Some Best & Worst of 2007

Best Ryder story: Towing him around at crit on Thursday nights. The actual act of towing the trailer at speed actually kind of sucks. It’ s like pulling a 50 pound parachute, but he loves it and he especially loves it when he gets to yell “Go Bikes!” as we get lapped.

Second best Ryder story: Taking him on It’s a Small World at Disneyland. I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed more joy in his face. He’s ridden it an additional three times since then. Too bad the fatties are shutting down for a year.

Worst Ryder story: Leaving him at pre-school on his first day. It was going so well until we started to walk away.

Best mountain bike race: Firestone Walker, Santa Ynez NMBS – 4th Pro/Semi-pro Single-speed. I don’t consider fourth or fifth place a podium position because mountain bike racing is the only nancy-boy sport in the world that allows the third and fourth losers to share the limelight. Although, I did accept the giant Firestone Walker brewery mug for my efforts.

Worst mountain bike race: See 12-Hours of Temecula.

Best road race: CA State Championship – 5th, 30+. I initiated the break early in the race, but because I can’t sprint worth a damn, I only won enough money to buy lunch and drive home.

Worst road race: See Everest Challenge.

Best attempt at winning Everest Challenge: Even though the race ascends almost 30,000 feet in only two days, and even though I had never seen the race’s climbs, from the gun I went out hard and marked past Everest Challenge winners.

Worst attempt at winning Everest Challenge: Even though the race ascends almost 30,000 feet in only two days, and even though I had never seen the race’s climbs, from the gun I went out hard and marked past Everest Challenge winners. A smarter idea would have been to do a recon mission of the course, start conservative come race day, and actually put in the training required for an event of that magnitude.

Best attempt at winning the 12 Hours of Temecula: Even though my only prior attempt at winning the solo division in a 12-hour race ended early with heat exhaustion, from the gun I went out hard and fast and led for a while.

Worst attempt at winning the 12 Hours of Temecula: Even though my only prior attempt at winning the solo division in a 12-hour race ended early with heat exhaustion, from the gun I went out hard and fast and led for a while. A smarter idea would have been to go out slow and easy. It is a 12 hour race after all. What’s the hurry?

Best show: The Tossers, who played second fiddle to the Street Dogs at the Galaxy Theater. As expected, rad.

Worst show: The Street Dogs, who headlined the Tossers show at the Galaxy Theater. Brand new denim and Docs? Lame and so not punk rock.

Best drum solo: The dude with his drum set situated at the highest point of the Mt. Snow, VT race course. It’s a lot harder to keep up with the beat when you’re riding a single-speed, but nevertheless, it’s a very cool sound as it echoes through the forest.

Worst drum solo: The slow menacing drum beat I heard in my head as I was marched down the hallway and out the front door of K&N. Dead man walking.

Best place for a feed: On the road leading to Bishop’s South Lake as my mom hung out the window and did her best Johan to hand me much needed food and clothing.

Worst place for a feed: At the National Mountain Bike Series Finals in Snowmass, CO, it required a helicopter, a chairlift, or a week of travel to locate and then arrive at the feed station. Everything related to the NMBS is “behind the scenes,” including the spectators.

Worst short-track: NOVA’s twilight STX in Fountain Hills. Pavement and a rock-laden vacant lot with hairpin turns. Serious?

Best short-track: Mt. Snow STX, which I watched three sheets to the wind. I made a trip to win a Nat’l Single-speed XC Championship, and since that didn’t happen I turned to multiple bottles of Vermont’s finest. But what better way to watch a short track race?

Best crash: My text book low-side during the NOVA Super-D. It was a graceful and smooth slide that would have made Kenny Roberts proud.

Worst crash: Josh Bunz’s violent high-side at Raincross. Too ugly for words.

Here's to no crashes in 2008.

That's that.

The beautiful mistake that was the 12 Hours of Temecula.