If I learned anything from my PCP2P recon ride, it was that KC Holley rides a mean mountain bike. Seriously. Ten minutes into the ride, and I was keenly aware that she was in a league of her own. Let me explain.
With the PCP2P race in just a couple of weeks, I really wanted to make sure I was familiar with the course. I grew up in Utah, but have never really gotten to know the Park City trails. My brother-in-law Carl, is the one that talked me into this race and is the one that I've rely on to show me the race route. Carl rides a fully ridged 29er, single speed mountain bike. Carl is fast on his fully ridged steed, even on the technical downhills. For years Carl has been the benchmark by which I measure my fitness and I thought it would be great for KC and me to sit on his wheel while he "showed us how it's done". Well, trust me when I say that KC was the one who showed Carl and me how it's done. No trail was too technical. No climb was to steep. KC smashed us...on a training ride. That girl rides a mean mountain bike.
In all, we rode 40 miles, a little over half the course. I know I'll finish the race. I may even surprise myself with a respectable time. But make no mistake, KC will crush it on September 4th and I will be happy to say that I know her.
She was kind enough to let me pick her brain about mountain bike endurance racing and kind enough to let me see how a "real" pro does a training ride. I hope she'll let me ride with her in the future, it was awesome to ride with a great person that's also fast on her bike.
KC & Erica post ride at the Canyons