Quick Update
I’m finally getting caught up here at home after 6 weeks of racing, then directing the BURN 24 Hour, then a little jaunt to MI to see the inlaws…during all of that I fit about 50 bikes.
55nine is doing quite well with many of the racers fit during the first part of the year now turning in some great results. Tina Pic, Carey Lowery, Shey Linder, Mike Smith, Harvey Minton, the AVX Team, Collete Ragan, Tim Henry, Chip Whitworth, The A&F Pro Cycling Team, Phil Southerland, Joey Rosskopf about 10 bikes for Mike Livingston…it goes on and on. We are at about 130 fittings for the year! I’m pretty excited about the prospects for 55nine’s future. We are looking to invest in some new and exciting equipment which will help our clients ride faster, further, more comfortably…whatever their goals are.
The BURN 24 Hour is almost in the books at this point. There is still some bills to pay and paper work to finish. The BMCC and I are will begin discussing how to continue to grow this event, gain the local community’s support and improve the experience for the racers. I do have to say that I am incredible proud of Namrita’s solo win this year. She really toughed it out, wrestled with some inner demons, but ultimately rode a very solid race. Well done.
The Fools Gold Mtb Race & Festival is still on! Nam & I are working diligently to bring this one together. It’s not going to be an over the top production…this year. I have big plans for this event for the future, but this year I want to really focus on having the logistics right. Sponsors are stepping up with is very exciting. I’ve never had anyone contact me about the BURN 24, but all sorts of folks are contacting us about this one. I think the prizes will be worth the trip. The route is being revamped due to some key pieces of single track being nixed by the NFS for race use. The route may not be everything I was hoping for, but it will still be fun and challenging. I think if this year goes smoothly, then we’ll have better luck with the NFS in the future.
The Cowbell 12 Hour is up next on my racing calender. This will be my 4th attempt on this race. The first year I took second, but the last two year’s I’ve ridden away with it. There was a moment of surprise last year when I was told Team Dicky was close, but I had plenty in the tank to put some distance on him before the end. This year the Cowbell is on the NORBA Endurance calender so I suspect the field may be a little tougher than in years past. The course is also getting a make over. Someone build a whitewater center over most of the original trails, leaving the course rather short that last two years. More trail is good.
The big goal is still the NORBA 24 Hour Nationals at the 24 Hours of 9-Mile in WI at the end of July. I still have about 7 weeks to finalize preparations. I still need a mechanic, preferably one from WI…it’s a paying job if anyone is interested. The training plan is set. The course up there is pan flat, so my training will mimic this. I need to round of a better selection of tools and parts. SRAM provided neutral support last year and will hopefully be there again just in case. Nam will be racing as well, so we’ll have two support persons & maybe a mechanic, ourselves, 3 or 4 bikes, all of our gear….we need a trailer or better yet a Sprinter.
Know anyone interested in sponsoring a couple of high profile mountain bikers?
That’s it for now, just wanted to get caught up. I may continue to be sparse with the posting as I’m spread thin these days, but when I have the energy I’ll write.
Eddie O