Right around Race 5 is where the Over the Hump Series hits its
groove. The races are being run smooth, people have shuffled their
classes, and the regulars start to figure out who their main
competition will be for the year. Race 5 is also where they turn the course back
around to run clockwise.
I lined up on the front row and once again gave the "follow
me" look to my buddy Masa just before the start. I got an OK jump after
the horn but had a few guys got around me quickly. Then I heard a few
people come together behind me followed by the sound of bikes and people
hitting the pavement. All I could think was "MASA!" and spent
the entire race hoping he was not caught up in the mess.
The lead group was REALLY nervous for some reason and I kept
getting shuffled back entering the climb. There were guys sprinting past
and then blowing up 100 yards later. I tangled bars 3 or 4 times with
people, but somehow managed to stay upright and clipped in. About halfway
up the climb everyone had settled in, but there was still people rubbing tires
and running into each other. This was not a normal start for this class!! I crested the top of the climb around 9th or 10th and figured I had more than
enough time to figure out how to get to the front.
Then I realized what was ahead of us.....
The Beginner classes at Over the Hump are great. They are
filled with people who are good riders who have never raced, and new riders
that are just trying out this "mountain bike thing". More than
anything the beginner classes are fun and are a great introduction to racing (I
should know since I first raced with them in 2011), but more than anything, the
beginner classes are big.... Like 40+ riders per class big.
The Beginners run on a slightly different course than the Sport
and Elite riders. This week they were going to cut out the first climb
and I realized we would be merging with them right after their start (before
they had a chance to thin out). I suddenly realized on the long flat
straight we were going to make a turn and up a short climb and then get dumped right into a huge class of beginner
racers.
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| Photo by G2 Bikes |
I threw my plans to take my time to get to the front out the
window and grabbed 2 gears as we turned to head up the short climb, swung wide
and passed as many guys as I could. I don't think anyone realized what
was going on and most just let me go. I was in second by the time we
caught the first beginner class and was able to move into the lead as we worked
through that pack.
It wasn't long before we started catching the slower Sport 1 and 2
riders as well as the other Beginner classes. Basically, it was chaos.
For the next two laps, I put my head down, turned the pedals, and passed
people. Lots of people. I wasn't sure if anyone in my class was
with me or who was around mostly because there were so many people.
I was worked as I crossed the line for the final lap and shortly
after someone in my class flew by me. He had a pace I knew I wouldn't be
able to hold and, after a quick glance over my shoulder, I figured I would be
able to cruise to the finish. Then on the first climb I glanced back and
saw a fellow Fullerton Bikes rider running me down. He had made up a ton
of ground, so I had to ramp the pace back up and charge to keep second place.
I went all out the rest of the lap and ended up second on the night, which I
was happy with considering how chaotic the race was.
Shortly after the finish I ran into Masa and found out he was able
to avoid the pile up on the start.
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