Dashpoint is near Tacoma but doesnt smell.

The Course

I watched THIS video as “research” and realized it was a hilly course. This was painfully refreshing as going up the hills was the only time of last weeks race I was moving up.

Similar to last week, I rolled in to the start line just before it was time to start. Similar to last week, I was not very nervous or anxious. Similar to last week…I sucked at turning to either direction. I was looking forward to seeing the course being that it was my first time at Dash Point Park Budu Race. I saw some familiar faces and tons of new ones. The weather was great and so was everyone’s mood. This is different from how I feel in Seattle normally. The weather is often shitty and so are the attitudes of the people around you. I am slowly learning that “this community” really is great. I dont have many MTB friends in this town but I cant help but feel a part of the group whenever I do show up to an event or race. I am racing individually but I am also a fish in the school affecting the direction we are all swimming in, be it only with nudges. I love how familial these BuDu/ WNW’s events feel but I also really like how competitive people are on course.

The Bike

BMC Fourstroke	Type		Setting	Thoughts?
Forks	Fox Float 32 – 100mm		30%	I kept the sag the same for this ride to focus on the tire settings.
Shock	Fox Float DPS-100mm		30%	No clue
Front Tire	Vittoria Barzo 2.35		19psi	I felt more control on the slippery stuff but I think I can go lower.
Rear Tire	Vittoria Barzo 2.35		20psi	This felt a lot grippier. I will use this setting for the next test

Lap 1

The first lap was blind and because of this I took it as a time to learn the course without losing many positions. There was a part of me that really hoped I’d see my young buddy from last week. On one of the two big hills, I ran into him. This was great because Ian is really smooth on the technical bits and I could use all the help I can find out there. The course did have a fair bit of climbing and I really tried hard to keep my foot on the gas for these sections. Unfortunately for me, the climbs also had a fair bit of stuff in the way. One of the hills had a creek running through the most off-camber section followed by a tight switchback. The second gnarly part was a slippery root after fighting up one of the steeper hills. These two sections would force me to unclip and dismount. As I had hoped, I did make up a lot of ground on the hills. Here is where I made the most friends AND enemies. This race also had two straight-ish sections that I used to move up on the first and the second lap. I also was able to drink in these sections.

Lap 2

I had seen Luna and Mari at the end of the first lap. Who needs to slam a gel when you have your kid yelling your name and ringing a bell? Amped on seeing the track, feeling confident that I had moved up on some pretty hard hills, and the electricity my family handed me I flew back in to the course. A little hot though. That first left hairpin with the muddy root quickly reminded me that excitement and confidence are not a good substitue for not knowing how the hell mtb tire treads work. Slow down, say bad words, hammer out of the corner just to slow down into the next slippery right turn. Rinse and repeat.

About halfway through the second lap, I came accross a couple of strong cyclists. One had a speedsuit on, which we know means business. I passed him when the trail turned up but really couldnt shake him until the big hill. Remember the one with the creek? The other guy was fast up and down. He asked if I wanted to pass a few times (which was flattering) but I really couldnt. I was glad I didnt too because everytime the trail pointed down I would completely lose him. He became spandex-wearing bait. I knew if I could get back up to him that I was fighting hard. I was always able to catch him, which was refreshing but he always enjoyed the descents alone. That part was enlightening. Before he would disappear into the trees, I would catch a glimpse of him dropping his saddle. I didnt get to copy his lines down the trail but he did help me learn how to use my dropper post more effectively. I would later find out he designed the course itself, which I type here to somehow justify this guy completely crushing me. Chasing him, I was able to pass two other racers on the way out. With each successful hunt, I knew I was closer to the end of the race and my chances of passing this man were quickly disappearing. I chased hard. I cooked corners and bounced off of rocks. I never would pass him. In fact, he was at the finish line chitchatting, with his perfectly trimmed and still very white beard, when I finally got there.

Conclusion

My process goals this week were simple: Go fast when I could and think about the corners before getting in them. As you read through the recap, you’ll be able to tell that turning was important. I know that the lower pressure in the tires helped but not as much as it being the second weekend in a row I was able to play bikes on actual trails. As the weather slowly gets a little better, I plan to spend more and more time in the dirt.