Lake Hope OMBC

Lake Hope is always a fun course to race. Whether wet or dry it's always a fast race on what I consider to be a "real" mountain bike trail. The 15 mile loop has enough climbing to satisfy the masochist in most of us, an equal number of ripping downhills, and just enough technical features to test all skill levels. Add the feeling of being very far removed from civilization, and some very nice scenery and it is the definition of Ohio Mountain Biking.

Most years it is hot and this year, again, it was hot. Dry conditions left the course completely dry and as fast as it could possibly get. As I do every race at the start line I looked for my competition and marked 5 time state champion Dave Walker.

The race started and Dave jumped out front pretty fast onto the gravel road. I did not expect it and had lined up in the second row since it was a road start. After a minute I was on his wheel and the pace slowed a bit.

Into the woods Dave blew past the first turn and I was in the lead.
I settled into a comfortable pace right away. The singletrack was tight so passing me would be difficult and this race is long. 30 miles is on the long side especially on hilly terrain so conservation was the name of the game.

In no time Dave and another racer were right on me and the 3 of us slowly created a gap. Things were going good until we suddenly started running into racers that were behind us. We had taken a wrong turn and were running backwards on the course now. We all stopped, trying to decide what to do, then more racers came from behind. It was obvious the course was marked wrong and we all decided to keep going backwards.

Starting the second lap the course had been corrected and the race was on. It was only Dave and I now and he was leading with me chasing. The heat was starting to get to both of us some and Dave began to slow in the last couple miles. He was preparing for a sprint finish since neither of us was able to shake the other. Then in one of the many high speed, loose, gravely turns he went down pretty hard right in front of me and I sprinted for the finish.

After several minutes I settled back into an easy pace since I had not seen him chasing. He raced smart and snuck up on me, I never knew he was there but I still crossed the line first to take the win by 8 seconds!

After the race there was much debate about the wrong turn and it was decided that since we did complete the entire course the results would stand....it was a very unusual situation.

Overall a very fun race and some much needed points in the State Championship Series.

Next race is another Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Series race at Ceasar's Creek near Cincinnati.