Over the Hump Mountain Bike Race, Irvine

The past few weeks have been trying… I’ve been sick, and I’ve had to re-evaluate my cycling plans for the year.  As many of you know, i was gearing up to race the Furnace Creek 508 with another woman, a two-woman relay! I spent 200-300 miles per week on my bike preparing for this race.  It was to be an epic spiritual journey, and I couldn’t wait.  I lost my partner, and that dream was quashed, at least for this year.  All of that momentum has to go somewhere though, right?

I had also planned on racing the Everest Challenge, a race in which you climb the elevation of Mount Everest in the course of 200 miles and 2 days in the Bishop, California region near Mammoth.  This is also a great feat requiring major focus but it was my second goal to the 508and as such my efforts were not 100% towards the Everest Challenge.  After having acquired bronchitis for a week and taking a little too long to recover, I am now rethinking Everest.  If I am healed, I will go!

In the midst of all of this melee, a few of my friends and Team Taberlay mates wanted to go to Irvine to race in the Over the Hump race. Something sorely needed in the Southern California region is a weeknight mountain bike race- akin to the Short Track races in Boulder which are announced by Dave Towle!

I hadn’t decided to race until I arrived.  And I am so happy I did!  This was my first race in a year, and my first mountain bike race in who knows how long, several years!  I was aboard the Cannondale Rize, a 5″ travel all-mountain bike weighing in around 25 pounds or so as spec’d.  It’s also a demo bike, and not my own- not all tricked out and personalized.  However- it was a complete blast!

I also forgot my gloves, and had some good fast rider mojo from Sid Taberlay… thanks, “Mate” for the gloves!  And I have to admit I could have never felt so good out there without my pre-race MRP.

I lead the entire race, with Vicky Chernoff of Sho-Air on my wheel.  I was barely able to lose her on the 3rd lap, but she was still around the corner every lap! We had 4 grueling laps of a mix of short hills and plenty of flats. with some super fun singletrack!

Over 300 racers showed up for this great race, and I suspect about 200 non-racers and spectators were around as well. It was a huge success, and I look forward to more!  Some photos of me on facebook.com/mtbchick.