Back to Big Bear

Sunday was the first race of the season up at Big Bear (Race #4 of the California State Series). We only have three races there this year, as compared to previous years when we had at least 5 or 6. It's always nice to get back up to Big Bear and away from the heat down in the lowlands. The weather was great and the course conditions ended up being alot better than one week prior when Joy, Teri and I tried to guess what the race course would be.

The pleasant surprise was that we ended up racing on much more singletrack than I had expected. This made the day much more enjoyable than just racing on the sandy fire roads. We got to ride 1E01 going up (normally we go down), which made it fun and challenging. 1E01 is definately one of my favorite trails on the mountain. Also got to ride down Lower Falline to Fern trail which is also technical and fun! I give props to Team Big Bear who put together a great course!

I just flew back from Austin, TX (trip for work) on Friday night, so I was not feeling as energized as normal. Didn't think it would be a great day, but after the first 25 min or so of the race, my legs opened up. Still not sure where the energy came from (maybe my Espresso flavor Hammer Gel w/ caffeine?), but enjoying the course and the nice weather probably helped. Also, working with Teri at the start (who had an excellent start!) really helped motivate me through the first round of pain. She helped keep me from fading out during the first climbs. I was very proud of Teri yesterday because she was looking very strong when we were together and was having a great race until she flatted near the end of the course. I also enjoyed riding with Jeremy, Jay and Bob a few times in their respective race categories along the route.

I ended up finishing 2nd place overall. I guess I ended up feeling pretty strong yesterday as the race went on, even after travelling and not feeling super motivated to do the race. So I can't complain about that! It ended up being a good day. I know Carolyn wasn't feeling well (but still raced), else I probably would have had some more work ahead of me! Congrats to Mandy who finished 3rd and Tommara the usual 1st place finisher! Man she's fast!

Thanks to Jess, Chris and Nicole for coming up for the race! Also for bringing mini-Murphy (Jade the puppy who looks just like Murphy). Greg also enjoyed the company for sure!

Congrats to Team K&N Jeremy who also had another podium finish! Other podium pals include James, Jay and Papo! Congrats! It was also great to have in addtion to myself, Teri and Jeremy, fellow K&N teammates Matt and Trevor racing too. Might I add that Matt is not only a pro racer, but also has a 1 year old son!

Next stop: Santa Barbara Bike Festival in 2 weeks. Can't wait, should be a great course PLUS Fat Tire Beer on tap! That might entice Greg into going!

News Flash!

Team K&N Performance is featured in an article on Mountain Bike Action's website. Check it out!

Trestle the cat: Just Chillin (or Chillaxin' as Shane likes to say)

NORBA Nationals Round #1

We just finished round 1 of the NORBA National Championship Series in Fontana, CA (20 min drive from our house). It was a whirlwind weekend with lots of excitement, stress, pain & suffering, high and low points.. everything that a big race weekend is meant to be.

Things kicked off Friday night when Joy claimed an awesome 3rd place in the Open Women's Short Track (an event I have learned to know well over the past few years). I was still at work when she was racing, but was glad Teri got to witness first hand what is being dubbed the best race of Joy's career to date!

Race 1: Cross Country

Saturday kicked off the racing for me and the other pros with the cross country race. As this was my first NORBA race as a pro, I was both very excited and VERY NERVOUS. The announcers called each of us to the start line and naturally my last name was mispronounced (Fortunately, Longo says it properly which he would do Sunday at STXC staging). However, I was still excited and also excited that Teri was called up right after me. So we go to start near eachother. Everything would have been fine and dandy had I not been tangled in a pile up that occured no more than 20 yards from the start line. I wasn't hurt, but had to collect myself and my bike and get going again. I had to make my way back through the pack and was stuck behind people WALKING on the very first mini-not-even-really-technical climb. Things would continue like this for much of the first lap, as people were falling everywhere! I managed to make it through the 1st lap back up in the 30s (out of 62 starters) and maintained that through the 2nd lap. Probably was as high as 32nd or 33rd at the start of lap 3. That is when the ol legs said they were done. I felt like I had lost some of my power and the heat was really getting to me. I dropped my chain (on the inside)! Then lost my position and at least a few minutes because of how I felt especially after getting off my bike to get the chain sorted out (a 2nd time). Not to mention the times I fell or had to manage the very fast pro men passing (most were VERY NICE thank you)! I am pretty sure just about EVERYONE who raced the XC fell down at least once or had some issue. Finally when I knew I was getting closer to the end, I was able to pick it back up a bit, but only enough to regain 1 of the spots I had lost. In the end I was 37/62, not too bad for my NORBA pro debut. Also I hadn't slept as much as normal during the days leading up. THAT I am sure, went into play! I will chalk it up as a decent result and a good learning experience.

Thanks to everyone for the awesome support. Especially JOY for feeding me and helping all of us get out little warm up area sorted out, Gregs (Johnson & Pleiss) for sweet photos and words of support, Country James for making me keep on riding up that first steep climb around the walkers, Papo and everyone else who was out there supporting! Also special thanks to our friend David W who also came out from Redlands to watch!

Race 2: Short Track A.K.A "The Hurricane of Pain"

Sunday was the short track on what ended up being quite a challenging course! I tried my best to recover properly after the cross country, so we would see what happens. I was definately tired, still trying to catch up on sleep and manage all of the excitement. I warmed up for a long time hoping that it would help. Staging took place, my name pronounded right (Thanks Longo!) and this time the National Anthem was sung before our race (Sat the pro men had the honor). It was definatley a special feeling to be lined up once again with the best mountain bikers in the country (and some best in the world!). The race started and naturally I got boxed in around the first corner (DARN IT!). I had to seriously make up some time, so I just hammerd around as many people as I could right away. However, we ended up in a massive bottleneck at the descent section. I saw Teri pick up her bike and run over the rocks. I followed her and realized that we were not going to be riding down this thing unless we waited 10 minutes for the bottleneck to clear. It was intense, but we made it down OK and back on the bikes. I knew I had to make up some more positions, so passed a cluster of gals right at the start/finish line. passed a few more around the next few sections. I heard the whistle blowing which meant they were ALREADY pulling people after only 2 laps! YIKES! I guess I needed to hustle. Teri shouted me a message I must have heard without realizing. She had been pulled and was shouting to me to GO!!!!!!! I was in alot of pain (as we all were in this event), but tried my best to keep going. After 4 laps, I was pulled too. Only 22 women ended up staying in without being pulled. Turned around expecting to see the leaders come through and after at LEAST 1 minute, no one was coming. I was very surprised to be pulled because apparently I was not far off some girls who ended up making it into the final 3 laps. OH WELL, next time go faster and don't get boxed in! In the end I finished 34/53. Not too bad, but always so frustrating to get pulled too early!

Before and after the race I got to see several friends who came to watch! Edie, Katy, Greg & Ronda Mader (with baby Lorelei!). Not to mention all of the other usual suspects like Veeze, James, Ara & and the Backbone Crew, fellow K&N teammates, Kenny and who knows who else! I heard alot of voices out there during the race and it HELPED. EVERYONE in the world could hear James (Cross) cheering us on. "I KNOW THIS IS PAINFUL CHRISTIE... BUT THIS IS YOUR KIND OF COURSE!!!!" was just one of the selections from James during the race. Other comments like "GO CHRISTIE GO! GET ON HER WHEEL!" etc etc. The funny thing is that I could hear James EVERYWHERE on the course as if he was right there. Matt commented that he could hear him loud and clear during his race too.

All in all it was a successfull first NORBA weekend. I felt proud to see so many great results for my friends and teammates. Also really enjoyed our house guests and super strong racers: Zeph, Kenny & Heather. All three of them had a great showing at Fontana!

Check out our team site for more scoop on how everyone did and lots of excellent photos!

Firestone Walker Race Report

Yes that's me the one holding up 2 arms while everyone else was holding up 1. Maybe it was because I was extra excited to be there? If you look closely my eyes are watering with emotion. Then I looked out into the crowd and saw Teri doing the same. It was a special moment I have to say. I think Teri and I hugged 100 times that day. James was kneeling down in the front taking this picture. He was happy too.

The race was held at the Firestone-Walker property near Los Olivos/Solvang (right at the mile 90 SAG stop for those of you who have done Solvang Century). I rode up with Joy and her posse (Jason, Uriah and Dozer the 105 lb American Bulldog.. not even full grown yet).

Saturday we did an easy pre-ride of the course realizing that it was going to be a very fast race and it would be mentally challenging as well since everyone would likely be together for a while. James was there helping me, Joy and Mandy tune up our bikes. Thanks James! Sat evening we did the pasta-feed at the venue with Meggan/Steve and Sami/Jon.

Sunday race day: The cloud cover burned off, the humidiy was rising along the with temps and my nervousness. It was going to be our first hot race of the year which always takes some adjustment. Race started in the peak of the heat and as I expected went out FAST. Most of the group stayed together for the first 30 minutes or so, and then finally broke apart. I stuck in the top 5 with some toggling as high up as 3rd on the first lap (with some interesting tactics and mind games to deal with). In the end I ended up in 4th overall out of a strong field of 12 pro women, only 35 seconds out of 2nd place! I tried so hard to catch #2 and #3 but they always saw me coming. So of course they weren't going to give it up that easy! It was a great experience, definately excellent training as the season continues!

Congrats to Jeremy who took another sport 25-29 podium in 4th place! He was looking very strong out there that is for sure.

Congrats to Joy who took first in her expert class and 2nd fastest expert time of the day. Thankfully she had NO MECHANICAL problems!

Congrats to Ara who finished his first marathon race. 5 laps of a 15.5 mile course!

Thanks once again to the Backbone crew for their cheers and support out there on the course!