MBAA Race #2 Wihite Tanks Whirlwind

White Tanks is a pretty fun course. Very fast with a few really rocky, technical sections. Located on the far west side of the valley. Last year I flatted on this course and finished way back like some novice on a hybrid.


This was to be my first race in my new sponsor's kit. Bicycle Ranch of Scottsdale.

I had a plan, the plan involved sticking with the leaders up the first climb, into the tech section, and then riding their draft on the long, long downhill back to the start/finish. There was a large pro/Cat 1 showing and the start was crowded. I found my way up near the front and was feeling that all too familiar burn of a real Pro class start. Within minutes the top 3 guys began to get a gap on me. I burned several matches to catch up only to have them pull away as the terrain got steeper. I burned more and surprised myself with the level of hurt I was able to find within the first few minutes of this race. "shit, this is not going as planned" I thought to myself as I hit a wall and was forced to recover as the leaders rode away together.

Now I was all alone in 4th spot. I was hoping to get caught or catch someone I could work with on the back side of the course, however I was not willing to slow down and wait. For the entire race I was alone, running from the guys behind and chasing helmets in the distance. I never passed or got passed by anyone and overall it was an uneventful race until about 200yards before the finish.

I lost it on a sandy turn, had to put a foot down, and by the time I was back on the trail I noticed another pro right behind me. Luckily I was able to beat him to the line by a few seconds to hold onto 4th. Not good enough for a podium and my second 4th in a row. Currently I sit in 3rd place in the points series with 4 races left.

I have been doing as many road races, circuit races, and crits for training as well...and learning and improving little by little.

The next MBAA race is in just a few days, at the most technical course on the calendar.

Big Ups to our sponsors, Bicycle Ranch, Hammer Nutrition, and Trek/Bontrager!

MBAA Race #1 McDowell Mtn

After having such a great race the week before I was really looking forward to the first MBAA race of the season. McDowell Mountain is such a fun course, so fast and plenty of flow. No matter the race outcome I was sure to have fun on my bike!

My start was early, about 8:30 am....temps were only in the 40s under sunny skies. We arrived about 7am and got in line for registration. The reg line was extremely long and slow moving, I stood in line for over an hour waiting to register. The officials had to delay the start of the race. Even then I had about 90 seconds to get to the start line by the time I got dressed and prepared my bike. To top it off I had to line up all the way in the back of the large cat 1 field that is starting with the Pro's this year. Not a good start to the first race of the year.

This is an extremely fast course (like most MBAA race courses) and staying with the front group is uber important. I gave everything I had at the start but was only able to make it into the top 12 or so by the time we filed into the singletrack. The front few guys were riding away and there was nothing I could do to catch up. I was on my own as I worked through the field on the first lap.

Going into lap 2 I was able to work with another racer briefly and this provided some much needed recovery. L.A. was at the feed zone providing some much needed support and also let me know how far out of first place I was.

I was riding well, feeling pretty good, and had no idea what place I was in. Just racing as fast as I could go without crashing, and I still managed to fall on a slick and fast downhill. It was a hard fall onto the hip but I was up and going again in no time, now on my third lap.

I love these early season races. I always feel so focused, fresh, motivated. My bike feels tight with a fresh drivetrain and tires, brake pads and grips.

The third and final lap was exciting. I had joined up with a couple of other really fast guys and we were working our way through some lapped traffic at amazing speeds. Only a couple miles from the finish I dropped my chain off of my ring going through the rock garden and lost the two in front.

I was very disappointed but re-railed the chain and gave chase. After carefully dosing the little energy I had left I caught one of the guys right at the line and outsprinted him to finish 4th in the Pro class by just a few seconds.

Overall I was quite happy with the race considering the stupid circumstances at registration and at the start line. I felt good, rode good, but was too far back from the winner. I am doubting my chances at any real showing in the MBAA Series this year....and reconsidering my priority races.

L.A. was so right on with her drink delivery and information relays. Now it was her turn to race. She went out hard, maybe a little too hard and blew up on her first lap falling back deep into the Cat 1 field. But her racing experience paid off as she gathered herself up and slowly clawed her way back to a 5th place finish in quite a large field. No crashes and some good stories made this a great race for her 1st official Cat 1 battle.It's always fun racing with her but the ride to and from the race as well as the social scene after is what really makes the day for me! We are both looking forward to many more fun filled races.

Not a bad showing for a couple skinny white kids in Arizona Race #1!

2012 Sponsors!!!

I am excited to be working with some great sponsors for 2012!

It looks like Hammer Nutrition is going to be backing both L.A. and I on the food and drink side of things. They have anything you would need to fuel any endurance event.

Bontrager and Trek are continuing our relationship.

And the big news is that we also got connected with Bicycle Ranch! A full service bike shop in Scottsdale with a reputation for sponsoring the fastest mountain bike racers in the region.