X-bar Ranch Race

X bar Finale for Spring Series

This was the last race of the Spring Series. It was a fun and now we are glad it is over - hopefully we can chill for a few months. The location was Eldorado, TX which is about 1 hour southwest of San Angelo and 5 1/2 hours from Denton. There is absolutely nothing around there except cactus, mesquite trees, cactus, some cows, more cactus, roadkill, and more cactus. The cactus were in bloom so it was actually pretty neat to see all of the desert colors in bloom. The weather was 70 degrees at 3:30 when we arrived and it didn't get much above 80 degrees on the day of the race. That definitely beats 95 degrees with no wind 2 years earlier.

I did my race and it was fairly uneventful. I finished 5th at X-bar with a 5th place for the season overall. Nicole finished 2nd at the race and 1st in the overall standings for the Spring Series. She did have a run in with some cactus too. I think the cactus won 1st place. She went off the trail about an inch too much and ended up getting some nice needles in her leg. Nothing too serious, but probably about one hundred inch-long pieces and there are still a few that we couldn't get out. Fun times!!! Nicole finished 1 year of racing in the Sport category and came in 1st place. At this race, she had a small ceremony with the official Jurgen Heise to stamp her card to move to the Expert category next fall. This gives her a chance to race people with more similar skill levels and also to win a little cash depending on how she finishes. $$$. I might retire and be her bike mechanic if she starts raking in the cash.

DC

Double Lake race

I just learned how to type and post pictures. This last race was in Coldspring, TX which is about 45 minutes northeast of Houston in the Sam Houston National Forest. It is the flattest, fastest course of the Spring series and a real lung burner. We have one more race of the Spring Series to go in two weeks out at X-bar in the semi-desert of Southwest Texas. This place was the complete opposite - 100' pine trees everywhere, a spring fed lake to swim in and wash off after riding and sweating in the 99.8% humidity.

Nicole did great as usual. She finished 1st again and I won my first podium position at 3rd place. It was tough. I wanted to stop, but didn't want to fall into 4th position. Nicole rode hard for 1:51 minutes and mine was shorter since I did 2 laps instead of 3 at 1:13min. Fun times! The Hannusch's from Houston and Brazoria came as well to spectate. They did an excellent job as well. Billy Beckes was there as well. He was sporting a fancy new full suspension Kona bike and enjoyed not being numb after the race because of the vibration.

'Til next time......