Sorry it has been so long! May has been a big month for me as an opportunity to prepare for more important events in June and beyond. After the Cohutta 100 mile MTB race in April, I realized that I needed to take things to a new level if I wanted to obtain my goal of winning this type of event. That meant getting back to the basics with some serious hours on the bike and some local races to sharpen me up.

Thanks to all of you I am off to my best season ever! At least with regard to results...

March was a bust this year for training after I ended up with an abscessed saddle sore a week after returning home for my first race in Texas. After two weeks off the bike I was a little to hasty to get going again. Not wanting to have another problem, I had changed my saddle position a little and imanaged to pull my hamstring in the process of returning to riding!

Wow! I can't believe it is already the middle of February and we just got home from the first USA Cycling National race in Texas. We had a great time although the weather was a little sketchy until we were ready to leave. Kind of cold and windy but nothing compared to training in Oregon!

The Oregon State Games mountain bike races have been a mainstay for great competition here in the Northwest for many years. In 1995, I first raced this event held at Mt Hood Skibowl and have had the pleasure of doing so many times since. Last year, I won the cross country race and this year I returned hoping for another good result.

Thanks for tuning in, and sorry this report is so tardy. We suffered no connectivity in Whistler at our hotel and then high-tailed it home after the race. Stages 6 and 7 were not so good for us at the BC Bike Race anyway...

Stage 6 Squamish to Whistler

Oakridge is one of the more attractive riding destinations in Oregon. With miles of singletrack and home to the Cascade Cream Puff 100, it is always a fun place to compete. This year it was also the finals of the Oregon Classics XC Series. Going into this race, I was in a virtual three-way tie for first place with Erik Tonkin (Kona) and Ben Thompson (Bend Elite). Erik did not attend leaving Ben and I to battle for the series. The race stayed together for most of the start lap and we hit the "wall" as a group of five from each of our two teams.

Sorry I haven't been able to get online and give you all the full run down each evening. Our days have been long with racing, bike repair, ferry transfers and not enough rest.

Stage 2

With several disappointing results in a row, I was ready for this race! Last year Erik Tonkin (Kona), Omer Kem (Priority Health) and I battled for most of this 50 mile marathon before Erik won by a couple minutes. Unfortunately, the rains came again the night before the race and made it much harder this year. Rob English (Bike Friday) set the early pace and my teammate Zach Winter kept him in check. By the midpoint of the first 25 mile lap it was again just three of us at the front and we were on pace for a new course record. The second lap proved more difficult, though.

My token road stage race for the year. Still racing CAT 3 and looking for an upgrade, so I was super motivated to do well. Day one was a circuit race up/down the northeast side of Mt Hood. A fair amount of climbing, but not very steep so it stayed together until 1k to go. I countered and finished 2nd. The next stage was a ITT along the Columbia river from The Dalles to Hood River. Super tough with a lot of wind, climbing and technical corners. I didn't feel great, but managed to place 3rd.

This would have to be the designated home course for us. Located at the Black Rock Mountain Bike Park 25 miles west of Salem, the Firecracker has been lighting up the Oregon XC Series for several years. It usually takes place around 4th of July (hence the name), but was scheduled earlier in 2007. Unfortunately, the rains came rendering the course a slick mess. Erik Tonkin (Kona) and Ross Schnell (Trek VW) set the early pace, but I was able to close each time down the hill.