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Sunday was the start of the Shimano Winter Series, put on by the Southridge Racing Company here in SoCal. This series includes, XC, Super D, 4X and DH. This is my second year competing as a beginner downhill racer, but it was my first time racing with the Airborne Taka. If you recall, Art Aguilar, raced the Taka and took 1st place with it.

There was 19 of us in my category. Technically 20, but 1 was a DNF. I actually did better than I expected. I usually have 2 goals when racing DH, 1 is to catch the guy in front of me, and 2 is to not be caught by the guy behind me. I was able to accomplish both. Oh and the best part, I didn’t crash on my race run!

So as we lined up to race, I look around in my field, and notice guys riding super expensive bikes that probably cost more than my car. I saw one guy in a Giant Glory, another in a Specialized Demo, and some other dude with a Kona Stinky. My mind plays tricks on me because it makes me think that the expensive bikes and pretty jerseys with carbon helmets will make them faster than me.

Then it was my turn on the gate,I sat waiting to be counted down, I get into my zone and take a few deep breaths. Then I hear, 5, 4,3,2,1. I start pedaling hard!

I make my way through the course, take a few drops, a couple rock gardens, then I see the guy who was released from the gate 30 seconds ahead of me. I yell to him, “Rider UP!” He pulls over and lets me pass, but he slowed me down because he was on the path that I needed to take…ARGH!  I make it to a few more drops,and head to the last rock garden. After that section is a long flat sprint that they call the WALL. I get off the saddle and spin as hard as I can. I cross the finish line exhausted.

I placed 6th our of 19. Not bad considering I hadn’t trained for the race. But the Taka performed without any hick-ups. I really love the geometry, handling and “flickable” characteristics of the bike. It’s light enough where you can man handle it, yet its burly enough to handle the big stuff. I’m very impressed with the Airborne Taka.

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If you weren’t sure what Super D is, its basically a mix of XC and DH racing. The last Super D course was designed by Eric Carter (PRO Everything), which meant it was pretty challenging. In fact, some of us were talking and agreed that it was more difficult than the DH course.

I would like to give Priscilla props. She went down hard at the last part of the race. Donny Jackson (race organizer) was behind her on his Moto and when I got to her, he was already calling for a medic. This was pretty scary for me because she was sprawled out on the ground and her bike was somewhere else. I quickly asked her if she was ok, and had her try to move her feet, legs, fingers, hands, shoulders and neck. Even though she was in pain, she quickly said, “I’m ok, I’m going to finish it.” Donny and I helped her up, I grabbed her bike, and off she went to finish Super D. Cool thing about that, the people who gathered around, started applauding her as she rode away…man what a woman, I’m in love all over again!

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A friend and I were discussing the recent changes that he had seen on the site. Changes not only in the site layout (rotating header, black design and etc) but also the focus and direction we’ve taken in the last few months.

You may have scene quite a bit of racing postings, events and team news. This friend found it rather interesting that in a few short months we’ve gone from recreational mountain biking and towards a sudden focus to racing.

Well, yes its true. Our focus since late 2008 has been on racing, that’s due to the fact that we found we had a pretty talented staff that liked to go fast. When we formed the MtnBikeRiders.com Racing Team, we wanted to to bring “recreational” mountain bikers to a new level of riding. Don’t get me wrong, none of us really dream of being a pro (well maybe one), but if you take away all the events and all of the jerseys, we’re still the same group of people…recreational mountain bikers…that race. Think of it as Vegetarians that eat Sea Food. Get it?

Every time we finish an event/race, we like to post our experiences so we can share and even relate to our readers. I have another friend that likes to comment on the site (dial tone), we were having a conversation about racing. I had encouraged him to at least try it, but he said no thanks because he was a recreational rider, but we had taken it to the next level. But what I want everyone to understand, sure we have a number of our staff that race, Moe and I just started racing but it doesn’t mean we’re “hardcore” or anything like that. Honestly, I raced DH because Priscilla thinks its hot…Moe races to achieve personal goals.

Our racing focus on the site is basically a grass roots effort to make mountain bike racing more appealing to those who consider themselves recreational riders. If you’re lucky enough to have a race series by your home, please take advantage of it. Some of the people we meet at Fontana come as far away as Colorado just to race…for us its just a 40 min drive. You never know, this racing thing might just be your thing…just look at Priscilla, a mom of 3, college student and wife…but she’s a champ! Or you can be like Moe and I, not really serious racers,(c’mon…its Moe and RL…)but we have fun when we’re out there.

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Back to the grind!  After about a month break with plenty of eating through the Holidays I opted to skip the XC race for the Southridge WS #1.  There to meet me at Fontana Saturday morning were team mates RL, Priscilla, Kim, Tony, Moe, Eric, David and our families.

SUPER D…  With little time spent pedaling in the past month, I decided to stick with Super D.  It’s been almost a year since I raced this discipline so I was very excited to give it another shot.  Making it more interesting was my teammate Moe will be in the same category with me.  Always fun when you have someone you know racing with you. 

                The Moe and I on top of the course.

Around 12:15 Moe and I took the shuttle up to the top of the DH section.  Super D courses changes from race to race so we were anxious to see what was in store for us.  The race was scheduled to start at 12:30 but like everything else for the day, everything was running late.  With the high winds blowing, it was cold and uncomfortable on top of the hill. 

The Course:  With plenty of time until our line-up, I was able to walk and pre-ride some sections of the course.  It appears that the climbing would be at a minimal for today’s race – maybe 15% and the rest will be a descent through a winding singletrack crossing three bridges then onto off camber sections of the DH course.  Then ultimately through the lower rock garden, the wall and finishing of where the DH ends.

The Race:  Lining up, I was positioned behind Moe.  A little friendly bet between friends motivated me to try and run him over… j/k.  As Moe approached the starting point, I tapped his helmet and wished him luck.  I then turned on my helmet cam to record my run.  30 seconds after Moe started, off I went.  This course started off with a mild descent then onto several turns on a singletrack.

I then made a sharp right into the only ascent of the course.  Here was a quick grind to the top.  Along the way up, there were a group of downhillers hiking their bike up for practice.  I yelled from the bottom to make way.  Passing them the climb ended.  I turned right into more singletrack descent which winded towards the bottom.  Several corners were washed out but I was able to navigate through them.  Along the way I pass two bridges.  The third bridge was not visible from our view point at the top of the hill.  It came up suddenly for me.  As I turned into it, I see Moe down at the other side off his bike and another rider slowly approaching the bridge.  Fear of running into the other rider I panicked and veered off the course, into a small bush.  Fortunately I did not crash.  I quickly steered my bike towards the bridge, rolled over and pedaled to gain speed and time for what I just lost.

Making my way down.  Photo by Chris/Sharky.

Onto the off-camber turns then onto the long sprint towards the lower rock garden.  Approaching this section, I catch up to another rider.  I was on his rear tire going into the rocks.  As he gets to the bottleneck point, he goes over the bars in front of me.

             I was right behing this guy. Photo by Eric Foltz.

Blocking the only way, the quickest was to pick up my bike and run around him.  As soon as I did, I got back on my back and sprinted to the finish. 4^th place – A fun run indeed!

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