INDIE SERIES 2011

Some info, including a tentative schedule, just came out regarding this year's Indie Series. Find it here. Looking forward of course to the Bellingham race July 24th, and very intrigued by the Methow race (Methow Cycle and Sport Challenge--June 25th) which takes place at Loup Loup Ski Area. Gots to get my climb on. Of course Leavenworth is always da' bomb (June 4) and man oh man, I can't wait for summer.

COOL NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE SITE

Looking for the 2010 Indie Series (http://www.indieseries.com/) schedule (not up yet) I came across a couple interesting tidbits. One, that Lisa Miller was leaving the series--great job, Lisa; you'll be missed--but that shes' started this cool, new site (http://www.mtbwashington.com/), as a centralized website for all mountain bike events. Also has a forum too.

Though the Indie Series schedule isn't up yet, I've heard that the first event is early May at Silver Lake Park near Maple Falls, about 26 miles east of Bellingham, just off the Mount Baker Highway. Yea for that 'cuz I live up here!

Still planning on opening my 2010 race season with the Feb. 21 race at Dash Point State Park. (http://www.buduracing.com/)

PADDEN MOUNTAIN PEDAL 2009

Team Unattacked wuz representin' at Sunday's Padden Mountain Pedal as Scott "T.C." Young and I raced in our respective Beginner races. For Strongman Scott it was only his fourth mountain bike ride ever (not race), but that mattered not as all as he went on to win the 35-44 race pretty much soloing it from lap one. Way to go, Scott. (That's him below.)

I was going well in my 45-plus race, trading the lead with single-speeder Erik Evanson when my chain snapped, at which point many and sundry curse words flew from my lips. I finished lap 2 running and coasting when I could. Near the start/finish area, a Great, not Good, Samaritan helped me fix (actually, he fixed it completely himself ) my chain and got me back on the bike again. I ended up finishing 6th. Erik went on to win--great job, man!

Great Samaritan, sorry I don't remember your name (I was a bit flustered at the time), but if you read this, you da' man! Thanks.

As bummed as I was to break my chain I'm just glad it didn't happen Thursday when I was high in the Central Cascades riding the Devil's Gulch Trail.

In other news, I've been catching some grief lately for racing in the Beginner division this season. My reasoning has been thus: I did my first mountain bike race ever a little more than three months ago so wouldn't that make me a beginner? Also, I thought Beginner corresponded to being a Cat 5 road racer which is what everybody starts out as. But today, a race director of many other local events told me that if he were directing the race he'd have never let me race Beginner, and that the division was for people who've basically never ridden a bike before. Not sure how accurate that is, and I certainly don't want to be a sandbagger so ... hmm, not sure what I'll do for Roslyn. Pretty sure I'll be there; I've had a great time racing the Indie Series so far!

PADDEN MTN PEDAL - Indie Series Bellingham

Next up on the McQ agenda is the 17th Annual Padden Mtn Pedal on July 12. It's the Indie Series' Bellingham stop, put on by local legend Mark Peterson. Here's the website: (http://paddenmtnpedal.blogspot.com/), pre-registration is available on the Internet Webby thing. Challenging courses in beautiful Lake Padden Park, with Galbraith Mountain pretty much right across the street. Hope to see you there!