ST in AZ

So the first National Mountain Bike Race took place in the Beautiful retirement community of Fountain Hills Arizona! Fountain Hills is called Fountain hills because in the middle of the town there is a giant fountain that shoots over 100 feet in the air (I think) and goes of every hour for 15 minutes. It is a sight to see and everyone should go there just to see it's magnificent beauty! As Ray described it "It's like a beautiful feather!" In all actuality it is about the biggest waist of water I have ever seen! With temperatures pushing into the hundreds at least half the water has got to evaporate before it ever comes down. Anyways, the town was quite pretty and the cacti where like little fuzzy bunny's...Ask Kim about that one and the plenty of other folks who encountered the mighty choia cacti.

Anywho, the Short Track race for those of you who know nothing, which could be the lot of you...is a race that consists of a small loop that typically takes less than 2 minutes to get around (roadies, it's just like a crit)and lasts for about 20min, well 15min plus 3 laps to be exact! They are extremely spectator friendly and rider unfriendly, it's one of those races that is kind of a sick and twisted fun. When you are done, your lungs are usually on fire, some dry heaving can be involved, and just an beautiful overall sense of complete exhaustion. Although the race itself is short, it is extremely painful. The thing that stands this one apart from all the others is it was at 7:30 at night! It was down town and consisted of going up the street and then winding around onto a giant dirt lot with flood lights lighting it up so we could see at least a little bit.

Unlike road races where you can start where ever you want...in mountain bike races they line you up according to rank, so like poll position. Since this was sort of my first pro race, I had the privilege of starting at the back of the pack! At least I wasn't alone and some of my fellow competitors from last year and a new team mate where back there with me. So the start is on the street and heads up about a city block and then hangs a hard right on to the dirt. Using my ninja (roady skills) during the call up I went to the right side of the group, knowing that when we hit that corner it would bottle neck up and I could be super stealth and take the outside line! It worked and as we hit the corner I passed probably 10 or 15 girls as they all smashed into the barrier! I love the sound of cussing girls on bikes!

For the short track races they like to try and make them exciting by throwing in little whop di doos. This course they threw one in on a corner....so about halfway through the race, I was moving up and felt strong, I came around a corner and HELLO, a girl was done and I managed to pile on top of her along with about three other girls back on top of me! I scrambled back up and got rolling again with no serious damage other than a shifter that had shifted...Anyways, I believe I finally ended up about 17th or 18th overall! Still waiting for final results...From the back of the pack, that ain't to shabby!