This coming weekend will be my last race of the season. That just makes me sad…:( Oh yeah, just did the sad face, like a teenage girl. But that’s how it makes me feel. I love riding, any kind of riding, but there is something pure and simple about racing. I make it a point to keep from “training” too hard during the season, because I feel like when I make an effort to do particular efforts or ride in a particular fashion I lose some of the fun of cycling. I always try and ride, because I wont keep getting faster unless I ride more, and I frequently give myself goals, but most of all I just ride…a lot. Racing is the chance to see the payoff though. All those long miles in the saddle, get their chance to come back with a vengeance, and not at me this time. The chance to pit myself against other folks who have worked hard too is a real treat. Especially since most mountain bikers realize the race is as much a personal challenge as it is a competition. So I’m going to miss racing for a while. There’s always cross though…
But the moral of the story is that my season finale takes place on what I believe to be one of the best courses I have ever ridden, maybe one of the best race courses in the country: “Steve’s Race.” The Tidewater Challenge is part motocross, part flatland, part gravity, and all fun. If I could design a rollercoaster for 29ers it would be pretty much identical to steve’s course. The race is also SS state championship so that has my blood pumping. Every year I miss out on the victory for some reason. Two years ago it was a poorly timed flat, last year it was the race the day before, this year I am going to the bling*
This year Trek has been awesome enough to organize demo day on the pre-ride day. If you are at all close to the Williamsburg area it will be worth coming out for. Some of the sickest singletrack in VA on some of the best bikes out there. Its a date!
Wish me luck! Maybe I’ll see you out there.
