Nevada Dirt Classic #3 2016

The last race. I felt like I had to redeem myself after the second race when I had bonked really bad.So my first step was to eat a lot the night before and have breakfast before we left. Step 2 keep control over my nervousness so I could eat, step 3, well, eat some more.

The pre-ride was awesome! I got to see the really big hill at the start, ascent per lap 574 ft. Also, I got to ride the awesome flowy sections out there, The website said that there was a really rocky section and they were very correct. At first it started with a very loose downhill then it was flat but so loose I couldn't go more than 10 mph through that section. The last mile of the course was mostly up some steep hills so the last of your energy would be used on that hill.

I started on the left side so I got a terrible start. I was going to have the inside line but a kid's back tire forced me over. I was pretty much alone on most of the first lap only passing racers in other classes. Finally on the rocky section, I passed one of the racers in my class because he had a mechanical. That put me in second place. I had a solid first lap and felt good enough to push the second lap. I had a really fun second lap and finished in second place. I was very happy with that result.

                   

I appreciate Roseville Cyclery taking such good care of my bike. Some of the other racers had bike issues but mine worked perfectly. Thanks to Julie for the training and suggestions for pre-race food so I can hopefully avoid another bonk. I felt great this race.

Nevada Dirt Classic #2 2016

The race was at the top of the Pioneer Trail. I hadn't eaten anything but a smoothie 2 hours before the race and a Fig Bar 2 minutes before the race. I went out for a pre-ride with Christian Yergler, one of my friends who lives in Cool. I didn't know that we were going to almost miss our start. It was pouring rain when we got there but it stopped before the race. The course was very muddy and I had to change after the pre-ride, which made me almost miss my start.

I had a fantastic start and first lap. Almost 2 miles in Eli, the leader, had a mechanical, so I moved up into 3rd place. Then I bonked. On lap two, I bonked about 9 miles into my 14 mile race. I felt like I had nothing to stand up and sprint with in my legs. Finally, Eli caught me and left me in the dust. I had to walk up two of the hills and the lst 3 miles were miserable. There was a very slippery and rooty downhill followed by a steep uphill. I din't make it up the hill and had to run which made my calves hurt and burn. I got passed one more time and was pushed back to dead last. I was just happy I didn't get a DNF. By the end of the race, I was trembling from cold and hunger. I went straight to the car and ate all of the Fig Bars that were left. Then I changed into pants, yes, pants it was so cold and I hate to wear pants and tried to warm myself up. I was happy to leave that cold place and go to BigA's for a huge burger. I went with Christian so it was very fun.

Thanks to Roseville Cyclery for the bike tune ups. It worked perfectly even in bad conditions. Thanks to Julie for the coaching and talk after about the bonking and suggestions.

Nevada Dirt Classic #1 2016

This was my first time at Nevada Dirt Classic in Nevada City. We had a little trouble finding the race venue but eventually found it. I pre-rode the course and found it very fun and very difficult. The start was very steep and led to some great downhill that was very tight and had slick mud in fast corners. The uphills were steep and slick and mostly at the end of the course. There were lots of obstacles like log drops, over tires (optional), riding over a car (optional but I did it once) and jumps.

 Photo credit Robert Lowe

Photo Credit Robert Lowe

My class (Cat 3 15-19) started 2 minutes early and went with the rest of the Cat 3. I don't think I was warmed up enough at the start because I wasn't as fast as I should have been up the first hill. It was very hard to pass on the course because of all of the single track. One kid kept buzzing my tire half way around the first lap, then passed me. Then when I tried to pass him back he would sprint or push his bike up the trail blocking any pass. It was frustrating.

I was happy that I did two laps and got 3rd. I'm excited about racing the whole series.

Sea Otter 2016

Day One 4/14
My family and I went to Sea Otter Classic on Thursday. We arrived in the afternoon and spend the day sight seeing in the vendor area. I also rode the pump track by the Specialized tent about 800 times. Once our half day at Sea Otter was done, we went back to the hotel to change and go out to dinner at Bubba Gumps for my birthday dinner. I didn't feel any different about being 12 but I thought one thing 'I'm a pre-teen.'

Day Two 4/15
Friday was another day mostly in the main, vendor area. We all left our bikes in bike valet, sadly for me. I had an autograph signing with Danny MacAskill, crazy BMX stunt ride (look him up on YouTube). After that I was walking around and saw Ryan Hughes under the RynoPower tent so we stopped to talk to him a little bit. I also got to talk to Howard Grotts, 2015 MTB National Champion with Specialized.

Day Three 4/16
Saturday, my dad and I pre-rode some of the course.After that, we put our bikes in bike valet for the rest of the day. We watched Sara and Janell race CX. They both did really well. When I picked my bike up from bike valet the front tire had a flat. My dad just put a tube in it.

Day Four 4/17
Sunday was race day and it felt like I could have ridden 50 miles with all of the nervous energy that I had. As I got to warming up, I started to think about the start and where to be. I was stressed and trying to find the little post that said 'Junior men 13/14'. Once I found it, I was Johnny on the Spot and on the second row. I saw a kid that I had raced at Bonelli. I had beaten him at Bonelli but he was faster at Sea Otter and in the 13/14 age group. My start position helped me because I was on the outside and then the inside, like I had wanted to be. I was in the second pack and kind of desperate to reach the front group. Two kids' bike chains seized simultaneously at the start of the gravel uphill. I immediately thought about my front tire but then pushed the thought aside.

I hit the road and went into turbo mode to chase a group that wasn't too far ahead of me. I was trying to catch them when a girl passed me and I hopped onto her wheel. We really had to put some power down to keep up. We both bounced back and forth off each others wheel until the single track.

There was a lot of brutal climbing at the end of the course. Luckily we rode down Hurl Hill - named that for a good reason. The hills at the end were very steep. On the last hill I spotted Ayden, a kid I race at Granite Bay, and I pushed hard to try and catch him. I came down the Laguna Seca racetrack and sprinted my heart out.

Overall, I finished 20th out of 48 and was the first kid in the 11/12 USA cycling age group. I was happy because I finished in between two kids that finished 8th and 11th at Nationals in 2015. Thanks to Roseville Cyclery for the sponsorship, bike tune ups and gear. Also, thanks to Julie Young for the training that's gotten me where I am.