As I barreled down the track with my heart thumping at a rapid 170 bpm, it seemed too intense to be real. Yet, there I was, carving through a hairpin turn, leaning into it with all my might. My bike, my dream machine, hugged the curve with the tenacity of Velcro, and I couldn’t help but marvel at its precision. Inches from the apex, I was tearing it up, fully immersed in the moment—except, this was no figment of my imagination. I was genuinely racing against time to catch the starting line of the Devils Slide 2011.

Barely making it, decked out in Team Muleterro colors, I arrived just in the nick of time for the brief, two-minute racers’ meeting. It went something like, “I won’t be timing, so we’re going by placements. Any questions?” No sooner had the front liners, the Cat 1s and pros, agreed to let one of Vertical Earth’s riders lead the pack, than we were off. Contrary to our gentle start agreement, our leader blasted ahead, setting a fierce pace until the first ascent, where he gracefully bowed out, letting the heavy hitters take the reins.

Amongst the lead pack, Kevin Bradford-Parish of EMDE Sports and Kris Holden were the titans to beat. As we tackled the climb, I resisted the urge to push too hard, opting instead to stay tucked in the draft. Looking back, I should’ve seized the moment to break away. Before I knew it, the race’s dynamics shifted, leaving just four of us to dominate the field by the climb’s end.

The Devils Slide was my proving ground, where my new bike’s mettle was truly tested. It soared down the descent, keeping pace effortlessly. In previous races, this segment had been my downfall, but not this time. My only hiccup came when Kevin outmaneuvered me on a “safer” route, demonstrating that my cautious approach had cost me precious speed. It was a lesson in the art of featherlight braking.

Suddenly, I found myself in third place, wary of Kevin possibly letting the leader, a fellow Vertical Earth rider, slip away. Amidst tactical silence and unspoken strategies, I saw my chance and surged forward, clawing my way to second place by the end of the first lap, with the EMDE rider breathing down my neck.

Determined to shake up the race, I ramped up the intensity. If it came down to a sprint, I doubted my chances of victory. So, I pressed on, widening the gap with each pedal stroke. But as fate would have it, my handlebars chose that moment to loosen, turning my ride into a cautious balancing act.

As the climb loomed again, my competitors mistook my sudden deceleration for exhaustion. Frantically, I worked to tighten the screws with my multitool, cursing my luck and the potential wrath of my dad for the damage to my carbon bars.

Yet, despite the setback, my bike responded like a dream, catapulting me past my rivals on the climb. The race’s dynamics shifted once more, with Kevin making a bold move up the climb. Not to be outdone, I gave it my all, my bike ascending like a spirited gazelle.

As we neared the Slide again, I sensed Kris’s strategy to shadow my moves. My bike, however, was unstoppable, even with the handlebars askew. By the second lap’s end, I was hot on Kevin’s heels, with the trio of us jostling for the lead.

In the final moments, tactics and endurance were put to the ultimate test. Despite my best efforts, Kevin’s adept maneuvering on the final climb sealed my fate. I crossed the finish line in his wake, gracious yet hungry for victory.

Reflecting on the race, under the sun’s perfect glow, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It was a day of intense competition, camaraderie, and the sheer joy of riding.

NOTE: Many thanks to Doug Goodenough for capturing the essence of the race with his photography. Visit his gallery to show some love and check out the race results. Here’s hoping he’s cool with the photo use!