Dakota 5-0

  The 10 hour drive back home  after the completion of the Dakota race/ride and i probably could have sworn off ever doing this ride again, after all there is simply way to many rides to do in one mountain bikers lifetime. But after letting this past weekend soak a few days i can now say that  i'd love to be in a position to ride it again. Why......simply the trails were that good. The Black Hill trails appear to have been created by folks who wanted to spur the interest of the mountain biker. Flowing terrain with a healthy amount of granite, tree roots, and at times trees spaced at handlebars width, twisty -turning goodness. Long climbs that eventually reward the decender. Fantastic race support, real time finish results, and a post ride feed and keg. All damn good reasons to do it again.

  So how did i do.......approx 570 folks lined up for the mass start in down town Spearfish and after 4hr and 45 minutes of riding i finished 61st overall and 30th in my 30-39 age group. It wasn't all roses.....at the 18 mile mark i felt like crap, the legs felt heavy and i honestly questioned myself if i could finish. Coming into the second check point and 23 mile mark i was met by my family and a couple bottles of Carbo Rocket which i desperately needed, at the time i was sitting just inside the top 90 and losing places quickly. After heading back out and a refuel of electrolytes i started to feel better again and managed to work my way back up over the course of the next 27. I kept the rubber side down, enjoyed the terrain and the views. Chugged a beer at mile 43 at the PBR and bacon stop and received what my wife tracy said should qualify as the official Dakota 5-0 experience. Yep, bacon and beer.....the new power food.

aid station #2 and feeling like shit

finish(ed)