Big Bear 2x12

(See attached file: Big Bear.jpg)

Late and behind again but whatever here it is. I'm really not into 24 hour racing anymore it's fun and I night riding is a blast. But there's not enough fun to make up for all the sleep I lose. But this year was different I was actually looking forward to the annual 24 Hours of Big Bear this year because it was going to be the 24 Hour Nationals. But thanks to Greedy Gear is was cancelled thanks Laird your the best. But something good came out of the 24 hour race getting cancelled. Mark Schooley the mountain biker that runs Big Bear Lake stepped up big time and decided to put on some type of endurance race that same weekend. It started out as the Big Bear 4x24 but in the end it was the Big Bear 2x12. Its a pretty simple format teams of two racers each must complete 2 or 3 laps depending on your class. The more I thought about it I liked this format plus the first place payout of a $1000 made in even more attractive to me. My hardest decision now was to decide which class and finding a partner. In the end I asked Suz Falvey to team up with me. Even with a stacked coed class I liked our chances. Just for the record Ruth doesn't like racing with me says she feels to much pressure.
Packing was super easy cause I knew exactly how much stuff to bring cause I knew how many laps I had to do. I met Todd and Suz early Saturday morning and headed down. The trip was pretty uneventful except for spotting a cool ass General Lee replica on 68. We decided that it would be best for me to go first. I was pretty happy when I found out that there wasn't going to be a Le Mans start. As usual I felt like I was rushing around trying to get ready and before I knew it was time to line up and go. One thing for sure is that if you never rode at Big Bear it's worth the trip just to check out the awesome trails there. Some people say how technical and rocky it is but I just think its fun that's the stuff I love riding. I had a good first lap and come in third and then the battling started. We went from first to third and back again. But in the end Shogrens and the Riddles were to much for us and we finished third. Which was OK but with the winner take all format third or last it still meant nothing. In the end I had a blast hope to make it back again next year the only downside was the Stoopid 50 was the next day and I decided not to make the drive. Thanks to Mark and all the awesome sponsors for the good times. Almost forgot to mention that it rained a little too thanks for the picture Ben.

J

To Dash for Cash or Not?

(See attached file: dash.jpg)
Not much racing lately but had to make a tough decision between the Dash for Cash and the Mohican 100. The Dash won for several reasons not necessarily in this order cost $30 to $150, drive time 20 minutes to 3-1/2 hours, wake up at home or in a tent, rush to pack and leave Friday night or not packing and sleep in on Saturday, give my hard earned cash to someone I really don't like or give it to a local fire hall, show up at a local race in hopes they have more or go to an over hyped 100 miler, hangout with some cool people drink a few beers and eat some good grub (this would be the case at either race). If I would have only wrote this down the decision would've been some much quicker and painless.
Anyhow about the race I was stoked about the a new record turnout of a 126 racers. I thought with the crappy weather the days before and the crappy projected forecast not many people would come out. Image that I was wrong good think that never happened before. They use a TT format for the start 2 racers at time at 30 second intervals. The reason is to prevent bottle necks but I'm not so sure it really works to avoid that but the TT format is always cool. Do to my lack of paying attention and not realizing how many racers there were I got started in the near the back of the pack, It didn't take long to realize it was going to be muddy also I got caught up in the allot of bottle necking that the TT was supposed to prevent. It was all good everyone was pretty cool about passing and stuff. The mud wasn't to bad in years past the mud used to get to me but riding in the mud is all about attitude. You need to embrace it and think realize everyone else is out there in it to so how bad can it be? Then I got to the first deep creek crossing and it was so freaking awesome they put ropes across it to hold onto so no one got swept away. (The one in the picture is the small crossing sorry that's all I could find) Along with everyone else I had some bike issues and finished second. Anyhow some awesome trails and great food afterwards what more could you ask for. So if you ever get the chance be sure to give the Dash for Cash a chance you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Jarvis Lindsay and family, all the volunteers and sponsors plus the Buffalo Riders. Next time the my decision will be allot easier.

See you next year
J