spa city

100_3883, originally uploaded by solo_goat.

ok, so this is coming about a week late. some last minute switch up on some drive train stuff had me slightly freaking and in a panic. sold an old training bike and also making plans for another.

also working on a master plan for later this year, we will see if it pans out. as a firm believer in jinxing, i will not go into details.

got into arkansas two days before the event, ernesto sr utilizing the thule trailer to tow way too much stuff down as i didn't know how the weather was going to work out. was calling for snow on friday, so i choose to bring 3 bikes.

pre-ride on thursday was a nice change as i was outside in 50 plus degree weather. how odd. two new sections, but the course was fast and swoopy and well laid out except one weird tree in the last section. lap times would be around 45-50 minutes or so. course was a little wet in some sections, but in condition overall.

friday''s snow storm blew south and i rejoiced and did 2 laps in celebration. plews was in town, so i knew i would have a race on my hands and there's always a chance one of the fast local guys would show. fuzzy was out with the flu.

race started 10am saturday, had a good start and was one of the first five guys or so in the woods. some single speeder was trying to duke me out in a few sections before the single track and almost took me out twice. nice.

plews caught me half way through and danced away. he would end up winning.

i chased and chased, never closing the gap, but finally caught another one of the guys ahead of me who was racing solo, but was not in my class. officials kept giving me my overall placing amongst the teams and other classes so i had no idea where i was so i kept going hard.

switched bikes about 1/2 way through after burping a rear tire, otherwise the pivots worked awesome.

finished up the race with 7 laps and in 3rd. tough race, fun course. see you there next year.

sologoat out