SB Racing Finals By Mik Urbina

Decided to go single speed on this one. Off the line I was spinning out again but not DFL this time. Actually started passing some people on the fire road then it was onto pavement (Jacks Road) and climbing..We then hung a left onto a groomed but very gravelly fire road that started out fairly steep. Needless to say I was having trouble finding traction but stayed on the bike. Even some on geared bikes were walking this.


This lung burning section went on for about a half mile then we started descending. After about 3 miles we are back on Jacks Road and going downhill. I am first single speeder at this point. I sprint to catch a draft off a guy on a geared bike and tuck in right on his rear wheel. His rear derailler starts acting up and I get a little worried that his chain may wrap up with me about 2 inches from his wheel. Up ahead I see a sharp left back onto the dirt but something is not right. There are riders coming up the road toward us, funneling into the dirt. A photographer yells "you guys went the wrong way". I go you've got to be kidding but no, he says "you were supposed to turn right about a quarter mile back up the road". The guy in front of me and a guy behind me ignored him but I went back UP the road and found the correct trail, losing about a minute and a half in the process. I was pissed.
Ok, now let's see if I can do it all over again! Part of me just wanted to give up but I put my head down and decided not to. I can see Brett Hahn, another single speeder, up in the distance and make him the target. I know there is at least one other SS'r in front of us and that he has a vertical stripe on the back of his jersey (I made a mental note at the start). I caught up to Brett and ask him if he'd seen the other guy and he says yes. I start to try and put some distance between Brett and I but he is glued to my wheel. As we enter The Grind I can see Mr. Stripe up ahead and he looks like he's laboring a bit. I tell Brett "let's get this guy". I pick up the pace a little and begin to close in little by little. As I catch him I take a quick look over my shoulder to see if Brett's still with me. He's about 100 yards back now. I pass the lead SS'r (John). At first I pull a good enough gap to where I can't see John anymore but then he seemed to catch
fire. On the singletrack before Hurl Hill I get a glimpse of him. Oh crap. From there I just gave it all I had and railed all the downhill sections to keep him at bay.
Despite running scared at the end, I crossed the line in first. Good racing.

--Mike U. 1/5 Sport Single Speed

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