Okay I've only been riding for 5 weeks, sticking to the road. Working up a few miles more every ride. So Saturday I push really hard on a hilly 17 mile ride and completely bust my butt. My big fat hardtail weighs almost 1/4 of me! So I'm pretty whooped and look ahead 500 yards to the beginning of my last ascent before home. I see three guys starting to spin their way up, and I think, "I'm going to take them."

I start pushing, and halfway up I catch the first guy. 30 year old organ donor (no helmet) on a mtb. Chit chat for a moment, and drop him. Catch the next guy, same drill. Passed the last one almost at the top. Make a right turn into my neighborhood and think my heart will burst, but oh, what a feeling! I know they weren't riding hard, but who cares?

We can do it!