Low Gap Race Report from Glen A (2022)
Community Matters, Bikes Matter, Go Have Fun.
Low gap, January 30th 2022. 468 people lined up together for 43 miles with 5600 feet of climbing - big climbs, big descents on half paved roads and half dirt roads.
Community Matters.
At registration I saw a very worn unpainted aluminum custom bike with “Alice B. Toeclips” on the left chainstay. I said “Famous bike, are you the famous rider?
“Yes.” - Jacquie Phelan
Excerpted from the Marin Museum of Bicycling: “Jacquie Phelan was a commuter/bike advocate before she discovered bike racing. Her physical ability propelled her to the top of road racing (she won her first race).
Modern dance education and a college degree set her apart from her male racing colleagues.
For over five years she went unbeaten, and easily bested 90% of the men, as the pack was unsegregated in those early years.”
And Wikipedea: “Jacquie Phelan is an American road and cyclocross racer, and was the NORBA champion three consecutive years—1983, 1984, and 1985. Phelan is known through the US mountain bike community for having developed WOMBATS for women interested more in socializing and enjoying nature.”
She chatted with me as if I was a friend she hadn’t seen for years. I’d never met her before.
In the start mob I met BBC riders Allison P. - “Alli” (women 19-29) and David L. (men 30-39). Two hours from Berkeley and I have new friends to share some time, stories and anticipation energy with. If you meet them, ask them about their bikes. Alli on a 27.5 wheel TTT super bike and David on a beautiful, custom steel bike.
The race starts with 10 miles of climbing to peak at about 2500 feet. Near the top some guy with a camera asked me: “What are you riding?”
“2007 Fisher X-Caliber, long top tube, disc brakes, functional suspension fork and 29er wheels. Cutting edge in 07 and still good now.”
“Well done!” said Dustin Klein - You Tube. We talked some and he made sure that I was ok with his putting me on camera on the spot. Yes I’m good with that!
After 10 miles of climbing comes some fast descending. On a hardtail mountain bike with gravel tires I could descend very well and I moved through the field.
After the descent “Refrigerator Valley”, a deep shaded canyon with no sun and cold air settling to the bottom every night - biting cold in January.
I leap frogged a few riders, careful to stay in pacelines but not at the front unless attacking and moving up. After a while I see Alli again motoring in another very fast paceline. She has power and skills!
Climbing out of the valley I met super strong Berkeley Riders, BBCer Dan L. and BHS mountain bike coach Cooper. Friendly chat helped me forget about my aching legs for a little while.
Into the dirt and more climbing. With front suspension and a 29er MTB I could roll anything on the dirt easily and passed many riders on gravel bikes, for a while. After two and a half hours I stopped passing anyone and suffered the “Moment of Darkness”. Not bonk, not dehydration, just tired as hell and wracked by pain in my legs from pedaling so hard and in my arms and back from being stuck in one position on my flat mountain bikers. The moment became moments, and stretched to half an hour of suffering before the final descent.
Once again, the bike matters! I flew by most riders on the seven mile graveled, adobe, rutted, curvy washboard road. Last time on a rigid bike, with any speed I could not keep my tires from bouncing off the road - like a world cup downhiller bouncing off a ski slope. But I’m not a world cup skier so I braked hard and often, every bump stung my body. This time - on a hardtail MTB, the bumps were muffled, I kept my tires on the ground, rode fast and safe. One rider did pass me on a rigid 27.5 gravel bike and he actually looked like a world cup downhiller.
So that's the ride 3:28, 36th of 94 in my 50-59 age group, six minutes faster and three years older than 2019, 3:34 44th of 95 then. Suspension beats rigid for me on this ride.
The party continued at the Taco Truck. I picked up a burrito and sat with Henry Wildeberry - YouTube. I’ve watched his grasshopper videos so many times, I felt like I was chatting with a neighbor. He’s nice, cool, down to earth and loves to ride - things I hope to be. As we ate Jacquie Phelan came over, said, “how’s my friend Glen Augustine?” I introduced her to Henry. She also asked if she could have my pickled onions. Yes, Jacquie, it’s an honor to share my pickled onions with you!
Race Report from Glen A.
https://grasshopperadventureseries.com/