Is the joy in climbing the hill or is it looking down when your on top for a moment?
by Clint Hosman on November 27th, 2007
The fall season for mountain biking is over here in Arizona. Though in typical Arizona fashion it was equal to a summer season in most parts of the country as far as the weather goes. Two of the three races went down in temperatures over 90 degrees. Yeah, just in case you didn’t say “that sucks” I will fill it in for you, it did suck. I have officially signed the papers to become a monk in Al Gores church of global warming to do my part to cool the earth and more specifically Arizona. Is it bad that I don’t care about the rest of the world’s temperature as long as my home stays a perfect 80 degrees in the day all year long? But as my dad would say “there isn’t any situation so bad that it couldn’t be worse.” This is really applicable to any mountain bike race. I have always been able to pass some one who looked worse then I felt.
Despite all my bitching the fall season was great. Instead of doing the Pro category I put my big wheels to use in the marathon category. At race number one with the ridicules heat half the field dropped out before the 45 miles could even be completed. The top five all where within 5 minutes of each other though which made for some fast switches and drafting technique. I was running neck and neck with he top three guys the whole time, switching places back and forth testing each other for weakness. The strength of my Cannondale 29er showed through in the corners. Here in the Phoenix area the race is won or lost on your ability to carry speed through loose corners that are constantly changing throughout the race. My Maxxis CrossMarks hook up better in these conditions then Ron Jeremy at a swinger’s party. They pulled me to a second place finish at race number one.
The conditions as far as the heat went where the same for race number 2 at McDowell Mountain, home of the NORBA race here in the valley. I was pumped on this race because we got to do the technical loop out there which includes two of the best drops in XC racing. They are always a place to see great carnage and fellow team rider Matt was out there as we started just waiting for the crash everyone was sure would come. I hit the first drop in 3rd and the fella in front of me squealed his breaks like a little girl (my apologies to any girls reading this who can take a drop at speed) I yelled out “Breaks are for sissies†and at the bottom of the drop he looked over his shoulder at me flashing a look like he knew it was on now. He took off up the next climb like he was on fire and I could tell that that pace would not be sustainable over the next 40 miles. Sure enough it wasn’t as I caught him around mile 25 and never saw him again. The guy running out in number was another story, given another 5 miles I would have caught him as each time I came through the feed zone the better looking part of team Hosman (my wife) was giving me the spread and I finally finished under a minute behind him.
The last race as matt already illustrated was tough. This course is the most dreaded of all AZ races and for me I have a personal vendetta against it as it has broken two of my bikes as well as Travis’s last year and a peddle this time around. Now here is the funny thing, I have been racing for 7 years and in that time I have done some major events, Sea Otter, National Championships, state championships and many NORBAs. It doesn’t seem to matter how big or small or how many times I may have done this but I still get anxious the night before and morning of. I average maybe 4 hours sleep before a race and spend most of the morning fighting to keep my food down. That morning it was bad and 20 minutes before the race I “EVOMOED†in the portion leaving me nothing in the gas tanks. So now the pressure was really on, doing a marathon on an empty stomach is not recommended, easily when you are in the running for the overall title. So I slammed as many energy gels as possible and hoped for the best. And the best happened, over 40 miles I won by over 10 minutes securing my place as the overall series winner in the marathon category.
Being in the position of winning is different then second or third where I have classically made my home. This year the support from guys like EVOMO, Cannondale, Maxxis and others has lit a fire in me of what could be. Having fought my way to where I am over years of questioning and arguing over time and money dedicated to what some would consider only a hobby. To be on the receiving end of this support builds a fire within me, a fire of gratitude to Rob and Bryan liking my stupid stokes enough to offer me a position on the team. I am thankful to C’dale hooking up a great ride, to Maxxis for showing a complete stranger some love. As well as the guys at Focus, Glen who put long hours on my bike to make it work right and free of charge, you’re the man! I am just so grateful to everyone who had faith in me that I could make this more then just a pass time. Now as I get step by step closer to what I want I find not enemies wanting to tear me down but more friends wanting to help me on the way. You’re all great and I look forward to kicking everyone else’s ass this coming year with you all!
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So was Estrella an easy lover this go around, or did she spank you and call you Sally?
Apparently it left me jilted to the point that I don’t know how to spell EVOMO.
Congrats on the win… and yea brakes are for sissies. I took mine off my bike altogether. We will be guns blazin in 08… can’t wait!
You are now the official King of Pain and Suffering in the state of Arizona. Congratulations! And yep, the transfer of blood from your brain to your legs has not helped your spelling (but you are still better than Matt)