Let's Go South

If anyone is reading this still, I'll catch up a little. The road and MTB season is offically over for me. I struggled to a 3rd place finish at the Unitas I-Cup. It was a very difficult day and I was a little disappointed. However, it was enough to win the overall points title in the 40+ experts. I'm pretty happy with the year and surprised to win the overall. There were some injuries to other riders, but I still had my best year. I went faster than ever and actually won 2 races. I'm motivated to continue the improvement next year. I re-discovered that mountain bike riding and racing is why I started riding in the 1st place. It rocks.

Tanner had a super race. He was a solid 2nd and made huge progress this year. It has been a blast riding and racing with him. He is still very uncomfortable riding on the road, but hopefully, I get him out with us next year.

I took more than a week off the bike and it was OK. It felt good to rest a bit, but by the end I felt lazy, fat, slow and ready to get off the couch. I've been back on this week and actually felt fast on the lunch ride hill climb today. The plan is now to ride, do some cross training and get ready for cyclocross. I'm really looking forward to cross. Hopefully, I'll be able to hang with the top guys in my class. I'll be building some barriers with weekend to begin my practice. You all should consider doing a cross race. It is a gas. I'll probably race a few of the weekday crits to work on top end speed.

The bow hunt is on. Tanner and I have been up a couple of times. No shots yet, but have chased a couple small bucks. For me the big deal is the Elk hunt. It opens tomorrow and I'll be hunting hard the week of 9/11. With any luck, I'll have a big rack in the garage and lots of meat to share.

Doug and I have been talking about a fall trip to Moab (now that he is a mountain biker). I'm thinking UEA weekend, 10/20 and 10/21. The plan would be to leave Friday AM, ride Friday PM and Saturday AM, come home Saturday PM. Anybody in? Let me know. We need to decide asap.

Brady, good job on the racing. It sounds like you are flying. I wish you were here so we could race together. I could be your leadout man in the cat. 3's. Send me an e-mail at dgc@eastontp.com. I can give you wheel options for LoToJa on my bike.

Later.