On a borrowed bike with borrowed wheels, I blazed the Iceman this year. Conditions, unfortunately did not live up to the awful that was forecast. But, with the good conditions I was able to kick it in to high gear. I came in a solid 11th place for my Expert age group of about 60. 10 whole places better than last year. With a time almost 10 minutes faster than last year, at 1:49:22. Suffice to say I am now a 29′er convert. The setup was Greg‘s Fisher with a rigid fork, and El Maya’s bling XLite wheelset with a 1.75 Bontrager XCR tire….oh so fast…SPEEDSPEEDSPEED!! I was left in the dirt on the descents by some of the guys on dualies, but they had no answer when I brought the steel on the flats and the climbs. I am already stoked for next year, I know I can do better. At the last turn of the race, I heard some fans call my name, it’s always exciting when you don’t know anyone is there for you and your name gets called and you get that rush. So after the race we kicked it in the beer tent waiting for Hobie, my old school dirtbike friend Steve (who cut 13 minutes off of his time from last year, big up to that guy) to roll in. Steve cut 13 minutes off of his time from last year, big day for him. Founder’s IPA after a race, like Hobie says they taste so much better after a good hard effort. After the race we hit up the Red Mesa Grill in Traverse City for some of the best mexican food this side of Frontera. Hit them up if you get around those parts, it seems like everyone else at the race did. Dinner over and we hit the road back to Grand Rapids, hug and kiss the mom and back to Berwyn to run the ChiCrossCup the next morning, gotta get those points…I’m still in the hunt.