Since we are in a suffering sport....How about 24hrs of sufferin'?

What a great race, I'll say that first thing because throughout the full 24 of racing and recovering Ii couldn't always keep that in the front of my mind.

It all started when John Stevens (18hrs of Fruita solo champ, epic/marathon bad boy, and one of the coolest biker bro's) called me and asked if I was in for a two man team...let me think...sure. Why not? I've never done one but what the heck, I'm game. That was really the extent of my preparation, along with coming up a nutrition plan, bike plan, and doing a 5hr ride on the mountain bikes the weekend before.

So we showed up at the 'campsite', where Hoppe was bedded down in a tent, and Marty Moriarty had a big ole Budget moving truck with a spin bike, air beds, cheap patio furniture set, and all the comforts of a homeless looking biker in the back (chamois and jerseys on hangers, bins of biker food, and fold up chairs). This would be home sweet home for yours truly throughout the ...challenge? Tim Bolton (of former 2000 NMORS Champ fame) lives in Tucson so he was representin' for the locals on a few hours of training a week, but as he pointed out many hours of beer drinking per week. Paul (Marty's bro-in-law) was there to leave his guts on the trail as well.

Stevens had the last of Ben Halls ashes to dedicate to the race that he and Ben won back in 2004. They did 19 laps and bested a strong field of 5o teams. http://www.epicrides.com/results/24results/results2004/index.html

With that Stevens sent Ben's ashes into the sonoran desert wind to run free amongst the Cholla cactus once again. Kind of a heavy moment, thinking about a bro who died racing his bike in Moab, at least he died doing what he loved, still pretty heavy to think about, especially for Stevens who loved ben like a blood brother and had some of the best times in his life with him. What was I doing here? at this time in this spot, feeling loss on a grand scale? Thanks for making me part of that Stevens, it was a memory I will cherish and never forget.

Damn, now the bike story will seem lame and trivial after that but here it goes...

We went to the Marla Streb honor dinner and threw back a few pints for a Ben and we prepared to bring back some glory to the land of manana in his honor. Marla was a good speaker and she talked of racing, and riding, and getting sponsored and earning a house in Marin because of that wacky commercial where she ran into the tree. We saw some cool NMexicans also and I realized this was different event than the hustle fast pace of most XC races I do...

Stevens and I decided that I would do the Lemans run through two arroyos to the start the race and so we lined em up at noon Saturday. Start on the BOOM of the Cannon!

As you can see I had good start postion on the front row far runners left. That quickly turned into barely a top 50 position by the time we hit the bikes. I do not run and am not a runner...period. My 5 time surgically repaired left knee knows better and one day I'll know better too. It held up well though and then I was biking!

The first lap was a quick one, with everyone attacking and acting like we were in for a Short track XC race so I was game and jumped in with all my limited Anaerobic ability (did I mentioned I'm doing base training this time of year?). By the end of lap one (58:39sec into the race) I was in the top ten so I passed the baton to Stevens for his first lap...which he blazed throug in an hour. The next lap was fast as well, the Scalpel was just flying through the rolling cactus laden course and it took 1 hour and 4 seconds. Stevens was consitently knocking down low 1hr times also so we were in second place, only problem with that was that the team ahead of us had lapped us already so they fixed the error in their time/scorekeeping apparently and we were then in the lead.

Lap 3 was cool because I caught Tinker (solo 24hr king of the world) and we worked together into the headwind on the back stretch of the course. He told me about RAAM and how it took him 2 months to recover so he couldn't enjoy riding, and he likes to ride his bike so much that he'll never do that again! Good advice, I'm not going there either! I could tell he was in a zone I'll never be in but the chit chat was good for my mindset and it's not everyday you get to rip singletrack with one of your idols.

After lap 4 I realized what I had signed up for in cold January when Stevens called. I was hurting, cold, and my legs were already turning to sour mash. The boys in the Budget truck humored my dread and just said to "hang in there".

At night I pulled out the new Cannondale Carbon Rush and started to rip some laps on it. It has a slacker head tube angle and more cush suspension (4.3inches) so I wouldn't have to be so sharp on the handling and still stay upright. I also put on the super lights (thanks Yogi!), I hadn't ridden at night since the Cali days/nights in 2002. It all came back quickly and the nocturnal ride was good. Stevens and I decided to take 2 lap segments so that the other could get a nap in and it worked out real well. I had to roust Stevens in his tent after my second lap because he "wasn't expecting me that soon". He swears he wasn't sleeping but the "what whoa what" response he gave when I yelled his name gave me the impression he was but good for him, lucky! Anyhow he got out of his bag, threw on the gear and took off on a tear to throw down another great lap.

My "crap lap" was at about 6:30 am. Stevens ripped his fastest night lap in 1:16:25 and when he came to the baton exchange tent I was still putting on my helmet,lights, bottles, etc...at camp!

I "wasn't expecting him so soon" but hey we're teammates and there was definitely a supportive vibe going, after all we were both suffering. He came over and told me to get going but I realized I had to go do the dooty real bad. So I had to undress in the porta potty because I was sporting the bib shorts. After that ordeal and adding about 5mins to my lap time without even being on the bike yet I took off. I must admit, I felt GREAT and you can figure out why!

At this stage of the race we were 10 mins ahead of the second place team and they were closing and we were losing ground so it was time to get down to the real nitty gritty. The sun would be out soon so that would help the mindset.

Once the sun came I decided to throw on some music for the first time and pull out the Scalpel again. Immediately I was back in the game and riding strong again, throwing down a 1:05:19 and feeling fast again. Damn, we might just be able to close this one out!!!!

Stevens whipped it up again and he finished his last lap in 1:07:40, super fast for his 10th lap and he was pumped when he passed the baton the last and final time. My last lap was real nice, "just a real nice surprise Clarke". I was caffeinated for the first time in 24hrs, had the black eyed peas on the mp3, and was riding my favorite bike, the Scalpel, for my 11th and final lap. Let er rip! I had a great lap that was actually more fun than I would expect for the 1tth time around the 16 miler. Some guy on a 4 man team caught me and passed me, for the first time in the whole race. Not going down like that, I kept him close and then threw down the hammer and dropped him in the headwind. The caffeine had me fisty and feeling a little fasty...

I knew we closed out the win and when I hit the campsite Stevens and I did a big stinky sweaty bloodshot eyed bear hug and let out a huge roar like only adult males who are overjuiced on testosterone and lack of sleep can do! We were pumped to say the least and that made the 8hr drive home much easier to handle.

After the dust had settled we won by a lap and I realized that the roller coaster of emotions, physical pain & suffering, and pure elation in a 24hr race was the challenge that I was looking for and did not even know it. Next time I think I'll do a 4man team so there is more recovery time between laps and hanging out time...because that is the fun of these events, hanging with friends. A big shout out to my campmate who kept me in the game when I was falling apart and kept me warm with the heater. Also thanks to Cannondale for getting all the bikes to me before this big adventure. Thanks to Yogi, Mike, and Richie at The Bicycle Company for getting me all the supplies I needed for the race. Special thanks to Stevens for believing we could win this one and for picking me to be his partner on this adventure. I'm glad we were able to bring this race full circle for our departed bearded bro Ben Hall, gone but never forgotten...

Special loving thanks to my family for letting me go out on a limb for 3 days and for supporting me throughout by calling me and cheering me up; and for asking great questions like "Are you still riding your bike? Because we're eating waffles and watching cartoons!" I'll be back next year prepared to suffer for 24 hours In The Old Pueblo!

Definite Frazer Mtn Madness! www.frazermountainmadness.com

This was a killer set of races held in the high country of Taos Ski Valley. The biggest indicator of how the race would be was 6inches of snow falling on the course at 9200-11,600ft. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
The hillclimb was hard, and shortened due to the lack of access because of all I've said about that. I beat a cool Taoseno, and another cool Taoseno, and won some sweet Nambe hardware and green backs. Lube the chain and drink some beer on the deck of Rhoda's, you won't need your wits about you, just some sufferin. Shake off the buzz because we went down to my bro's and had to help framing and siding the downstairs floor of his house he's building.
Well tomorrow came and any negative effect from a six'r of Sunshine Wheat did not. I was en fuego today and tore up the high alpine race course like a billy goat chasing the scent of his betty goat. She was down at the Edelweiss chasing the kiddy goats, one of whom took second in the kids race the day before. The boy is good and he worked the kids with the gears and the extra years on him.
Q dog tore it up and scored 2nd on the day and proved his mettle by whooping everyone else pretty good. He's consistent, strong, whoops it up at any sport he tries... which is why he's the best overall athlete I may ever meet. He was afterall the 1989 Taos High Athlete of the year, don't ask about the GPA!
I won some more Nambe hardware, some more cash, and some killer memories of a very unique race in the snowed in high country of mi tierra. Time to get down the hill to help my bro frame another wall of his house.

Is that mud or Road Apples? www.roadapplerally.com

Well this mtb race season has come and now officially gone. Last weekend was the 26th annual Road Apple Rally in Farmington and the muddiest running of it I've ever seen. This has always been a tough race that is balls to wall for 1:45 to 2hrs over 30miles. There are some wicked whoops in the first 50mins and then the trail gets pretty sweet with high rolling climbs and downhills. Course conditions aside I usually have the highest HR race of the year because the big dogs show up and usually put on a clinic. I've never won RAR, since guys like Travis Brown, who is this years NORBA marathon champ, Dedly Nedly Overend flexing his lung, and all the other pro bro's that make MTB mecca Durango home. This year we wondered if Tommy D would rail the dirty knobs again and put it to us.
I rolled with the usual suspects Richie Rich and Q dog. RR had more on the line than me, if he won the race he would win the EXP 40-49 "old jammers" class. Q had already taught his lesson, delivered the grades, and was on summer break since he had no pressure. I had the hopes of an undefeated season on the line and did a good job of keeping the high end going into the race. 6 months of racing at this level gets tiring and I would have gladly pulled the plug after Frazier...but then I'd have to put an asterik next to THE UNDEFEATED SEASON*, it just didn't sit well with me. I've won everything else in the Land of manana this year so why not throw it down on the D-Town posse?
The race was super fast right out of the gate and I pressed the go harder when it started to mellow out. Q made an appearance at the front since he's been doing his MTB starts intervals. I think he freaked himself out sitting second wheel in the bad boy train. I pressed the pace again up the first little climb, the one that used to make me come unglued. We had a gap, myself, T Brown, Umberto Conti (an Italian pro, who si habla poquito espanol but actually did better in English), and some Tokyo Joe's dude.
The tacky sand was spitting in everyones faces when you tried to draft so I kept the heat on as we stretched out a nice little separation. I was glad to let TBrown take the lead and then I tucked in for some whoop, mud drafting. When we hit a muddy road crossing about 20mins in he peeked over the shoulder and accelerated as our wheels all clogged and gummed up. Humberto and I went with the attack...for about 30seconds before we pulled the rip cord and he rode away from us. We could still see him for the next 10 mins and in some funky euro mexican biker dialect UC and I decided to work together...as we worked ourselves off the trail. The markings were fine I guess, if we would have seen them, afterall we only had one tire track to try and follow.
Welcome to the party Gaige "yeah I should be pro" Sippy and Brent "I have the genes!" Winebarger. Tokyo Joe must be downing a mexican latte with beef and broccoli because he was nowhere around. So we hit the road section together, about 1 min back from TB.
Not in a giving mood I decided that it might be smart to try and tack back time on the Marathon champ so I attacked the boys and made them suffer a little. As the battery light in my body started to blink as my HR still read 181 - about 7 beats over my LT. I finally crossed the finish line 1:30 behind TB and 1:35 ahead of the gene man Brent. And the reality that I did not win every MTB event in NM started to sink in. It took me about 48 seconds of cool down to get over it and see the season for what it was 14straight wins and 1 second. I'll take it and still talk about it when I'm old and crusty. TB attacked me like I have been attacked this year and he made the move stick while I went off course. That's mtb'ing for you. I got him last year but he definitely worked me this year.
We scored some cash for the sonic binge fest on the way home and drank some victory brews because no matter what you call it, it was an eye of the tiger year.
Rich pretty much bombed his race but still managed to get top 3 overall and had some killer victory races. Q dog came in second to Gaige on the day but handily won the NMORS title for the EXP 30-39'rs. Load up the muddy stinky saddles and roll out, we've got some bs'ing to do on the way back to the querque! Life is good and biking makes it better....

Cedro's Greatest Hits

A big thank you to Chris Briggs and his parents, all the volunteers from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, KY and his Juniors as trail marshalls, the officials, and the sponsors: Sportz Outdoor in Albuquerque and The Bicycle Company in El Paso, TX.
What a great race! The organization, timing, course markings, and prizes were all top notch...especially since it was Chris' first time promoting here in NM.
I was personally glad to see all the happy riders who enjoyed a great course on a beautiful day near Albuquerque. Chris did a great job in building and reclaiming some singletrack (the novice loop) and he did a great job organizing this race.
Bacardi Brad said it best when he called it Cedro's Greatest Hits because it covered all the great trails on western Cedro: Cedro Singletrack, Lone Pine, Lone Pine cutover, the gully canyon trail, Mighty Mule, Chamisoso Canyon, Coyote, and the 5 Hills of Death. With so much great singletrack we hope this becomes a staple on the buffet of New Mexico Off Road Series Races.

My ride went well and I locked up another win. I warmed up with Q dog (who acts likes it's lap one of the race), who on the actual lap 1 on of the race and first 45mins was hot on my tail trying to break me off. He was following the pre race strategy of getting out of the gates early and getting into the singletrack in great position.
I had a blast riding all the cool singletrack on a course that I helped design. We tried to tie in all the stuff that makes Cedro a great area to ride. I picked some unusually large 2.3 tires for the course since the rocks were pretty intense. The Scalpel was once again "the perfect bike for the course" and the big tires at a sweet smooth soft 26psi were perfect. On Coyote I dug pretty deep when a frickin motorcross wheel sucker wouldn't get off my rear wheel. It's all part of the scene I guess, ride an obnoxious bike, and act obnoxious. Funny thing is he'd be sunk without that motor of his because he probably would get beat by my 5yr old on a real bike.
I finished the 22mile course in 1:43:40 and then about 5mins later Qdog rolled across the line followed by big Jens Nielsen. The two old jammers King Kong Casey and Richie Rich came across in 1st and 2nd for the exp. 40-49 category. That race is as tight as Qeunzler on a warm up! John Stevens is back in the fold and he tore it up on his singlespeed. He took home some pro bucks for his efforts and made some people ask in dread if he's moving back. Anyone who knows him knows he'll tear your legs off on any kind of bike. Glad to see a bro coming back after we've lost a few to other parts, Hoppe to Boulder and Dax to Dallas (what are you thinking man?!).
After the race I cooled down on the novice course with Kara (with Myles in his backbike seat), Mason, Sid, Boden (one of the Franklin clan), Jolie (Q dogs better half), and Amy (the Franklin Mom). We had a good ride and it was sweet to see Myles tasting some singletrack and telling Kara to "go go". Mason hammered it and even had a nice face plant on the downhill...a full face plant.
The undefeated season rolls on and I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Rolling through Northern New Mex to The Top of The World

Gather round little kiddies for another tale of road tripping with the family and riding...you guessed it; BIKES! This family loves their bikes.
Last year I had the best racing weekend of my life, winning both the Enchanted Circle Century (aka 100 miles of beautiful roads from Red River to Taos to Angel Fire to Red River with plenty of climbing...and steep too!) and then the next day winning the Top of The World MTB race held at 9200 ft and climbing.
This year my plan of the same was derailed when a screwdriver Matt was using to remove pieces of a broken Carbon post from the Six13 road frame went right through the carbon...of the SIX13 DOHHHHH! With out a roadie I decided against slapping together something that might work and instead work on wood floors in our new dining room. A rather out of character move for me I know but this season has gone long and well I'm feeling a little out of character. I've been racing hard since March and training since last December so I'm a little on the well done side at this point in the season.
Back to the point of this post; Kara, Mace Dog, Myles Bug, and Dirty Daddy loaded up the mini for a quick trip up north to visit Papa Moe and my bro and his family. He's building a sweet house up on the Calvert plot of 10 acres in Gallina north of Valdez. We walked the job site and it's coming along...in a Taos slowly, manana (meaning tomorrow or maybe never) kinda way. He and Liz have a good attitude about it, and their boy Cedar is growing like everything up there in this monsoonal season...crazy! The boy's got the Calvert taste for breastfeedin'!!
Race morning started a little slow, for one of the first times this year, I didn't sleep good. Usually I sleep well at altitude or not but not that night. So we loaded up and rolled through the canyon to Red River and got ready to rumble in the 10th NMORS stop. Jason Quenzler (Q dog) and I warmed up and we were both struggling to get the lungs firing at 9800 ft. He was breaking me off on the warm up and decided to mention the unusual fact so I drilled it and he cracked like the 3 huevo omelet I ate that morning. Did I mention this is what warming up with Q dog is like, he's a hard core athlete and intense competitor so it's all he knows.
At the race start we let it rip and for another first of the season Q dog got the holeshot on all of us and I was watching someone's wheel. Not liking it I drilled it again and started to ride off the front. The course it tough because there are 3 climbs that are 2-4mins and only gain about 200ft each, but they shoot the heart rate into the anaerobic zone...every single time! That's Q dog's type of course since he throws down 2 hr races averaging 180bpm almost every race.
The sustained doubletrack climb out the LongJohn doubletrack to the Piece de Resistance Wheeler Peak and Gold Hill view was super hard and it was making feel like taking a siesta on lap 1. The XC ski trails were the perfect setting for a good MTB course and it took about 24mins /lap with about 700ft of climbing. Lap 2 was stronger because I felt a little better and figured out the rhythmn of the course a little better. Hammer, recover, conserve, then do it all again, then recover big time on the back section before the last climb and recovery section through the finish.
The race was pretty uneventful from there, just doing what I do love...riding my bike as hard as I can. My fastest lap of the day was the fourth and final where I upped my pace by almost a minute...maybe I haven't fallen off of form yet! Yes! There's hope!
At the finish I was pretty pooped, more than expected since it only took 1:36:50sec to do 22miles. The heart rate was high for the race @164 and I know it's because I was working harder than normal to breathe at an average elevation of 9900ft. Q came in2nd @ 5mins back, which secured his NMORS repeat Championship in the 30-39 expert field. He's a great guy to ride with and road trip with because he's got some trunk monkey in him and he let's it rip! Congrats on another great season overcoming some strong challengers....repeating as NM Off Road Series Champion!!!!!
Rich Walters (Richie Rich) threw down a nice race and finished in second in the Exp 40-49 old jammers class. He's had some DNF issues this year but he's out of the woods now. His form is coming back right as everyone else might be falling off so the three way battle he, Casey Cook, and Chris Casey have is heating up. Who can't stand the heat in the kitchen? Who's cooking up some hash, grits, and whoop ass?
But the ride that tops all is my 5yr old Mace Dog's win in the kids race. He put a move on a 10 yr old girl and smoked her on the climb. I know this is like the YAFL parent who goes a little over the top but he worked this girl took his single speed BMX Haro to the top of the climb in 1st then he found his DH rhythmn and solo'd in for the win! He was pumped and won us a free pizza at Capo's corner. Victory Pie! I think he's got the genes...but I know he has that take down competitive attitude. You're going places kid and it's going to be great helping you and watching it!
Myles (who turns two on Tuesday) was more concerned with double fisting all the post race recovery food. He can chipmunk 2 sticky buns at a time and he'll eat his brother (who's 3yrs older) under the snack table. He'll be taking down Kobayashi the world food eating champ soon. Or maybe he'll follow in Myles Rockwell's path, that is up to the point where he won the Downhill World title, not to the 'busted for growing pot plants down by the river' point. Kara caught up with females of the tribe, Jolie (Q dogs prettier half), and JoAnne (King Kong Chris Casey's more well groomed and civilized half).
We had some post race Italian at Capo's and the victory pie that Mason won was some of the best I've had. Can the fact he won it make it taste that much better? After the tab was settled and I bought Papa Moe and Claires lunch I still had a hundo worth of race winnings left over; SWEET!
Now I'm back in my home office eating the second half of BR Mint chocolate chip and trying to keep it off my new hardwood floors. All is well and the undefeated season weathered the high altitude test at The Top of The World. Next up, NMORS #11 @ Cedro Peak....which should be one of the best races of the year on some of my favorite singletrack. I have a feeling some bad boys are going to show up like Geoff Kabush (since he's local) or some Durango freaks so the biggest test of the season is probably upcoming. I better sleep well tonight!
Over and out.

33rd birthday... "I saw Horny Toads Hustle".

The 9th and last southern stop on the NM Off Road Series had us rolling down lush I 25 to Las Cruces, a cool southern NM town known for it's Scoopies Frozen Custard, the pecan orchards, NMSU parties, Chope's Mexican Rest., and some damn fun singletrack around the foothills of some mountain in the Organ Mtn. Chain.
The "trip" started Friday night with some dinner and drinks with Sonya & Erik. Kara set up a babysitter and had a time I had to be home so I knew something good was up. We had a blast and heard one of the funniest close the date lines I've ever heard. Let's just say Erik was a pup and Sonya was the master. In the morning I was hangin a little and the realization I was going to be 40 soon hit me...like I'll be an old jammer soon!
That afternoon Richie Rich picked me and Q up and we rolled down to pre-ride the race. Myles knew I was heading out and he got bummed, then I got bummed, and Rich had to slap me for acting like a sobbing old man. Q was running late because he just bought a new CRV and was all happy he didn't get bent over the barrell at the delearship. After Belen he said "the new CRV is like that one coming up". As we passed these two grey hairs in the ride I blurted out "that's you and Jolie in about 4o yrs". It was one of those priceless road-tripping-with-the-boys moments and he wished he'd never said anything to the pair of lions who were feasting at his expense. That's good stuff!
Rich pre-rode the course on his 50cc motorcycle and it was a bad idea after the first climb. Q and I were watching Marty try to break us off on his hardtail...but he would pay the piper soon enough.
Here's a shameless plug for Lorenzo's in Cruces...lasagna with meat and chile verde is the BOMB! Marty slammed King Kong Casey's brewski and I thought they would go right there over the table and we'd have to tip the staff extra to keep them from calling the cops.
Race day started with some slow service and Q was wound up. We ate light since it was an early 8am start and headed out, since I still had to change my rear tire that I sliced on the pre-ride. Mike from the Bike Co. came through big by bringing me new rubber, some canisters of air, and spare tubes.

On the starting line were all kinds of hardcore's, namely Macky Franklin who is probably the closest thing I can think of to how Tom Danielson was in college. He's freaky fast @19 and had a summer of winning the Short Track Semi-Pro National Championship. There were like 3 other Pro/Semi-Pro's that I didn't know so I was ready for an interesting race. Actually all I could do was execute my plan and try to keep the undefeated season alive.
When the gun went off I just drilled like my sidelined boy Blick used to...and he did last year at this race I heard. Off the front and Q took a pull on a long road climb to the technical cool stuff. Macky was hanging tough as he should be a Short Track champ. Dax was rolling strong also and he had it all under control too.
After the technical sections I realized the Scalpel, the big 2.3 Conti up front, and the suspension set up had me all dialed in and I was gapping everyone on the technical stuff. So for the next two hours I kept it drilled and never really went into difficulty. The heat was intense and it became obvious that I hadn't ridden in hot weather for months thanks to all the rain we've had. I rode very smooth today and that was the biggest factor in my win. Macky got caught by Dax on the fast downhill section (he was a bad ass pro motocrosser in the day) and they were together after lap 1. Some chode guy cut the course and unfortuantely he took Rich and Casey Cook with him. He was the 'race leader' after lap one so I had to make light work of him too. Lap two was all about riding smooth, smart, and mechanical free since I was tiring a little and not quite as sharp.
Somehow the second lap was a minute faster and I think it was because I was off the front riding my own race. Mike came through again with a bottle in the feed station, muchas gracias. Only in a 2 hr heat race can a 24oz bottle seem like a winning powerball ticket. Macky got second about 5mins back and Dax showed he's the real deal a couple minutes later to get on the podium also.
Post race the keg was tapped and the Mex food was being served up so we tore it up and tried to stop sweating. Kara would have distanced herself from me fo sho. The Franklins are a cool family from Taos and Macky got the whole family into biking so I got to hang with them a little. My bro Dmitri teaches their daughter and so there's a good vibe with them.
Q probably went too hard the day before because he can ride better than he did and he felt like the tank was empty. He still pulled out 3rd place, testament to his never die attitude. Rich is on the upswing and he battled it out for 3rd and kept himself alive for the 40-49 NMORS Expert Championship. ??But what's up with King Kong Casey?? He put his stamp all over the race and crushed the cretons. He's won two in a row and told me he's feeling better than he ever has and the rides he's throwing down are proof. He's a good guy to coach because he challenges me in many ways but he follows the program and is killing it for being an "old jammer", he'll try and bear hug the crap out of me with his 18inch guns for calling him that but it keeps him young, punking anyone who wants to go with him.
Adios from El Paso, gotta take care of the clients down here and see if I can keep the undefeated season of beating Megadyne (a med. devices competitor) alive as well. Over and out!
As for Horny Toads they hustle off the trail when you roll up on them...pretty funny. Luckily we didn't dance with the rattlers, it's their breeding time so their having all kinds of crazy snake...I'll quite now.

Signal Peak and the BrokeBikeGilaBillies...what-the-f&%$??????

The race is always a treat as compared to some of the courses and this was an epic mud fest with all the hellamonsoon weather we've had this year.
I dialed in the bike with the mudders and put on some mudguards to key the ojo's clean. Race day started with a big Belgian waffle at the Econonlodge washed down with some surprisingly good cafecito with fakeleche. After a 3 duecer I was ready to rock the party!!
At the start line all the coolbro's were there, Q-Dog (showing RaceFace on his new Team Scalpel), Richie Rich (sucking down the last hit of powerjuice), KingKong Casey (looking rather svelte on29'rs), Fo Diggidy Dax (is there a dessert buffet post race?), Santiago (legged over the new World Cup Scalpel also) and all the contenders for the titles like Casey Cook, and wanting to beat us all Dave Wilson. The missing bro is a newly stylish BouldAir Hoppe who's no longer Neuvo Mexicano. He did managed to call my phone at 10:30pm the night before, and leave some rant message about epics and putting the smack down on JHK up there though. Sounds like the freak is off his leash?!
3.2.1 Go like a bat out of hell up the first climb, hoping Dave Wilson would take bait again and pop like the last times. Instead it was Team Sol off the FRONT!!
At the top of Signal Peak it was Dax, yo, and Q Dog, with peaked out Casey on his tale. The course had some uphill stream rides, it's harder than you imagine, and a bunch of big puddles. After the downhill I settled into my groove after I got by Dax (he's riding GRRRRRReat right now even though he may not know it). The RRRRRiver crossings were pretty burly and I went down face first in one of them, that mudscrub was getting old anyway. I slammed the right hand pretty good but no whining here.
On the last lap I gave it all I had and managed to finish strong. 14mins later FDDax came in and a couple mins later Qdog was washing up in the stream too. The "impressive ride of the day" came from the monstermasher himself KingKong Casey with a 4th place overall on the day...DaDAMN. I was like a proud papa with all the riders I coach coming in great spots. Richie Rich is dialing it in so everyone better not take an extra glimpse of "I'm bad" in the mirror or you'll pay for it.
The beef bbq was all beat up so we pretty much had to drink our recovery from the keg and Endurox baggie, at least that's what Richie said it was???!!!
The bike worked great, the feeds went great, I scored some kisses from the podium mamas, got some green back to fattent the wallet with, and managed to keep the undefeated MTB season alive... and we headed off to Lotaburger to make the fry cooks pause the smoking break. The coolest thing about hitting a fast food burger joint is that we just burned like 3 LottaCombo's worth of calories and if you only eat one you still drop weight while getting a mad grease ring around your lips as you try to remember to breathe in your feeding frenzy.
Sleeping on the way back to Querque made the turns of the Black Mountains feel like Kara rocking me to sleep, while the boys were both sacked out...and Myles was running the mean chain saw through his nose while he slept. I think he'll be a downhiller. Mason threw down like 800 mini laps so I wasn't surprised that he was tired.

Mi primera Vez?

That's right kiddies, the blog is on!