Out West

I spent last week in Cali, Morgan Hill to be precise.

I had the chance to test some new products, hangout with some cool people and I even learned a thing or two.

 On Thursday we rode the Sea Otter race course. I was most definitely feeling the effects of our long Kansas winter.

"Trail conditions" were less than ideal. I use quotes because anyone who has ridden or raced at Laguna Seca knows it's more dirt road and double track than actual trail. An abnormally wet winter brought much needed rain, but also created giant sinkholes and axle-deep ruts in many places.

Coming off a water bar on the first descent I managed to maneuver out of harms way, narrowly missing a man-eater of a sinkhole.  One of my buddies, a known Team Segal nerdowell, was not so lucky — he rode straight in, crashed in spectacular fashion and came away with a broken collar bone.


At least it was a loaner bike.

Racing 2010

My 2009 'cross season ended abruptly due to a dislocated patella from Barnyard Cross.

Ok, that's a lie...

The dislocated knee cap was a result of "dropping it like it's hot" whilst dancing after Barnyard Cross. It would serve me well to remember I am no longer a kid — when I dance, there will be consequences.

In any case, I've been doing my best to get healthy over these long winter months. I haven't been able to log as many base miles would have liked, but I did manage to secure two things that will motivate me to get in race shape.

The first is a transfer entry to Ouachita. This year's registration filled up in the blink of an eye and I missed it.

The second is this:

It weighs 2.6 lbs and is made of something the engineers at NASA are referring to as "carpet fiber."