Bear Springs Trap
We loaded the Pedro’s van and headed north to the Bear Springs Trap MTB race. Now, I’d never done BST because I’d always heard about how people get lost there all the time. Well, I got over it and headed up w/the buds. We had a good crew. James, Mike and I in one car and a whole slew of Bendies in other cars. Good showings by all! My race went like this: Good warm up (I’m seeing a pattern!), good enough start, good climb, moving up during the start loop, then ptsssss. A flat! Not even 10 minutes in. I was taking my time and not starting too hard, but when I started to move up I hit a rock that ended my charge. Well, the rock didn’t end it, but my operator error with my CO2 did. I goofed and blew most of the CO2 out the sides and not into the tube. A single speeder came by with his bike all f’d up and gave me his cartridge. Only problem was that it was a 16g one and didn’t fill the tire up much. I got enough air to head back to the van, getting out of the way for the sports…then the beginners who were coming up the hill 20 minutes after I had started my race. I rolled back, borrowed a tube and pumped up the tire. Then I thought to myself, “self, I should go out and keep racing for a hard work out.” So, I did. I skipped the second half of the start loop and hopped on the big loop behind all the Pro/experts, but, I think, in front of all the sports. Once I got going, I felt awesome! I’d see someone up ahead and reel them in, then it was on to the next person in the distance. I did this all day and was able to attack the course. A feeling I did not have at the Otter, so it got me feeling good about my riding again. Maybe the extra 8lbs I have since getting the job helped…When all was said and done, I’d finished in 2hr 45min. 26 minutes off the win and good enough for a DNF! James killed the Semi Pro class by 7 minutes. Duder is fast this year. Great race, great course and no one that I know of got lost. I’m going back next year.
