MO. NORBA #2 LOST VALLEY

We had race # 2 in our series this weekend at Lost Valley. The area had bad rainy weather for most of the week leading up to the race....I really thought that it would be called off! But I did want to race and was totally pumped up when I read on stlbiking.com that the race was a go!!

Showed up sunday signed up and chatted with Dwayne about racing and the season...seems he has been riding 100 milers every weekend since last season! I think anyone who puts that much work into it and still has fun should get all the props in the world! He is a hell of a good guy on top of all that.

Mesa gets a "thank you" from all us racers for sticking to their guns and holding the race!! The course was in very good shape...only a couple of short muddy areas. The rest was primo!!

I felt pretty good the whole race getting pretty tired at the end...as anyone racing should!!! I did one more lap than last year so that is killer! 3hrs 24min. 39miles 11.5av. speed. I got 9th place, at first I was bummed about that, but then when I thought about it and I realised that I did way better than last year that is all that matters! I was outside riding my bike, my favorite thing to do! Congrats go to Dwayne! 1st!! 6laps!!! 14.2av. speed!!!! SMOKING FAST....WITH A SMILE THE WHOLE WAY!!!

I can't forget my pal Mike for coming out and racing with the new-be class and hanging out until I got done! They tried to give Mike 3rd place but really got 5th. He was totally worried that he was ripping someone off! They got it all figured out in the end. But I'm saying "you rock Mike", you showed up (unlike some other people) had fun, went home happy and hungry, with great memories! I really hope to see you at more races!

Fun times...good course...good friends!!!! See everyone at the next one!!!!

MO NORBA #1....RIDING IN APPLESAUCE

So the first Mo. NORBA MTB race was held at St. Joes off road park march 2nd. I had long ago put it on my list to race. Leading up to he 2nd it had been wet, cold, and nasty....making everyone wonder what the trails would be like or if the race would even happen. I new going in that I would be in survival mode from being out of shape but I got a boost when my good friend Nate Means from Columbia, Mo. came in to race.



Race day it was 78 freaking degrees making the course really soft with some fairly brutal mud. I was amazed by the amount of people who showed up...very cool! MIA was Dwayne G. but he had told me it was his sons birthday (HAPPY B-DAY LITTLE MAN) so he did the right thing and celebrated with his family. At the start Nate left us in his wake and just kept on pulling away...as I predicted!! I felt pretty good and was hanging in 2nd with some guys right with me. Flats suck!!! That is what went through my head when I got mine! Got it changed and rode on. I made a mistake and rode too hard to make up time and blew myself up! So coming into the 3rd lap I was just hanging on...I stole a Cliff bar from Nates cooler, that was a life saver. Started feeling stronger again by the end of the lap. Crossed the finish line in 6th at 3hours and 17min. Congrats go to Nate for taking us all too school and being the ONLY rider to get 4 laps!

Looking forward to Lost Valley........hold the applesauce please!!!