- Bad Idea Racing - HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

Here’s the stuff that didn’t make the front page:

When I pulled into the aid station and started to tighten my chain the mechanical support guy asked me if I needed any help. I said “If you wanted to help me you could have said last night, ‘Gee dude, your chain looks a little loose, why don’t you tension that thing’ “

There was a giant log across the trail on lower Heartbreak slanted at a 35 degree angle. It was too large to step over, and it was polished to a furniture quality finish by all the asses that had been drug over it in the past so many years. I was in too big of a hurry to think about a logical way to get over it, so I laid my bike up on the high side and tried to wiggle over the log. I ended up sliding down the log with my bike following me above my head. I managed to arrest my descent, but was left in a precarious position on my back where I couldn’t touch the ground. I ended up lurching my body over the log with my bike attempting to beat me to death chainring to the head style. I picked up the bike and threw it the rest of the way over the log. Once I got up on my feet I looked back up the trail to make sure no one saw me flopping around like a fish outta water. I am a retard.

I did have Graeme Obree in the back of my head all day. I am going to write more about him at some point (and all the obvious traits we share), but suffice it to say his book has inspired me just as much as it has depressed me to think that I’m not getting any better on the mental level.

Of course one of the little men in my head keeps saying “What could we do if we had a geared bike with suspension? You’re pissing our best form away on your stupid ideals.” Luckily there is a much larger man in my head with a Viking helmet and a bad attitude who pummels the shit outta the little logical guy when he starts talking like that.

Jeff from Industry Nine was representing after the race and he took a quick look at the I9 wheels I built on Stan’s Flow rims. He said I must have done a decent job as they were just about right on as far as spoke tension, dish, and roundy round. Sweet, validation from a man who knows his shit.

Late edit:  After I received my booty I was asked to say a few words.  If you read here often enough you know that I’m not so hot when it comes to public speaking and interviews.  As the microphone was put in my face I uttered “please don’t”, but there it was.  I mumbled something like “it was hard”….”it was fun”….and then out came “y’all suck!”  There you have it.  At least I didn’t profess my love for anyone in an unusual manner this time.

Here’s Harlan Price (ORAMM overall winner, IF rider, and nice guy in general) trying to tell the little man in my head all about the world of gears and suspension. Probably the nicest honch I know.

How cool is it that my favorite number is six and my jerseys are covered with them?

I made a promise that I would wear an Industry Nine baby T-shirt if I made it to the podium. Since the podium was only for first place SS/rigid I was thinking that the odds were good I wouldn’t have to wear it. I need to hire someone to make better decisions for me.