Go'in to Esparto

Esparto TT race report (sort of)

One of the perks of racing bikes is going to places you would never otherwise go, and essentially seeing the backroads of California. When I go to places like Copperopolis, or Challenge, I always wonder what the particular history of the place is. I wish the places could speak and tell their story.

Esparto is one of those places. A little central valley farming town long abandoned by time and the railroad that once served it. It has a nice little shady park and its share of decrepit run down buildings. One of which is an old train depot which you see on your left just before the start of the TT.

Trappers and settlers came to the area in the 1820's as it sits on Cache Creek and the surrounding Capay Valley. By 1888, Esparto was served by the Vaca Valley Railroad which came out of Vacaville and through Winters. If you've raced Winters, you've seen the remnants of this rail running through town and the old rail bridge. By the end of the 1800's there were probably 3 trains a day going through Esparto to carry out the local produce to the rest of the nation. The rail went all the way up the Capay Valley toward Clear Lake with termination in Rumsey. Close to where the Cache Creek Casino is now.

By 1937, the rail line from Esparto to Rumsey was abandoned under Southern Pacific's ownership. Eventually the leg from Winters to Esparto was abandoned too and 1957 was the last time a train ran to Esparto. Over the years, most of the track has been pulled up. For a while there was a nursery operating out of the depot, but it's empty now.

As for my race, it wasn't one of my better efforts. I struggled through for 8th with a somewhat pathetic time. I probably should have warmed up a little better but didn't. I mashed a big gear the whole way and couldn't get my HR or my legs moving. There are some rollers near the turn around and I thought I would come to a complete stop on one of them and had visions of my chasers whipping by me in an instant. I had the misfortune of drawing the #1 start, so there were no rabits to chase and I really needed some on the way in. I was a perfect rabbit for a smack talking Paul Carter from Pegasus starting 1 minute back and finishing 10 seconds down. He came in 2nd (and won Patterson on Saturday). I also got beat by Brian Staby and I was pretty motivated to beat him too.

Anyways, I was home by 10:15 AM and got hammered last night so all is well.