So I came into the race yesterday with lets just have a fun race attitude, the weather was perfect and so many of my friends where there.
Good thing I had a good mood going into it. I ended up flatting in the lead on the first 20 feet of trail! I stoped reached for my tube and co2 on the seat post and it was GONE? Must have rattled off. Anyway It was good I had an emergency back up tube and micro pump in my pocket. Needless to say flatting in the first single track of a 650 rider feild is a sure way to slow your chase effort. Many times being rejected a pass while plowing thru brush twigs and leavs. Patiently I got thru. In if for the long haul I knew making it back to the front would take some time as not to blow up.
I made it back to the chase group of Micheals Eatough and Jens Neilson by the end of Wolf trail. The 15 minutes of company was nice It was cool riding with my former TrekVW teamate. He now works full time and rides part time but rode to 7th on the day!
My chase got serious on Hankey and Dowels. I was getting reports that the gap was only 2.5 mins. I passed Sam Koerber and just stayed focused on the maximum I could do without blowing up when I caught back on.
Bridge Hallow i felt like I was in a trance just go at it. However it was nearly game over on the decent as my stiff chase pace was too fast for my comprimised tire. PSSsssSSSSssssSSSS
Great. I pulled over and when to fix it mode only to flat again a mile later. This time I had no tube so I stood there for several minuets hoping to begg for one. Chris tossed me one and I got to fixing, this time at a more leasurely I am going to finish this bitch one way or another pace. ;)
I suppose lady luck granted me a wish last race and now she was taking the toll. Fair enough.
It was really fun to ride take in the scenary and hang with my friends in the race and talk some. No pressure. It was pretty cool. Then as I caught back up with Chris Eatough near Little Bald he motivated me by saying you know your only a minuet or two from the podium. Jens is right up there. Sure what the heck. I knew I would feel better about my day if I finished off right. So I hammered it on the last couple climbs for a well earned 5th.
At Pisgah I plan on runing the bomb proof DD Schwalbes (they dont't make the DD's in 29 yet)
but most importantly I am going have a good time. Thats what this time of year is all about!
Congratulations to everone out there that finished; its not an easy thing to do!
Go ride!
Jeremiah
posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 11:41 AM 
