Edmonton Canada Cup XC

Goal: Finish in the top third

This race was kind of a last minute one for me. I wanted to do it but after checking the technical guide I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it up on time for sign-on. Because it was part of the national circuit everyone had to sign on the day before which meant we had to get to Edmonton before 7pm in order to register and have time to pre-ride the course.

There were 2 major factors precluding making this race:

1. My new frame (Norco Faze 1) has just arrived on Tuesday and the bike shop had scheduled it to be done on Friday...which could be anytime Friday.

2. I had some overtime still to be used up but my co-worker was supposed to be away the whole day on a training course so I couldn't take the day off which wouldn't have left me enough time.

After a few phonecalls to Bow and talking with my co-worker I was able to get my bike done Thursday night and leave work at noon on Friday. The next day I left work early and after a few unexpected slowdowns on the Deerfoot and the highway near Crossfield we were finally on our way to Edmonton.

After picking up our race plates and asking around a bit we finally got some decent directions to the park where the race was being held to do a pre-ride. The new bike felt really good although this was technically my first ride on it so I was still having trouble picking lines as I wasn't used to a full-suspension race bike.

Race Day:

My legs felt pretty good today and I was confident that I was able to ride the course with only a few sections that worried me...namely a sand trap and a super sketchy gravel switchback descent.

The whistle went off and I knew I could power up the first ascent. The problem with climbing in MTB races is not always your own technical ability...but sometimes the people who are in front of you. There were a lot of novices...69...which is the largest group we've had all year. During the first climb there guys already dismounting and running up...not good. I could also notice my rear derailleur was being quite stubborn upshifting and it was ghost shifting during the climbs. I knew right away my cables had stretched after the pre-ride yesterday. The first descent I had bailed on during the pre-ride I managed to clean (and somehow steer around two other guys who had bailed).

After finishing up the first part I cranked through the straight away..passing a couple guys before entering the flowy single track section. The sand pit came and the path was blocked so I had to dismount and run through. Next section was the rooty technical power climbs...now my derailleur was giving me a ton of problems...my chain was all over place making all the power climbs guesswork. During one straight section of the race I tried to pass couple guys on the outside of the straightaway and my handlebar caught on a stake that was a bit too high...first crash...not good.
The final part of each lap was a pretty long shale pathway back the lap area so I used this opportunity to crank and adjust my rear shifting cable.

Second lap went better in the shifting department. I ran this lap a little faster and a little cleaner. At the top of the first climb I saw one of my teammates with his bike upside down...I did a quick check and he said he flatted out but he was OK. I managed to pass a few guys on this lap and tried to plow through the sand trap but my chain ended up falling off again so I was once again being passed by the guys I had just passed trying to get my chain back on. I continued on and couldn't believe my luck. I had another bail on a descent when my front tire slipped out unexpectedly. I just wanted to put all these things behind me now.

Third lap went pretty good again. I managed to close a gap with another rider so I grabbed his wheel and followed his lines through the technical sections. On the straight I managed to overtake him and cruise through the flowy single track section.
On the rooty technical I thought I had finally seen a good line to take...I tried to power up the climb this time and this time my chain came off and got stuck in between my cranks and my frame. I spent a good 2-3 minutes trying to yank the chain out and at one point I didn't think I was going to be able to get it out without breaking the chain all the while about 5-6 riders I had passed managed to pass me again. I finally managed to get it free and had to run a good portion of the section because I was afraid of having the chain snap during the power climbs and there wasn't really a flat part to get started again.

After finally getting going again...I managed to pass just a couple riders and sprinted for the finish line. There was another rider I had met at the Bacon Race who had finished a couple spots behind me so as I rode past him I yelled to him to just giver with me...I wanted a close finish.

I passed the finish line and was sure that I had come close to the bottom. I had so many problems during the race and three crashes. It was one of my worst races. I had lost a lot of confidence in my technical ability and my technical climbing. I knew there might be issues riding a new bike for the first time during a race...but I didn't think it would be this bad. I was pretty disappointed because I knew I had lost 6-8 places while I was trying to pull my chain free and get it back on my gears again. I wasn't that tired after the race so I had enough to keep my placing if so many mechanicals problems hadn't arose.

Result: 28/69

Better then I had expected. A lot better. If I didn't have all those problems during the race I'm sure I could have placed 20th or better...but that's mountain biking for you. Every race is a test of your training and a little bit of luck.
I really have to work on my starting sprint and my technical skills. Probably just have to spend more time with my new bike and get used to the lines I can take now.
At least one of my teammates took third which was awesome to see...this is his second year racing and that was his first podium. My other teammate managed to take 11th despite having to fix a flat during the race.