24 Hours of Big Bear 2007

This was the best year yet for the 24 Hours of Big Bear, in my humble opinion. Sure, there weren't as many teams as last year, but a big handfull of energetic cyclists made the trek to the airstrip for a fantastic 24 hours of racing. Once again, granny put on a great event with the smooth professionalism we have grown to expect.

The weather was nearly perfect. The showers Friday evening laid down just enough rain to knock down the dust without creating any mud. After the fog burned off Saturday just before race time, we were graced with warm sunny days and clear cool nights - perfect race weather.

This was my third year at the 24 Hours of Big Bear, and I think I finally have the course dialed in. The first few miles keep the rider in check. The mix of true singletrack and singletrack-on-old-road-grade trail presents twisty flowy turns and long staight aways, with just enough rock bumps and short uphills to keep speeds from getting too excessive. Miles four through six flow by like a blur. Once past the rock drop just after the four mile marker, the trail becomes smooth snaking singletrack that carries the rider through the old burn area and pine plantation with ease. After mile six, the smootheness quickly fades into the past, and the long rocky downhill awaits. For those of us who ride hardtails without disc brakes, the pounding can be almost unbearable. Being passed on that hill on a couple of laps by racers bombing down the trail at three times my speed on full suspension machines, left me longing for a rear shock. After the long awaited bottom, with a series of quick turns and drops, the trail passes the strategically placed EMT tent and climbs a gentle grade back up along and old double track road. Miles seven through ten present a smattering of singletrack situations, ranging from rocky uphills to laurel smooth laurel tunnels to quick smooth downhills. Mile ten is by far the most taxing of the course, starting with a helacious boulder garden and culminating in the one long steep climb of the course. The first half of mile eleven clims slightly to the ridge top, and the rest if a mix of fast flat or slightly downhill smooth singletrack and mini rock gardens until the trails spits racers out at the foot of the infamous grannygear bridge at the transition tent.

Tomorrow I'll post some good pictures from the race. Now I sleep.