I celebrated Father's Day in Nevada City: Lance & photos attached

[pdmtong]

I celebrated father’s day with my 9.5 daughter at the Nevada City Classic. The day was as long as expected (left 8:30am, back 11:45pm, 400 miles), but the race, the weather, and the sierra nevada foothill beauty (2500') made it absolutely worth it for BOTH of us. We arrived at noon, surprised to find parking just a block from the top of the course. Great lunch at the South Pine Café near the start line. My wife stayed home and enjoyed a quiet day to herself.

Now I understand the race’s notoriety. The course is an all uphill then all downhill 1.1 mile loop. My guess is the rollers at the top are about 10%, then 50% is a long sweeping downhill. 50mph across the line is no problem. At the bottom there is a hard downhill left, into an uphill left. The hay bales are stacked 2-3 high through this entire "u-turn" section. Now we start the remaining 40% by climbing back UP via a narrowing into a one lane R, then into a series of short uphill L-R-L into a bit of a straight leading back up to the top into an uphill left that puts you at the start of the rollers. 40+ laps in 90 minutes = 5000’ !!

Madeline and I watched the juniors and were inspired to see some kids not much older than she as we walked the entire length. Nevada City is a historic gold rush town, and the course winds through the downtown and up into the neighborhoods. There were so many people that if they were not shoulder to shoulder they could at least hold hands if they wanted to ... on both sides of the street all along the entire course. It was amazing.

We got a spot next to the photo area right on the start line when the Pro Women lined up. Madeline has met Brooke Miller and Katerina Nash before and it was great to cheer for them and talk to them both before and after the race. The women Pro’s are always very kind to encourage her. Shelley Olds crushed the field. Brooke pipped Katerina for 2nd, but I think they both finished at least a minute off.

The biggest surprise was to see levi-lance-chris come flying down the hill (pic #1) to recon the course DURING the second women’s lap. It was like Justice League of America superheroes flying in to save the day. I heard from an insider then flew in around 1pm on a private jet. Warm-ups at the airport.

We stood in our spot for 2hours while the crowd grew 10 deep behind us. A race marshall befriended me and I got behind the velvet rope to help with call-ups. You guys have to pardon me, but I haven’t stood right next to many tour winners (besides Lemond). So I did my best to mutter “congratulations on your son max, thank you for all you’ve done for cancer research, and best of luck today and at the tour” and ask for a picture. Now lance and I are BFFs. Very menacing predominantly black kit and bike. Levi also got a black bike but Chris didn't. Wassup with that?

The amount of air the pro/1/2 peloton pushes as it goes by is amazing. Like a turbo fan compared to the hand waving from the 3's. After watching maybe a dozen laps of them flying at full speed down the hill, Madeline and I began walking up the hill to the top of the course. Levi and Lance drove the entire race, with Ben J-M hanging on. Chris controlled the rest. Lance went away with 5 or 6 laps left. Yes, Astana pretty much stole everyone’s candy. The race director was whistling folks off the course almost immediately...that’s what happens when (as Swoop says) Godzilla shows up.

Three tries and I got the holiday card pic of Madz with the podium driving in the background. She knows to stand back when they go by but I made a point to remind her again since if she caused a crash, I would become the Steve Bartman of cycling. The last pic is his “victory” lap high-fiving folks. Hey, I got a hand slap too.

I almost wore my Garmin-Chipotle tee-shirt yesterday. Good thing I wore my Livestrong drylete top instead. I'm the guy who gets up at 4am PST (no Tivo) to watch the mountan stages live (so I don't have to hear Bobbke) and stood in the rain 4 times this year for the Amgen. To see chris-levi-lance every 2 minutes for an hour-and-a -half...well, it was a once-in-a lifetime Father's Day with my daughter!

[54ny77]

now that's the best race report, ever.

very cool. :thumbs_up:

[WadePatton]

great photos.

my pop's day:

atb ride in morning-see reports.

digging dog out of varmint hole in creek bank for two hours (thought the was dead after he and varmint tangled and heard no more sounds--exasperating).

grilled steaks with pop in the eve.

[1centaur]

TIVO. No Bob Roll, no 4am. No commercials. No loved one asking you a question 20 seconds before the finish of a race you've invested 4 hours watching.

You have a week left to make your viewing pleasure complete.

[RIHans]

And photos. Sounds like a super father's day with your daughter!
Good for you pop.
Hans

[Peter B]

Excellent photos and report Pdmtong! I was too busy working the course to take pics, but here's a few from the local papers and forwarded by friends.

[pdmtong]

I didn't take every turn...but you'll get the general idea. About 1:15pm...crowds beginning to form. Photo's 2 and 3 are of turn #1 right of the start line - it's a hard downhill left. Imagine lining up for that as you are slowing down from 50mph. The motorcycle is turn #7 at the top of the hill leading into the rollers. The last shot is lining up for the downhill screamer back through the gate - riders have already gained serious speed from the sweeping arc leading into the view of the line. Katerina lives in Truckee (near lake tahoe) and stopped by to nab 3rd.

[maunahaole]

Great pics. Looks like you had a fun day in the Gold Country. I cannot imagine how painful that course is after numerous laps. Nevada City is a great little town.

[bironi]

Great looking course, and it looks like your daughter really enjoyed the day also. Congrats on the great Dad's Day.

[riceburner]

Awesome stuff.........looks like your biceps are much bigger than Lance's too....

[lavi]

Looked like fun!

Also looks like those blacked out Treks may be protos for the next iteration of Madones.

[rwsaunders]

Great story and super photos. Isn't being a bike geek great?

[RIHans]

Good stuff from all the V-Salon West Coast guys...On Fathers Day. The young pups, getting inspired by Lance and Chris and Levi...!

Keep them photos coming. I see some blue sky.
We don't have any, any time soon. I miss it.

[Peter B]

Here's what it looks like to loop the course.

YouTube - 2009 Nevada City Classic Carson Blume Photography

[Peter B]

Here's a good race report from Chris Horner's blog...

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/20...iary_watc.html


And some more great photos...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnorri/...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnorri/...7620224679718/

[zank]

How about youngster Hot Tubes rider Ian Boswell holding onto the Lance, Ben, Levi train after winning the Junior race earlier in the day. Pretty impressive, huh? I got to spend some time with him a few weeks ago. That kid is a class act on and off the bike.

[musgravecycles]

Lance looks_very_fit. As much as I don't want to admit it--Jerk is probably right, he's gonna slay all comers.