Solving the Puzzer!

Anxious to regain my confidence and redeem myself I road consistently after the holidays and was able to travel to El Paso for the Puzzler in relatively decent condition. The course was some of the most challenging 50 miles I have ever encountered. Endless twisty single track trails through the desert littered with all manner of rocks and lined innumerable sharp and thorny plants. The race started well and I was able to ride at or near the front for the first 30 miles or so. We crested to mountain pass and began a long and brutally rocky descent where Travis Brown surged to the front and left me about 30 seconds behind. I fumbled with my heart rate monitor strap and lost more time before getting rid of it at the next feed zone. Gradually T succumbed to the distance and I was able to close the gap as we headed back over the ridge. I was able to master most of the switchbacks and headed down the other side with a comfortable margin that grew as we neared the finish. Lacerated by countless run-ins with the local flora and beaten down by the pummeling rocks I was glad to be done but also vindicated to win my first race of the new year!