Back from Arizona where the racing was fun. Things I broke: One disc brake rotor thing (not sure if that is the right name for the metal piece the brake pads grab--new to the whole disc brake thing), one front derailleur, one right seal on my Fox fork, and one pair of rear brake pads. It was that kind of weekend. Luckily, there were some volunteer mechanics there that were able to take my fork off and then Fox, who was at the race, serviced it. The mechanics then put my bike back together. A shop in town replaced the rotor and brake pad. I serviced the derailleur in a middle of a race type way. Going into the second lap of yesterday's 30 mile cross country race and just having taken over second place and riding away from the rider, I somehow mangled my front derailleur to the point that the drive train would not work. I had to get off the bike and wap the derailleur a few times with a rock to bend it back into functionality. To no avail (hard to believe) so in a steroid like rage I tore the now useless metal from my bike, put the chain in the middle ring and continued on for the next 20 miles praying the chain wouldn't fall off. For the most part my prayers were answered, but I did have to dismount and reattach the chain about five times. Frustrated and losing momentum every time, I hung in there telling myself that breakage and wreckage happens in mountain bike racing and it's how you deal with it that determines your result. In the end, I came home fifth which is still my best finish of a race of this caliber. I've never been able to go fast enough to entertain the idea of being in the top five, so I'm kind of stoked given the fact that with a malfunctioning weapon, I was still able to do well. I was going to do the Madera Stage Race on the 28th and 29th, but now I think I've got unfinished business to attend to at another Norba National near Santa Barbara on the 29th. I finished 4th on GC for the stage race. 3rd in the TT, 5th in something called Super D (but it really was more of a TT type race) and then 5th in the cross country. All in all a good weekend. Griff was sick the whole weekend so he didn't ride all that well. It's always been about beating Griff, but it only feels good when I beat him at his best. Sea Otter looms large. He didn't do the Super D race as he got stung by a bee. He is somewhat allergic so he kind of freaked. I had to race him back to town while I watched him swell before my eyes. He knows I think of him as a hypochondriac--because he is--but he was anxious about not being able to breathe, and that kind of anxiety is no laughing matter. Anyway, hope you are well and see you out there soon.

Johnny GoFast