Vague Idea Racing: Wheels to the Farm '16 in the Rear View Mirror

Mang. What a good time... despite not winning and stuff.

That was the most fun I've had in a long time. Good friends, good riding, good trails, good burritos.

My toe was not very happy with me come Monday morning. As good as it was feeling this past Thursday, I'd say I set myself back a bit. Most of the bruising colors are gone, but it's swole up like an overstuffed sausage casing.

It doesn't want to be confined in a shoe at all, despite wearing my one-size-bigger winter shoes with thin socks at work these past couple days. Also, it's trying to crowd out its neighbor toe, and all the rubbing down there in quite unpleasant. I've even shaved it, as it feels like the hairs are getting tied up in tiny knots all day. I'm gonna take it (as) easy (as possible) this week and maybe skip doing anything mountain bike (ride) related.

I really screwed the pooch on getting my bike ready for Wheels to the Farm. Last year, things were so muddy, I assumed that things would be similar this year... despite the serious lack of rain we've had in the Southeast. Pushing a bigger gear in thick mud makes my lower back hurt, so I just left the 19 tooth cog that's been on there since early September(?) in place. I lost too much time on all the flat sections of Stages #2 and #3. Doh. Run what you brung and all.

Going out the night before may not have been a brilliant idea, but it seemed like a great idea at the time. Had I not gone out and had a good time and still got 2nd place? Much regrets.

Much discussion was had by the Charlotte crew about this format of racing. Daily and I talked about how great it would be if more urban mountain bike groups would piece together some scabby in town trails and throw a bike party. Leaf Life and I talked about how much we were starting to think that maybe the Tour duh Charlotte, which was going to be put on hiatus for '17, just needs to be simplified in order to keep it rolling. We've made it quite the complicated event to pull off, but the ATL crew did a fine job showing us that having a good time doesn't have to be so difficult.