Peavine Challenge (Photo by Nick Lee)Early wake up call Saturday, May 30. It was time for the Peavine Challenge, yep, the second race of the Nevada Cup XC race series. The one MTB race where I can roll outta my downtown loft, pedal 15 minutes and be ready to throw down at the race venue, which happens to be on my regular after work trails. There are two caveats with this ordinarily great situation, the first is it's hot as hell with no trees, well, actually there's three of them. The second is that it's every other local MTB racing tool's after work trails as well. That means there are some pretty heavy rivalries to deal with, and some beatings to be dealt and received to and from those that would be fellow cycling pals on any other day.
So, after popping up and getting a large breakfast down my throat, listening to some of the new Brutal Truth record to get my blood pumping a bit, and dialing in tire choice on the Marathon Carbon Pro, I'm ready to rock. The race starts off fast as hell, on the Peavine connector trail, then settles into a gut churning pace up a 45 minute or so climb on the first of two 13.5 mile laps. I'm feeling pretty decent and enjoy the high heart rate up the climb. Ben Ragains passes with one of his teammates (Nate Freed), with the "Reverend" Dustin Sweet quickly creeping up behind, where's nemesis John Hurley? Uh oh, I see em down the trail a ways, KEEP GOING. Get up on the Toboggan run descent, not too excited, because I think this piece of trail sucks. Up a short climb and down the Femur-Buster singletrack, some kook has his dogs on the trail, and one of the mutts won't move outta the way, I swoop around, phew. I hear the Rev cussing behind me at the dog owner ha ha, better him than me I think to myself. Into a nice long stretch of descent into Evan's Canyon. Hmm, who's up front, it's hard tail Ragains and his buddy who both destroyed me on the climb. I quickly approach them in the rocks and they courteously let me by so I can get my flow going in the the twistys. I know they'll catch me again on the next climb and put the wood down, but it's all good. I come through the start area for a fresh cold bottle before another painful climb. Ragains and Freed arrive shortly after, then the Rev, then uh oh, Hurley. We get into a groove up the connector again for another 45 or so minutes of doom. Hurley yells out a loud LEFT at me like a roadie on a bike path. He jumps in front and we roll over to the Keystone portion of the climb. The hardtails take off, then myself and the Rev. The Rev passes about halfway up the climb, I try and get into a good groove. Pro downhiller Jon Wilson arrives behind close to the top of the climb, he also passes and I try to keep him in site for the remaining climbing pain. Damn, I shouldn't have told him about those anti-cramp pills, because he obviously took them before the race. Settle into another descent, with Jon at warp speed taking a huge gap. I've gotta keep him somewhat in sight. We get down to some false flat into the finish and there he is hammering out in front. I growl and give it one last attack up some climb into the last short descent, no dice, Jon's gone like he's on a 250. Finally finished, with a 5th spot for myself in the 30-39 Cat. 1 with a time of 2:03 flat. Wilson next in 4th, then the Rev, Scott Leland, and Kyle Dixon in first to round out the top 5 30-39s. The legendary Kyle Dixon actually had the fastest time of the day at 1:53:55, no surprise, thanks for recently dropping down to Cat. 1 Kyle! I believe I was 10th overall since local pro Ken Burt, hardtail Ragains and his buddy and fast roadie, Nate Freed, 20-29er Cat. 1 Sacramento shredder Clinton Claassen, and fast single-speeder Chris Schultze were each in front of me as well. Props to Cat. 1 ripper Amber Broch for again slaying all other female contenders on the course, and most of the lower Cat. dudes! All in all, an entertaining event. We chilled for a bit and then headed down the street for burgers and cold suds. A large Great Basin Icky refreshed my quivering limbs and the rest is history.
After checking out the sweet new Saint James Infirmary in Reno later that evening, I quickly found out my pickup game and general demeanor were as flat as the earth in the 1400s. It was time to go home to my bed because the next day we were to rip shuttle runs on one of the sickest trails in the world, the Tyrolian downhill. What better taint recovery the day after a long XC race than ripping big bike runs on a smooth and sticky 2000' vert drop to Diamond Peak ski resort. After six shred sled runs, it was time for Black Butte Porter and smack talk with local bros. GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This strange thunderstorm pattern has arrived for the week, the singletrack is flowing and will continue to do so.......................................................................................
So, after popping up and getting a large breakfast down my throat, listening to some of the new Brutal Truth record to get my blood pumping a bit, and dialing in tire choice on the Marathon Carbon Pro, I'm ready to rock. The race starts off fast as hell, on the Peavine connector trail, then settles into a gut churning pace up a 45 minute or so climb on the first of two 13.5 mile laps. I'm feeling pretty decent and enjoy the high heart rate up the climb. Ben Ragains passes with one of his teammates (Nate Freed), with the "Reverend" Dustin Sweet quickly creeping up behind, where's nemesis John Hurley? Uh oh, I see em down the trail a ways, KEEP GOING. Get up on the Toboggan run descent, not too excited, because I think this piece of trail sucks. Up a short climb and down the Femur-Buster singletrack, some kook has his dogs on the trail, and one of the mutts won't move outta the way, I swoop around, phew. I hear the Rev cussing behind me at the dog owner ha ha, better him than me I think to myself. Into a nice long stretch of descent into Evan's Canyon. Hmm, who's up front, it's hard tail Ragains and his buddy who both destroyed me on the climb. I quickly approach them in the rocks and they courteously let me by so I can get my flow going in the the twistys. I know they'll catch me again on the next climb and put the wood down, but it's all good. I come through the start area for a fresh cold bottle before another painful climb. Ragains and Freed arrive shortly after, then the Rev, then uh oh, Hurley. We get into a groove up the connector again for another 45 or so minutes of doom. Hurley yells out a loud LEFT at me like a roadie on a bike path. He jumps in front and we roll over to the Keystone portion of the climb. The hardtails take off, then myself and the Rev. The Rev passes about halfway up the climb, I try and get into a good groove. Pro downhiller Jon Wilson arrives behind close to the top of the climb, he also passes and I try to keep him in site for the remaining climbing pain. Damn, I shouldn't have told him about those anti-cramp pills, because he obviously took them before the race. Settle into another descent, with Jon at warp speed taking a huge gap. I've gotta keep him somewhat in sight. We get down to some false flat into the finish and there he is hammering out in front. I growl and give it one last attack up some climb into the last short descent, no dice, Jon's gone like he's on a 250. Finally finished, with a 5th spot for myself in the 30-39 Cat. 1 with a time of 2:03 flat. Wilson next in 4th, then the Rev, Scott Leland, and Kyle Dixon in first to round out the top 5 30-39s. The legendary Kyle Dixon actually had the fastest time of the day at 1:53:55, no surprise, thanks for recently dropping down to Cat. 1 Kyle! I believe I was 10th overall since local pro Ken Burt, hardtail Ragains and his buddy and fast roadie, Nate Freed, 20-29er Cat. 1 Sacramento shredder Clinton Claassen, and fast single-speeder Chris Schultze were each in front of me as well. Props to Cat. 1 ripper Amber Broch for again slaying all other female contenders on the course, and most of the lower Cat. dudes! All in all, an entertaining event. We chilled for a bit and then headed down the street for burgers and cold suds. A large Great Basin Icky refreshed my quivering limbs and the rest is history.
After checking out the sweet new Saint James Infirmary in Reno later that evening, I quickly found out my pickup game and general demeanor were as flat as the earth in the 1400s. It was time to go home to my bed because the next day we were to rip shuttle runs on one of the sickest trails in the world, the Tyrolian downhill. What better taint recovery the day after a long XC race than ripping big bike runs on a smooth and sticky 2000' vert drop to Diamond Peak ski resort. After six shred sled runs, it was time for Black Butte Porter and smack talk with local bros. GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This strange thunderstorm pattern has arrived for the week, the singletrack is flowing and will continue to do so.......................................................................................
In fact, this just in from local weather/singletrack forecaster Mark "Straw" Roberts: Special Weather Statement: Lake Tahoe & surrounding areas, single track advisory is in effect until further notice. Expect traction to be almost near perfect at times with heavier amounts of speed in straight aways. Total amounts of fun will vary depending on what ride you choose and who you ride with. Go fast, take chances & air it out whenever possible.
Word Straw, I'll make sure and adhere to this advisory every day of the week!
Special thanks to the hard working Scot Ferguson for making the Peavine Challenge happen and as always, I'd like to thank GT Bicycles for the finely tuned Marathon Carbon Pro!
