Prairie City Race #5 and IMBA's Ales and Trails

It's already Wednesday night again! After two days off from work, Wednesday morning was a tiring day at REI. We have a huge sale starting this weekend. I was tired by the end of my shift and didn't have high expectations for the race. We packed up and got to the course. We got in three practice laps, and I felt a lot better. The course had two short steep climbs and the rest was a big ring fast course. I took a sizable gap on everyone and led out the first three laps. i was caught on the fourth lap by a rider that hasn't been out since the first week. I rode just behind him the fourth lap hoping to sprint at the end and take the win. I did a test sprint 3/4 a way through the lap after the hills hoping he would drop but he didn't. With about 150 yards to go he jumped and I couldn't retake him. So second place again for me. I'm a little bummed because I felt I had a sizable enough led to ride away with the win. Training needs to be better, I can't just race on Wednesday and ride to work the rest of the week. Keith got run over but somebody on a wideopen straight away and got a nice hip wound and elbow scrap and still took second. Jen detroyed everyone in Women's expert. In two weeks starts the Team Competition. The three of us will make up Team Q St Coalition! I did get to talk about the GT Dirt Coalition and an IMBA event happening this weekend over the intercom and that was pretty cool. The IMBA event this weekend is the Ales and Trails fundraiser in Marin County. 8 brewers, BBQ, Pro riders clinics, and demo bikes. It is an awesome time. Buy tickets online to save some money www.alesandtrails.net Click on the flyer to see it larger;