Fair Weather Rider...Not Anymore!

Last weekend was great, we had nice weather and set record highs. 95 deg mid-May is pretty ridiculous. But, yesterday, when I heard a radio announcer wish for last weekend's weather this weekend, but say that at least this weather gives you a good excuse to be lazy all weekend-- I found myself laughing and thinking "No way, I'll definitely take 65 deg and raining!"

This weekend was anything but lazy, and was definitely the most enjoyable this season yet. Of course, it helped that it was an extra day.

Although, I guess on Friday, I was probably thinking the same thing as the radio announcer. It was cloudy and dreary and pouring rain. I thought that the rain spelled doom for the PineNut Cracker race the next day. And since Scott had just put a brand new drive train on my bike, I was almost convinced not to go. I knew that if I didn't go out there, it would most likely be the best conditions ever, and if I did go, it would most likely be crappy and muddy. But, I hate to get left behind, so when Alex was working out carpooling, I made sure that I was included in the plans.

The next morning on the drive out to the race, it was still dreary and rainy. When John, Kenny, Don, Alex and I got there, we only had about 25 mins until the race started. At registration, the course map that was laid out described that the race was going to go up to "the mine." I'm not familiar at all with the trails out there other than doing the race for the past two years, but the course two years ago had gone up to 'the mine', and I hated every second of it. The giant whoops leading up there forced me to walk my bike for at least two miles for fear of crashing w/o insurance. And then, Fifield announced that he had tried to ride the course earlier, and it was so muddy, he was force to walk.

So I decided not to race. I walked away from registration with my filled-out form in hand, and walked back to the truck where everyone was frantically getting ready to race. "Dammit, what else am I going to do here for the next two hours while everyone races?" I thought....so I turned back around and registered.

15 mins to go until race time. I quickly visited the ladies room, ran out and grabbed my bike...put some air in the tires, and hopped on to ride up to the start line, feeling like I probably forgot something. We got to the start just in time to line up and "GO!".

What the hell was Fifield talking about? He must've been trying to convince us not to race. The conditions were awesome! The trails out there are motorcycle trails that are whoopy, and flowy, and lumpy and bumpy, and twist and turny, and usually pretty sandy and loose. Not today! They were hard packed, and freaking fun! The dirt was smooth and tacky, and cornering was easy. Of course, race-pace speeds helped the fun factor. It was a great day! I was stoked I had done it!

The next day, after pouring rain that afternoon, and raining through most of the early morning, I was once again convinced that trail conditions were going to be crappy as hell. However, Giant was holding a demo day at Peavine, and I really wanted to check out a bike that I'm thinking of getting, so I HAD to go out there. As I chatted with the rep while they were setting up the bike for me, I said "Better your bike than mine...", thinking that it was going to be the kind of mud that forces you to put all new cables and housing on.

I was wrong AGAIN!! The dirt was great. Riding new, top-of-the-line bikes was great. It was another great day of riding.

So, by Monday, I was hooked. It rained more over the night. That morning was when I heard the radio announcer. But, now, I knew the trails were going to be great. So, I rode with Alex one more time for the weekend out at White's Creek. It was actually my first time riding out there, and now I know I'm spoiled for that trail, sinces it's almost never in that great of condition.

This entire season, I've been a fair-weather rider. If it's too cold or windy, I just won't go. I think I've learned my lesson about that. Now, I'm crossing my fingers this weather lasts a little bit longer.