A piece of humble pie

It all started some 3 or 4 years ago at the Powder Monkey when I got my first taste of DNF. The course was much the same as it was thie past weekend with the little exception of a slight drizzle. It was just enough to make all the roots and rocks super slippery. I had raced here a few times over what's now 16 years of racing. But that day 3 or 4 years ago was to be my toughest race. Guess I couldn't hack it with all the real mountain biking conditions; rocks, roots tight twisty single track, and long climbs.

So the only monkey this weekend was the one on my back. To date this has been my best season but I knew that all the races leading up to this point were, for the most part, easy. And knowing that this was the race that started a series of DNF's for me, I'll admit it, I was concerned at the start. I thought I felt pretty good. Enough to think that I could actually do well, maybe top 5 overall. Au contraire.

From the gun up the first climb I was gasping for air. Not good. Lost contact with the main group before reaching the summit. This was bad 'cause I knew that the single track would string things out quickly. Halfway through the 1st of two laps I knew I was in trouble. Then Cory Gross came up on me and I told him that I wasn't going to let him get away. Well, I let him get away alright. I felt like that basketball movie were the pro's got their skills taken away from them. It was like racing as a beginner. No offense to beginner riders. I just felt like I was racing two levels below normal. Shortly after that the Grizz came up and blew right past. He's like the Randy Moss of single track. He was up until he picked the wrong line and went ass over tea kettle. I came down a rocky decent and he's just getting to his feet and putting his shades back on his face. This was really too bad 'cause he was smokin'. So we rode together for the rest of the race .

8/30/06
So I started this entry weeks ago and am now getting back to finish it. When I started this entry I was kinda thinkin' that my mtb season was over... Well I've decided to try and hit the St. Cloud race after Chequamegon. I figure that course might better suit me and that I might be able to make up some lost points, not to mention get the Monkey off my back, again! Besides, after the St. Cloud mtb race I'll be bidding farewell to mtb for a year and focusing in on road racing.

Oh yes, the transformation has begun!