Stinger

I have mentioned before my enjoyment of waffles. I've been eating stinger waffles for the past few years, but mainly for recreation. They are like cookies. Then at spa city I used a bevy of stinger products for the race. I was a little worried how the waffles would go down under race conditions, but they are delicious even when racing. I could of stopped and enjoyed a few, and maybe should have. The carbo bars were my main sustenance other than gels though. Next time I'll definitely up the waffle intake and decrease the gels.

Sixsixone

I decided I needed a real mtb helmet for this year. A real mtber never wants to look like a roadie trying to ride trails. Luckily sixsixone has just such a helmet and now I've had some time with it on my head. It's a great lid. It weighs the same as my old helmet but has much more protection and more importantly, more style. 4 colors to choose from so I can make sure my helmet never clashes with my bike riding outfits.

Looks like rain all week. The river trails dry out fast, but not that fast.

Spa City

So I had planned on going to the Mellow Classic to start off the mtb season.  That changed when I got sick and layed in bed the week leading up to the race.  Plans changed and I decided to go to Hot Springs, AR for the first round of the USA Cycling ProUET.  I was feeling better but was still pretty weak and tired but figured it would be a good training ride if nothing else.

The race started with a run, a long run to the bikes.  Then the bikes were in a Triathlon style rack and my bike was too tall so I couldnt get it out until the guy next to me showed up and took his bike.  Needless to say I was way behind and Eric Bostrom of Sho-Air was leading a crazy fast start.  Luckily there was 3/4 of a mile of gravel, pavement, and doubletrack before the singletrack started.  I motored along and made my way towards the front, slotting into the singletrack behind Bryan Fawley of Orbea.  There was a bit of a gap to the first group which included Bostrom and Tinker Juarez but I wasnt too worried as I figured it would come back together, or Fawley would pull it back together.  Thirty minutes later I was right, Fawley hammered a flat doubletrack section and it was one lead group of 6. 

Right as we make contact I go for my water bottle, and drop it.  When this happens, there are two options.  Stop and get it, or stay with the group and hope you dont regret no drinking.  Well, I went for option 3.  Slam on the brakes, panic, soft pedal to decide if I should go back, soft pedal some more, watch the group open a big gap, and then decide to go without the bottle.  Since the lap is an hour and I wont have anything to drink I decide to back off the pace and just ride my own race.

The trails at Spa City are a blast.  I had an excellent time for 3.5 hours and was just cruising along nicely.  I had worked my way up to 5th when the lights pretty much went out.  One lap was a bit slow, and the next one was ridiculously slow.  I guess Im not in shape to ride for that long this early in the year. 

I got 7th,,,errr 6th, or 5th, or 1st.  Just depends on how you look at it.

lots more pics are here....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkansasoutside/6828133492/

Morning ride before the big game.  Post xc world cup watching of course, 650b wheels take the win... Everyone has to go buy a new bike now I guess!!

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