Nappa Valley Dirt Classic

Napa Valley Dirt Classic Race Report 13 April, 08
by Steve Bowman

I headed down to Angwin to do the Napa Valley Dirt Classic on Sunday. I did it for the first time, and really enjoyed it. What a classic course! It has it all really and is not one to miss. I drove down to Napa with Stacey and Hannah and we got there in plenty of time to reg and hang out with a bunch of familiar faces from local races. The weather was incredible. I could not believe how warm it was…definitely the warmest day of the year so far.

I pre-registered in the singlespeed sport category with the hope upgrading to singlespeed expert if they let me do it without an annual license. Get to the registration table and they confirm that all Expert categories require a $60 annual license…I was not ready to shell out $60 for a license….so, Singlespeed Sport it is! I bumped into Victory Velo teammate Todd Richardson in the registration line, and he going to be racing singlespeed sport as well.
Back to the car to get ready to warm-up. I found out the other night my 29'er won't fit on the trainer so I rode laps on the finish "track" for a bit and did 2 "starts" up the start hill. Oh not so good. Legs are not feeling too good. I guess Prairie City on Wednesday night and two hard rides and Thursday and Friday put me in the pain box off the blocks but I knew I would recover and get better as the race progressed.

Singlespeed starts must be the funniest thing ever to watch. A bunch of guys furiously peddling at over 100 rpm and going nowhere fast. LOL. I start a few rows back and held good position up to the "hike a bike" section which was slick because it was loose, dry and very dusty. I got over the top and was now chasing Todd, Cody Kaiser and a Sycip guy and it looked like I was maybe in 9th place, but it was hard to tell because the singlespeed sport and expert classes started together.

Our group of four is cruising trough the first 2-3 miles of flat fire roads at a fast pace. I am focused on a smooth spin and steady breathing, and notice that I am spinning faster than the rest of the group. It is going to be tough to hold onto their wheel. I am running 2:1 (32x18) on a 29’er. I guess they must be running a slightly bigger gear. I had received advice that attrition plays a big part in this race, as there are 2 steep climbing sections near the end of the race and if you could stay strong you have a good chance of reeling guys back after the big hike-a-bike. We hit the first climb and pass a couple singlespeed racers, and transition into some gradual downhill mixed with some flats. Still having trouble with pace on the flat sections. I decide to let the group go hoping to catch back on later in the race.

After 30 min or so I start getting into some of the Pro/Expert women, which wasn't a problem. Not long after that I got into the tight single track. I hit the fourth or fifth turn in the singletrack a little hot and overshoot the turn into some bushes. While getting untangled, one singlespeeder passes me. I am back on course (no injuries) and I quickly catch up noticing that he is in singlespeed expert class. We ride together through the incredible redwood covered singletrack chatting and laughing occasionally. The course has epic switchbacks and I kept telling my self to keep the pace up and not daydream about the beautiful scenery. The rider in front of me introduces himself as Jeremy with Breakaway Bikes. We ride the rest of the singletrack section together and take turns pulling on the flat sections before the big downhill into Pope Valley. It’s about an hour + into the race I am feeling good but am starting to feel some fatigue.

We hit the big downhill and begin the BIG climb out of the backside of the valley. It is at this point that I realize just how hot it has gotten now that we are on the hot exposed hike-a-bike section. Sweat is pouring off of me. Jeremy disappears up the hill. Did I say it was Hot!? I guess my body was not accustom to the summer-like temps. I kept the pace as high as I could and I managed to catch another guy on the steepest part of the climb, of course we are both pushing our bikes, I was just able to push a little quicker :) reach the top of the steep section, grab some water and see Todd Richardson in the distance. I hop back on the biking hoping to catch him and quickly realize it not going to happen.

My legs are now very tired. I have officially popped. I reach the short pavement section and look back to see a somewhat familiar face. It’s Jeff Barker (Folsom Breakout) who races in the same division with me at the Prairie City Race Series. Where the heck did he come from???? At this point, I know it is going to be a battle to the finish line. For a moment I am not paying attention to course and make a wide turn before the nasty hike a bike section. Barker takes the inside line, passes me and nails it down the steep section. As I follow him down, the my wheel jumps into a bad line and it forces me to take the bottom turn slower and wider. Meanwhile, Barker is sprinting down the fire road creating a gap between us. As we fly down through the meadow and onto the track, he maintains a 200-300’ lead and beats me to line by 8 seconds. Overall, I finished my category in fourth place with a time of 1:50:28. Kind of a bummer to miss the podium by one place…but that’s racing.

I saw Todd after the race. He ended having a great race. He finished in 2nd place with a time of 1:49:30.

What a fantastic race! My goal for the day was to finish top 5 for my category, so I am happy with the 4th place result. Props all around to the organizers. I loved this race. It is a tough course, but I am definitely going to do it again next year!