Heat, Hills and swimming holes

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The bottom corner claimed it's share of victims.(Image credit: Barb Howe)

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The spectators are great at this race - they line the course and get rowdier as the day goes on. Josh and I found a great parking spot, often a trick in a tiny town with narrow streets. I headed out to overheat - uh, I mean, warm up before the race. Two years ago when I won the race my legs had been divinely inspired and I would have gladly raced a few more laps. This year, the deity responsible for my legs has not been responding to my sacrifices and offerings.

After the finish line I rode around the corners then pulled off the course, glad to be finished. Many of the racers kept on riding and finished one more lap causing major confusion in my addled brain. There were no lap cards and I assumed that it had been Shelley's last lap also making it my last lap. Then I started to wonder if it was her second to last lap and I had inadvertently quit the race one lap early. After a few minutes of worrying about it I just gave up, got some water then rolled back to the car. Josh and I had lunch at an outdoor café then headed out of town to find a nice spot on the river for a swim. The best part of the weekend was yet to happen.

We found a pool that was clear, deep and empty of other people. The cool water felt good on my legs and still overheated brain. Feeling much refreshed, Josh and I pushed onwards towards our next destination, Downieville. Downievile is another small mining town in the Sierra's that has benefited from cyclists. The old mining trails that wind along steep hillsides above the rivers are bike legal and loads of fun.

People are still prospecting for gold, and you can often see their equipment in the river. On the town bulletin board there are sometimes ads posted with claims for sale. I haven't ridden there in years - in fact the last time I rode in Downieville I walked large portions of the trail and cried a lot because everything seemed way too hard and scary. I was now ready to avenge myself and check out the cross-country course of the Downieville Classic, an epic point-to-point race in mid July.

We caught a shuttle to Sierra City and started up the long grinder climb that starts the course. The climb goes on for a long time, eight miles and over four thousand feet (1,219.2m) of vertical gain later you get to go back down. We missed a turn, skipped the infamous baby head section, rode part of the famous downhill, then caught back on to the cross country course and almost finished before Josh flatted.

He hit some glass or a sharp rock and put a big enough hole in his tire that it needed a tube. After rolling back into town we iced our legs in the river, hung out with Rachel, had some lunch, then headed back to our favorite swimming hole. After round two at the best swimming hole ever, it was time to face reality and head back to the bay. After a quick stop for burritos at the Taco Tree in Auburn we were set for the night. I'm looking to going back to the mountains to ride, Josh can't wait to go back and look for gold.

Just as Barbarella bumps through the universe, comically oblivious to the dangers and threats being thrust at her, Barbara Howe has had a few misadventures of her own. After a year of sickness and a grievous injury she is finally recovered and aiming for the podium.

Barb has recently signed with Vanderkitten Clothing and looks forward to a season representing "clothing for women who kick ass!" She currently resides in Berkeley, CA with her boyfriend, a room full of bikes and her cat. Follow her adventures here on Cyclingnews.com.