Tour de Granite Race Report
8-1-03
by Curtis Colaw

The Tour de Granite is a long standing race which takes place about 7 miles east of Shaver Lake (up about Fresno/Clovis). The weather is usually about 80 to 90 degrees and dry....but not this year.

Joseph got about 5 miles from Shaver Lake and we saw rain clouds...hmmm...nothing in the forecast about rain...must be just some light spinkles. Oh no...all of a suddent lots and lots of rain coming down. So we stop in Shaver Lake and find some cheap yellow rainwear and head east hoping the storm would miss the race. Going up the road, the rain got worse and worse and water was running down the sides and onto the road like creek...ok...starts to clear up and when we get to the race...no rain...all right!

So, we are standing in line to get our race numbers and its starts sprinkling...oh no...starts to get worse...We head back to the Durango and it starts really coming down so I suggest we stay in the Durango for a few minutes...About 6 or 7 minutes later we get out and my Durango is in about a foot of water...great.

Oh yeah...the race.

The race is a figure 8 loop of about 8 miles. A Le Mans type start and then to the bikes. There is some sweet single track to start and then onto some fire roads. The rain made the course actually pretty nice, lots of slippery logs too...except the GRANITE CLIMB. It was still raining when we got there and it is steep and very slick. I had my Shimano hiking type shoes on...nope...didn't help. I got up a few hundred feet and...slipped and slid about 30 feet down...ouch. So...had no grip...what to do? The other racers said to take off your shoes and climb in your socks...socks? Ok...I was ready to try anything...yep that worked (course I have a big cut on the bottom of my left foot). Very difficult hike and bike. Usually, you can ride some of it...not this time.
Then, I get off course and can't find the trail (most of the chalk marks were washed off by the rain). So finally, I spot a female sport racer and slide down the side of the granite rock and started following her...yep...she knew the way. After about 10 minutes, finally finished that god foresaken granite climb and hit some downhill double track...then it veers off into some very sweet single track...absoulutely beautiful. After about 1.5 miles...back onto the road and a mild climb back to the finish. I only did 1 lap as a beginner (thank god). Joseph did 2 laps. Joseph said he also had to climb in his socks. Seems like some people who had done this before were using modified rock climbing sticky type shoes or changed into them at the bottom of the granite climb.

Free beer (Foster's keg) afterwards, fruit, drinks and pretty well run. Not sure of the turnout..probably about 80 racers. They sold tri-tip sandwiches with a coke and chips for $6 (very good) and tee shirts for $10.

Joseph did great and took 6th in his class of 19-34 (a pretty big class). I took 1st in my class (35-50) and 2nd overall in beginners (yes George...I should and intend to move up to Sport Class next year). I got the wonderful grab bag for winning my class (I got some handlebar grips, and, a bottle of slime (guess I can use it for my kids).

I have mixed feelings about the race and don't think I would do it again if it was raining...otherwise...fun, fun, fun but maybe a bit too much hiking. Lots of Pines, Ferns, flowers...very pretty up there.

Take care,

Curtis Colaw