Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions.

The Whiskeytown Classic is another of my all time favorite races. The race takes place just outside of a historic miner & cowboy town. Much of the race takes place over antique flumes that were dug during the gold rush. One cannot experience the rich history of Whiskeytown and not feel connection to the days of old when the land was populated by prospectors and cowpokes. Having, just returned from the race I feel a hankering to use some cowboy speak while giving my report.

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.”

Chris and I eagerly planned our last minute trip to the race. At some point, I should have come to my senses and backed out after reading the weather forecast with 100+ temperatures. However, my enthusiasm outweighed my concerns as we made arrangements to participate in the race. The lengthy drive passed by quickly as Chris and I discussed the upcoming cyclocross season as well as other off season MTB races. Finding camaraderie and friendship is the best part about Tri-sport racing and MTB racing in general.

The race started at 10:00 sharp. And I was “grinnin like a weasel in a hen house”. The temperatures were all ready in the upper eighties. The race promoters were concerned with the heat and decided to make some last minute changes to course. This is where things start to fall apart. An announcement was made that “Buck Hollow” would only be part of the 1^st lap for the Cat 1’s and the 2^nd and 3^rd would skip this section. Remember this, it will be important later.

Unlike Team Big Bear races all of the racers are lumped together in a mass start and there is no way to identify who you are competing against. No leg markings.  I believe that “If you follow behind the lead cow, you will step in the mess he leaves behind” and always go for broke at the start in an attempt to get the hole shot into the single track. I attacked the group in a feign show of strength and to my surprise Chris not only responded but counterattacked and took the lead going into the single track. As we entered the single track the dust and heat were unbearable. “You can’t tell how good a man or a watermelon is ’till they get thumped.” Well I can tell you that I was severely getting thumped during the first several miles. But there’s no place “round the campfire for a quitter’s blanket” so I rallied my determination and settled into a manageable pace. “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”

I consider false flats and rollers to be my forte. I’m a tad on the heavy side which hampers me on the big climbs and bit squeamish on the downhill, but I can make up for on the flatter stuff. “The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.” As we entered the flume sections of the race I was pulling back riders left and right. It felt almost dream like, I was floating around the turns and passing riders as if they were motionless.  I felt certain that I stood to have a podium finish if I could maintain the pace.

As I completed lap one, I encountered two women. One was blocking the course and the other gestured for me to turn left and bypass Buck Hollow. Remembering the race director canceled it for the Cat 1’s but not indicating if this was in place for Cat 2. I asked the lady if she was sure we turn here? She replied yes. Not giving it any further thought I pressed on and felt I was gaining on the leaders and more importantly taking a bite out Chris’s lead on me.

The second lap is a blur. I felt both hot and cold. The heat was so hot I was getting goosebumps, tunnel vision and the occasional shiver. Yet still I felt the second lap was mine for the taking and my performance was improving second by second.  I crossed the finish line in just under two hours. I recovered and then impatiently looked for Chris. But something was wrong, he was nowhere to be found. Not only that the results indicated I was 3^rd overall for Cat 2s. There was no way this was correct, I knew at least 5 riders had dropped me.  I approached the race director and asked if we were supposed to skip Buck Hollow on lap two. Long story short, I was told that two spectators were telling the racers to turn left when in fact they were supposed to go straight. Even with the mix up it was a great race. I told the race staff to mark me DNF. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to see how I stack up against Chris.

So until next year at Whiskeytown…”Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you’re out of good whiskey.”

Gary-GLOCK