Peak2Peak 2021

We're drawing towards the end of the 2021 season and a switch to MTB focus for a bit. I hadn't ridden my mountain bike for months and post Barry Roubaix it was time to float on some trails.

Up next is Peak2Peak a 37.5 mile mountain bike race at the Crystal Mountain ski resort in northern Michigan. The day started with rain for my 3 1/2 hour drive but on arrival the venue was dry. I'd expected wet conditions and had swapped my rear tire from a Schwalbe Thunder Burt to a Racing Ralph expecting wet conditions from the night priors forecast. As I got ready at my car and warmed up on my trainer the guy next to me who'd raced in the morning, shared how warm the woods were, that I'd be overdressed and that the trails were perfect. Of course I had instant regret as I hadn't ridden this tire combo for years and that now I needed to change clothes.

I opened the door for the car to select my Verge Bikeman bibshorts rather than the bibtights I was wearing and it started raining…no, check that, pouring!!! And it continued to rain for the next half hour, the race start was delayed and the temperature dropped. Needless to say I didn't change but did put on my Verge wind vest - it was cold.

The delayed race started halfway down the ski hill was a fast decent into some two track and finally some flowing singletrack…and it was a truly wet and sloppy - absolutely my least favorite. Truly, if I hadn't driven 3 1/2 hours to get there, I'd have packed up and gone home.

The singletrack was super slick with fallen leaves on top of wet black dirt. I'd let some pressure out of my tires because of the unexpected wet and to be fair, the tires were hooking up nicely. I tried to let the side knobs and low pressure do their work and kept off the brakes as much as possible. Amazingly, I found myself sitting on the back of the front group, 6 or 7 of us in total.

Feeing pretty good about things, my mind drifted away from the wet feet and grinding drivetrain and to the task at hand - sticking with this group. The lee side of the mountain was dry and the trail truly was awesome. Unfortunately, just as we started the assent of Crystal Mountain we came upon riders from the younger group ahead and sitting at the back was not ideal - I got caught up on the slow single track climb and lost the train.

The climb up the back of the hill was a climb of three parts: twisty, steep single track switchbacks; a two track climb, straight up; and lastly a wide open gravel service road. I did the best I could and could see the group ahead but the steep climb was not my forte. I descended the single track to the start and continued onto the second of the three laps. The rain had abated for awhile but had started up again, not the torrents as prior but enough to change the condition of the trail again. I rode my own pace believing that my fitness from the summer might be a benefit. I overtook some racers but now was completely mixed in with the younger groups and had no idea where I stood. I picked up some riders along the way and this group grew and shrunk overtime.

By the time we started the third and final lap there was just two of us. I pulled the entire time and the guy with me was BS'ing me about how strong I was and how beat he was. Of course I didn't believe any of it and the game of chess was on. Rightly or wrongly, I was happy to pull. I'd been unable to drop him on some power sections and had decided that I'd give one last go on the switchback sector. On the very first climb I pushed hard to make a separation. I didn't look back just listened for breathing but the switchbacks made it easy to take a glimpse. I had a gap.

I pushed and pushed and there were others ahead. On the two track climb I made some more ground and overtook a couple more. The singletrack descent was not a place for overtaking so wherever I was at the top of the climb was my place for the day. It turns out I was second in the day finishing 5 seconds ahead of the guy I'd just left on the hill. I was happy with that: I hoped to win my Expert/Elite age group but second was one step better than the last time I raced this event in conditions that I despise. My size 14 shoes weighed twice as much as normal and I soaked to the bone. The sun had come out, I found a hose at the ski resort and washed my bike. Lucky me, 3 1/2 hour drive home - oh, and a check for $40.