It’s race time again here in Dallas. Race #1 at Oak Cliff Nature Preserve (OCNP) was a great introduction to the fall series and with race #2 at Erwin Park getting rained out we finally arrive at our next event. Sansom Park.
Virtual Pre-Ride of Sansom Park
(My apologies for not having the tail end of the course on video, after 2 attempts to ride the course and a flat on each try the camera’s battery was dead. Be sure to read my note in orange below about flat prevention for this race.)
For anyone who hasn’t ridden the trail at Sansom Park it is one of the most incredible trails we have in Texas. Not only do you have a spectacular view of Lake Worth and the Dam but you get to ride some of the most challenging singletrack in the metroplex.
Sansom Park has a Ton of climbing, and likewise for descending. The race course uses just 4.5 miles of the entire trail, and lucky for us all it skips the most brutal climbing on the backside of the trail. You can check out this link to see the full race course map.
Cat 1 & 2 will ride a slightly different course than the Cat 3 racers here at Sansom. The video above (up until I got flat #2 of the day) was of the Cat 1 & 2 course. As shown in the race course map, Cat 1 & 2 will follow the Green and Blue loops as well as the pink dotted line for Joel’s Loop. Cat 3 follows only the Green and Blue loops, you lucky dogs are skipping Joel’s climb.
The start of the race will be towards the lake next to the pavilion at the back of the parking lot. It will be a dead sprint to the front of the parking lot and onto the beginning of the singletrack on the green loop. After about a mile on the open grass section you dive into the trees and immediately it becomes a much more technical ride.
The split where Cat 1 & 2 head down to Joel’s loop and Cat 3 turns off is a tricky section. It would be a very easy turn to miss for Cat 3, while Cat 1 & 2 should be cautious taking it with too much speed. It has an immediate right turn at the tree line and several hairpin switchbacks. Joel’s climb is roughly half way through the race course and along the way there are several abrupt turns and short-punchy climbs.
After Joel’s loop you are back on the standard singletrack. Mind the rocks and more than anything be consistent, it is a challenging trail but a fun one.
Race Start Times & Distances
Cat 3 – 7:30am – 9 miles
Cat 2 – 9:00am – 14 miles
Cat 1 – 10:45am – 20 miles (age groups 40-49 & 50+ will do 3 laps, or 14 miles)
Analysis & What To Expect
The terrain of the course is rocky, technical and climbs are pretty loose. For those racing on Joel’s Loop, go ahead and expect for the majority of people to be walking up this long climb. It is incredibly loose, with so much loose soil that it was piled up like sand dunes in a few areas. It’s climbable, but it’s going to require that you get into the correct gear ahead of time and maintain a good momentum. A cyclocross dismount and run up the hill will more than likely save you time over trying to ride up.
All racers should very seriously consider using tubeless tires for this course, the trail is filled with rocks and cactus. This combination leads to plenty of thorns in tires and pinch flats from the sharper rocks. A tubeless setup will help prevent the vast majority of flats.
A tip for anyone already using a tubeless system, be sure to add fresh sealant to your tires roughly once a month. I let mine get too low before my pre-ride at Sansom and had 2 flats on consecutive laps. My father raised me with the 6 P’s: Proper planning prevents piss poor performance. I didn’t properly plan, my performance suffered. Such is life. Keep fresh sealant in your tires.
As for winning times; My guess is that the most competitive riders will have lap times around or just under 25 minutes per lap. It will be a very cool race for new Cat 3 racers as they get to experience a water handup. It will also be a great race for spectators because of so many viewing opportunities and the multiple laps.
Race Course Map & Altitude Profile
The map and altitude profile below contains close to 4 laps of the course.Â
Total climbing: 994 ft
To register for the race, please see the DORBA race page at http://www.dorba.org/events/69058892/.
I wish everyone a safe and fun race, remember the 6 P’s and you will do great!
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