Race #6: Sundance Spin, Sundance Resort, UT...

At first, I thought it was going to rain according to the liar weatherman, but it ended up a beautiful, gorgeous, clear, sunny day at the Sundance Spin Bike Race in Sundance Resort near Provo, UT. The race was a real blast I thought, it was nice to ride on the mostly singletrack trails which was very hard to pass other racers or be passed by because of the narrow singletrack most of the way and that made it a lot harder. I have ridden this trail like a thousand times when I was living in Provo a few years ago so I knew the course very well so it was a lot easier to race on. There were a lot of racers in this race just like Soldier Hollow but I don't know about Draper because I wasn't there so there was a lot. This race has the best scenery in this series because of Timpinogous Mountain right next to it which made it very enjoyable. And it is very nice to race in the mountains again. At first of the race I snapped my seat railing in half so I rode the rest of the way with the seat kind of bent with only one railing holding me up. So I finished 14th out of 16. So I bought a new saddle when mom and I got to downtown at the bike shop. The last race in Soldier Hollow, I broke one of my pedals and ended up buying new pedals in Park City and the race before that, I had to buy a new seatpost. I guess that's what happens in races, you really beat the hell out of your bike! But otherwise I have a lot fun no matter how I finish but the most important part is to have fun and at least finish it.

Race #5: Hammerfest at the Hollow, Soldier Hollow

This race was at Soldier Hollow near Midway and Heber City. We rode over the trails where the cross country ski trails were which they use for cross country skiing in the winter. Soldier Hollow is where they had all the cross country ski races during the 2002 Olympics. The mountain bike race course also went all the way to the top of the mountain on a snowshoe trail which was very physically demanding. This is a very unique course because it had all the short climbs and short downhills all at the bottom on the cross country ski trails and then up the snowshoe trail had all uphill for a ways which had a good view of Timponogus Mountain at the top then a fun downhill. At first of the race we went through a canyon and then turned around and went back down towards the start and I thought that was it, then when we turned south and I could see all the riders at the top of a damn mountain and I thought, "we are climbing again? I guess so". And that is when it was starting to hurt because I was like sprinting a lot at first and didn't have much energy left so I slowed down a bit at the large climb and then went again. It was so hard that I really couldn't wait to finish and go to a motel and rest. So I finished at 11th place out of 17 riders in the beginner class. I thought there is no way in hell I'd do it again but I would on an another day. The course was so far the funnest race course I have ridden this year in the race series.

Race #4: Wimmer's XC Race at Sherwood

This race was surprisenly nice and very entertaining. I thought this race was very organized and fun. This was in Sherwood Hills in Sardine Canyon between Brigham City and Logan. The snow was barely gone and there were a few mud spots in some places but it was mostly in the best shape in years according to the race promoter. My class did 2 five mile laps and I was very tired at the end. This trail was very fun with twisty, tight, and windy singletrack through the trees. I got a pint glass and a coupon for the motel. Might use it later in the year, maybe in the fall when all the racing is all over then I can bike the trail again but with the fall colored leaves, that would be different. I remember I did this same race in '97 but the leaves were out and it smelled good. They had it later in the month, that is why. So I placed fifth in this one. There were only 8 guys in the class but it was still fun, it would have been more funner if there were more guys but all well. Hopefully there will be more guys in the next race in Soldier Hollow this weekend.

Race #3: Showdown at 5 Mile Pass

The rain came down big time that morning and I thought they were going to cancel it but they had it anyways but race on a shorter course which was 5 miles instead of 11 miles per lap. At the start/finish area had all the clay and was very muddy but where you go out further where there was gravel, wasn't so bad and very ridable. It was still really fun and everybody turned frowns at the start into grins and smiles with mud on their faces and talking about how fun it was. I placed 10th out of 18. The course was so short that everybody finished at the same time. I finished at 18:57, so dang short and I hope it doesn't rain at the next race next weekend so we can ride a lot longer.