Ahh
My leathers fit tight around me
My whip is always beside me
You want the same thing every day
I’ll teach you love a different way
You’ll learn to love me and my sweet pain
-”Sweet Pain” Kiss

My first race of the season is now in the bag.  5am Saturday the alarm went off, time to hit the road and head south.  It has been 12 years since I made the 4.5 hour drive to St George Utah for the opening round on the ICUP.  I have been mostly a roadie since ’99 but now I am (sort of) on a MTB team and I figured a chance to ride in the short pants was too good to pass up.

Some sketchy weather between Beaver and Cedar City got me to the venue about an hour later that I was planning, so much for my warm up!  I lined up behind Travis Brown and had a nice chat with him.  He is still sporting the Mt. Man beard he had during cross season which is pretty fitting considering his charter status in the “My easy days would make you cry” Club.  Saw lots of Big RIng socks on the line too!

Soon after the gun went off it became obvious that 5 hours in the car and no warm up were less than ideal.  No worries I came to race, I paid to race 4 laps so I was going to finish 4 laps.  As the rest went on I started to open up more and more, my last lap was my fastest which allowed me to pass 4 guys and get for 20th.  Up front my team mate Bart Man got the W over youngblood Robbie Squire (remember that name) with Alex Grant in 3rd for a good showing for MonaVie/Cannondale.   I guess next winter I need to get out in the backcountry with them.  Those boys are fit! 

So yeah, I got flogged pretty good.  My ego got bruised and I could come up with a laundry list of excuses but really who cares?  I got out, red lined it for 2 hours, and got to hang with my buds.   Pretty awesome way to spend a weekend.

Check out our friends MtbRaceNews.com for all you dirty results.