It’s June and I have not done a single mountain bike race yet this season. Ambition from earlier in January has been replaced with a desire to “just ride”. Therefore things like the Oregon Stampede and other long or interesting rides that I have done so far this year. However I had all intentions of doing the Fat55 down in Oakridge, that race was cancelled due to some unfortunate circumstances with the race promoter.
Juston pointed out that the Echo Valley 60, part of the NW Epic Series, was the same weekend as the Fat55, so it made a good alternative. This race is up near Lake Chelan, which is probably one of the most beautiful places I have been. Not just in the NW, but through all my travels.
So, I haven’t done a race all year….what better way to kick it off than with a 6o mile mountain bike race!
My first lap was actually pretty good. The 2nd lap was rough. I filled up my bottle at the start of lap 2 with some Nuun energy drink and it just did not sit well at all. I felt like I was going to toss my cookies for the first hour, it was not pretty. I got some water at the next aid station and had a Clif Shot and life slowly got better, but I was still hurting. My 2nd lap was almost 35 minutes slower. Not exactly what I was hoping for. That being said, I did crush my 6 hour goal. So there are some positives and negatives. Still had a blast, though it has taken me almost 30 hours after the race finish to be able to say that.
The better part of the weekend was getting to hang with the Manvilles and spend time in the gorgeous Lake Chelan area.
It’s a good solid 6 hour drive up to Chelan, not exactly the best of choices for only 2 nights. We are headed back again though, maybe for the race next year, maybe sooner! Next time it will be for at least 4 nights though.
Not sure if there will be any more mountain bike races this year. This one got the competitive juices flowing again, and I had a lot of fun too. The summer is filling up fast though with trips, so maybe 2017 will include a few more races than this year? Who knows, no reason to commit now.
That’s about it for now. Thanks for reading.
-Pete
ON & OFF RHODES 
You are much too hard on yourself, Peter….. Lake Chelan is so beautiful with 52 miles of beach & the surrounding mountains….. Was this an all male race cause I don’t see any females in the line up….. This place would be great for a summer vacation…… Congrats to you for attempting that rugged & difficult race….. Do me a favor…… Ask Mia if she got Grammy Dot’s birthday card with money in it to the tune of $50.00.