As in slugging through the mud.

I find it very interesting that at most if not any off-road cycling racing event – the lesser of the sport’s participants are always doomed to be the trailblazers for the professionals who somehow manage to get fair skies and dry courses after it has been kneaded into velcro-ish perfection thanks to us poor souls. It is as they say, a character builder, and indeed a test of human will and strength to find the derivation of fun in a sport that is fiendishly evil lap after lap.

I represented the Bonebell Crew in Kentucky and attacked the mud more than I care to remember right now and feel a Monday with spent legs laughing at the incredibly good time that was had in spite of the 45 minutes of hell I put myself through on both days. Nevada Dave called me on Sunday to say that he represented the ‘Bell by popping one handed wheelies in front of the Cuttin’ Cruiser, in an ugly brown shirt in Chicago. That rocks.

The Bonebell spent the day frolicking around the racecourse at the U.S. Gran Prix #2 in Louisville, Kentucky – wielding its chaotic clangor to unsuspecting race participants and fans alike. It was an incredibly exciting event, and an absolute fun filled weekend of memorable stories, dirtbaggin’ camraderie, and epic driving conversations that was most definitely a reminder of why we do this silly cyclocross racing.

I failed to get a picture of Joachim Parbo holding The Bonebell, but I assure you that he would have in a heartbeat and even would have said in his accented English – “The Bonebell is super awesome!”. It was a pleasure being around him and chatting with him on menial topics outside of cyclocross – at which point it was slowly apparent, that I’m talking to a UCI Ranked World Class Pro racer. The man was affable, witty, and very generous with his conversations. It was a revealing to note that he truly represents the ideal of why people are so much in love with this sport. Its accessible, and its even more accessible to working stiff joes to walk over and shake the hand of a world class rider without feeling like a such a fanboy or fangirl in the process. They are there to promote interest in the sport and being grateful you came out and participated in something they too love, probably more than you.

Geoff Kabush has been a favorite mountain bike racer of mine for a long time. I’m always jazzed to see him on the CX course ripping it up and doing well. I am even more glad that he doesn’t come after me in a race and knock my lights out for calling him ‘Canadian Bacon’, ‘You f’ing Canuck’, and ‘The Molson Express’. The Bonebell for whatever reason – has it in for folks from ‘Canadia‘. If you read his Twitter posts – he has a soft spot for Ryan Trebon – so the door swings both ways.

Geoff Kabush to Ryan Trebon – “Can I borrow your brain, I am building an idiot”.