Good Day Rickshaw drivers!
The 2007 Mountain Bike season is upon us. This year, I have opted to continue my own team in the Summit Mountain Challenge Series, possibly the Winter Park Mountain Bike series, and possibly some of the Mountain States Cup Series. Consider this the first chronicle of Team Pedicab's bid for half world domination. The other half will be Big Tree. Conquered by Rickshaws...
I am racing under the Team Pedicab name, sponsored by Mountain Pedicab Company, Breckenridge, Colorado. It seems that this can be coined as the highest operating pedicab company in North America. I would like to think in the world, but I know there are rickshaws in Tibet, which start at 13,000 ft. I am taking on the sport division in the 19-29 category. At the Teva Games this year, there weren't any age categories, so my field was a whopping 63. If anyone has any ideas for a team jersey, it would be greatly appreciated. Riding in polypro or freebie shirts just doesn't look official.
I have just taken on an additional team member, a former pedicab driver in Austin, TX. My roster is now 2. Brook is racing in the beginner women categories, and came in an unofficial 2nd at the Summit Mountain race on May 30. I finished with a 3rd in the race, riding a newly built, orange, 2000 Schwinn Homegrown. I will post a pic when I get one. I do, however, need some feedback on what to call my bike. "The Construction Worker" just conjures up images of the Village People. Ewwww...
Look at results, and you will see yours truly in the top 3. Next race is a week from today, Sunday, and it takes place at the Summit County landfill, aptly named, the Tour de Trash. When you finish, your bike smells like garbage. No kidding.
As of late, I have also competed in the Imperial Challenge (Winter Triathlon-type of race in April), and the Mountain Bike race for the Teva Mountain Games. Several weeks ago, I did race in the Minnesota State Championship Mountain Bike series, and finished 11 of 18, and 99 of 161 overall. Not bad for an out of state race...Some of those Norwegian bike heads are true athletes, regardless of the altitude.
Today is the last day of the Teva Mountain games, and in competing yesterday, I came in a whopping 40th of 63, finishing the grueling, muddy course in about 1:40. The course was extremely muddy, due to a freakish rainstorm-gully washer right before we started. Everyone lost their numbers. Then it stopped, and then started again. I went over the bars about 3-4 times, and am discovering scratches that didn't exist yesterday. It was a very hard course, very technical, and rough. I even heard some people say they loved it. Sickos.
If there had been a dry day, I would have finished better. I am sure of it. But, I did a few slides for life, and beat the old bike up. It works fine, just a little dinged. In fact, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it out alive. Last year, I competed in the road race- time trial. I came in last. I suppose I didn't know the course this time around, but, I expected more of myself. Doing things differently, I would probably pre-ride the course. Albeit my showing was not great, but upon finishing, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Mud covered, sore, beaten, and tired, I still would do it again. It wasn't going to be a day after, but I will race again...
Additionally, I have posted some pictures of a couple of well known athletes, the first being Floyd Landis, the disputed Tour de France Champion, and Glen Plake, the legendary skiing mohawk. Read this article. Floyd is a former mountain biker, and with his new bionic hips, competed in the games for a team in the Ultimate Mountain Challenge race. He rode the mountain bike course and the time-trial hill climb.
So, I will also possibly post my sharpshooter pics. My next big race (not including the SMC) will be the Firecracker 50, which I think I will be able to perform fairly well. This is the 50 mile epic on the 4th of July. Starts on Main Street with a Valkyrie like peloton rushing down Breckenridge's very own main street. It is pretty cool. Team Pedicab will be competing in force.
Under the WTF and Squinting category, I also took some nice photos of the Doggie Diving Competition. This has nothing to do with rickshaws. But, it is entertaining nevertheless. Your canine friends were lured up with a neat treat, then tricked into diving into a huge pool- for distance. Some would stop right at the edge and get down the stairs easily, and others would take flying leaps that would make me look weak.
For more pictures, let me know. Have a great week! Keep those pedals turning and those dogs-a-diving!
2 comments:
Wow - congrats on the race! Give me some ideas about what you want on the jersey ... I just happen to know a designer in NYC w/sportswear experience who'd help me put something together for you ... maybe w/some neon orange?
-L:B
Definitely not Dayglow-neon. But, most recently, I have bought orange tomatoes at the local market because they are cheaper. These tomatoes happen to be the color of my bike. Since tomatoes are this pedicab driver's favorite food, I must incorporate that...Pictures of the mountains, and the phrase: The highest pedicab company in North America. I loved tomatoes well before Shaun White became the flying tomato. However, I remember quite vividly the "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" movie. I am starting to like this marketing theme...Not to mention that Vodka does curious things to them. I think of myself as the 'biking tomato?' sans the red hair-ginger kid look. Draw me something! Pedal on.
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