Men's C

Old-timer Lee and new rider Keegan Leary mashed up the muddy top soil on the foggy XC course. Keegan ground out a 5th place finish in his first MTB race ever! Keegan also discovered Suffer City on the old school short-track course. Yeah, Keegan, yer doin' it! 

Men's B

Jordan's love-shove on the top of the first run-up hill put me in the top ten in sight of the leaders but gave me a little too much confidence for the rest of the race. I bombed the second descent far beyond my ability and executed a full-superman endo with 20' of gravel sledding when my front nicked a rut. The next five wipeouts were less spectacular but equally damaging to my time: 13th place at 12 min. off some SLO sand-bagger with two first names who weaseled an '09 Fisher from the Trek Factory Demo on site. Jordan came in 10 min. after I snagged the sprint from my pack.

The short-track XC was run on a different course along the creekbed that runs parallel to camp. The half-mile loop was much more technical than last year's parade lap course and proved too much for many of the roadies in the pack. Jordan (unlike most) finished the race while I DNF'd by sheer suck.

Spectating

On Saturday, the UCLA crew hauled a large number of carbonated beverages and up to the dual slalom course to watch the head-to-head suicide competition. Music, fluids, a large crowd, and even a "Fail Gong" for the crashes.

Qualifying round:

Balls-out:

I'm not sure if anyone got pictures of the Pixie Bike World Championships, but one card-carrying hardman cleared a twelve-foot gap.

Keegan and I also set on a post-pain leisure spin with a stray dog that ran with us for a good six miles or so through the breath-taking V6 ranch.