My last mountain bike race was the 24hrs of Moab on October 14th & 15th, 2005. I raced on a 2 man team in the Duo Pro category. After a grueling 24 hours, 16 laps, 26 GU's, 8 Cliff Bars, 2 tubes, lots of apples, turkey sandwiches and egg burritos, 1 tube of Chamois Butter (ahh), zero sleep, knee pain and bike issues for me and cramps for my teammate we got 4th place! It was a great way to end a very hard season of mountain bike and adventure racing. Plus it was time to face the fact that the nagging pain in my knee that was getting worse.
Racing Solo at the 24hrs in the Sage
A year of X-rays, MRI's, cortisone shots, IT band rolling, physical therapy, stretching, massage, sleepless nights, doctors, specialists, and opinions has not solved my mysterious knee injury. My goal for 2006 was to race in the expert class, moving up to semi pro by 2008. Whether I'll ever be able to race at that level now is in doubt, but knee pain or not I will race again! The 24hrs of Moab is in 7 days.
Le mans Start at 24hrs of Moab 2005
(I'm slightly left of center)
This year will be a little different of course. I'm opting for a 5 person coed team instead of duo pro. My main goal is to have fun and enjoy all the things I missed by racing so seriously in 2005. The 24hrs of Moab is the biggest 24 hour race in the country. It's like the Burning Man Festival with bikes and not as many naked people. I'm stoked to do a couple of "chill" laps, hang with my girlfriend (clean up the coffee you just spit all over your computer screen, you read correctly - she rocks!), and enjoy the scene.
La Sal Mountain Backdrop
Our team is talented and all locals from Boulder. We've got an iron woman, local expert and sport riders, a single speed 29er rider (a 29er is a bike with larger 29 inch wheels), and a busted up former duo pro rider. Our collective goal is to just have fun and maybe whoop some other coed 5 person teams who are just having fun too!
Moon Rise over the La Sals
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