Chris, that's an excellent result! I suppose it's fitting that Dewon won? :D

As I recall from Mt. Tam hill climb results last year, Robert Anderson in the 45+ cat. had far and away the fastest time of any category (including 1/2s). That a sobering thought in case one hopes the racers might slow down with age!

Seriously, the Mt. Hamilton race is probably the toughest course on the local calender. I felt like I expended 100 times more watts than at Berkeley Hills and 1000 times more than our race at Ward's Ferry. The next most challenging course I would say is Patterson Pass, especially if there's a 30 mph head wind going up into the fog belt at Altamont Pass.

Yes, I did make the race. I left half an hour later than I had planned, so I really cut it close. I had to cover the 22 miles to the start over Caleveras Road in just over an hour. I think I took my own cold weather warning a little too seriously as I was comically overdressed for the occasion, with leg warmers, a long sleeve thermal jersey, long fingered gloves and a cap tucked in my pocket!

In my race, I stayed with the dwindling lead group until about 4 miles from the top. I then continued at my own pace with a smaller group of stragglers. I reached the top in about 1:15 min. from the start or 14.6 mph. avg. to that point. I would estimate that I was at least several minutes down on the leaders at that point.

I then made up some places on the descent which surprised me some, since I am a cautious descender in general. I might add this point in case it interests anyone that since I obtained my Scott Cr1, my descending has improved a great deal over my previous "high-end" but older steel frame. If I had read this type of claim in a bike magazine review, I would have dismissed it, but I have really found that the way this bike tracks and handles is much more predictable and reliable which has in turn given me more confidence to take better lines and go faster. I also sometimes ride with someone else who was a Pro in the 1970s and 1980s and is an excellent descender who traded in his older carbon Trek for a Scott this winter and he has gone from being a fast descender to "Il Falco". His main comment on the Scott is that it descends better than his Trek.

Anyway at the bottom of the main descent, there were three of us together and we decided to stay together. We were climbing way below my limits, but I thought the overall benefit of a group to work with for the next 40 miles was worth not going hard on the hills. Our group then grew to five or six over the miles as we cuaght up to some riders ahead. We had some fairly comic interaction with the 1/2 women lead group in which we were yelled at several times until the Eylar climb allowed us to pull away for good.

Towards the end of the race, on a longer sustained gradual 1-2 percent type big chain ring uphill I managed to get clear of our small and increasingly "dysfunctional" group with another rider and we were later joined by one more guy from our group and the three of us stayed away to the finish. We really were not sure of what place we were contesting for, but it turned out to be 10-12. I also lead out the sprint and the moment I jammed on the pedals, both legs locked up with dreadful muscle cramps so that was that. I coasted over the line at about 3 mph. In the end, I covered the course in 3:13 for a 19.0 avg. speed.

Patrick Gordis

Good job Chris.

It felt more like 80 to me, I was so overheated.

I need to work on descending too. Lot's of hard work got chewed up pretty fast due to my crummy descending skills. On the other hand, I wasn't in the ditch with the other guys near the cattle guard hairpin. Hope they are ok.

Patrick,

Did you make it today?
We got lucky with the weather. According to the weather station, it was about 54 when we went over the summit, much better than yesterday's weather.
51 year young Robert Anderson and I pushed the climb, & I went over the top first, even though there was no KOM prize for Cat 3 (that's probably why no one went with me), but I'm not so good on the downhill and got passed by 10 guys (darned Mtn. Bikers!). I was able to work back up to the lead pack, and after the next set of moderate climbs we were down to 4 guys, and the 4 of us worked together real well to the finish, until I started sprinting when I saw the 1K to go sign (hey, I'm still a rookie and making stupid mistakes). Needless to say, the other 3 riders went by me with Christon DeWon (Roaring Mouse) taking the win, Robert Anderson (Fralock) 2nd and Christopher Carey (Arete) taking 3rd.

3 Chris's in the top 4, not bad.

Chris

CPhipps wrote:Thanks Patrick!

I was relying on the SJ & Livermore forecasts, and was prepared for weather in the 50's at the lowest. I guess I'll wear my arm warmers and bring a wind jacket for the descent.

Are you racing?

Chris

Thanks, Chris. I am not preregistered and I am planning to ride to the start so I am not totally sure I'll make it in time. I hope to get into 35+ 1/2/3 which still has some room in it. However, without support and riding back to my car in Sunol, I probably won't really be "racing", just covering the distance and getting some experience in the next category.

Best of luck to you and your teammates!

Patrick Gordis, GPC

Thanks Patrick!

I was relying on the SJ & Livermore forecasts, and was prepared for weather in the 50's at the lowest. I guess I'll wear my arm warmers and bring a wind jacket for the descent.

Are you racing?

Chris