Sun Valley–Single Speed Cross Country Nationals

Yeah, I just raced up and around that mountain!

One of last season’s most disappointing races for me was the Single Speed XC Nationals in Sun Valley. With the two year venue cycle, I got another stab at it this year and finished a big geography loop of racing/riding with a stop at Mt. Baldy. The course had been altered significantly (thank goodness) and we rode one big loop circumnavigating the mountain climbing Cold Springs and descending Warm Springs before returning to the venue via the River Run Trail. As we began the long climb to the top of Baldy, Cameron Chambers put the hammer down and never looked back riding his fully suspended SS weapon away from us like a billy goat. I didn’t have the best legs but managed to begin the descent in fourth and moved up from there to finish second. While it wasn’t the win I had dreamed about it was the best I could do. I had been bested by a better man that day and that was still a much better outcome than last year!