What a different race preparation
experience! Leaving the team trailer and downhill bike at home left me
feeling like I was forgetting everything as Michael and I pulled out
from the Team Geronimo Bike Park with only our Banshee Spitfires,
helmet, gloves, camelback full of trail side tools, spare bits and old
snack wrappers. We made our way to the incredibly bike friendly town of
Durango, Colorado for the second stop of the Big Mountain Enduro Series.
I’ve been drooling over the idea of a gravity enduro race
that starts close to 12,000 feet and descends over 5,000 feet to the
finish for years and the Big Mountain Enduro looked like it had a
promising solution to satisfy my appetite for big mountain bliss. In its
first year in existence this new series secured the permits to run a race down one of the most epic trails around.
We
corralled teammate Jess and some friends and got the shuttle rolling
for a Friday morning pre-ride of the trail that started at the base of
the La Plata Mountains and would climb 2,000 plus feet to the top of
Kennebec Pass. This area is so stunningly beautiful and scenic that racing
the 22 tough, rugged and exposed miles down to the finish line at the
base of Dry Creek was going to be a tough proposition. I really enjoyed
the trail as it included a very diverse mixture of track conditions as
the landscape and altitude changed. I feel like it was pretty essential
that we pre-rode the course so I could figure out energy conservation,
bike setup and food prep.
The race
would take place on Sunday, so we spent the majority of Saturday
relaxing out at the Navajo reservoir and doing a little wake surf cross
training. There was some excitement in the air as the early evening
riders meeting rolled around to inform all riders on general information
and last minute details. It was going to be a long day of riding so a
quick stop off at the grocery store to pick up a few breakfast items and
off to Jess’s brother’s cabin we went for the night.
It
had rained steadily throughout the night and a 6am wake up call roused
us to some damp conditions outside as the puddles reflected back the dim
early morning light. There was a shuttle that was bringing the vast
majority of the riders from Durango up to the drop off spot which was a
lazy pedal down the road from where we were staying. With a good light,
yet hearty breakfast in our bellies and bikes ready to roll we waited
until 7:30 to come about and then made our way to the drop off which
started at Boren Creek at the base of Kennebec Pass road. Once riders
arrived and signed in there was a laidback yet anxious atmosphere in the
air as everyone anticipated the starting gun that would signify the
start to a long day of riding and racing. The race would start with an un-timed climb to the summit where stage 1 would begin. Everyone including myself had a race
strategy and how they would approach the climb. A large group of racers
went hot off of the line and rode hard all the way to the top where
unlimited coffee and bacon would be waiting. Jess got into a good grove
and found himself in the first group, but Michael and I both had the
same idea of taking it easy using the allotted two and a half hours time
limit to enjoy the scenery while having some fun socializing with the
other riders along the way.
Once at the top, all of the
bacon and coffee had been devoured by that hungry early bunch but
beautiful views were aplenty as I took the rest of my time to stretch,
hang out and warm up before launching myself down 3,000 feet to the 1st
stage finish line bridge. I strategically waited until I had a 5 minute
gap and would snowplow for Michael who would start 30 seconds behind.
The all too familiar start beeps sounded and off onto the Colorado Trail
I sprinted as I eyed the first hill climb grunt that would top out at
12,000 feet before starting its incredibly exposed descent traverse
across scree fields down to the valley floor. The altitude and small
climbs took their toll as I was quick to feel out of breath and weak in
the legs, but I kept it consistent and quick down the greasy trail to
the bridge. I completed stage 1 in 9th overall, all riders who I came up
on where very courteous and pulled over very quickly so it didn’t
affect my ride, Michael however wasn’t so lucky. He got stuck behind a
very cautious rider on the scree field and had to shut it down for a
minute until he finally found a way around him and finished 18th overall
on the stage. Jess had a clean run without any problems and made it
down into 13th.
Climb number two would also be
un-timed and once I took off my confidence aspiring yet semi blood
constricting knee and elbow pads I started the slow march up the steep
incline 1,000 feet above to the start of stage 2. At around the half way
point in the climb Michael and I took a 15 minute break to refuel and
check in with the other riders. I was having a great time as it felt
like the largest group ride I had ever been on, riders sharing their
experiences with each other and helping push one another upwards to
stage 2. Again I took all of the allotted time to rest and recover
drinking all my water before embarking on a very fast yet pedal pounding
stage. This time Michael was my 30 second man which was fun as I love
having a rabbit to chase. I caught and passed Michael half way into the
stage and for a while we freight trained down the fast railroad grade
trail until it ducked back into the winding trees of Dry Creek. I felt
extremely fast and in the zone but as the grade started to level out I
started to become fatigued around the 20 minute mark. One final rush of
adrenaline hit as the finish line came into view, a fast and furious few
turns wound to the line and a whip over the final double sealed the
deal into the finish corral.
The whole experience was extremely gratifying and the sense of accomplishment made this race
one of my all time favorites. The atmosphere at Ska Brewery where the
after party and results were being posted was relaxed as it had been all
weekend with all of us competitors exchanging ride stories, battle
wounds and high fives. Free beer washed down the Zia Taqueria tacos and
we all celebrated the podium winner’s accomplishments together while
lounging around the outdoor patio. Why every race cannot promote this type of atmosphere I’m not sure, but what a way to end an awesome weekend of racing.
Michael finished Stage 2 in 23rd place with a combined 18th place
overall on the day. Jess, even though I didn’t see him all day, he had a
clean ride scoring a 12th place in both Stage 2 and in the overall. I
had a good days ride, but know that I can improve upon my pedaling and
climbing ability as I came home with a very respectable 7th also in both
Stage 2 and in the overall. It was an amazing weekend in what many
would call the best place to ride a bike in Colorado, and a Monday fun
ride with my girlfriend Holly at the base Engineer Mountain down Pass
Creek Trail was the perfect way to cap off the holiday weekend and
unofficial end of summer. I cannot wait until I take towards the La Sal
Mountains in Utah the first week of October for the Whole Enchilada and
the last stop of the Big Mountain Enduro Series.
Ride on!
- Brian
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