WELCOME To THE BIG TIME-MAY 19.
WELCOME To THE BIG TIME-MAY 19.
The Big Bear National was not the most enjoyable ride that I had hoped for. But I was still excited. Did it have to do with the fact that I raced on the same course Roland Green and his crew? Was it because I had ridden on the most challenging course at Snow Summit?
To find out, take a lap with us.
WELCOME to THE BIG TIME
Expert and Sport riders raced the same 7.25-mile loop as the Pros. The riders started on the sidewalk at Summit Boulevard. We headed up the slope, then cut back to the resort, and ran out the Towne Trail. The terrain is mostly flat with a few medium-length grinders. Soon, the riders began to unclip and climbed up the Ol National Hike-a-Bike 30.5 m. We picked up the pace on the Mid Mountain Trail at the top. The course got more interesting. You could ride in and out a concrete drain culvert. We then cut across the slope, and dropped down a loosely grooved, rocky chute. It was deemed treacherous by some. It was fun, regardless of whether you were scared.
HALF WAY DONE
The riders gathered again at the bottom of the dangerous drop as they climbed up the switchback Skid Trail. This is why Fighting for Traction Trail should be named. It was possible to pedal up to the top on it. We rode under a lift station access road, and then carved another switchback to reach the top. Riders rode along the Unnamed Road at 2,377.4 meters. There was still plenty of climbing left. The course became more of a fire road at the top, and we continued on to my favorite spot: The Fall Line. Even though the trail is rocky and difficult, good descenders can still cut their own path and avoid the rutted sections that are clogged with competitors. We speed down Bristlecone Trail to the bottom, then we draft down Bristlecone road for one mile back to the start. We were then sent back through the Start/Finish chute for another lap, and 548.6m of climbing.
SALE
Every lap was accompanied by Larry Longo, Big Bear Announcer. He shouted praises for Team MBA’s nine-pound magazine test bike. It’s not as light as other bikes we have seen Larry take up. It was certainly easier than most of the Pros bikes. It’s a Specialized S-Works FSR box-stock chassis with a different fork. The stock SID was replaced by a 03 Rock Shox World Cup SID equipped with remote lockout. A Bontrager Racelite Wheelset was wrapped by the Notubes-converted Continental Explorer Pros. The weight is 103kg thanks to the XTR cogset and Ti skewers. Even though it is not nine pounds, nobody will complain about the full suspension weight.
NATIONAL TRIVIA
The Experts raced three laps, while the Sport class raced two. A 13-mile version of Grandview Loop was created for Beginners. Despite the fact that Southern California is in the midst of yet another drought, dust has never been an issue. It’s great to take a course that is so difficult in places that Pros had to dismount to walk down. While the Euros were having a hard time finding their hero, the layout allowed spectators ample opportunity to see him. The spineless NORBA crew was utterly flustered after the Euro riders complaining about their panty-waist. They wanted to alter the course they had approved several weeks before. Who is running this sport anyway?
There are many more options
Ten races remain on the Snow Summit XC/DH race schedule: June 1/2 Amateur Cup 1; June 8/9 Womens only; August 10 12-Hour; August 24/25 Amateur Cup 3; September 14 Big Bear 100 Mile Epic; September 21/22 Amateur Cup 4 and September 29 Gotta Thunder Downhill. The Fall Classic will be held October 12/13. Each race is unique and the Fall Classic is more like a festival than a race.
If we don’t get any rain, full knobbies will be your tires of choice. Get out there!
MY NATIONAL EPILOGUE
Johnny OMara, Mercury Master Rider, won Expert 40-44. He beat me by 16 minutes. That’s it!
Click Here to Read the National Wrap Up Story of MBAs
