A few links...

... to some more Boggs 5 racing photos of Erik, Jessica, and me. Copy and pasty as my HTML is very weak sauce.

http://tinyurl.com/y74sto2

http://tinyurl.com/yyeg45m

http://tinyurl.com/y4hv4sa

http://tinyurl.com/y7x3k6q

http://tinyurl.com/y5lmdgh

Boggs 5 Relay

Boggs 5 was awesome!

Rained like crazy while we put up two tents - one for us and the other for Erik, Heather, and the boys. Task accomplished and deluge still dumping, Jessica and I retired to a lovely coffee shop in Cobb, a town just 3 miles outside Boggs Demonstration forest. The rain on Friday gave way to clear skies and cold temps, and quiet time around the community fire at the start/finish HQ. Early to bed with the sounds of good friends laughing off the cold and having a beer anyway.

The morning was literally freezing! 32 degrees in our tent and colder outside. Woke before dawn to heat water for coffee and instant oatmeal. Needed the hot water to un-freeze the controls on our bikes, which had frozen solid overnight.

Donned every stitch of bike clothing I brought and headed for the start. Rolled out in front completely by accident. It was a neutral start up a long fire road climb. Probably the closest I'll ever get to riding with the truly speedy folks out there. Fun all up until the starting flag dropped and I was spat out the back...

I didn't mind for long. The course was pretty much an endless ribbon of perfect singletrack that just got better and better with each lap - the stuff of dreams. And everyone racing was so friendly and courteous. We were all gonna be eating and having beers together afterward, so why throw attitude? For a competition, it was pretty communal.

Jessica and I raced the relay as a co-ed team. Both of us put in 4 hours ride time and we made 7 laps. Good for 11th place it turns out. Of course many of those finishing above us were quite accomplished and even included a few former PROs. We both kept it at redline the whole time and we are totally satsfied with our rides! Not bad for Jessica's second race ever!

Many thanks to the fine folks at http://www.bikemonkey.net/ who create and promote pretty much the best cycling events in Northern California, and to Carlos' mom Nona at http://www.perezoo.com/ for the photographic evidence of a race well run.

A special shout out to by great friend Erik M at http://www.1gear1cause.org/ without whom none of this crazy racing stuff would be happening... That's right! I blame you, buddy!

And to Stef, Aaron, and Ari at Bespoke Cycles SF, thanks for the sharp duds and the fine fine bicycles. The Yeti's were flawless and comfy the whole time! Your support means the world to us!

And to my lovely wife, Jessica, seeing the happy satisfaction on your face as we drove home was just magic to me. You are the reason for everything. Thanks for sharing this sport with me!