1st Race in the States...

First up I have put a video on youtube of some fun riding up at Big Bear. It was more technical track than last week and I had my big bike with me this time so it was great fun. Link is here. Make sure you have the player turned to high quality otherwise it does not look that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl2KNyipuhM

Righto so I was meant to go to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nat park but had been feeling bad for a while. Bronchitis has been doing the rounds and the feeling it in my chest last week so was not super keen on heading away for the weekend. However on Sat I improved a bit, still not right but enough to give my first Mtb race a nudge over here in the States. It was the Big Bear Shootout. Part of the Southern California MTB Champs. Anyhow it went real well. The whole race was above 2000m so that was interesting and the temp was 20 degrees so perfect for racing really. I entered the Sport Class, I will end up in the expert eventually I imagine. Anyhow I lined up on the start line for the race and was a little worried. People over here really have the gears, flash bikes, full matching lycra and here I was on my trusty steel stead with baggies on and an old torn Dons Bikes Race top the boys who are sponsored by them wanted me to wear.

Anyhow the race started and we were off. One guy shoot off and I thought "Arh,,, here we go... Pain, Pain, Pain". I just stuck with the group for a few mins and let the legs warm up then decided that it was strange as I thought the pace would have been harder. Anyhow I moved up a gear and pulled away and caught up with the guy that shoot off. He had blown-up (predictable) hang with him for a bit then decided to move it up another notch. To cut the story short I did not see anyone from my class again and bet 2nd place (yep I got first) by about 4 mins.

So yeah a great wee race to kick things off. With more prep and a few more sport races I will be keen to move into the faster Expert division. We shall see.

The last downhill was awesome. Most people seemed to ride it pretty well. I passed a bunch of people, it was real technical and pretty scary at speed. Very cool :-) Big Grins

One thing I have noticed, its hard to tell yet but the fields are tighter. Basically less 'Sunday riders' than at home. The people that participate seem to be pretty into it overall really and its there passion. Back home you get some real 'slow' people but they are giving it a go which is great which spreads the field out. Over here those that enter appear are a bit more serious. So yeah its good and bad I guess. Good for racing as it might be more competitive, but maybe its a less inviting more formal environment which scares some people away that would have raced had it been in the NZ scene. Don't get me wrong though. The top guys back home are as fast as the top guys here. Just and observation form my first race. I may well change this opinion.

Race Stats:

• 34km
• 1000m Climbing
• Prob 70% fireroad (but fun fireroad, well the downs that is)
• Rest single-track
• Total time 1hr 36mins.
• Liquid consumed in the hours following the race - many many gallons.

Yep. They all raise there hands over here like real gumbies...