Stories from the 2019 Old Growth Classic
October 3, 2019
Photos by Brad Holmes, Jay Melena & John Watson | Video by Jackson Bradshaw
[embed]https://youtu.be/DZUW0dTECDA[/embed]
The 2nd annual Old Growth Classic was a weekend nobody will soon forget. The towering redwoods. The challenging ride. The delicious food. The full moon. The late night dancing. The camping. Most importantly, the people. All of it combined to create some special kind of magic in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. We wanted to share the weekend's stories from the people who made it what it was: the winners, the first time racers, the volunteers, the sponsors, and the people just trying to beat the time cutoffs. Keep reading for stories and photos from the 2019 Old Growth Classic...
But Old Growth is hard— the kind of hard that erodes mind and body until you’re questioning why you ride bikes at all. Old Growth also answers this immediately through the trees and the ripping descents and the ocean panoramas and the joy that emanates from the field and race support. Regardless of goals going in, age group, pro, or personal, it’s ultimately a race against yourself, your capacity for suffering and stoke alike. It’s important to be humbled. I won and yet I am still humbled— by the terrain, by the kindness of everyone involved, by the towering redwoods.
I invited my 19 year old daughter to ride it with me on her visit home from college, which was just about the best thing ever. We planned to save some energy for the harder parts and try to avoid cramping toward the end. It worked out perfectly and we ended up having a great time! The ride was epic! Pine Mountain is no joke though.
I like single speed bikes, and attempting rides with silly elevation gains on them, so Old Growth seemed like my cup of tea. I do rides with similar stats but nothing in recent memory was like those last few miles of the Old Growth course, so brutal and equally as beautiful, the entire ride was just a dream for me. My gearing was “perfect” and I just put myself in a coffin for the entire 4+ hrs it took me to finish. I went through the full gamut of emotions, legit cried a little when I knew I had the win, mostly happy to be done with it lol but also just had the previous year flash before my eyes and I was just happy to be there and feel alive and just be genuinely content with my current lot in life. Absolutely one of the highlights of my year and a memory I will cherish forever. Can’t wait for next year, though maybe I’ll bring something with gears! Sike! Thanks again!
Old Growth Classic is an event that shouldn't be missed. If you like to suffer on a bike, eat a bunch of great food, and set out on a painfully beautiful route with your friends, this is the race for you! Type 2 fun on a spectacular course... already looking forward to next year. Thanks, MBOSC! <3
But I've been to enough of MBOSC's events to know that I was in very good hands. Plus I am not one to pass up an opportunity to camp in the redwoods. And the OGC did not disappoint!! Just when I thought the day couldn't be any more epic, we were dancing to fiddle music under the full moon. Perhaps being a little crazy is what makes it so damn fun.
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself lost in a redwood paradise upon arriving at Little Basin on Friday afternoon. The Old Growth Classic is much more than just a bike race. It is a full-weekend campout party that feels like summer camp for adults. As much as I enjoyed the racing and competition, it was the great food, friends and honky-tonk dance party that will bring me back next year.
As someone who is involved in promoting bike races, I can appreciate the difficulties associated with planning an event like this. Securing permits to host a bicycle race on public lands is an uphill battle and convincing private land owners can be near-impossible. The Old Growth Classic is a testament to the hard work and dedication of those involved in putting it on. I see it as a celebration of the coming era of cycling in Santa Cruz County!
Then we caught wind of a freehub whirring at redline followed by that chirp of a dusty rotor that hasn’t seen brake pads for miles. The lead racer was coming in hot to the Trail Head Cyclery Aid Station, but we knew none of the bacon would be eaten... No tasty quiche bites bitten... No watermelon, pickle juice, M&M’s, home baked cookies, zucchini bread, or even a shot of Coke would be had by this racer… Just a fresh bottle hand up for smiling Alex Wild and a face full of dust.
Others were not in nearly as much of a hurry to leave the comforts of my amazing wife Karen's home cooking, while some had issues and had no choice but to stop. Twisted brake pads digging into a rotor had to be swapped out for fresh... A brake lever pulling to the bar would not do for the next 45 miles... A blown valve, a metal shard in a tire, a missing chain, a snapped saddle, lost water bottles, and even a pair of shades taken hostage by the low viz descent that was Jameson Creek. The carnage was real, and I was stoked to have solutions for everyone and thought "gee, this is just the first stop…"
Amity Rockwell | Pro Women Category Winner
I showed up to OGC thinking I knew what to expect. Trails I had ridden, a gnarly ratio of miles-to-climbing that I regularly inflict on myself in training, a field of racers stacked with local talent. The women’s pro battle was neck and neck until the end, the top 5 of us trading places, getting dropped and pulling ahead as our range of talents and chosen setups helped and hindered us. It’s rare for us to not be sprinkled in amongst men the whole time and have the opportunity to directly race each other, and it was nothing short of thrilling (and yea, stressful.) I had seen the profile, been warned about the final steeps, and saved something in myself for a final push.
But Old Growth is hard— the kind of hard that erodes mind and body until you’re questioning why you ride bikes at all. Old Growth also answers this immediately through the trees and the ripping descents and the ocean panoramas and the joy that emanates from the field and race support. Regardless of goals going in, age group, pro, or personal, it’s ultimately a race against yourself, your capacity for suffering and stoke alike. It’s important to be humbled. I won and yet I am still humbled— by the terrain, by the kindness of everyone involved, by the towering redwoods.
Hans Heim | Title Sponsor, Ibis Cycles CEO
What's better than an audacious goal to motivate? I hadn't ridden for a long time and was just starting up again. I wanted to check out the Old Growth Classic because of its beautiful and interesting backroads. It looked like a very challenging but fun scene with lots of good people. I had 10 weeks to prepare and ramped up my riding and got as ready as I could in a little over 2 months.
I invited my 19 year old daughter to ride it with me on her visit home from college, which was just about the best thing ever. We planned to save some energy for the harder parts and try to avoid cramping toward the end. It worked out perfectly and we ended up having a great time! The ride was epic! Pine Mountain is no joke though.
Gene Selkov | Neutral Support Team Lead
The highest ratio of smiles to suffering you'll ever see!Greg Garth | Single Speed Category Winner
Thanks for putting together such a rad event! I had a perfect weekend thanks to you and your staff and all the volunteers! It was so sick! This would have been my second year attending but unfortunately I broke my left hand 4 days before race day last year (not bike related, more rope swing related :/ ), so I was so stoked to be at the event this year, especially after hearing how good the first rendition was.
I like single speed bikes, and attempting rides with silly elevation gains on them, so Old Growth seemed like my cup of tea. I do rides with similar stats but nothing in recent memory was like those last few miles of the Old Growth course, so brutal and equally as beautiful, the entire ride was just a dream for me. My gearing was “perfect” and I just put myself in a coffin for the entire 4+ hrs it took me to finish. I went through the full gamut of emotions, legit cried a little when I knew I had the win, mostly happy to be done with it lol but also just had the previous year flash before my eyes and I was just happy to be there and feel alive and just be genuinely content with my current lot in life. Absolutely one of the highlights of my year and a memory I will cherish forever. Can’t wait for next year, though maybe I’ll bring something with gears! Sike! Thanks again!
Kate Hertler | Title Sponsor, Ibis Cycles Sales Rep
Somewhere between the grueling miles, I returned to my kid-self smashing downhills with a cheeky grin and talking smack to climbs that were uncomfortably steep. There was that one descent... the one with fern brushed singletrack and larger-than-life redwoods - Yeah, I'm still stoked about that one! I finished this race feeling like I had accomplished something greater than myself. In the end, it didn't really matter whether I made the podium, it was about crossing the finish line with a few new stories to tell, and a few more friends.
Old Growth Classic is an event that shouldn't be missed. If you like to suffer on a bike, eat a bunch of great food, and set out on a painfully beautiful route with your friends, this is the race for you! Type 2 fun on a spectacular course... already looking forward to next year. Thanks, MBOSC! <3
Emma Kelsey | First Time Bike Racer
Perhaps I'm a little crazy for choosing the 2019 Old Growth Classic as my first bike race ever...
But I've been to enough of MBOSC's events to know that I was in very good hands. Plus I am not one to pass up an opportunity to camp in the redwoods. And the OGC did not disappoint!! Just when I thought the day couldn't be any more epic, we were dancing to fiddle music under the full moon. Perhaps being a little crazy is what makes it so damn fun.
Brendan Lehman | Local Bike Race Aficionado
I go to a lot of bike races, and usually don't get too bummed if I can't make it to one. Well, after missing the inaugural Old Growth Classic in 2018 and hearing my friends recall stories from the weekend all year long, it was obvious that 2019 was not to be missed.
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself lost in a redwood paradise upon arriving at Little Basin on Friday afternoon. The Old Growth Classic is much more than just a bike race. It is a full-weekend campout party that feels like summer camp for adults. As much as I enjoyed the racing and competition, it was the great food, friends and honky-tonk dance party that will bring me back next year.
As someone who is involved in promoting bike races, I can appreciate the difficulties associated with planning an event like this. Securing permits to host a bicycle race on public lands is an uphill battle and convincing private land owners can be near-impossible. The Old Growth Classic is a testament to the hard work and dedication of those involved in putting it on. I see it as a celebration of the coming era of cycling in Santa Cruz County!
Lars Thomsen | Trail Head Cyclery Aid Station Captain
It was quiet, like the calm before a storm, deep in the forest of Big Basin next to the middle of nowhere…
Then we caught wind of a freehub whirring at redline followed by that chirp of a dusty rotor that hasn’t seen brake pads for miles. The lead racer was coming in hot to the Trail Head Cyclery Aid Station, but we knew none of the bacon would be eaten... No tasty quiche bites bitten... No watermelon, pickle juice, M&M’s, home baked cookies, zucchini bread, or even a shot of Coke would be had by this racer… Just a fresh bottle hand up for smiling Alex Wild and a face full of dust.
Others were not in nearly as much of a hurry to leave the comforts of my amazing wife Karen's home cooking, while some had issues and had no choice but to stop. Twisted brake pads digging into a rotor had to be swapped out for fresh... A brake lever pulling to the bar would not do for the next 45 miles... A blown valve, a metal shard in a tire, a missing chain, a snapped saddle, lost water bottles, and even a pair of shades taken hostage by the low viz descent that was Jameson Creek. The carnage was real, and I was stoked to have solutions for everyone and thought "gee, this is just the first stop…"
As the heat climbed, so did the racers. I noticed that their second visit was quite different than the first when they reached the top of Gazos Creek Rd to find solace in the food and drinks awaiting them, except for smiling Alex. No snacks for him, just another hand up and a face full of dust… But most folks were happy to take a load off for just a bit, joke with friends, and have a snack while I cleaned and lubed everybody’s chain. Lots of questions about what was left of this brutal course, like, "is it downhill from here?" Um... No. It’s about to get real... So chase that pesto chicken sandwich down with a shot of Coke and get after it!
Like last year, the cutoff time came slowly… The radio would sound off the final racer’s last known coordinates. Then Ned rolled in dusty and hungry with time to spare. He even caught some folks who were having a grand time complaining about the last segment in good fun. After they left it was quiet again and time to pack out. Another killer day helping riders on a fantastic journey through Big Basin, and the party had just begun. How rad is that?
Deepa Bhatt | Lanterne Rouge: 2018 Champ, 2019 2nd Place
Loved this event! The course was breathtaking but brutal. The beautiful views and the cheers from the volunteers and the food at the aid stations kept me going. I was particularly happy to make it to all the cut off points, hope to walk fewer sections next year!
But it's more than just a race. It's a great weekend of camping out with your biking buddies, have morning breakfast and coffee with them, ride with them, and then end it with a relaxed evening by the fire with live music and listening to everyone's account of the day. That's two weekends of great memories for me, and I'm hoping to see many more!
Special shout out to the neutral support guys - Troy, Jon, and Syd (missed you this year!). There was a time I didn't think I was going to make it, but words of encouragement from you kept me going (and also all the volunteers at the aid stations, I don't know everyone's name but I'll remember the smiles). :-)
Josh Becker | Light & Motion Photo Booth Photographer
The inaugural Old Growth was hands down my favorite race of 2018. So when registration came around for 2019, without hesitation, I signed up online the minute it opened up. As time went on, I ended up being more involved with the event itself and came up with the idea of a Light & Motion Old Growth Classic photo booth. Which in turn, I ended up having to work the event and give up my race spot.
At first I was really bummed that I couldn’t be out there suffering with everyone else on that 22% grade up Hearwood Hill to the finish. But Instead, I was super STOKED to be there in the end to take everyone’s photo after completing that final climb! I got to see things from another perspective and meet people in a different way this year. I got the chance to enjoy great conversations about how their race went, how gnarly or fun their Olmo descent was, or how brutal Chalks can be. I got to celebrate with some, I even got to witness a few tears of joy with some after just crossing that finish line.
Get the full Light & Motion Photo Booth gallery here!
The MBOSC and Little Basin staff was super accommodating all the way down to the last minute of hunting for an HDMI cable that we forgot. The food was tremendous, abundant, and everyone was stoked on it. The event is greenly ran with reusing and recycling in mind, having very little impact on Little Basin. More races should definitely follow MBOSC’s lead on this to reduce waste!
MBOSC knocks it out of the park with every event they put on, but there is something special that lies amongst the fog and redwoods for the Old Growth Classic. I had a blast this year, and I am absolutely looking forward to the 2020 OGC that leaves you with some really sore legs, and an ear to ear grin on your face for at least a week.
Congratulations!
Congrats to all of our category champions! Full results are available here. Pro Men: Alex Wild, Specialized Factory Racing (3:32:28) Pro Women: Amity Rockwell, Easton Overland (4:05:04) Single Speed Men: Greg Garth, Cncpt Team (4:22:16) Tandem: Sophia Garcia (6:53:05) Men 13-18: Justin Peck, Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club (4:23:51) Women 13-18: Maya Fors, Razzle Dazzle (6:20:27) Men 19-29: Sam Schneider, SunPower Racing (3:54:43) Women 19-29: Moriah Wilson (4:07:21) Men 30-39: Tyler Ackerson, Huck Racing (3:45:48) Women 30-39: Emily Vince, Huckleberry Bikes (4:18:45) Men 40-49: William Kamper, Cognition Cyclery (3:47:53) Women 40-49: Suzanne Jensen, Team Roaring Mouse (4:29:46) Men 50-59: Thomas Wold (4:10:13) Women 50+: Kathleen Bortolussi, Rock Lobster (5:13:36) Men 60+: Bill Harkola, Pen Vel Racing/Summit Bicycles (4:33:47)Get More Event Photos!
We had some talented photographers and videographers capturing all the good times over the weekend. Check out their full photo galleries and event video at the links below: John Watson | Brad Holmes | Jay Melena | Mike Thomas (coming soon!) | Jackson BradshawThank you!
Thank you to everybody who made the 2019 Old Growth Classic so special! The sponsors, the volunteers, the vendors, the racers... This event would not be what it is without you, and we are grateful that you make Old Growth Classic one of our favorite weekends of the year. We can't wait to see you in 2020!
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