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View Full Version : Hilarious photos from my first ever mountain bike race!


zoom-zoom
08-12-2012, 08:12 PM
It was a relay...the day before the race a 68 year old buddy asked me if I wanted to do it. Originally I'd hoped to find a 4 person/6 hour team to join, but thought, what the heck, it will be fun for the experience!

So I took the first lap, JD took the 2nd, then I did the 3rd, JD the 4th...and he came limping back to the start maybe 40 minutes later with a busted chain. I did lap 5 and then another lap a while later for sh!ts-n-giggles. I was never in it for a real race and JD didn't even want to do another one after his 1st, but other people talked him into it.

It was the most miles I've ever done on a mountain bike for actual mountain biking--about 16. I fell on the first 4 mile loop, but not at all after. I did have to get off my bike to let faster riders through a lot and there were a few spots where I didn't have enough momentum to get up short, steep, loose spots. Someday...

At the start (http://www.jhkunnenphoto.com/p984684703/h3CA7C6A8#h3ca7c6a8) -- I started dead last, so that no one would pass me. Forgetting that all the solo folks would start after the teams. :o
Starting my 2nd leg (http://www.jhkunnenphoto.com/p984684703/hCFCC23F#hcfcc23f), maybe...my bike is really too small for me.
Unflattering photo! (http://www.jhkunnenphoto.com/p984684703/h3A3E5D93#h3a3e5d93)
Kinda kickass photo (http://www.jhkunnenphoto.com/p984684703/hDAB189B#hdab189b)
Coming down the other side of that steep hill we start on (http://www.jhkunnenphoto.com/p984684703/h2CCD2875#h2ccd2875)...oh, I was gasping like mad!

Next year I hope to do it again, with 1 or 3 other people (there are categories for 1, 2, and 4 riders. 6 hours or 12. The 12 hour folks ride until midnight. I'm not sure I'll ever feel comfortable riding in the woods after dark, like that. I get vertigo really easily after a few ear infections in the past, so I'm thinking that could seriously mess with me.
Wahine
08-12-2012, 08:30 PM
Good job on your first mtn bike race and what a fantastic photos!! It looks like you're having such a good time.:cool::D
Giulianna23
08-13-2012, 05:13 AM
Nice ...it looks like lots of fun.

Thanks for sharing :)
lph
08-13-2012, 05:35 AM
Oh, I love the photos! Looks like you're having the time of your life! And to me it looks like you're going really fast.
indysteel
08-13-2012, 05:47 AM
It looks like you had a blast! Congrats on your first race!
Catrin
08-13-2012, 06:24 AM
Oooh, looking forward to seeing the photos when I get home tonight!
missjean
08-21-2012, 07:20 AM
You are smiling in all (but the last) photos! That's a sure indication of a good time! :D
zoom-zoom
08-21-2012, 08:42 AM
You are smiling in all (but the last) photos! That's a sure indication of a good time! :D

I was having a good time...even when I was terrified. My friends all think it's hilarious that just a year or two ago I said I would never mountain bike...and now I have a 2013 Salsa El Mariachi 3 on order... :o
Owlie
08-21-2012, 08:45 AM
You look like you're having fun! And those are pretty awesome pictures.

Now I want a mountain bike. :o
zoom-zoom
08-21-2012, 09:16 AM
You look like you're having fun! And those are pretty awesome pictures.

Now I want a mountain bike. :o

The photographer is a great guy. He is at nearly every cycling event on this side of the state. He has such a knack for getting good photos.

Once I have this bike my N+1 will be a Ti Salsa Mukluk fat bike (since I have a carbon road, alum. CX, and steel mtn...a Ti fatbike would complete my "set").
Catrin
08-21-2012, 09:26 AM
I was having a good time...even when I was terrified. My friends all think it's hilarious that just a year or two ago I said I would never mountain bike...and now I have a 2013 Salsa El Mariachi 3 on order... :o

You are that new to mountain biking?? This is seriously cool, there is hope for me yet ;) Congratulations, again, on the new bike, and I love your race pictures!
Owlie
08-21-2012, 09:32 AM
The photographer is a great guy. He is at nearly every cycling event on this side of the state. He has such a knack for getting good photos.

Once I have this bike my N+1 will be a Ti Salsa Mukluk fat bike (since I have a carbon road, alum. CX, and steel mtn...a Ti fatbike would complete my "set").

"Complete." Uh huh.
zoom-zoom
08-21-2012, 10:05 AM
You are that new to mountain biking?? This is seriously cool, there is hope for me yet ;) Congratulations, again, on the new bike, and I love your race pictures!

Yeah...I've really only been on a mountain bike a handful of times. I have a couple of friends who took to it like they were born on knobby tires, though. Crazy how natural it seemed for them. I doubt I will ever stop falling on a regular basis. :o
zoom-zoom
08-21-2012, 10:05 AM
"Complete." Uh huh.

Heh. :p
Catrin
08-21-2012, 10:28 AM
Yeah...I've really only been on a mountain bike a handful of times. I have a couple of friends who took to it like they were born on knobby tires, though. Crazy how natural it seemed for them. I doubt I will ever stop falling on a regular basis. :o

You don't know how encouraging it was for me to read this! I've been going through a confidence "slump" on the trails after my little run of falls and injuries, but I think I am starting to climb out of it finally.
zoom-zoom
08-21-2012, 10:33 AM
You don't know how encouraging it was for me to read this! I've been going through a confidence "slump" on the trails after my little run of falls and injuries, but I think I am starting to climb out of it finally.

Sometimes I feel totally "on," then there are other days when I think I am not cut out to be riding off-road. I think my good days will start to outweigh the bad when I am on a bike that fits better and a little less of a tank. I am so scrunched and upright on my current bike and it has me feeling sorta top-heavy.