Whiskey Offroad: So that's what it feels like to ride smoothly for three hours.

I've been nervous about my form this year. It's not something that normally bothers me - I'll line up, race and finish where I finish. But there's been a resurgence in US mountain biking recently. People are getting fast. The combination of the first generation of High School MTB racers aging into the Elite ranks, plus the rest of the mtb community turning its focus onto the races I've traditionally done well at, has had me scared that I'm going to be out of my depth in the fields I've normally excelled in. After a disappointing DNF at the Sea Otter last weekend, I didn't get that "first race" out my system, and instead came into the Whiskey with some apprehension.

Mission accomplished. I raced smooth and patiently. I was conservative on the downhills, and lost a few places there, but got them all back by the end. I proved I'm in the shape I need to do for both more Epic Rides events (Grand Junction in May and Carson City in June), and some World Cups (details TBD, but hopefully Andorra and Lenzerheide). More importantly, I got to see that the Mountain Bike community is alive and well, and filled with very fast young racers that will be beating me handedly in the near future! That's what it's all about!