June sat 5, 2004. 8 hours of Sonoma - Billy Cross
Racing
Entry fee : $40.00
solo 13/26
7 laps. 6h.35mn.45sc 1200 feet of climbing per lap!!!
So, after finishing the 24 hours of Adrenaline at Laguna Seca (10th in 5 man
team), I decided to do my 1st solo race with one of my teammates. Arrived on
Friday afternoon, went for reconnaissance lap with some other racers and let me
tell you it was fun-single tracks, technical, short climbs, fast downhills,
walk-a-bike, etc....nice sunset over the lake and vineyard, a perfect afternoon
ride in Sonoma. That's the fun part...... Now it's a little bit more serious,
the sun and heat are already at the "rendezvous" and it's only 7 am.
By 10 am (start of the race) it's nice and WARM and windy. The solos are last to
start, as usual. Everybody starts fast, the first part is uphill on asphalt for
1/2 mile, then a sandy downhill twisty single track, cross over a small bridge
with just enough clearance for a tire, short uphill with tight switchbacks,
small downhill with rocks, roots, tight uphill on the edge of a quarry where one
mistake sends you DOWN, downhill with loose red sand, steps, tight turns, up and
down in the woods with 3 dry river crossings where you have to carry your bike
(some manage to cross them on their bike, others pay the price, if you know what
I mean), then more single tracks in the open where the sun smiles on you, short
downhill with a big rock to jump. Then you have to walk your bike uphill (in the
shade), more single track in the open, uphill on the only short fire road to go
back down in a twisty single, uphill (again) in shady steep single track to
arrive at the last downhill before going back up again in very loose gravel to
the top of the parking lot where the wind hits you in the face, back to the
starting area where you have to write your own time according to the referee. My
first lap is complete in 34mn.18s (some did it in 29 min!!!) I kept on going for
my second lap, got stuck behind somebody, and fell just before this f@#?: small
uphill, my left knee bled a little but nothing serious. Finished my second lap,
rested for 5 min and back again for the 3rd. After finishing my third lap, I had
to rest a little longer, eat and drink. It went on like this until my last lap
(7). It was a very nice experience where you test your limits. Some solos did 10
or even 13 laps (winner) and I admire them, so for next time I will try to do 8
or 9. The organization was perfect all the way to the end with beer, bbq and
more!!! Benoit.