Back to business

I got home last night and posted up a link to the last stage write up on MountainBike.com. Now I'm settling back into my "normal life" and trying to figure out a way to stop going to work. Unfortunately I didn't come up with anything, so back to the wonderful world of being an elite (actually elitist) bike messenger in Charlotte, NC.

Even though I posted some "thank you's" in my MB.com post I still feel like thanking people where appropriate.

Mike McCormack: Promoter of the Breck Epic, race director extraordinaire, and helluva guy. If it weren't for his Blogger's Grant Contest I woulda spent a lot more money doing the BE, and that would have meant less racing the rest of the year. He helped me out in more ways than I'll bother to discuss, and I ended up having one of the smoothest stage racing experiences ever. Whenever Mike was met with a challenge he rose to the occasion and did his best to ensure that everybody had a good time (except that guy who wanted bottle handups all over the course).

Peter Keiller: What can I say? As foul and evil a person as some might think he is Peter was actually a great travel partner. The trip was definitely more interesting having him around, and even though I think he mighta tried to slip something in my drink at the after party he's still all right in my book (I have one you know). Peter took a lot of photos, including this one where I'm explaining to reporters just how large Peter's man breasts are:

Tomi: Let's face it. He kept me entertained and motivated. With him out there on a fixed gear I knew I had to at least beat him since I could coast and all. He was crushing my on the climbs, so with him out ahead I probably hung it out a bit more than usual to catch him on the descents... well except that last day. He also snagged this photo (I'm pretty sure that's me waaaaay off in the distance).

MOOTS: Everybody at MOOTS was more than gracious during my visit. I had an incredible tour (more about that later), accomodations that were well beyond my normal standards, and overall I felt like I was treated like somebody quite a bit more deserving of such treatment. I must really thank MOOTS CEO Rob Mitchell for not only trying to scale the walls of the MOOTSfactory when I locked the keys inside the apartment on the Fourth of July, but for also putting me up at his house for a couple of days after the race. He and Maggie really made me feel at home (especially for them hardly knowing me), and I am forever in their debt. Also thanks to Matt (long time MOOTSwelder) and John (my main contact at MOOTS) for taking me out on a couple rides and proving that the air is thin in Steamboat whether I've been at altitude for one day or ten.

Life is normal again, and normal ain't all that bad.