20076jwcn-june.pdf

The most happening weekend in Spooner, WI (pop. 2,600) brings hordes of Northern Wisconsinite’s to Northern Wisconsin’s only Pro rodeo. The event, lasting three nights, also includes a rodeo parade and the rodeo stampede 12-hour mountain bike race in Spooner’s own network of well-ridden, twisty, and rooty singletracks. While the event hasn’t yet attracted numbers to rival the rodeo or parade it’s only in it’s second year while the rodeo has sustained through fifty-something years. Here’s a photo of the start of the 6-hour race.

TJ and I raced the 6-hour event as a team and completed a combined 13 laps. I think we had our own category as most racers were doing the 6-hour solo, so I guess we did pretty well. The race was incredibly difficult as TJ and I traded off every single lap with a high five and quick lap time update. All proceeds went to the local Momentum U23 team and a huge thanks to the race directors, the Sova Brothers, for making it all happen. The event was a blast, a true team effort as everyone seemed to volunteer a bit of their time to pull things together and then, of course, back apart as all things that go up must come down. I’m already looking forward to the 3rd annual Rodeo Stampede MTB race.

I should make a note of some of the cool things I’ve had a chance to do in Wisconsin so far:
-Swim in a real lake
-Watched a dynamite show on the 4th
-Go to the rodeo (Thanks Joni!)
-ride my bike in 90% humidity

St. Felicien, Québec

Shortly after takeoff from Montréal I open my laptop and begin to write—it’s about time for some serious reflection. The last couple race weekends have been the hardest of my racing career. After Mont Sainte-Anne I convinced myself that my good race was not good enough and the following weekend transpired into a complete mess and I finished world cup #2 a complete mental case. The most amusing part of my race—rocks terrified me and riding around instead of over the roots seemed like a safer route. I probably ran more yesterday then I have in the past year. And only a week earlier I decided I could ride the rocks and roots better then ladies who finished 20 positions up on me yesterday. Other mistakes: I only drank one bottle and forgot to eat—never even thought about it—but I did think about the pain in my lower back and blisters on my palms. I had issues focusing; every bike race hurts so it’s a mistake to dwell on it. Everyone suffers. I finished in 58th position and each lap I completed was a minute slower then the last. I lost my head out there.
Even though I rode (note on word choice: ideally ‘race’ would fit here) my worst race yet I’m left with a positive race/travel/team experience. I witnessed Katerina ride her best world cup a week after crashing in a massive pileup just yards from the start line in Mont Sainte-Anne. Georgia finished on the podium for the first time yesterday and no doubt she’ll be up there again. I even signed an autograph. Anyway, I’ll be home for about 20 hours and then I’m off to Wisconsin to hang out with some mosquitoes, ticks, and TJ. Then it’s another trip out East to Nationals in TJ’s new car. Vermont should be a fun race as I can still ride rocks, roots, and mud. And I get to race on my birthday. Take care.