To me The Keyesville Classic represents one of the most enjoyable courses we race. Forget the city parks and fire road races. Alpine single-track is why we ride mountain bikes and so we make the trip each year to Keyesville. Maybe it rains and maybe it's snows but whatever the weather the course is always perfect.
I was welcomed to the start with the young set. I normally race 50+ but the age group was lowered to 45 which meant I had to get a good start and keep the tempo up. Dave Letteri lined up in front of me and I hoped to keep him and Rod Garret, another Chicken Rancher, in my sights. At the top of the first climb I was a minute or so behind but cleaned each climb and felt like I was in good shape. I had my sights on a familiar white jersey up front and was resigned to the fact he would beat me again. But low and behold it was a mirage as Don Jackson was actually behind me and getting closer as the second lap was about the begin.
I was jockeying back and forth with one rider who I've pass on the climbs and he'd scoot by on the downhills. Don and he were side by side up the climbs on the second lap and I was concerned Don would get me on the lower fire road part of the course with his climbing power.
Then it happened....At the top of a small steep sandy pitch Don, I believe, dropped his chain and was having a tough time extracting it from the wheel and sprocket. Well......you take advantage where you can and I got to the finish just ahead of Don, something it's taken me 3 years to do. We used to be pretty close in years past but not recently. I finished 7th out of 19 and felt great about it. Letteri won the race and Rod was in 6th just ahead of me.
A good number of the Platinum Team attended this years race including Bud Donatoni, Aaron Transki, Chris Burke, Kat Post, Roger Moore, Bob Nisbit and Steve Silva. A fun day was had but in the end it looks like I need to buy a transmission for my van. I just about never made it up the grapevine as my engine would just spin to redline slipping 4th gear to the top. I limped home and very glad to have made it to Keyesville and back.
Results:
Bud Donatoni 1st Cat 1 45+
Bob Nisbet 3rd Cat 1 45+
Steve Silva 6th Cat 1 45+
Roger Moore 9th Cat 1 30-44
Kat Post 1st Cat 2 WM 30-44
Aaron Transki 3rd Cat 2 30-44
John Goodman 7th Cat 2 45+