The Snowbird ICUP race course was in great shape today. The new single track that was added is delightful. I loved it.
I was a bit surprised at who was there today. Last year, I raced--well, really just rode--the course by myself. No one else showed up. I honestly did not expect many to show. I knew Erika had done a pre-ride so I assumed she would be there and she was. Kenda was represented by both Kathy and Heather. Sarah from Roaring Mouse also showed up. On the start line, I figured I would be racing for fourth place.
So we took off and, of course, Kenda took the quick lead. Sarah was not far behind. Coming out of the first single track, there was a small gap between the Kenda girls and Sarah who had a small gap on me. As we went through the new single track climb I thought I might be picking up some time. I rode the loosed dirt descent pretty smooth and the single track descent was a blast. I continued to make up time. Going through the start finish I was right behind her. I was content for the time being keeping pace. Entering the single track again I was still feeling good-- nice and smooth. Sarah bobbled and I was able to pass her. Now I was nervous about her catching me. So I pushed and pushed.
It started to drizzle some. My glasses don't seem to handle rain so well. They get steamed up, spotted and muddy. It can be difficult to see. This puts me in a conundrum--loose the glasses which will impair my sight as they are prescription or ride with impaired 20/20 vision. Because they are prescription I prefer to not hook them on my jersey or slide them in a pocket. I would rather they not fall, get scratched or otherwise damaged permenantly impairing my vision. I kept them on. It was difficult to see the trail though. On the final single track portion I had two guys right behind me. My pedal hit a rock and there was another big rock in front of me. My bike jumps off the trail. I thinking that I am in big trouble. I was able to keep from falling further down the side of the mountain. The two guys get by--which is good because I was looking for some place to let them pass--they ask if I am okay. And comment that it was a good save. I am relieved that it did not go much, much worse. Exiting the single track, I toss my glasses to Bart who is spectating and ride the final lap without them. (Thanks again Bart.) I think it was a good choice.
I was able to keep third place. (Ahh...I heart CarboRocket!) I was so nervous about getting caught. I was also apprehensive as there has not been a race for a bit. My first two laps felt good; the last one was a struggle, but that is racing. Solitude next week--ugh!
Hopefully, I will get some pictures.

We got up early to ride Nebo this morning. The hope was to avoid traffic and it worked. We rolled out a little after 5 am with Tim. I did not feel so good on the climb. I actually felt better and better as we rode. It was a humid morning which made my glasses fog up relentlessly. The views were amazing today though when I would kept them to un-fog.
Chris and I both had the day off, so it made sense to do something like this. I knew we would want to avoid Provo as this is their big celebration weekend. Chris made me nervous yesterday though. He has not been feeling good on the bike for a while. I called him on my way back from Ride Like a Girl and he said he may not be up to it. My heart sunk. I thought about doing it solo, but was not sure I dared. He decided that he would start it and see how he felt. If it was another bad day, he would turn around. He apparently felt better, thankfully.
We finished in 4:50 ride time (this included kodak moments, but not major stops) and approximately 5:20 total time. I wish we had an opportunity to ride it more often, but we try to avoid traffic as much as possible.
As we approached the Koholowo turn off I thought about how much I would like to ride my bike to girl camp sometime. I would need to hike in some though because there is a couple of miles on a gravely dirt road. That poses a small problem. Then I came up with lyrics to express this sung to the tune of "These boots are made for walking" chorus. (I was in choir in high school to ensure I had lunch with my friends.)
These boots aren't made for walking.
That's just not what they do.
These boots aren't made for walking.
They'll ride right up to you.
Obviously boots in this scenario are referring to my bike shoes. That is just how my mind works when Chris rides off and leaves me alone.

An early morning view towards the summit

The clouds were so cool looking

A rock formation across from our bathroom break

One last look from the road to Nephi

We met up with Keith, Jesse, and Tim on Saturday morning for a long mountain bike ride. We started at Timp Park and headed up to the altar and down Frank's and Dragon's back. We took the paved trail to Vivian Park and then headed to Sundance. We went up and down and then jumped back on the road Timp Trail parking lot. We took Jurassic Park trail to the top of the Alpine loop. We did the Ridge trail and headed back home.
The guys were dropping like flies. Okay, well Keith turned down at the top of the Alpine Loop. But both Jesse and Tim were also suffering too. On the way back while we were on the paved trail, Chris rode up next to me and said he was not doing Bonneville South. I was feeling pretty good still considering the riding we had done, but did not want to ride it by myself. So we all just headed back to the cars. It was approximately 4:40 ride time.
I found the ride just a bit ironic though. Keith, Jesse, and Tim were all on hardtail 29ers while Chris and I were both on 26 inch wheeled full suspensions. Things had come full circle.

My new bike came in...finally. Well, I have had the parts from Gary Fisher for awhile, but the frame came in while I was in IL. Chris started building it up and finished it on Monday. It's maiden voyage was Tuesday.
It was weird. I strayed from the 29er and went for a "classic" 26 inch wheeled full suspension. "Why?" seems to be the question most asked. Well, the obvious is that I have the ultimate mountain bike already--a Gary Fisher Superfly (thank you Chris). So really anything other than another Superfly is a downgrade. My options were the FS 26, Hard tail (aluminum) 29er, or FS 29er. The FS 29er seemed like overkill. I don't think I would every want to race that. The HT 29er is way too similar to what I have in the Superfly. The FS 26 was intriguing. I have not ridden a full suspension or 26 inch wheeled bike in probably 5 years. I thought it might be interesting to try. If I don't like it so much, I would sell it at the end of the year.
Well, truth be told I like it. It is different and I am still getting used to it, but I think it might be fun to have around. It is all squishy and stuff. It climbs really well too. I took it up and over Dry Canyon. I was more cautious going down the stairs, but it was fine.
I have to say though, when I raced my SS last night at Sundance I still am a fan of the big wheels. This new bike (my "mini" bike) is more like a toy.

Chris taking the "mini" bike out for a quick spin...

...making sure it shifts, stops, bounces, etc.

It is just so little and cute, the bike that is.

First, I want to say Happy Father's Day to the world's greatest Dad, mine.
Secondly, I am just tired. So I got back to Utah on Thursday evening. My plane seemed to take for-ev-er. We had to zig-zag around storms and then compete with a killer head wind, so the flight took a bit longer than it was supposed to. That was the pilots story anyway. I got there though. I spent less than 4 hours at home before we were off again. This time by car (truck) heading to California. Karl and Carson invited us to join them in racing the second 12 Hours of Temecula event that was really at Rim Nordic to avoid the heat. I can appreciate that.
We arrived early Friday morning, slept for a couple of hours and then headed to the course for a pre-ride. After the first lap, I was not so sure about the course. We did it a second time though and it was tons of fun. I was excited.
The race is scheduled from 9 to 9, but all racers must be in by 9--that is the cutoff. 9:00:01 and your lap does not count. Chris started us off doing the parade laps. This ended up being a huge cluster, but he was the first to enter the course according to the announcement I heard. Then they kept reporting some other guy was in front. So I took my time getting ready, but assumed that Chris was close behind. As I was slowly making my way to the start/finish I saw Chris get there first. I was probably only a few seconds behind him, but I felt badly.
They give out cash for the fastest male and female laps. Chris told me it was my responsibility to bring home some cash. He was the captain, so I did what I could. My first lap did not flow as I had hoped. It was not bad, but I just did not have the same groove as the second lap the day before. This Sho-Air team was there too and Heidi is ripping fast, so I pushed super hard on my second lap also. Chris was putting in screaming fast laps. This is when I realized that I was not getting the recovery time that everyone else was. Chris was jippin' me out of rest.
Jason runs these races. He is this pretty cool lil' guy. He goes over the rules before hand. One of his rules is Jason's rules are it. Essentially saying he will make the final judgement call on DQ's and what not. On three of my laps I passed him as he was either walking the course or just watching racers go by. Each time he would encourage me referring to me as "my [his] lady." I left Chris a race note between laps that said, "Jason says I am his lady. Sorry. I still love you." I thought it was pretty clever for mid-race. His response back was something about taking the bikini-clad chic at the top of the climb in my place. Equally clever.
Towards the end it was going to be close as to whether Chris would go out for our 15th lap. We could not catch the overall top team, so he told me to just finish my lap safely. My goal was not to have a lap over 60 minutes. So I took it conservatively, mostly because I was spent. I was so excited to reach the final descent. It should be smooth sailing. I came over this rocky section and then a little gully with a rock in it. That is when I heard it--spsh! I had a flat rear tire. It was big pinch flat and there was not just pumping it up. I would have to throw a tube in it. I was pretty close to the finish line. So I just started running. About half way there I ran into Chris back tracking on the course. He had decided he would try another lap, but when I did not get in with enough time he came looking. He told me I could slow down, but I wanted to be under an hour. I think I made it.
In the end we finished 3rd overall behind two three man teams. Chris and I got the cash for fastest male and femal laps respectively. Karl and Carson took first in the Duo Open category. It was another successful 12 hour race.

Wednesday took a surprising turn. It started off as I expected. We went for a bike ride and this time Jac joined us. (Yes, I realize he has committed the cardinal sin and not worn a bike helmet. I am working on it.) We essentially did the other end of the trail that we hit on Monday. There was a bit of head wind coming back. This trail is apparently much more flat than yesterdays. (More flat?)


We came back and ate lunch. Then we went to shoot some guns. Now I never pictured myself as a gun person. Yeah, I have shot stuff before. Dad took us out once or twice growing up. In college, I went with some friends and we shot stuff by the lake. I never really have given it much thought since then. And I probably would have graciously declined most invitations. This was my Dad and brother asking though and it almost seemed like a challenge. And I like challenges.

They asked me what I wanted to shoot. I had no idea. Handguns? Sure. Bigger? Sure. We started off with a 30-30 Winchester. That thing has kick. I did not really like it so much. We each got just a couple of rounds.



Then it was time for the handguns. We started off with the .45 Caliber Springfield XD. I thought I would really like this gun as Jac was showing it to me. It reminded me of Hunter and I loved that TV show growing up. I can't shoot like Hunter though.

My divots well before the target

Then we moved on to the .22 Caliber Ruger Mark III. Looking at it, I thought it was "pretty". I always imagined I would like something tougher. I really like this gun though. It was light and easy to handle--and I could hit targets. My dad said that we would leave this to me in his will. I am in no hurry, but would not mind breaking it out again.



We came back in and the guys started cleaning their guns. I watched as they ridded their firearms of dust and potential corrosion. Jac looks up at me as he is meticulously finishing and asks if I want to shoot an AK47. And my head said no. Then he and Dad launch into some tirade about how Princess' (my Mom's friend) daughter did it. Something, something she liked it; she didn't. I don't know. So again it seemed like a challenge. So the answer was yes. I thought for sure it would have power and kick like the Winchester. What was I getting myself into...

Jac brings it out. We head back behind the house and set the targets (pieces of wood on an old rusty, shot up barrel). Jac shows me how it is done. I am still apprehensive, but here it goes. I loved it. It was awesome.

Jac shooting the AK47

Yesterday, my mom and I went for another bike ride. This one was in Hebron and was a bit faster. There was one little pitch as we returned, that my Mom attacked like a pro. She did great. She has this sixth sense about knowing when the trail moves up or down. She will call it out, "up hill". I would miss it otherwise. Honestly, even when she tells me I am not sure what she is talking about 75% of the time. She can feel it though.

My mom posing at the turn around point

Kamikaze toad that just about took my Mom out

Then she took Jac and I canoeing. Jac is here too on a two week leave from the Army. It has been fun engaging him in banter. Just like the old days, but now we are old. We drove through some sprinkles into Wisconsin. We put in the Wisconsin River just outside of Clinton. I think it took us around an hour and half to reach our destination. It was really cool. I only wish the sun would have been out.

The Girls boat

Jac chillin as he gets a new bowman

My mom is pretty cute

As we approached a bridge

Lily pads