WOW! What a course. Fontana has a reputation for being a bit urban and it didn't let me down. I drove out to Fontana with Tim from Voodoo cycles and we arrived on Friday afternoon to our Motel 6 in the urban outskirts of L.A. Fontana is certainly a diverse area with all sorts of characters roaming around. The motel had explicit directions for users to ensure their safety and the safety of their belongings. Sure does make you feel safe. Aside from the seedy nature of the hotel, the room was only a ten minute drive to the race venue. After arriving on Friday, Tim and I quickly got changed and rolled over to the venue to preride the cross-country course. The course was in good condition and it featured some pretty bomb singletrack climbs and hairball descents. The xc course crossed a number of cement colverts and drainages so you had to be on your game or you would be off your bike. There was no shortage of "urban art" on the rocks in the mountains and on the drainages that you rode through, lending a sophisticated feel to the course (not to mention the occasional couch to sit on to really absorb the scenary). Saturday morning the semi-pros rolled out at 8 a.m.. I got an hour warm up to prepare for what was certain to be a fast start. Unfortunately, due to field size and my warm-up, I got a less than ideal starting position in around 50th place. Anyhow, after the manic start I moved myself up in the field when possible and was feeling really good on the descents and climbs for the first time this year. After the hardest climb on the course, near the end of the the second lap of three, I bombed down a twisty, rutted, loose-assed descent and crossed a cement/rock section when I heard my rear tire blow (first ride on that tire!). Four or five riders that I had passed on the climb quickly passed me and gave me their condolences (genuine I'm sure). I tried not to panic and pulled off my tire and tubless valve and reached for my tube when I noticed that my tube had no valve core-a frickin' defect! Sick. Anyhow, after a number of riders passed, someone finally offered a tube and I got the flat changed. Pissed as hell I rode to the conclusion of the second lap and began asking if anyone in the feed zone had a tube for me for the last lap. No luck=DNF. I rode over to the Mavic tent to have the guys work on my wheel when Dan (who had done awesome work on my wheel on Friday replacing pauls and a free-hub body) showed me that I had ruined my tire by gashing it open and exposing the tube. Sweet. Anyhow, Sunday I got to short track, even though I had a horrible starting position, it was fun and super painful. Tim had a great weekend in the pro field, kicking ass in the xc, short track and getting on the podium in the Super D with Adam Craig and Barry Wicks! Insane. Anyhow, off to Nova this weekend and I'm hoping for some better luck. Covergirl
