Napa Valley MTB
http://www.puc.edu/Pioneers/NVDC/Napa Valley Dirt Classic
Avoiding the chills and dry heaves from racing in 90 degree heat after being obnoxiously hung over from a lady's-night binge two days prior was my only goal going into this race. Also to avoid the demons of last year's mechanical and crashing episodes I had. This was my first time racing Expert at the NVDC so I honestly did not know what to expect, save for the chills.
I was psyched to hook up with Shannon, Linz, Heather, and Katrina at the race, with Cathy there for support. I prepared for this race by resting Saturday after the "episode" in front of the tube (yes, with my child - a rare occasion) watching Soul Train re-runs, drinking water, and snacking on bacon and vitamins for a few hours and feeling sorry for myself. I did a short ride and then rested again.
We arrived nice and early and the energy was upbeat. Its so nice to have such a big race so close to home. My group of Expert Women 30-39 started fairly quick with the initial hill climb and I felt pretty bad to be honest. Then something happened in the trees, I got a burst of energy and really started to feel warmed up and good. Mind over matter, I say. So I caught a few girls, and was able to ride pretty comfortably, chills and all for the 22 mile course. Luckily there was plenty of shade as the heat really was in charge- a race of attrition as Lindsay said. So the burly climb with 45 mins to go had me stop and run my bike for a minute as it is hard to maneuver around people hiking their bike, and it looks so much more comfortable than riding. However walk/running my bike wore me out more than spinning so I hopped back on and granny geared it to the top, passing a few more women. I realized they were pros when I saw their number and got pretty psyched. I pushed it to the final descent which in past races I have gone head over heals on so I was a little nervous. It really is about the bike as my Specialized Era just took me down the hill with ease. I have to say the techie descents were just sucked up by that bike. I think I am taking it to bed with me tonight, I am in love with it. I can only imagine what a carbon one would feel like.
So we took the podium all over the place, I got my first Expert win at a big race, and the 6th fasted women's time of the day! I was so excited. Shannon rode a killer race, getting first in the sport class with Lindsay in for second!! And Heather, studette, enduro first year mtn bike racer, won the beginner class two weeks in a row, proving she will be a force to be reckoned with next year in the sport class. I love my team, thank you all for a great day. Its Sea Otter for Lindsay, Heather, and me next week. Until then, happy trails!
-Sarah P.
Great job Norcal ladies, way to represent!! Sarah P. won her expert category, Shannon and Lindsey went 1st and 2nd in their sport category, and I won my category in beginner! Shannon you are a rockstar and I bet you were just flying down all those steep drops, Lindsey its great to see you on a mountain bike, Katrina you are amazing and courageous, and Sarah P. what can I say, you climb like a gazelle?! Thank you for all of your support!
Now that was a true mountain bike race-- tight twisty turns, grueling climbs, and gnarly descents. I had a blast out there. The whole week leading up to the race I was just trying to recover as well as I could from the 8 hour event last weekend, and I guess all the rest paid off! My legs felt fresh and the course was sweet for going strong on the flats and doing all you could on the tough climbs. I paced myself so that I would have energy and legs for the long climb out of Pope Valley, but in the end I felt like I could have pushed harder earlier on in the race. I guess figuring out how hard you can push yourself is something that comes with racing experience and course knowledge. All in all a great race and here’s to letting go and really giving it your all!
-Heather
(Get those hands up, gurl! :) - ed.)
Well due to catching a head cold I was unable to go do the Madera Stage Race. But I did get to stay in town and drive over to Napa for a killer mountain bike race. Mariko, the awesomest teammate ever, let me borrow her hardtail to do the race on. It was Shannon, Katrina, and myself racing in the sport division, Heather in beginner, and Sarah in expert. Our race took off and immediately some woman in a white jersey bolted out in front of me. I chased for a long time with another woman but before too long the woman in white was gone. Hitting the first technical downhill of the day I chickened out for part of it, and coincidentally backed my teammate Shannon up too! She whizzed past me in a orange, blue, and pink blur and that was the last I saw of her! the race continued on I was accompanied by all sorts of men and just kept weaving my way through the herds, trees, single track, rutted sandy downhills, and excruciatingly painful uphill. I ran out of water at about mile18, so decided to ease up on the gas to avoid overheating. I headed down the final hill to the finish and motored in. I felt good considering I didn't ride much this past week, and was still pushing the snot out of my head! Shannon took first in our age bracket and first overall in sport, ahem, upgrade time?? And I took second in our age bracket and third overall for the sport women. it was an awesome experience riding this course and great to hang out with the knobby tired crew of Norcal Velo. K, thanks for reading!
-Lindsay
WHOOO HOOOO!!!! This was amazing day for NorCal Velo at the Dirt Classic! Sarah P., Katrina, Lindsay, Heather and I raced today.
Lindsay, Katrina and I raced Sport class together; going into the very first single track after the paved climb I was positioned 6th wheel behind Lindsay, a Dewars rider, and a couple other ladies. I grabbed a couple places on the first hike a bike, sitting 3rd or 4th wheel as the race progressed… I wasn’t really sure who was in front of me besides Lindsay and the
Dewars rider, but I passed little Linds on a technical descent, and later came upon another woman in a white jersey- I thought she was an expert class rider, but as it turns out she was racing Sport. I passed her after she made a wrong turn. Wasn’t sure where I was positioned overall, but I felt super strong out there and so thrilled and happy for the entire race! I chugged right along… Awesome! This course suits me very well- short power climbs and some good technical sections that I could mob through. So, in the end, I wasn’t sure how I finished, but was so happy to have a fabulous, fun race. It was great to hear Cathy’s cheers at the finish line J I am super proud of my time (I had never ridden this course so I didn’t know what to expect!), Lindsay was close behind earning a 2nd place, and I found out later that I posted the fastest Sport time for the day! Invigorating!
Sarah P won Expert, Heather won beginner, and our west county rep. Katrina is a champ for racing this! I see she’s got the mountain bug... watch out!
Shannon
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
| - CCCX @ Fort Ord | 2004-10-03 |
| - Documentum Crit | 2004-09-26 |
| - Giro di San Fransisco | 2004-09-06 |
| - Return of the Jedi | 2004-09-04 |
| - Winters RR | 2004-08-28 |
| - 12 Hours of Humboldt | 2004-08-28 |
| - US Pro Criterium Championships | 2004-08-22 |
| - Corral Hollow RR | 2004-08-21 |
| - TransAlp Challenge | 2004-07-17 - 2004-07-27 |
| - Superweek | 2004-07-09 - 2004-07-25 |
| - Wine Country Criterium | 2004-06-13 |
| - Fremont Criterium | 2004-06-12 |
| - ICCC Dash for Cash | 2004-06-05 |
| - California Outdoor Sports Championships | 2004-05-14 - 2004-05-16 |
| - Sea Otter | 2004-04-14 - 2004-04-17 |
| - Pilarcitos Stage Race | 2004-03-27 - 2004-03-28 |
| - McLane Pacific Foothills Road Race | 2004-03-14 |
| - McLane Pacific Downtown Grand Prix | 2004-03-13 |
| - Land Park Criterium | 2004-03-06 |
| - Apple Pie Criterium | 2004-02-07 |