Last weekend’s Santa Barbara Bike Festival was the 5th stop on the U.S. Cup Series as well as part of the California State Series. The festival, held at Elings Park, had an impressive showing even with the controversy of the County shutting it down.
The 6 mile loop through one of the most beautiful areas on the central coast is one of the most fun and fastest courses out there. The trails are 80% flowing, smooth single track with some technical sandy descents thrown in. Sunday morning started with the Cat 3 group heading out on 2 laps. The Cat 2 racers took on 3 laps mid morning. The Pros and Cat 1’s competed at 1pm taking on 4 laps. The weather was perfect with morning fog turning to sunny sky’s by mid day. The temps warmed up to the mid 70’s.
Platinum rider Roger Moore on an uphill climb during the U.S. Cup Series race at the Santa Barbara Bike Festival. (Roxanne Moore Photo)
I was going into Sunday with a full plate. I was starting the day off with a running event down State Street. It was only 1 mile, so I figured it would be a great warm up. Painful…I’m one to forget how painful running “all out” and past the pain threshold really is. I ended up running a 4:33 for the mile. I’m no sprinter…but my main goal was to beat my nemesis Eric Forte in the 40 class. He has been out kicking me routinely lately. Unfortunately, he did it again with a 4:29. Oh well… Next up the mtn bike race! This is a course that I’ve spent countless hours on. The Cat 1 40-44 class has been a challenge this season with high caliber riders routinely showing up to compete. My confidence on the Elings course was huge…it’s nice to have home field advantage! It would take a special someone to knock me off the top today. That “special someone” was the cycling legend Don Myrah. Are you kicking me DON MYRAH! Myrah is a 4 time Elite Cyclocross Champion, Mtn Bike Elite National Champion and a Mtn Bike Olympian.
He retired years ago but now has reemerged in the past couple of seasons. With Myrah the “surprise carrrot” in my class, I knew I had to try to stick with him. My knowledge of the course kept me close to Myrah throughout the race. On lap 2, strongman John Saliamonas put down a hard attack on the fire-road heading into the single-track climb. That put Myrah on the defensive. I was in the “red zone” for the last mile of that lap. I caught the two riders heading into lap 3. Saliamonas dropped off the pace and I tried to stick with Myrah. He attacked on the climbs and put a gap on me. I would reel him in on the flats and descents. On the final descent I put one last effort and laid everything on the line. I ended up like many of the other riders “on the ground” after I under anticipated one of the rutted up, sandy turns. Myrah had a good jump on the final climb to the finish. I gave it everything but fell short by 40 seconds. We ended up with the top two times in the Cat 1 field. Sometimes 2nd isn’t so bad….who am I kidding.
The Platinum Performance team was out in force to represent our local community. Platinum swepted the podium in the Cat 1 50-54 class with John Biron taking top honors, Bobby Langin Sr 2nd and Steve Silva with 3rd. Todd Booth (Cat 1 40-44), Amanda Schaper (Cat 1 19-29), Jon Miller(Cat 1 55-59) and Reny Takeda (Boys 11-13) all took home silver. Mike Weber(Cat 1 55-59) and Luke Werkhoven(Cat 2 Clydes) pulled off 3rd place finishes. Other notes: Ron Takeda pulled off a win in Cat 1 Super D held on Saturday.
Results
John Biron — 1st Cat 1 50-54
Todd Booth — 2nd Cat 1 40-44
Bobby Langin SR — 2nd Cat 1 50-54
Jon Miller — 2nd Cat 1 55-59
Amanda Schaper — 2nd Cat 1 wm 19-29
Reny Takeda — 2nd Cat 3 11-12
Steve Silva — 3rd Cat 1 50-54
Mike Weber — 3rd Cat 1 55-59
Luke Werkhoven — 3rd Cat 2 Clyds 35+
Bob Nisbet — 4th Cat 1 45-49
Darin Takeda — 5th Cat 3 10 under
Adam Poytress — 6th Cat 1 30-34
Derek Johnson — 7th Cat 2 40-44
Ron Takeda — 7th Cat 1 45-49
1st Cat 1 Super-D
Roger Moore — 8th Cat 1 40-44
Andy Osburn — 8th Cat 1 45-49
John Reveles — 8th Cat 2 40-44
Mark Luke — 8th Cat 2 50-54
Zach Walker — 9th Cat 1 30-34
