Winter SSeries #3: One Gear, Four SSpeeds.

I came across this description of SS riding in the last few weeks. Single speed riding is riding with one gear and four speeds: standing, sitting, walking, and puking. Luckily enough for me, I only had to use the first three at this race. The third installment of the Southridge Winter Series took place this weekend in Fontanta, CA. With the two previous races having had different courses I was not sure what to expect for the third race. Would the race organizers continue to change the course every race, or would it be a repeat of one of the previously routes? Upon arrival and completion of race registration, I was informed that today’s race route would be the same of the previous week, including the long HAB section.

My goal for this race was to keep pace with the rider (Bryant Mena) who had beaten me at the previous two races. There were a much larger group of riders in the single speed classes, and I didn’t know which of the new riders were in my class. I got off to a clean start through the flats and hit the first single-track one rider back from Mena. We hit the HAB section, and I was right on his rear tire. We pushed passed a few other riders and gained some ground on the hike. With the first HAB under our belt we both jumped back our bikes, and spun through a short single-track to the next climb. I was able to pass him on the next climb. We quickly hit the top and of the climb, then some more technical single-track descent.

I was able to put some distance between us on the descent, and now it was time to climb again. I had been pushing pretty hard on the first lap, and during the final set of climbs I was starting to feel myself on the verge of bonking. One of the things I wanted to focus on this race was to maximize my strengths and try to use the down hills to gain as much ground as possible. In my weekly riding previous to the race, I was reminded how important it is to stay loose in the down hills, and what a difference that makes in maintaining and increasing speed. The flowy downs on the back of the hill went by quickly and soon enough the first lap reached its end.

I hadn’t seen Mena in almost half a lap, and as we hit the flats at the beginning of the second lap he caught up to me. Single track led into the HAB section and this time roles were reversed, and it was Mena who was trailing me on the hike. Once clear of the HAB, we hit the brief single track to more climbing. This time he passed me on the climb. I was still on his tail on the top of the climb, and was able to pass him again as soon as the trail flattened out. Down some technical single-track, and I was able to put a comfortable amount of distance between us. Unfortunately there was still more climbing before the long descent down the back of the hill, all on the way down Mena was still in site and too close for comfort behind me.

I hadn’t seen Mena in almost half a lap, and as we hit the flats at the beginning of the second lap he caught up to me. Single track led into the HAB section and this time roles were reversed, and it was Mena who was trailing me on the hike. Once clear of the HAB, we hit the brief single track to more climbing. This time he passed me on the climb. I was still on his tail on the top of the climb, and was able to pass him again as soon as the trail flattened out. Down some technical single-track, and I was able to put a comfortable amount of distance between us. Unfortunately there was still more climbing before the long descent down the back of the hill, all on the way down Mena was still in site and too close for comfort behind me.

While I didn’t quite beat Mena, my goal to see how close I could come to him was improved. I closed the gap between us from 50 seconds to 30 seconds. Not only that, but on the same course I was able to shave three entire minutes off my time from the previous race. With the addition of several new riders in my class I ended up finishing 5th. While my final placement doesn’t seem to reflect it, I do consider this race to be a definite improvement. Looking at the race as a whole, I definitely felt stronger overall, but didn’t quite seem to have as much explosiveness as I would have like. It was like running on 80% the whole course. I could keep going at a good clip, but I didn’t feel like I had any extra to hit the gas through sections as needed. I had a little bit of cramping at the end of the second lap, something I practically never have. There are two more races to close out the winter series and my first shot at SS racing. So far, I am absolutely loving SS riding and am looking for to finishing up the series.