Keeping it smooth and calm in "Rock and Roll"

Riding the roots in "AC DC"

What a wild and amazing experience! There were literally thousands of spectators in the stadium making a sea of noise. They had horns, sirens (yes, there is a difference) paper slap things (that’s a technical term), and all sorts of other ways to roar! Just rolling up to the start line I was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement. I was lined with the very fastest female mountain bikers in the world. Every possible type of title was there, National Champions for countless countries, World Champions, World Cup points leaders, everyone. It was the most nervous I’ve ever been for a race. I was on European soil lined up with 90 women from all over the world and less than 10% had English as their first language! The gun went off and I thought since I had a call up of 85 it would be slow start in the back. Not. At. All. The track stayed wide for long enough that we didn’t need to crowd into a smaller space so the pace was blistering. The very fastest race start I’ve ever experienced (which was not the case a week later in Albstadt). I expected my nerves to calm after the start lap, which lasted about 8 minutes and covered half of the course. However, I never really got over my nerves due to the crowds of people lining the course. All through the trees up and down, around the entire course. There were 3 main technical sections and the crowds surround those created a near deafening sound. The first being “Rubena’s choice” (which was a descending rock garden) the second was the “Vertical Drop” (self-explanatory) the last was “Rock and Roll” (a horizontal rock garden). I had dialed in the lines for all of these and was really comfortable during the many laps I rode during the week. However, the noise and cameras and sheer volume of people at “Rock and Roll” was apparently too much for my brain to process! I made it half way through the garden each time then ran the rest. (Later I discovered that everyone that wasn’t top 5 was running it more than half the time as well). I had figured out to take breath out, relax, roll into it gently, look for the bridge, pedal up the big rock and look at my landing on the other side of the tree. I made it to the bridge and grabbed my brakes each time. It was really frustrating to not be able to ride that line under pressure. But it was a huge lesson learned. My nerves never really left me the entire time I was racing. I had a hard time handling my bike even on the up hills. In fact, I crashed twice on a climb! I see this race as my opening experience to racing in Europe. It’s technical, the crowds are amazing (and ridiculously loud), the other female are very, very fast and very aggressive and most aren’t speaking English! It’s a completely different ball game than racing in the USA. There is nothing on US soil to prepare you for a World Cup in Europe. I loved every second of my nerve-wracked race and can’t wait to race in the Czech Republic again now that I know what it’s all about. I rolled across the line in 78th place.
I chose to bring my Jamis Dakar XCR29 Team to Europe knowing that the courses had a reputation for being rougher and more technical. I was endlessly grateful to have the rear suspension in the rock gardens and the "Vertical Drop"! It handled all the rough terrain flawlessly. The wheels I chose to bring on this overseas trip were the Stan's NoTubes Valors, they are the most versatile, sturdy and light wheel I've ever ridden. There actually wasn't even a debate, they were the only ones I wanted to race in Europe! My Geax Saguaros were perfect in the slippery roots and big rock gardens. I knew before I left they would be the right tire for this course after watching the replay from last year. My POC Trabec helmet was the only one there! One of the spectators yelled "skateboard"! Riding in Utah it seems at least half the riders are in POC helmets, but I was the only one at both races in Europe in one! It makes finding me in a crowd or photo pretty easy! The Gaerne Carbon G.Kobras mountain bike shoes were great for this race, I had to use them for riding and some running as well (see photos below!).

Running "Rock and Roll"

PS…Being one of the screaming crowd at the men’s World Cup following ours was exhilarating! Screaming for Schurter, Kuhlhavy, Fontana, Fumich, Kabush and all the USA boys was just as exciting as participating in my own race! Those guys can ride. Seriously ride. They made the rock gardens look like child’s play!