OCup #5 Sudbury

Sudbury is a new addition to the circuit this year. It's a race that requires an overnight stay but no good reason why I couldn't go. I had never made the drive up to Sudbury on my own before, the only times being asleep in the back of our XC ski team bus in the middle of winter. After completing it both ways I must say it's a very beautiful drive. I left just before noon and got to my hotel in downtown Sudbury at around 3:30 (I was motoring pretty quick) I checked into the race hotel and then proceeded 20 minutes outside of the city to the race course.

The course was so much fun during the preride. The opening double track section is super duper long so I know there's going to be some pace trains forming. Some quick but steep ups in the single track but nothing overly technical. There's a big doubletrack section halfway through before the big climb of the course. It's not very difficult in terms of steepness but it just goes on for some time. It culminates on arguably the coolest and most beautiful section of the course. The entire top part is across true Canadian Shield terrain. Bare rock is marked by little spots of spraypaint for you to follow. Once you reach the top you're treated to a stellar view of the area before plummeting back into the trees.

Photo: Walden Mountain Bike Club

Now this course was difficult for two reasons. The first being how bumpy it was. I guess we're spoiled here in "Southern" Ontario with our smooth trails. Adam asked me if I had thought about racing on my full sus bike here but I stuck with my hardtail because I like it better for racing. Boy what a mistake that was. The course was so crazy bumpy that I had difficulty keep the rear wheel on the ground. Seriously anytime I wanted to pull an acceleration I would get bucked off the saddle - any semblance of rhythm was no where to be found.

The second reason it was so difficult was the dust. Yes this is mountain biking so we're no strangers to getting a little dirty, but this was a whole new level. It was so dry prior to the race but I didn't think that would be a problem... Entering the first single track I was about 7th or 8th position. A dust cloud so big was thrown up that you literally could not see the trail. Breathing was like sticking your face in the garden and trying to inhale it. Anytime you wanted a drink you first had to lick the dirt off the water spout to unclog it. I race with contacts in but due to the dust I rather would have been blind than having a beach's worth of sand stuck in them. This is what I looked like post race. Keep in mind I was wearing full sunglasses and had poured a lot of water on my face at this point..

I really enjoyed the whole weekend trip up to Sudury. Beautiful course and fun changeup from what is typical on the OCup circuit. I wish I had brought my full suspension, something to think about for the future