Race Report: TBF Mountain Bike Challenge #1

Submitted by Thea Stein | February 11, 2009

On Sunday, Jill and I both competed in our first mountain bike races at the TBF Mountain Bike Challenge #1 at Granite Bay/Folsom Lake. We both had a great time at this race and I'd definitely recommend it for first-timers--it's a mellow, 7-mile course that includes single-track, wide double track, and cross-country with plenty of places to pass or be passed. There are only few technical parts--all in all it's a great winding, swoopy loop. First Timers do 1 lap, Novice 2, Sport/Single-Speed 3, & Expert 4.

TBF MTB #1

This was the first MTB race for both of us and we both agreed that riding the course beforehand absolutely makes a difference. The start of the race is somewhat chaotic so getting to the front of the line in your group helps. In my case this meant rubbing elbows with a bunch of teenage 80 lb-ers from a high school race team so that was interesting ...

Things we learned:

  1. In Roseville, CA food options though plentiful are all of the chain-restaurant variety so bring your own food. You know it's bad when you're disappointed to learn Chevy's could have delivered dinner to your hotel room door so you could finish watching "I Love Money Season 2" on MTV. Jill can't get enough of that show, right Jill?

  2. As with all races, get there early. We arrived at 8 to register for a 9am start time but it turned out to be tight for several reasons:
    1. A) My disc brakes had some drag that hadn't been a problem the day before. Since I'd never adjusted my own brakes before, I had to wait in line for the 1 mechanic at the race. I will now learn to adjust my own brakes.
    2. B) I was registered in the men's category by mistake--maybe it was the bad haircut I got recently. Good catch Jill.
    3. C) This one's obvious, but remember there will be a line for the bathroom since people are changing into race gear.

Other things to note:

  • Don't be too intimated by other riders in kits with expensive bikes, male or female, who say things like, "What PSI should I roll with on her?" ("Her" meaning the course in this case). I did a double take when I passed that rider early on in the race.
  • It never really occurred to me that although I'd joined a women's race team, I'd end up side by side with mostly men on the course ... interesting. For this reason in particular, it's pretty nice when female spectators give a shout out to women bikers who pass by.

Jill and I both won our categories at TBF. Next up, CCCX!

Founded in 2002, Velo Girls fielded our first little "race team" for the Livermore Hills Road Race in 2002. In the fall of that year, we announced the formation of the Velo Girls Racing Team. The team, comprised of almost 40 brand-spanking new racers, was developed as a true grassroots program. We provided skills clinics and training all fall before making our racing debut in 2003.

That team has continued to develop, now completing four full seasons of racing action! And we've grown beyond the development phase, with women competing in national pro events and regional CAT 2 through CAT 4 races. We've also got a strong masters presence. In 2004 and 2005 Velo Girls was the winningest women's team in northern California and Nevada, with individual racers ranked at the top of the NCNCA BAR, the Bay Area Women's Cycling Association Points Series, and the USA Cycling national rankings. Since 2002, Velo Girls has developed close to 150 new women racers through the team and our highly successful racing development program.

In recognition of our commitment to developing cycling in the US, Velo Girls was selected by USA Cycling as the 2003 Women's Club of the Year and the 2004 Division II Club of the Year.

In 2006, Velo Girls was once again honored by USA Cycling as Women's Club of the Year, and further recognized as the top team in Northern California and Nevada for developing and retaining more new racers than any other club in the district, winning the NCNCA Club Challenge. It just doesn't get any better than that!