10th Annual Hill of Truth Mountain bike race coming up...

Our favorite race of the year is coming up quickly...the 12 Hour Hill of Truth. Since this year is the race's 10th anniversary, the race director has set the course as the original course used back in 1998. I did not race that year and did not even come onto the scene until 2000, so I have yet to race this course even though I have ridden all the trails many times. One trail that will be on the course this year was named after me in 2001 I think...Rachel's Landing. It is one of the more technical trails out at Haw Ridge I would say. I usually avoid this trail at all costs and never ride it unless someone I am riding with insists on me trying to "make peace" with the trail. The trail is located just past the turn off for the climb up to Silo. I prefer to climb this longer climb ANY DAY over doing Rachel's Landing. Smap is going to hopefully take me out Saturday and work with my fear of this trail... The trial has really changed a lot since the infamous day of me falling into the nasty water with all my friends there to witness me screaming and pushing my bike out. Greg Casteel first made sure I was okay before sitting down to laugh his a$$ off. Same with Robbie Kidd and the rest of the them. Jimi Flynt use to always have disposable cameras at hand just in case great photo occasions needed to be captured. Sure enough she got a great shot of me soaked to the bone pushing my old Klein Attitude out of the water. My grips came completely off my handlebars...I was miserable.

Anyway, the rock that caused my fall has since been taken out, but the bottom of the trail next to the water is still way sketch. I can see myself falling off balance several times during the 12 hour into the water. We'll see...

Smap is on the fence about racing this year. He may take a break this year so he can make sure I don't kill myself. He is undecided.

I have a couple of weeks to get some good long rides in to help me endure the long day of racing. My young friend and mountain bike phenom, Emily Parker, has requested I do some long road rides with her on Sunday's. That should be good training for me as well as fun. It isn't everyday I get to hang with a super cool 15 year old!

That is about it here....see ya!