With my road season wrapping up in mid-September at the Bucks County Classic I took some time off before getting a late start on collegiate mountain season. The first race at VT was an eye opener. Luke Vrouwenvelder riding for UNC came to play at my expense, leaving me in the dust in both races. I spent the remainder of the year trying to close the monster gap culminating with a crazy short track race at ASU where we both lapped the entire field yet I still found myself 45s in rears.
Taking a Fall’s worth of butt kicking I prepared for collegiate mountain bike nationals with the hope that Luke was good enough to compete for the win and I could still improve on last year’s result and get on to the podium. Jay Catlett and I packed our car full, bikes, gear, and our staple of a dozen Bodo’s bagels and headed down to Beech Mountain resort outside of Boone, NC. The bagels almost made it to Boone; fortunately our third rider heading down Friday night was able to bring us a backup dozen.
Last year we rented an awesome house but this year we switched it up to a house located about 100ft from the top of the XC course. Even while housing a significant contingent of the ACCC everyone had a bed to their own and we had an awesome basement with Pool Table, Beer Fridge, and Hot Tub where we could store and work on our bikes. How we got our security deposit back is still unbeknownst to me, but whoever gave it back thank you.
Last year we rented an awesome house but this year we switched it up to a house located about 100ft from the top of the XC course. Even while housing a significant contingent of the ACCC everyone had a bed to their own and we had an awesome basement with Pool Table, Beer Fridge, and Hot Tub where we could store and work on our bikes. How we got our security deposit back is still unbeknownst to me, but whoever gave it back thank you.
Everyone rolled in by Thursday evening with festivities starting bright and early with Short Track at 8:00 the next morning for the Division 1 Men. This year I decided to make an attempt at the Omnium title, an overall score for all four events, Short Track, XC, Downill, and Dual Slalom. Jay hooked me up with a downhill bike so why not.
Friday was a beautiful and pleasantly warm morning compared to last year’s 15 degrees and snow. The course was changed to a gravel climb and single track descent. The race was sadly uninteresting for myself as 1.5 laps in as I pulled off with a fairly major hole right in the tred of the tire, ending my short track race and my omnium hopes. So there you have the shortest race recap of all time. My buddy Luke battled it out with Sepp Kuss just losing out on the last lap. At least I knew I was getting beat by the guy up front. Hopefully slightly fresher legs would lend to a good result in Saturday’s Cross Country race.
Friday was a beautiful and pleasantly warm morning compared to last year’s 15 degrees and snow. The course was changed to a gravel climb and single track descent. The race was sadly uninteresting for myself as 1.5 laps in as I pulled off with a fairly major hole right in the tred of the tire, ending my short track race and my omnium hopes. So there you have the shortest race recap of all time. My buddy Luke battled it out with Sepp Kuss just losing out on the last lap. At least I knew I was getting beat by the guy up front. Hopefully slightly fresher legs would lend to a good result in Saturday’s Cross Country race.
After the Short Track race it was time to test my skills at Downhill racing for the 2nd time in my life. I was slow as can be but it is amazing how much those big tires and 8” of travel smooth out a seemingly nasty trail. The afternoon spent riding the lift cleared my mind from the disappointment of earlier and I definitely got better as the day went along. With the afternoon qualifying run over it was time to rest and relax with the ACCC crew before XC the next morning. |
Another stunning morning in the North Carolina mountains led for a wonderful backdrop for the day's racing. The course consisted of six laps with a half mile ski slope climb to begin each lap, a little road section, followed by some single track and a ski slope descent back to the start/finish area. Not as technical as I’d hope but well fitting for the Santa Cruz Highball I was riding.
I lined up about 3 rows back and continued a nice little streak of having someone bobble and crash in front of me, fortunately the immediate climb left me in a good position as we transferred to the road. A nice pull from a Marion rider brought me up to the chase group going in to the woods. Luke and Sepp Kuss already long gone. Down and back up we went, I sat in on the climb until about half way and decided to keep my groove going. On a climb like that there isn’t an attack it’s just about finding where you are comfortable and pushing the pedals. With that began the long solo journey to the finish line, sitting in 3rd place my confidence continued to increase with each lap. I was lucky to get a ton of support as I lapped fellow ACCC riders, including Jay and Richard O’Bryant (NCSU) getting off their bikes to cheer and yell at me as I grinded my way up the climb.
Nothing interesting happened on my lonely march to the finish line until the last lap, on a final piece of single track where I thought I was alone Andrew Dillman from Marion jumped around me just as we got back on to the road to go down the hill. I had no idea he was there or a couple pedal strokes might have saved my day. I hounded him the entire way down the hill but only two passing opportunities presented themselves and both involved Andrew on the ground. I’m not that kind of racer so instead I finished mere seconds behind him a little frustrated and disappointed. You learn something every time you race, but it’s always unfortunate when the learning process kicks you down another step on the podium. After the season I’ve had and the form I was carrying in to Nats it was hard to be upset to be on the podium with some seriously fast guys.
After the guys finished the entire ACCC house posted up at the top of the ski slope climb to heckle the women’s XC racers. Dollar Handups for wheelies, rice krispie treats, beer handups, and other obnoxious cheering occurred. At one point we pulled up the start list and called each girl out by name. It’s a hard thing to replicate in a blog but it was some serious heckle and a lot of fun! Major props to the Texas A&M girl who took the beer, proceeded to drink it on the single track, and threw back an empty crushed can. Well done.
The day ended with some more DH practice and a final DH run that landed me in not last which was good enough for me. Some more partying and in general college goofing off occurred throughout the evening ending in a great conversation overheard as I laid my head down on the pillow.
“No Gus I will not sleep with you!!” So there you have it, no luck for Gus. And with that the weekend came to an end. School work caused Jay and I to roll out early Sunday morning to get back to Charlottesville.
The day ended with some more DH practice and a final DH run that landed me in not last which was good enough for me. Some more partying and in general college goofing off occurred throughout the evening ending in a great conversation overheard as I laid my head down on the pillow.
“No Gus I will not sleep with you!!” So there you have it, no luck for Gus. And with that the weekend came to an end. School work caused Jay and I to roll out early Sunday morning to get back to Charlottesville.
I must say, Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals will always be remembered as a special time. I’m not sure another event is quite like it out there with a huge mix of skill levels and some serious fun. I am so pumped we rented out a huge ACCC house the past two years. So here’s to good friends, good riding, and what makes all this pedaling worth it.
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow