KEYES FAREWELL/SEE YOU SOON

Have you met friends that you haven't known all your life but bond with immediately and appreciate what they are about right off the bat? Well here's a family we've enjoyed knowing and expect we'll keep in touch with. But alas they are expanding their horizons, and moving OUT OF STATE (OH MY!) on what I expect to be a great adventure. We had a fun little gathering to send them off today. Keyes, we wish you all a safe and fortune filled journey! And we expect you back often and permanently when you are more "cultured" and "educated" about the real world out there! Fare Thee Well.

Taming the Tetons for the LAST time

Carson and I blew in yesterday for the "TAMING THE TETONS" ICUP race today. Little did we know this was going to be the last one. We heard rumors the resort was going to focus on downhill biking more. It's too bad, this was a fun getaway for our family in the years past and without the race incentive it seems less likely that we would come up this far.

THE RACE
Not much exciting news about the race. I started out in 6th (I think) and stayed there. I was knocking on Tim White's door after the second lap but didn't have it in me to catch him. I just need to keep working on getting back the conditioning for this year. It was a fun course with perfect race weather. Here's my stats if anyone is really interested.
We crashed with the Holley's last night at the Hostel which was an experience. There were actually 6 of us in one hot room with thin walls. I slept well after it cooled off and the partying Asian yelling group quieted down.

ARANTIX II MILES: 550 for 2010

Deer Valley/ MOST IMPROVED RACER AWARD

The make up race at Deer Valley looked pretty gloomy just before the start. It was cold and rainy. Not much of a chance for a warm up which was badly needed to be able to attach Little Stix. I started off my usual crazy speed, burned my lungs out and took nearly the whole first lap to recover. Old habits die hard. But in a way it made sense this time since we were only doing two laps due to lack of daylight. The second lap was much better, even up Little stix. I missed out on 7th place by just a couple of seconds. I got caught on the last long down hill towards the finish behind another category racer and didn't push to pass. By the time I did and noticed that I was catching up with my category racer we were near the finish, he new I was coming on and I couldn't finish it. Over all it was a good race, poor finish. I really only once thought about my shoulder on rough downhill section.


MOST IMPROVED MAD DOG RACER AWARDI have to highlight Kevin Moffit in this blog. IF there was an award for most improved racer it would be given to him. It seems just last year he started in beginner, quickly moved to sport and was winning. This year he jumped to Expert and has jumped to firsts right off the bat. Now that's acceleration! Not bad for an old guy (49) who hasn't raced before. He has done something right through this miserable winter. His genes must not be bad, either, which he passed on to Joseph (18) who just also won the expert 19-29 category. GOOD JOB Moffits! RESPECT..

ARANTIX II miles: 470

EXTREMES

Last week Carson and I went down to ride RIM/JEMS/GOULDS. It was nice and warm. We had first attempted this when we got the ARANTIX bikes. It was our first ride with the new "crazy" bikes. We did not complete the whole loop back then due to too much mud but this ride was better. The trail flows well and has a good variety of terrain. We even finished the ride before it got too hot where it hit the mid 90's.


Then later the same week we are in this....Needless to say there was not much riding done this weekend. It was nevertheless a good time with the family. I headed up to Deer Valley in trepidation but determined to race. Luckily or unluckily it was pouring there and the race was postponed.

It's supposed to be cool and with a chance of T-showers for tonight's make up race. We'll see how it goes. Good luck to all and we'll see how the weather turns out.