The Showdown at 5-Mile Pass took place May 3rd, 2008 and was a fun race! It seemed really cold and windy at first, but the temperatures warmed up by race start and the breeze helped to cool off during the race. My parents were visiting from Canada that weekend so they were able to come to the race and see me finish.
The course is located about twenty or so miles past Lehi, Ut., in the West Desert and winds it's way around Juniper and Sage, circumnavigating a mountain in the region. The course distance is about 11 miles and follows clay and sand single and double track trails with rolling hills. Just about to the halfway point of the race is an insanely steep ridge called Yellow Pages Hill that rises 300 feet in 1/10 of a mile. Yes I, along with everyone else, had to hike my bike up that section! The rest of the course consisted of a smooth, long climb up an ATV trail and then rolling hills and a bermed fast downhill. For my division we did two laps of the course totaling just over 22miles of riding. My Garmin Edge 305 died about 2/3 into the race so exact data is unknown. Total climbing for the two laps is approximately 2000 feet.
It was fast and rocky and if your tires weren't aired up tight you would pinch flat super easily-I passed a lot of people on the side of the trail stuffing new tubes in their wheels and pumping their tires. Several of the competitors had to walk their bikes back as well. I had fun on the course and ended up 8th out of 15 in my class so it seems I'm slowly climbing higher and higher up my division although I still haven't qualified for any points! I guess I'll have to get on that trail building for points service project!
