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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by R. Jorgensen
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Wednesday, 04 July 2007 |
Big Bear Shoot Out #1
California State XC Series #5
Big Bear, CA
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July 1, 2007, between Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Ski Resorts at 7,000 feet above sea level and a good 3 hours east of Los Angeles, found a smaller than normal turn out for Race #5 of the Southern California State Mountain Bike Championship Series. This was the third solo event, as Charge' d'affaires of Team Bikeman Left Coast. My driving was adequate, meal choice sufficient, race prep inapt, ability to determine where the "start" was located? Totally lacking.
 | | Big Bear Shoot Out #1 |
After a frantic revisit of the last two start areas of previous events I came upon the stagged roll-out of my age group without a minute to spare. So this is a 16 mile, ninety percent fire road event, everyone seemed to be well within the zone of hypnogenesis. Until that point that my drive train began to make an annoying sound.  | | click to enlarge |
I tried a mulitude of chain ring and cassette combo's only to have the chain fall off! Well, as the Team Rider, Mechanic and Captain an immediate decision was made: finish the race. I knew a long fast fireroad descent would be in front of me, and after that who cares. So I huffed and puffed and I pushed my bike up.  | | click to enlarge |
The downhill was real sweet. Then came the second true single track of the event. Oh well, maybe I'll ride it next time. So as a good sport I pushed my bike to the side of the trail at all times (so as not to slow down the expert/pro's) who were now passing me, as they had an extended course.  | | click to enlarge |
Then the real fun began. I've double checked my facts with Tex, yes this next technical, rocky section has been used in past years for the Super D. Why a bunch of hard-tailed roadies even put up with this section is beyond me. So I do the best I can and coast thru this "death trail", and as the race concludes I beg for "style points". A few day's later times are posted and I trailed by nine minutes. The captain was right. Thanks to Lake for keeping the leather to the road, Lazer for sheltering my 'knoggen' for those critical decisions, and to Big Al and the entire Bikeman crew for processing my Salsa Mamasita frame and build kit order. Race #6 on a 29'er may just be the best thing that's happened to me in a long, long time.
Roger
 
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