3 2 1 and were off.

nothing beats a camp out with friend the night before a mountain bike race. sitting around telling story, trying to stay out of mischief, and telling more stories until you cant stay awake anymore. then trying to get some rest on the hard ground that you will be racing on in the morning.

morning is there before you know it and the parking lot starts filling up with bike racer of all kinds. some people you know, some you don't and some you make friends with and some you will be racing with. it is such an exciting environment to be in. as the starting time approaches, the nerve start building and the Adrenalin starts to rise. then your off and just like that the nerves are gone, until your chain derails within the first 2 mile of the bike race. that's how it all started. i was sitting comfortably in second place behind a well respected chad hungerfurd and behind me was eric white who we battled back and forth last year in a few single speed races. but, as soon as my chain had derailed, i was off the trail trying to get my chain back on. in my mind i was thinking how was i going to salvage a descent position in my race. that set back caused me five place so now i was sitting in seventh place. the trail was in great condition and never ridden it before, i would say it is one of my favorite trails. super fast, very tight, and full of short up hills and descents. perfect for the single speed, even though i was a little over geared. as the first lap progressed, i was able to work my way back towards the front. around six or seven miles into the first lap i noticed that i was back on chad's wheel, so i must be close to the front. after a short distance i had a chance to pass and i did. i asked chad, how many up front and he said, just one. so i gassed it hard and didn't let up until the start of the second lap. i grabbed a bottle and got a time gap from evan. i was a minute behind, so i gassed it again. i had one goal in mind and that was to catch first place. so i didn't slow down. i was starting to gel with the trail, like i have ridden it all my life. it was definitely my faster lap. about six miles into the second lap i started to play the cramp game. i had to hold them off, but keep the pace high if i wanted to ketch up with eric, who was blazing the trail ahead. after i survived the only long climb on the trail i new i was close to the end. and once i made it to final double track. i knew it was almost over, so i dug down deep. if i am not going to catch eric, then i am going to make up some time on him. and then it was over. the cheer of the crowd welcomed me at the finish and i was glad to be finished. anyway i was pleased with second, i did make up a little time on first, but eric was still the man of the day in the single speed class. and i was happy being the first loser.

all in all it was a great race, the guys and gals down in wetumpka did a great job organizing and running the race. another well done event.

jonathan