Midlife Sooner

Thoughts on the Mountain Bike Race

I was in the Sick Six mountain bike race last Sunday at the lake here in Norman. It is a pretty good trail one that I know well. Several times I had thought about not doing it but KPS was coming from Wichita so I felt like I should since she was bringing her teenagers. She got here about 7:30 and picked me up (Angie kept the car to bring the kids later). KPS drove unit 617, which is a crown victoria old cop car that she got on ebay. She owns two of them now and says that it is cop cars for her from now on. We drive to the lake with 3 teens in the back (two kids of hers and a friend) while I am shining the spot light at everything telling kim that she needs a laptop in there like the federalies have. We pull in to a great parking spot and everyone is looking at us, at first I thought it was due to us parking so close but I think they were jealous of our car. We put up camp right next to the start line. KPS pulls out so much gear that I am wondering where she put it, then I look in the trunk of that thing and it is huge! she says that she could fit several bodies in there, maybe four if she could bend them up. The day is chilly and overcast, a little windy. The trail was pretty dry except for a few suspiciously damp places. We paid our fees and KPS is riding with her son Eli while Isaac is riding partners with their buddy daniel. I on the other hand could not find anyone to race with me, I had Matt Roman but he busted his wing getting on the bench playing soccer and every time I mentioned 6 hours of racing to people looked at me like my brother always does. So all that to say I was alone, me a mono, ondeen, yi, uno. I wasn't real excited about this situation but there it was. This race started by means of lamons start. That means that we start off running a quarter of a mile and then jump on our bikes. It is really silly I know, running a quarter of a mile in bike shoes is not fun but it is there way of spacing out the riders so that the herd does not try entering the single track trail all at once. KPS her teenagers and me were among the last to get to our bikes and then we were off. Since I loafed the run there were several very slow people riding in front of me, I really don't mind this that much. I had rather be passing people than getting passed but it does slow a person down. people were pretty good at getting over and letting you by when you asked. I did see 2 crashes from people getting over and the passers not being able to get by fast enough. The first lap went well I felt good and followed an older man (yes he was older and very fast) most of the lap. I pitted and took a 5 minute break before trying lap #2. I did wear my hawaiian shirt with the sleeves cut off and my name embroidered on the back (thanks mom). With this shirt people either expect me to be really good or just a one timer, either way they noticed me which is what I am out there for am I not! I also was sporting my wal mart clown horn that Zeke bought me for Christmas. I figure it may come in handy in any situation needing a firm yet familiar sound. The second lap started out very well, I felt better than the first lap and there was no one in my way. I did pass a few but not many were with me and I was moving pretty well. This track has a lot of hilly trails snaking back and forth. The most fun spots are the down hills that snake as well. it was on one of these that I was moving too fast, I hit a jump and should have been turning when I was in the air. When I landed my bike went wide on a turn and the front tire planted into an 8 inch tree. My bike was not hurt and even managed to honk its horn when it hit the ground but unfortunately my body mass was still moving over the top of the bike. and as I flew through the air and my shoulder hit a different tree that was lined up behind the one that took out my bike. They were like tag teaming me. I hit pretty hard and had thought that I broke something. in fact if I would have been Brent Coppock or Mat Roman I probably would have. It did scrape most of the skin off my shoulder and left a nasty looking wound which I was instantly proud of. I had thoughts of grandeur riding back through at the end of the lap and showing it off and that I did. Several people, including the race promoters, took my picture. If you don't know me I like attention usually so that was a high point of the race.
It was here that my wife and kids showed up, they brought the grill and food. Angie played like she was shaking her head at my wound but I know she was attracted to a man with a bike scar!
The third lap proved much harder, for one the leaders had caught up with me and lapped me. two I crashed two more times one was falling sideways down a rocky hill and bruising my hip again. I know I know why do I do this? well I need something to write about in my journal! Several people from church came out to enjoy the race and eat, thanks you all for your support. I did 6 laps total which was my goal and may have been too much. When I went home I was not doing well. That night Judah decided to not sleep as well so I have been trying to catch up. I have been showing off my wounds at work which is always fun, I think matt is jealous or just having a hard time with getting hurt playing soccer.
KPS has some good pictures on her blog http://mrsjaguar.blogspot.com/

posted by Flippo @ 7:02 PM