It is beyond me why we are already nearly half way through the MTB series here in Oregon and it is the first week in May...

Must be time for the Championships! Sorry for the cynical attitude but I still haven't recovered from snow-bike-walking last week.

On to Blogett, Oregon for umpteenth Mudslinger Classic. Usual Oregon crowd fighting it out in the usual mud bog. I tried to drop them at the starr, and throughout the first lap, but just didn't have the usual hammer for some reason... Then my seatpack busted off--nice, tools MIA.

Bear Springs Trap is one of my favorite courses. The race is put on by the crew from Mt Hood Skibowl and they have been promoting races forever.

In fact, my second race EVER was at Skibowl several eons ago. I have had many great times racing with these guys, but this event was NOT one of them. Right now I am looking for excuses not to keep racing the same old events, so thanks for the BIG FAT one folks!

Before I digress too much... I have to clarify that while I didn't win the Eugene Roubaix bicycle race Saturday, I did WIN the annual mullet competition!

Even more gratifying than beating most all of the(ninth place) local wheel-sucks (roadies) was my utter domination with my hair, outfit, equipment ensemble!

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did... Kudos and thanks to "The Uncommon Cyclist" for photos and special effects!

http://commoncyclist.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

Check it out, now.

I just got done racing the local Kings Valley road race. It is typical of most Oregon road events in that most everyone stays together to the end.

Obviously those who are out of shape or in the wrong category get dropped but the rest just battle for position going into the final sprint.

The best part about this event is that it takes place about 1/2 hour from my home on roads I used to train frequently on when we lived in Dallas.

Lots going on these days at home, so Brett and I made the short trip to North Plains, Oregon. Hornings Hustle was the second race of the state XC Series.

I chose to ride singlespeed because the course is a very short up/down loop and the conditions have been quite muddy during past renditions.

Since I ride my singlespeed at least a couple times a week for training, I assumed this would mean that I'd be minimizing my chances for mechanical failure. I even put on a new (old) stretched chain the night before to help ensure that I wouldn't stretch and drop my chain.

After the Joshua Tree Camp, my wife and kids flew down and we spent the week in Cathedral City. It was a great vacation and we enjoyed a little "down" time together.

After the Keyesville Classic, I continued my journey south to the town of Joshua Tree, California. This funky little spot sits just outside Joshua Tree National Park and about 45 minutes north of Palm Springs. It was the site of the 2009 Balance Point Racing spring training camp.

I was heading down to CA for the Balance Point Racing camp in Joshua Tree. It seemed right to start the week with a little racing, so I hooked up the Keyesville Classic to try to knock some cobwebs out of my system after nearly a month of steady training. The event has been around since the beginning of MTB so why not give it a shot?