won (the same guy who beat me at the first race).  I spoke to him after the race and he confirmed he never saw me as he went by and was going as hard as he could to try to catch up.

Following the race I hung out with the Red Monkey crew, had a few birthday beers, and traded war stories from the race.  I’ve had a lot of good times with those guys this year and it’s been fun have a team to lean on at the races.

This is Dave.  He scored his first pint glass this week and you look close you can see the fire in his eyes and know he is hooked.