Cable Area Off-Road Classic - 20 Mile Division

Cable, WI
Cable Off-Road Classic Saturday May 14, 2011
by: Kit Cischke

The story for the Cable Area Off-Road Classic is the same for everyone.  It’s the first or second time we’ve raced the fat tires this year, and most of us have very few days on dirt at all.  I only had two days on singletrack (totaling about 2.5 hours) and hadn’t turned a pedal in anger since November.

Since my real focus is on ‘cross this year, I’ve been signing up for shorter MTB events—including the 20 mile Cable Classic.  After a last-minute emergency trip to New Moon Bike and Ski in Hayward (they were fabulous!), my family and I spent a chilly night at the KOA in Hayward and then headed up to Lakewoods for the start.  After a nice chat with fellow team member Aaron Sturgis (instigated by our mutual admiration of quality T6 headwear), I lined up and tried to make a point of chasing another member of the Crew, Anthony Ferrara.  Turns out he’s a lot faster than me.

Riding the short course meant we didn’t get to play on singletrack - at all.  It was all fire roads and two track, so it felt like a mix of a gravel grinder and the Cheq 40.  I was feeling good that I could hang with the faster 25-mile racers when the courses merged, but ended up all by myself after the courses split again.  I spent 11 miles chasing some guy in a red jersey without the benefit of someone breathing down my neck to spur me on.  I did catch him once, but he passed me back when I spun out on a steep, wet and slippery climb (which I think is part of the Cheq 40 course). 

There is else nothing to report about the race until we hit the rail grade heading into Cable.  I got into the big ring, really put my sights on that red jersey and passed him with a mile to go.  A young guy in a Discovery Channel Stars and Stripes jersey was fading and I passed him too.  I tried to catch one last rider on the paved section leading to the finish line, but couldn’t.  I came across the line 14th overall and 4th in the 30-34 age bracket.  I was 6 seconds out of 3rd place, behind that rider I couldn’t catch.

So a good race, crummy weather and good feelings for the rest of the season.  (And a chance to interact with some other team members!)  A good weekend on the dirt.