Jesse's Top 20 as Howell Mountain Approaches

Well, it's will a pretty heavy sign that I watch the end of this season approaching. The Howell Mountain Challenge marks the end of summer racing for the Miracle crew. Sure the autumn is dotted with occasional events here and there, but the momentum will not be the same until the turn of 2009. Personally I like a fairly visible line of demarcation surrounding our season. It is sacred time and requires an obvious beginning and end to be truly celebrated. So, for me, Howell Mt. marks that date.

For the remainder of the year one question remains for all of us. How to stay in training without the motivation of a constant line-up of races. Last year I slipped happily into the lap of lassitude after finishing rather strong at the Howell race. For me it was the first move up to the sport class and I finished one spot away from the podium. I pulled up to the line wearing the same old windstopper shirt I had ridden in for years prior, gear dirty and used up. This year I will pull up to that line with a whole different look in my eyes, because as I look back many of the bigger events were marked with defeat for me. Not to say there weren't successes. Making finals at the Sea Otter Dual Slalom was the season highlight for me. But for the Sea Otter XC, the Downieville XC and a number of local races I remember only suffering, battling with sickness from poor nutrition and outright exhaustion. I'm sad to say I am able to look back at so many poor memories from the season, but like most people respond to many a learning experience, I doubt I would trade it off all to readily. Finding my limits has been one harsh lesson, and one clearly best served cold. It is one thing to glimpse what your limits are and it is another to surpass them and have to look back. From that I will know how to move forward with racing, and with racing as an adjunct to my profession. So, without further or due, I share some of my fondest moments, the ones that made me laugh, smile, hurt, groan and generally love racing bikes.

1. Favorite moment:
The post Yosemite swim in the Merced river.
2. Funniest Moment:
I couldn't quite tell you the exact time, but in my slumber I remember the chill damp morning air outside my tent pierced by the wailing cry... "COOOVVEEEEYYYY!!!!!!!"
3. Scariest Moment:
Slumping down on the trailside 10 miles from Downieville unable to walk more than a couple hundred feet and vomiting for the 10th time, now beginning to worry whether or not I'd actually make it back to town.
4. Weirdest moment:
Did we get a count on exactly how many pinch flats that was on one tube at Northstar, Zach?
5. Best moment of spontaneity:
Dusty and Jesse's evening shuttle session on the SX-Trail!
6. Most awesome moment:
This moment happened when I first hit top speed on my 11pm shift at the 24 hours of Adrenalin. This was my first ride under headlamp, and the fog made the whole course seem like some weird dreamland.
7. Least awesome moment:
Frantically stopping on the fast fire road section of the Downieville Downhill, mere miles from the finish to repair a chain that had fallen off and wrapped three time solid around my cranks... Not cool.
8. Best moment behind the wrenches:
Transforming Ol' Yeller into a single speed out of old used parts and hardware store materials!
9. When I laughed the hardest:
Not exactly a "race moment" but I don't think I laughed as hard all year as I did when Zach met Coco in the early morning hours in Yosemite.
10. Favorite Race Day:
Day 2 of Downieville stands as the most vivid day of racing I have ever had. I have never raced such a demanding course and had to maintain such intense focus.
11. Favorite Race Course:
Sea Otter XC. There's really no way around it, the course is amazing. Beach and all!
12. Favorite Post Race Meal:
Stacy and Jesse's delirious mission for Round Table Pizza, running red lights and getting lost in Monterey after the finish of the 24-hours.
13. Most inspirational moment:
Watching Dusty prepare to take his 5th and final lap for the CyclePathic Tendencies team at 24 hours of Adrenalin. He stood arms crossed and eyes fixed on the far end of the course for a glimpse of Covey unwilling to speak to anyone. By far the most determination I've seen all year.
14. Least Inspirational Moment:
The moment I rounded a corner 2 miles into the Downieville XC ascent, totally winded, only to look up at the switchbacks climbing literally thousands of feet straight up the mountainside ahead of me. I'll never forget that sight, that horrid sight.
15. The race figure you love:
Joe Pessano. Thanks for all the constant encouragement!
16. The race figure you love to hate:
Two riders take the cake on this one, and I'm not going to name names. All I'll say is one of them makes quite a scene on the podium at his local races, and the other owns a Marin and a loud voice!
17. The season winning "DOH!":
This goes without competition to Stacy's heartfelt and no less thorough cleaning of Leon before the Napa Dirt Classic. You think you got tough-to-beat grease? Watch what this girl can do with some grease remover and a brush. She'll have your bike running like a never-oiled machine!
18. Best Buy:
Zach's Yeti 575
19. Worst Buy:
Possibly Stacy's pink bar ends, or the handle of gin for 24 Hours.
20. Best WTF moment:
Zach stays up all night drinking wine, gets few hours of sleep, wakes up and eats two cans of cold canned soup, and a couple red bull and beats me at the Napa Dirt Classic on a singlespeed... WTF?

Thank you all for a great season! Let's enjoy the autumn rides, the attempts to stay in shape and be ready for top spots next season!!