Downiville Classic !!!

Well I just got back from racing in the Downieville Classic XC Race and it was quite an experience.  I woke up at 5:00 a.m. ate some breakfast (that ended up on the side of Highway 49 later) loaded up my bike and headed up to Sierra City. 

                                    My racer buddies Jon and Cameron

The 29 mile Downieville Classic XC Race begins with a grueling 8 mile shaley 3,000 ft elevation gain climb that starts on Butte St. in Sierra City and ends at Packer Saddle. 

                                     Me starting up the "trail of tears".

 From there it follows Sunrise Trail, a fun flowy singletrack with rollers and banked turns.  After this the course turns to a rolling fire road that provides good spots to pass.  After 6 miles of fire road the race course goes downhill through the infamous "baby heads" a lose, fast, and super rocky dissent that connects to Pauly Creek Trail.  Pauly Creek Trail begins by crossing Pauly Creek which is wide and deep making it hard to find a line, after the stream crossing P. Creek Trail turns into a fast technical singletrack with multiple foot bridges, rocks, and slippery roots.  P. Creek Trail hooks up to the end of Butcher Ranch Trail which is fast, rocky, and includes a very painful 700 ft elevation climb which brings you to 3rd Divide Trail.  3rd Divide Trail is a steep, smooth, and super fast downhill that ends on Lavezzola Rd. a wide dirt road that brings you to 1st Divide Trail.  1st Divide Trail is not too technical but requires a ton of peddling. 1st Divide connects to Lavezzola Rd. which takes you to downtown Downieville for the finish!    
  

  Me after crossing the finish line in second place!

                                         
 I finished second in my category with a time of 2:46:38. No mechanicals or medicals. Yeeha!

                                                My results !

My competition, congrats everyone.

  I was impressed by this DH bike, it is made out of steel and hand welded in San Francisco.

                                             
      The bike expo and street fair is always fun to look at, plus free shwag is available at all the booths!   There was every thing from hubs to Cliff Bars.

   This is a short travel gravity bike available from the same company also made out of steel.

                                          

     Ron's House of Big Air (a long wooden jump that ends in the North Yuba River was super entertaining. Riders first had to compete in a qualifying round in order to advance to the finals.  The winner is decided by how loud the crowd cheered and gets a pair of carbon wheels.  Congrats McLovin!!! 

Me and the winner on the podium. I received a medal, Easton EC70 carbon handlebars and a box of Cliff Bars

Looks like these guy aren't going to feel very good for the Downhill Race.

                               
The Downieville Classic is an awesome event to race in and to attend.  If you didn't make it this year make sure you come next year. - Happy trails !!!