Hello everyone from sunny and warm Missoula Montana. Last weekend I traveled to Lewiston Idaho and competed in the Devils Slide Mountain Bike Race. Here is my story.
Saturday morning I woke up and for some reason decided to spend extra time cleaning the car. A simple clean-out turned into a complete vacuuming and washing of the interior. After this spring clean fit I was able to finally get out of town at around 11AM.
The trip is the usual windy road 50MPH affair except I was worried that the conditions in Lewiston were going to be wet and cold, worse yet snowy. As I went over the pass into Idaho I watched the inboard thermometer in my car. 150 miles to go and 32 degrees … oh no. 100miles to go and 45 … getting better. 50 miles to go and 50 … ah yes. My worries were unfounded and the day turned into a 58 degree and dry day.
I arrived and got nestled into the cabin that my friends had graciously reserved. The cabin was a stones throw from the course. At about 4:30 I set out for a pre ride. After an hour and a half I was totally exhausted from riding great singletrack and just playing in the dirt. I was in heaven.
M friends showed up later and we enjoyed a great cabin experience complete with front porch and warm temperatures. We watched Wallace and Grommet and tucked in for a pre race sleep.
The next day did not disappoint in the weather department. It was a balmy 60 degrees with gusty winds. The weekend was already a success but there was one more thing to do … Race!
At the start I notice that there were 11 pros that would start 2 minutes before the experts. I turned to my racing compatriot Mike Longmeir that out goal was to catch the pros. The gun went off and so did I. O got a slow start but within 100 feet I surged ahead and headed into a dusty 4 foot wide trail (horse trail).
The wind was blowing very hard and I thought to myself that I had gone too early. I thought the pack would just stick together and wait for me to tire. So I turned it down a notch.
We approached the first climb and I spun up without going too hard. I looked back. No one! Now all I had to do was keep upright, have no mechanicals, and not flat for two and a half laps.
At one point I hit a corner in the wrong gear and had to do a run up. Other than that it was pure fun. I was leading the race which totally surprised me. I decided to enjoy every turn of the crank and I did. I was able to hang on to the great pace and finish strong.
After the race my friends and I hit the Pizza parlor for the traditional post race pizza. The drive back was hard due to the lateness of the day and I said goodbye to my traveling partners on top of Lolo Pass and dashed for home. Now I have yet to unpack the car. Maybe Ill do that before my friend flies in tomorrow evening for Spring Break.
On This Day In History
On this day in history, let’s embark on a delightful journey through the archived adventures and musings from my blog. Dive into this curated list of posts, where each entry takes you back to a moment in time, revealing passions, adventures, and reflections. Let’s get started!
2004: Comanche For Hire – Ah, the Sikorsky Comanche, envisioned as the James Bond of helicopters, decked out in stealth technology and promising a new era in aerial missions. Yet, like a Bond movie taking an unexpected turn, its fate hangs in the balance.
2006: lodge rEBUILD – Attention, Web Lodge dwellers! Gather around the virtual campfire, for news abounds! As you know, our beloved chat haven took a tumble recently, leaving us lost in the wilderness of silence.
Immerse yourself in these captivating snapshots of time, where each post serves as a window into the my world. Whether it’s a poetic reflection on a bike ride or the excitement of a mountain bike race, these posts bring to life my passion and adventures.
Boneshakerbike 
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