Hilarious photos from my first ever mountain bike race!
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 -- 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, maybe...my bike is really too small for me.
Unflattering photo!
Kinda kickass photo
Coming down the other side of that steep hill we start on...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.
