Forget “tooting” or the symphony of the nether regions – I have to admit, the title just tickled my funny bone like a toddler’s giggle. The Barking Spider Mountain Bike Race in Nampa, Idaho this weekend had my name on it, and let me tell you, it was a doozy. Racing, driving to Butte, six hours of dirt-slinging fun, and making it back home in one piece – challenge accepted! (Check out the pics – they’re worth the click!)
First off, I nearly missed the whole shebang if it weren’t for Bob and Triple Ring Productions. Big shout-out to those guys for squeezing me into the first race of the season. Cheers! So there I was, fueling up at the Travelers Rest, prepped for my Idaho escapade.
Seven hours later, I found myself camped out in the back of my car – surprisingly comfy, considering my bed situation at home is basically a glorified hammock. Slept like a log, or should I say, a sleepy spider.
Sunrise greeted me, and I was on a mission – spreading the word about the Butte 100 like a seasoned flyer-posting ninja (thanks for the tip, Triple Ring crew!). Carbo Rocket fueled my veins, and soon I was ready to tackle the trails.
Gotta say, my Turner was a rocket on two wheels that day. Thanks for the nudge away from that “other” bike, Chad (Red Barn Bikes, you da man!). After an hour of messing around, it was game time. Back at the car, I see a Dirt Coalition tent popping up next to me. Talk about irony! I was trying to join their squad, but now I’m thankful for the trusty Turner. Gave a couple of “what’s up” nods to my friendly rival, you know, the one I was secretly plotting to dust.
The starting gun fired, and so did my competitive spirit. I took the lead, settling in for a scenic race through Southern Idaho. Then, boom! The DC dude rockets past me, making his grand move. I dug deep, chasing him like a cheetah after a gazelle. We battled it out, pushing each other to the limit, conquering climbs and bombing downhills like possessed mountain goats. We even lapped the pro group who started a minute ahead – no big deal, right?
Eventually, I found myself solo, the Turner eating up the trail, leading me to first place in my category. Overall, I snagged third, but wrong category for the prize money. Oh well, still a win in my book!
Next day, I’m in Butte, Montana, shredding Pipestone with my crew for six glorious hours. My efforts earned me a sun-kissed souvenir (read: sunburn), and I’m hoping my buddy Rich isn’t suffering as much – dude was looking like a lobster afterwards!
So, yeah, that was my weekend. A whirlwind of racing, camaraderie, and maybe a touch of sunburn. But hey, that’s the beauty of mountain biking – pushing your limits, soaking in the scenery, and maybe making some new friends (and rivals) along the way. Now, excuse me while I go slather on some aloe vera…
Boneshakerbike 
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