Morning! I’m starting the day with a bit of a headache—spring’s knocking, and my window’s wide open for that fresh air charm, even though I can feel summer lurking just around the corner. Despite treating my body like it’s a rental this weekend, I’m feeling surprisingly spry. Check out the pics!
Lewiston, Idaho was scorching, believe it or not. Chatted with the race director who swears they barely see a flake of snow all winter. The blooming flowers and budding trees were proof enough—it was a full-on summer preview with the mercury hitting the 80s.
We hit town for the Devil’s Slide Mountain Bike Race, a killer warm-up for the upcoming Sea Otter Classic. Picture this: a bone-dry course with one beast of a climb and a nail-bitingly steep downhill dubbed Devil’s Slide. The bulk of the ride? Twisting single-tracks and dusty equestrian trails. The race kicked off with a climb so brutal, a bunch of us resorted to the walk of shame.
I absolutely adore this race! This year, I snagged the top spot in the expert category and managed a respectable third with the pros. My buddy Garland pulled a solid third in his first expert gig, and his kid? Smashed it in his racing debut, taking the lead among the vets. And Ross? Snagged second in the sport class, with his daughters cleaning up in the junior expert and beginner categories.
My stint was a breezy three laps, but distinguishing between the pros and us mere mortals was a bit of a head-scratcher. My game plan? Hit the ground running and cling to the leaders like glue, hoping to edge out a win in my category since we were a mix of about five pros.
Initially, I toyed with signing up for the open class to mingle with the pros, but the organizer nixed that, blending us into a three-lap free-for-all instead. Ended up finishing third overall but clinched first among the experts.
From the get-go, I was part of a trio that broke away early, setting a punishing pace (got the photo to prove it!). After conquering the first climb, it was clear we were the podium contenders.
Descending was a thrill, especially latched onto the wheel of a Leperrier from Spokane. Had to shake off some jitters from a past tumble (that gnarly crash at Whiteface Mtn, NY, remember?). But my trusty, tweaked fork from Hippietech Suspension boosted my confidence, and I zoomed down, keeping pace with the leaders.
By the second lap, I was glued to the front-runner’s wheel, surviving what I now realize was a sneaky tactical “move”. As the big climb loomed, I powered ahead, briefly tempted to break away.
Yet, self-doubt kept my foot off the gas, and I just kept spinning hard. They caught up, and we played cat-and-mouse for the whole lap.
Nearing the start/finish climb, I found myself ahead again and held steady, passing on another chance to surge forward. Thought to myself, “Keep spinning, maybe attack at the crest…”
But alas, conservative riding let the pros slip right back. I didn’t know they were on my tail until it was too late. In a moment of defensive panic, I let them overtake. Caught in their slipstream, I waited for their next move.
It came all too quickly. I was too generous letting them lead into the slide. The second-placer bogged down the pace, allowing the leader to break away on the tricky trails.
By the time I maneuvered around, the leader had a solid lead, and I hammered the final climbs in desperation, closing the gap to a mere 100 feet in a slicing headwind. The guy drafting behind me then darted past, effectively blocking my every attempt to reclaim my position.
The race ended on a narrow track, with him successfully boxing me out of second place. A bit gutted, but hey, I dominated the expert class. Would’ve loved a shot at duking it out with the leader, though. Guess I just didn’t play my cards right!
Boneshakerbike 
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