Cactus Cup Time Trial

It’s been awhile… I went to Vegas a week ago to race the Cactus Cup. The racing was remarkable. I never knew that Vegas, of all places, had sweet single track. It was cool to race and chat with the World Champion, Christoph Sauser, after watching him dominate in Italy this summer. After the cross country race he suggested that I come to Europe to race and said, “The level is much higher and the fields are much deeper. And the courses are designed for the spectator, not the rider.” This means they are shorter loops that are visible and accessible, with spectators lining the entire course. Sounds pretty sweet! Anyways, cool experience to talk with that guy. I had a good weekend, beating Sauser in the time trial and super d, and ending up 7th overall out of 4 stages. Casinos and the depressing people in them gross me out. Then I headed back to Flag for a busy week of school and work.
(didn’t touch my bike once)

When Andy mentioned to me that he was swinging through Flagstaff on his way back to Durango and was going to do the Pines to the Mines I gave it some thought and decided to go for it. This is an annual event put on by the good guys at Pay N Take. I have never done this race/ride before because of other conflicting races, but this year I made it happen! So, it starts at Pay N Take and finishes in Jerome at an old mine. The 80+ mile dirt course was amazing. Good views, lots of wildflowers, technical single track, excellent company, all in all just another great day on the bike! Andy and I rode together the whole day until he decided to “shatter the record” on the last climb into Jerome. That’s where I started fading and cramping. When I got to the finish with a time of 4:49, Andy was nowhere to be found. Turns out, he missed the final turn into the finish and ended up riding halfway to Cottonwood. I jumped on Rebie’s Honda Trail 90 and mobbed into Jerome to find him. Sure enough he was pedaling through town looking beat down and confused. I explained that he missed the last turn, with a smile he said, “It wasn’t long enough, I wanted a few more miles.”

Andy shattered the record of 6 hours by almost an hour and a half and I finished second with Precious in third. Thanks to Scott, Scott, Paul, Brian and anyone else who helped put on such a great event!