Was finally able to start riding again in Sept, '06. Knee surgery and issues had kept me off the bike since Feb, '05.  This was my favourite race so far this year and I'm starting to feel somewhat good again.  CCCX#5 was my first and I was too banged up to be riding, but tried anyway and dropped out 1/2 way through, after crashing of course. Was still banged up at The Sea Otter from a 'pre-ride mistake' the weekend before, among numberous other wrecks and mishaps. Also had (happily) sampled a few too many energy gels and beers that Saturday to do anything but finish and not crash. But yesterday... yesterday was my kind of day.  I love riding in the cold, rainy, wet, mucky crap and my bikes used to it. Of course I did little better then 'finish and not crash', but had a hell of a lot more fun.

 

I choose to not pre-ride before the race. Figured I'd be seeing the mud soon enough, so simply pedalled around campus, hit some light hills and then spun around that little track area and stretched. Kept hearing about the nasty conditions out but figured by the time I on riding the trails, behind all the fast people, the mud would be packed down a bit. And it was in a  lot of areas. In others I just 'skied' through.

 

Oh, got a little turned around twice, to the amusement of spectators and 'un-energetic' non-pointing or waving directional people yelling "Hey you're going the WRONG WAY". Then laughing at the jersey...

 

Early in the race I passed Pete stuck on the side of the trail with a mechanical. I slowed, asked how he was and he said 'I'm fine doug'. But his face and tone said otherwise. I figured I'd see him later.  After a bit Allan passed me. "uh.. what are you doing behind me, Allan?" "missed my start, doug".  And speed racer was gone.  Passed lots of folks trailside with bike problems. Kept asking if anyone needed help but all said no. Dang, no excuse to stop. The whoops were fun, not like last time in '01 when I  'T-boned'  another rider on the 1st one. I'd forgot about all that damn climbing towards the end though.  Death march my a$$, more like a plod or slog. It was around 3/4ths way through the course that Patrick passed me. "Go boy go!" I remember gasping. 

 

Then the climbs were over and I was able to actually pass a couple people, keeping me from DFL.. barely :o)  So I finished, didn't crash and had a blast. See ya'll at the CCCX#6 May 19th.