Good result in my first Race
 

Just joined the forum and thought I would jump in here and post. I road as a Clydesdale in the beginner class of the Idyllwild Spring Challenge a few weeks ago. Really didn't know what to expect. I'll be 40 in September so I could have raced in the 40-44 class but went Clydesdale instead as I'm about 205. I'm 6'3.5" tall and very fit. Used to be 245 but lost it biking.

Anyway, they start the 20-34 year olds I think in the first group then a couple minutes later start the 35-49 year olds, then a couple minutes after that they start the 50+ and guess who, the clydesdales. I'm thinking, why am I starting with all these old men. I'm the only clydesdale so I've already won but in my mind I'm riding to do the best I can against everyone. Come up to the line and the announcer asks if there are any clydesdals in this group, I raise my hand and he says, you don't look like a clydesdale.

The race starts and I'm off. Pulled away from my group of 8 or so riders. A small climb then a 1 miles road section before going back into the trails. I look back and no one is in sight. I look forward and I see the group that left before me. We climb through some grueling single track, sandy and loose and steep. Lots of walking. I pass about 8 riders and continue. The a down hille and another long climb, the biggest climb of the course. I pass rider after rider and I'm counting like 25 riders. I just keep cranking on.

I finish the race and get the results. Turned out I was 3rd out of 27 riders, 12 seconds behind 2nd. Not to shaby for a clydesdale. Not too shaby for my first race. Looks like I'm on to the Sport Class next time.

Jon

Now this is what I like to hear.

Good job!

Great job! how much riding do you do a week?

keep it going!!!:D :D

I started out at once per week. About 4 weeks before the race I started doing about 3 rides per week. Mixing it up with a lot of climbing and general cross country riding. I'm lucky because I live right next to Aliso Woods in Laguna Niguel, CA and we have multiple trails with 150, 300, 600 and 800 foot climbs to chose from. I just keep going out and pushing it a little harder and a little farther. I like to time myself on the climbs and I've been dropping minutes off my times all over the place so it feels good.

I can't tell you how many of these trails I used to stop and rest on 2 or 3 times up the trail and now I just ride right through it and keep on going.

I'm trying to put a team together for the 12 Hours of Temecula on June 16th. Can't wait.

Jon

Well done!

Hey Olis, I live in Huntington Beach, and have been looking for some good hills to train on for the Rosarito ride. Sounds like your hills would be awesome. Whats the best way to get over to em?

First off I realize I didn't clarify but I'm referring to Mountain Biking where as the Rosarito race is road biking right? Anyways, I ride in the Aliso Woods park. For mountain biking or road biking a great way to find trails and look up elevation changes is to go to www.geoladders.com and check it out there.

If you are looking for mountain biking then type in Aliso in the search under Routes on that web site.

Jon

Thanks for the info, I realized you were talking about trails, but sometimes I get tired of riding road. Just a quick switch of my tires and unlock my front shocks and wham I am hitting trails. Just need to find some different hills, as I am tired of riding up and down Edwards hill in HB. Thanks for the info.

Then you should check out Aliso. You park near the intersection of Aliso Creek and Alicia. Actually its of Alicia just passed Aliso Creek (on the Ocean side if that makes sense).

If you want a long climb try Mathis (1.1 miles 600 feet) or if you want something more technical and steeper go Meadows (800 feet) or just ride up the main trail and then go up Cholla. Good little technical climb with pretty good grade (300 feet). Lots to ride out there.

If you're in real good shape try "Aliso Tour". Up and down just about every trail out there. 2600 feet of elevation change. I just did it Saturday for the first time and it was a blast.

Jon