Adam Snyder checks in from the Downieville Classic.
Downieville Rocks!
The trails are sweet and I had a really fun time pre riding the course this year. This was my 3rd time here so I kinda know the course now so even on my first run I was able to open it up and shred. On my first run I actually hit my fastest top speed of the weekend, topping out at 35.6. Yeah that’s right 35.6 on a mtb and on single track…What? That’s just how sweet it is here. The trail itself was a little muddy and wet this year due to the fact that there was snow on course and we were going through shoveled sections of trail. This made the lower section of the course just sick, it can normally get real dusty here but this year it was just fast hard pack ripping. Need less to say it was proper trail ripping and really fun.
As for the racing well apparently having good form doesn’t count for everything unless you have some luck. I went into Downieville this year with high hopes for a high placing but sometimes that’s just the way she goes. I think I used up all my good luck the past 2 years at Downieville. I think I won the category for the most mechanicals out there, the worst was having a rock fly through my rear wheel and decapitate my valve stem….just plain bad luck. Nothing that a few cold ones can’t cure though. Aside from the race action D-ville (we’ll refer to it as from hence forth) is a wicked good time. The trails SHRED and the town and people at the race ROCK! I arrived on Thursday and town was pretty dead, it seems Thurs is when all the serious racers show up and on Friday the rest of Cali shows up. It’s a really cool scene and I suggest you put it on your cycling bucket list.
Main St. D-ville shut down for 2 days, yeah they like there bike race.
That photo is from later in the day when it’s slow. The expo scene is pretty sweet reminiscent of the good ol’ days. There is a lot going on in the town when you’re not up on the hill doing runs. For instance there is the World’s largest connect 4…
When you’re feeling hungry from a big game of connect 4 (those chips are heavy) you can grab a bite to eat at the Chris King booth. That’s the man himself right there, front and center.
If you didn’t get enough riding in during the day then you can get some solid power training on the log pull bike. Man it was funny watching people try and ride that thing around right after they finished the XC.
I also want to give a big shout out to Peter Mollison (Nor Cal rep for Jamis) and crew for being so awesome and helpful this weekend. He took care of me all week and chauffeured me around like a pro. Huge props to him and Jamis for making it all possible.
Now it’s time for me to pack and nurse my emotional wounds with one of these free little guys from New Belgium. That’s a big beer…and should help wash the dust down from a weekend in the Sierras.
